Writing music.

[WizMystery]

I recently began using all my somewhat free time using a program called FL Studio. Unfortunately, I don't have any professional music recording hardware, besides maybe the midi cable between my keyboard and my computer. The instruments available in FL studio have the ability to sound as real as you want them to, however I am very much a beginner in electronic music and want to go further. I wrote my first instrumental (one thing I definately need is a vocalist, I can't sing for pomegranate) in this program, wanting to finish it asap so I can focus on my composition skills first rather than the mastering and mixing, and released it to newgrounds.

This first instrumental is entitled Fulfillment.

http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/325727

I am looking mostly for feedback on my composition skills, however anyone with firsthand experience in FL Studio who wishes to give me tips on how to use it is more than welcome to.

[Rob]

Pretty good for a start. Indeed. I've used FL since version 3.5, so you can say I'm pretty damned experienced with it.

First of all, the EQ. The peaks after the first resolution is too high. You should limit the threshold to -3 ~ -2 dBs. You could try lowering the bass in the 60~160 hz part to make the sound a little smoother. Also, the piano's bass and the bass itself gets too jammed in the chords sequence part. That's a first insight.

Also, I liked the synth riff in the last part a lot. It gave a chasey feeling to it that I found very nice.

Well, in a more professional way, you should also get better drum patterns, better drum samples, and trigger all of them from the FPC generator.

Oh, and last and not least, tweak the velocity peaks in the piano roll for all the instruments a lil bit more, you'll take away that plain sound you got.

Hope it helps, and come back to me if you need any help!

[WizMystery]

Pretty good for a start. Indeed. I've used FL since version 3.5, so you can say I'm pretty damned experienced with it.

First of all, the EQ. The peaks after the first resolution is too high. You should limit the threshold to -3 ~ -2 dBs. You could try lowering the bass in the 60~160 hz part to make the sound a little smoother. Also, the piano's bass and the bass itself gets too jammed in the chords sequence part. That's a first insight.

Yeah, I never knew much about mastering/limiting, but thankfully NG allows you to update audio portal submissions within... 300 views or votes (forgot which), so that'll be a project in my near future.


Also, I liked the synth riff in the last part a lot. It gave a chasey feeling to it that I found very nice.

That part sort of clicked as I was trying to make a solo, but wound up sort of making... an outro. It was something I knew would be memorable, and hopefully I can recreate that feeling later on in other works.


Well, in a more professional way, you should also get better drum patterns, better drum samples, and trigger all of them from the FPC generator.

I'm nowhere near experienced with drums, so I attempted matching up the stronger sounding samples with the "base rhythm," as I would call it. The drums were from battery 3, which has loooooaaads of samples that made it near impossible to pick which one really fit the most, so I'm very lost when it comes to drums. That "layer" would be my most experimental for that reason.


Oh, and last and not least, tweak the velocity peaks in the piano roll for all the instruments a lil bit more, you'll take away that plain sound you got.

I'm happy to say I'm experimenting with velocity in my current project, which is a more acoustic, progressive rock-driven piece. I created an acoustic guitar intro that I think has a releastic velocity setting, I could upload it for more feedback...


Hope it helps, and come back to me if you need any help!

This helps a lot, the few reviews I've recieved pretty much stuck with "I like it," though I enjoy the compliments I found this to be much more helpful.

[Rob]

It's okay mang. I'm here to help. Any doubts you have come back and I'll be glad to help. Really.

I'm looking forward to you new works!

[WizMystery]

It's okay mang. I'm here to help. Any doubts you have come back and I'll be glad to help. Really.

I'm looking forward to you new works!

Well I uploaded the segment on NG, planning to delete it later on: http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/326287

Of course it got 0-bombed, so the rating isn't very helpful.

[Rob]

I get the feeling the tempo isn't right. Like, I tried following it with a 4 by 4 beat and failed epically. What notation did you use? Also, what's the samples you're using? Or are you using a generator or a real guitar?

[WizMystery]

I get the feeling the tempo isn't right. Like, I tried following it with a 4 by 4 beat and failed epically. What notation did you use? Also, what's the samples you're using? Or are you using a generator or a real guitar?

Yeah it's rubato, I played around with the event editor in that. The samples used are simply Kontakt 4 Nylon Guitar samples, and if I got you to even think that was real then my job may be done o.o

[WizMystery]

Okay, I'm now experimenting with the acoustic sound of the Piano Quintet in a suite of short minimalistic pieces each designed to emit a single emotion. I'm not sure what the reaction will be on Newgrounds, but either way it's purely experimental.

http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/329579

This should sound more natural.

[TøbiasBlack]

i really enjoyed that piece. personally would've loved to hear it loop instead of have that 2~3 second abrupt stop, but thats just me. at ~:40, when the plucking/piano instrument was added in, i got a feeling that there was a carriage being drawn into a city-scene, with the horses trotting along as people walked by buying and selling things at stalls all throughout, with the people inside looking out and seeing the people outside. would love to see it expanded upon, and maybe a bit added to it; it feels fine as it is now, but personally i get that it wasn't finished yet, so the abrupt stop is something like you hit a creative wall?

[WizMystery]

i really enjoyed that piece. personally would've loved to hear it loop instead of have that 2~3 second abrupt stop, but thats just me. at ~:40, when the plucking/piano instrument was added in, i got a feeling that there was a carriage being drawn into a city-scene, with the horses trotting along as people walked by buying and selling things at stalls all throughout, with the people inside looking out and seeing the people outside. would love to see it expanded upon, and maybe a bit added to it; it feels fine as it is now, but personally i get that it wasn't finished yet, so the abrupt stop is something like you hit a creative wall?

Well I'm experimenting with different arangements, different lengths, and minimalism here; I'm trying to create a sort of "emotion library" that I can look to and create protracted works. I was planning to add more to the piece (and I had more written), but I felt that I wanted to do something different here. As for the looping, I could change it, this has the potential to be used as a loop in a game or that of a cutscene.

[Khoi]

I enjoy electronic-music, so here's my opinion on it.

At certain parts, I feel like it is too loud at times. Unless you were going for that, of course. It sounds great! Personally, I like my electronic-music to have lots of drums and fast-paced sounds blaring in the background, but that's just me.

[WizMystery]

I enjoy electronic-music, so here's my opinion on it.

At certain parts, I feel like it is too loud at times. Unless you were going for that, of course. It sounds great! Personally, I like my electronic-music to have lots of drums and fast-paced sounds blaring in the background, but that's just me.

Well I usually keep my volume high so the person has the ability to turn it up louder (unless you mean mixing), there are some songs on my ipod that I have to put on full blast to hear over the background noises of the public.
Also, I'm trying to play with every genre so that I can eventually master it. Maybe someday I'll join a band and be able to use that knowledge to mix them.

[WizMystery]

I found something interesting a while ago and I'm trying to learn how to use it:

http://www.ronjarzombek.com/rj12tone.html

It's been used sucessfully but it's hard to be as coherent as the examples given.