Music Production

i would personally bounce everything down to individual tracks from reason and then mix in cubase/nuendo using all the plug in's eq's available there. You have more control using Cubase/Nuendo than an external mixer-more tracks, better editing option's etc

I try

If you still want the feel of faders and the like, you can always add an external midi controller.

I wouldn't go that far like - the reason they are so cheap is because they hardly do any R&D - they just nick the designs from other mixers (Mackie being the one in question) - there was a big thing a few years back coz mackie noticed that the behringer mixers were very "similar" to theirs.

I use mackie mixers for produxtion all the way - the sound quality from the pre-amps is brilliant - but I've used a little behringer mixer as an intermediate for my PA system for years - the mic pre-amps are no good - but if you're just sticking line signals through then it's not as important coz you aren't relying on the preamps in the mixer as much.

You are 100% right though, you get exactly what you pay for with sound equipment. But for most bedroom set-ups something like the behringer will be fine, but accept that if you're going to progress, you'll probs have to ditch it for somethiong better soon.

I have just started using a Korg electribe with built in sampler any advice what to run it through on the computer when put tracks on there from it.

Been thinking of also running my system through a mixer then though the behringer £50 and into the amp. Hairy do reccomend that.

Its difficult to just buy this type of equipment, because if its shit and theres no improvement in sound quality youll not get your money back. Using the software i find it is difficult to judge the sound on the computer. I made up a drum loop with bass to test it on my normal mini hi fi system and the sound was very hi end eq, very light bass. But on my speaks it sounded very bassy.

Do you produce 4/4 music and have bass on each 1/8 note?

Do you create trance/breakbeat? Its fuking hard as nails to do.

Sometimes my songs start of as 4/4 techno beat then when a breakdown comes, it kicks to a d&b breakbeat trance sort of style

Do you keep the bass at the same note?
Do you change the bass notes when the main riff comes in?

Do you sample. Ive got the best clap ever on my compute

How you make your trance riffs?

What type of hardware do you use?

Korg Electribe, try recording it as audio in?

I have one Korg EA-1 its OK. Never used it at a gig before as I dont know anywhere that do them. If I DID one it would probably be shit and everyone would walk out with no one there but me as no one would understand. lol

I'd go from DJ mixer to channel mixer (like the behringer - if you're using one) and then to a compressor/limiter to the amp(s).

I still don't know how necessary it is to have the intermediate mixer - but it just gives you ( the person who owns the system) a bit more control - but it's also somewhere where noise/problems can be introduced if connections aren't good etc, so you need to be careful.

This is where the comp/limiter comes in handy coz you can put a clamp on how high the input to the amp goes so even if the DJ is clipping the mixer to fuck the amps won't be overloaded - the sound will be terrible coz the initial sound going in is clipping but they won't overload. So you're equipment is protected.

Even better - if a DJ can'ty learn to keep the mixer from clipping then don't let them play - it's a basic eneough concept and if people can't grasp it quickly then they really shouldn't be playing out - as you know sound sysytems aren't cheap and it's a basic respect of other peoples equipment - and trying to make the music you play sound good.

Case example - Billy Nasty @ Freaky Dancing a few years back - Now I would never say he was a shit DJ - coz it's just not true, but when he played there it was shit because he came on and clipped the mixer to fuck and the sound was just messy, so he could have been doing anything behind there, but it all sounded shite because it was distorted - however there were problems with monitors that night which sort of accounted for that - and thankfully next time I saw him he was class.

No matter what you do to a sound afterwards, if it clips at source it will distort and sound shit - simple as that!

Getting people to stop redlining a mixer is hard never mind the soundsytem (funsize jonney,comes to mind) especialy if they are wreaked.

Some dj's as soon as they see the gains down yank them up not realising you get better sound going though the mixer master or better still the amp.

What it means is basically i have to check sound levels all night instead of enjoying the party also gives me kittens lending out the system.

Think i am going to get the behringer as i can set that the levels and get more control that way.

Your right about clipping soundsystems look what happened to thye old egyptcottage system in 8 months

I'd just try and get the best sound possible using vst plugins/eq's or the mackie uad1 card if you can. Using programes like Cubase or soundforge. Once your happy with the sound it should sound pretty much exactly the same on the sampler if you've recorded it right

That would work but you would be mixing with the behringer £50 sound and the not direct sound. If it sounds good its right.simple

Very handy site, to give an overview of most things production

tweakheadz

Enjoy it