Sonic Acid composing techniques for dummies? at DVinfo.net

Joseph Lawrence · April 13th, 2004, 07:38 AM

Perhaps I'm asking for the unachievable, but does anyone know of a good resource (book or website) to help a music illiterate such as myself produce scores for videos using loops? I can use Acid to produce tracks that sound very monotonous and repetitious (not my goal). I would be satisfied with a set of tips and tricks to make the results sound more interesting.

I'm amazed at what is possible with loops by examples on acidplanet.com. Without specific music training, can a novice
realistically produce video scores or should I just plan to pay a starving college music major to create themed scores for my video.

Thanks,

Joseph

Michael Wisniewski · April 13th, 2004, 11:26 AM

Try treating your loops as characters in a story.

You know how characters need to be introduced at the beginning of a movie? Then as the story progresses we alternate between different combinations of characters letting some characters exit, while others come back into the main story?

It's the same thing with songs. Here's some simple tips:

1. Introduce your loops - you can introduce them one at a time slowly building them up together, or you can introduce them all at once, then, let some of the loops exit and re-enter the song as it progresses.

2. Alternate your loops - let the audience hear, individual loops and interesting loop combinations - The mute button is good for experimenting. As the song progresses let certain loops drop out, don't be afraid to just mute everything and let one loop play all by it's lonesome.

Think of each loop/instrument as voices talking to each other, having a dialoque, sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes arguing, making love etc and I think you'll be able to get a nice song that doesn't sound so mechanical.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · April 13th, 2004, 11:30 AM

http://www.vasst.com/dvdproducts/acidNLE.htm
Sams also has an ACID book available.

Joe Kras · April 14th, 2004, 08:36 AM

The above link didn't work for me, but this one did

<http://www.vasst.com/not4%20release/dvdproducts/acidNLE.htm>

Joe Kras

Douglas Spotted Eagle · April 14th, 2004, 08:50 AM

Ouch, thanks for letting me know the folder had somehow been moved. The correct link is the one I posted, somehow a folder had been moved without us knowing...Hmmm...

Mike Rehmus · April 14th, 2004, 12:23 PM

That looks like an interesting session, on Acid.

Down towards the $ part of the registration page, it asks if one has a discount code. Hummmm? :-))

April 13th, 2004, 07:38 AM	#1
Joseph Lawrence Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: fort wayne, IN Posts: 50	Sonic Acid composing techniques for dummies? Perhaps I'm asking for the unachievable, but does anyone know of a good resource (book or website) to help a music illiterate such as myself produce scores for videos using loops? I can use Acid to produce tracks that sound very monotonous and repetitious (not my goal). I would be satisfied with a set of tips and tricks to make the results sound more interesting. I'm amazed at what is possible with loops by examples on acidplanet.com. Without specific music training, can a novice realistically produce video scores or should I just plan to pay a starving college music major to create themed scores for my video. Thanks, Joseph

April 13th, 2004, 11:30 AM	#3
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	http://www.vasst.com/dvdproducts/acidNLE.htm Sams also has an ACID book available. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

April 14th, 2004, 08:50 AM	#5
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Ouch, thanks for letting me know the folder had somehow been moved. The correct link is the one I posted, somehow a folder had been moved without us knowing...Hmmm... __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

April 14th, 2004, 12:23 PM	#6
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	That looks like an interesting session, on Acid. Down towards the $ part of the registration page, it asks if one has a discount code. Hummmm? :-)) __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

April 13th, 2004, 11:26 AM	#2
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Try treating your loops as characters in a story. You know how characters need to be introduced at the beginning of a movie? Then as the story progresses we alternate between different combinations of characters letting some characters exit, while others come back into the main story? It's the same thing with songs. Here's some simple tips: 1. Introduce your loops - you can introduce them one at a time slowly building them up together, or you can introduce them all at once, then, let some of the loops exit and re-enter the song as it progresses. 2. Alternate your loops - let the audience hear, individual loops and interesting loop combinations - The mute button is good for experimenting. As the song progresses let certain loops drop out, don't be afraid to just mute everything and let one loop play all by it's lonesome. Think of each loop/instrument as voices talking to each other, having a dialoque, sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes arguing, making love etc and I think you'll be able to get a nice song that doesn't sound so mechanical.

April 14th, 2004, 08:36 AM	#4
Joe Kras Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 54	The above link didn't work for me, but this one did <http://www.vasst.com/not4%20release/dvdproducts/acidNLE.htm> Joe Kras