Introduction to Compression

Do you find your percussion isn't punchy enough?   Or that your vocals are wildly varied in volume?   Never fear - compression is here...

What is Compression?

You can think of a compressor plug-in as a virtual studio engineer with his hand on the volume knob - if the volume is too loud, he (or she, we don't discriminate!) will turn down the volume by a defined amount, depending on how loud it is.

This results in quieter sounds appearing louder, without increasing the volume of the sounds that are already loud.   This is used often on vocals in popular music, where it can considerably increase their clarity.


What can you do with Compression?

There are several controls found on conventional compressors...

Threshold - This is the level in decibels (dB) above which the volume is compressed.

Ratio - This is the ratio that determines how much the signal should be compressed.   A ratio of 5:1 means that if a signal goes over the threshold by 5dB, the compressor will reduce the signal to 1dB over the threshold.   Simple!

Attack - This is how fast the compressor kicks in after hearing a sound over the threshold - if it is long enough, this can result in really punchy initial hits, then compressing the tail ends of sounds; very useful on percussion.

Release - This is how fast the compressor kicks in after hearing a sound under the threshold, increasing the volume to the threshold level.

Soft/Hard Knee - This determines how smooth the compression is - the "Knee", or response curve, is less audibly noticeable when it is smoother, but takes longer to compress the signal as a result.

Gain - This allows for the entire volume of the signal to be increased or decreased.


Some useful techniques

1. Side-Chain Compression

By running another signal into a compressor with a "Side-chain" function, you can achieve a pumping effect used in countless electronic music productions, where a kick drum, for example, will make the rest of the music duck down under it rhythmically as it is played.

2. Over-Compressed drums

Want that insane, loud drum sound?   Try a really high ratio, a really low threshold, a really fast attack and as much gain as you can get away with without the sound clipping and distorting.   The result?   A crazy, noisy sound that is great for more energetic music!

3. Glitchy Percussion

Where compression is conventionally used to bring up the tail end of drum hits, you can do quite the opposite - by reducing the threshold considerably with a high ratio and having a short attack that allows just a fraction of the signal through, you can get some sweet clicky, glitchy percussion!

How to improve your home studio... on a budget

Are you always on the lookout for ways to improve your studio, but not so frequently in possession of the cash in order to do so?

Then here are a few suggestions for tweaks you can make to your music making menagerie with little or no money...


TVs are for more than Hollyoaks...

Has your favourite show just finished, or you've found yourself on YouTube more than ITV?   Use your old TV for massive second monitor!   Most TVs purchased in the last 5 years will probably have a monitor input, so give it a try and you'll have extra space for your DAW to stretch its legs!

They can also be great for putting lyrics on for vocalists to sing along to, or for watching YouTube videos when you're supposed to be finishing a song.


Windows ninety-what?!

Remember that old PC that just couldn't handle your entire soft-studio?   Well use your Old PC for VSTs!   Using programs like "FX Teleport", you can easily network up your old computer and start using it to make your software run faster!

Just assign those CPU-intensive VSTs to the old computer and watch as your host machine speeds away and your creative workflow follows suit.   Just imagine getting high quality multisamples like Synth Bass Analogy without having to worry about the associated computing cost!


It's not very roomy...

Constructing a makeshift Vocal Booth from duvets, old mic stands and willpower can result in much less roomy recordings from your microphone!   That once echoey overtone will be no more and you can rely on your plug ins to define what room that recording is in!


Take care of yourself...

...and you'll take care of making awesome music!   eBay a comfy office Chair (Or "borrow" one from your day job) and not only will your back thank you, but so will your ego.   Making sure you're comfortable is one of the most underrated parts of studio design!


I'm sure if you put your mind to it, you can look around and convert old, unused bits and bobs into studio gold; just be creative and unafraid of sellotape!

Trackers - A different way of making music

If you're like the majority of the music-producing masses, you'll probably be used to a conventional sequencer, allowing you seemingly limitless control over your sound.

But there are a group of musicians who think there is merit in having limits.   Enter the tracker musicians...


What is a Tracker?

It's quite simply a music sequencer that allows a user to arrange samples (or more recently synthesis as well) in steps across several channels.   Generally they rely on purely keyboard input, utilising loads of shortcut keys to speed up the workflow.

These arrangements are then strung together to form complete songs.


When did they originate?

Before computers were powerful enough to handle Pro Tools or Logic, they had to make do.   Ultimate Soundtracker was the first piece of software and it grew from there as computing power grew.

They've been used for video games for years and were widely used in the early 90s.   They required hardware cards when used with PCs, as they didn't have good enough sound quality.

However, as the processors grew powerful enough to handle higher quality audio processing, they were superseded in most respects by conventional sequencers.

Why would I use it?

If it's an old format, what is the benefit, right?   Well apart from the novelty of using old software for new music (Chiptune producers love trackers!), the loop-based approach makes it ideal for electronic music producers and many argue that once you get your head around them they're much faster to work with than regular ol' sequencers.

There's also a load of free and cheap trackers out there, making them really accessible.


Who uses Trackers?

If Pop is your thing, try on Calvin Harris for size!   If you're into more obscure and intricate stuff, Venetian Snares proves that the limiting layout doesn't limit what you can accomplish with them, switching from time signature to time signature and breaking beats in ways you never thought imaginable.   In fact, he's a really good advert for what you can do with trackers.



How can I get one?

You can go for a free music tracker to get a taste for it - one such piece of software being ModPlug Tracker (just give it a Google) and if you're hooked, moving up to something more substantial like ReNoise is perhaps on your horizon!

So don't just take your software for granted - maybe you'd be more comfortable typing your tunes than playing them on a MIDI Keyboard!

Top 5 musical iPhone apps

iPhone apps exist for practically anything you could imagine.   So it's not surprising that music production is possible on the little guy.

But which apps are worth looking at?   Let's see...


1. Make Beats on the Bus - Intua Beatmaker

Ever wanted to take your Prime Loops library to your iPhone?   Well now's the time to get your XXL Hip Hop Drums on an XXS format!

Intua Beatmaker is a massive application, allowing for MPC-esque beat making on the go.

Looping, live performance, sequencing, FX, recording, tuning, loading and saving samples, wave editing, quantizing... the list really does go on for a long time.   This is one of those apps that competes with the big DAWs.

2. Argon

High end synthesis on the iPhone?   Sure thing!   With 3 oscillators, Frequency Modulation, step sequencer, keyboard, envelopes, effects and LFOs amongst other features, Argon is a monophonic virtual analog synth that will change the way you think about mobile music making!

It's even compatible with the aformentioned Intua Beatmaker, so you can copy audio data onto it!

3. NESynth

Chiptune producers rejoice!   NESynth allows you to emulate those authentic sounding nintendo blips and bloops on your mobile device of choice.

Even cooler, you can control it with a virtual NES pad!   Geek heaven!

4. ITM MIDIlab

Prefer to use a computer for music production?   Not to worry - simply use your iPhone as an awesome MIDI controller and integrate it with your DAW using ITM MIDILab - a free application!   Freakin' useful!

5. Amplitube iRig

Guitarists can now have amp simulation in their pocket.   With different mics, amps, effects, cabs and all kinds available, a simple plug adaptor allows musicians to connect their guitar to their iPhone and rock to their heart's content.   This could also double up as an awesome synth processing unit!

One Shot to Program Drums

Want to venture on the wild side of making your own beats? Then it's time to enter the wondrous world of one-shots...

What is a one-shot?

Simply put, a one shot is a single sample - it can be a kick drum, a snare, a blip, a wooshy effect or a whole big long echoey sample, but basically it's a sound that is not generally looped continuously.


Making beats with one-shots

Drums sequencers are your friend here - load up your one shots, (we're using hits from XXL R&B Drums) let's start getting creative!

Some things to keep in mind:

1. Varying the velocity (essentially the volume) of the samples can make the beats you make much more natural and real sounding. Some of the kicks from XXL R&B Drums are brilliant for that more "live" sound.

2. Layering multiple one-shots is a great way to thicken up your sound - pick ones with different frequencies in to make a full, punchy hit!

3. Don't just stick to conventional percussion! Sometimes unconventional sounds are great for adding extra frequencies into the mix to fill things out and make them interesting - why not try some beatbox samples, interesting percussions and fx?


Using loops with one shots

If you're finding your one-shot beats don't quite have that airy, well-produced loop feel, you can keep the originality and control from the one-shots and add the loop-y high end goodness by layering a loop over the top of your one-shot samples!

Try high pass filtering the loop to remove any low end that might make the mix muddy when combined with your beloved one-shots and put it over the top - this can be great when making minimalistic genres like Dubstep. We are combining some of the hits from Dubstep Nation with some of those loops to make something original and professional sounding!


Adding FX

Sometimes it's more than just drum hits - one shot fx such as sweeps and reverses are essential for producers taking their track to that professional level. We grabbed some XXL Dance FX to get your tracks really standing out. With FX, it's important to keep in mind...

1. Reverses need to be cut off in the right place. If they overlap after the drop has hit, it'll sound like the build-up hasn't quite finished and it won't be as strong of a change.

2. Delay and Reverb are much more applicable to fx, as they aren't usually the driving force of the track, more the cherries on top. So get experimenting with different effects on your fx!

3. Layering fx is just as important as layering drum hits! Be creative!


So instead of throwing a loop in your track, next time try having a go at making your beats yourself!

The importance of covers and remixes

In today's musical climate, it's getting increasingly harder to stand out from the crowd.   There are more and more people producing and more and more ways to get your music out there.   So how do you make an impact?

Well I'm here to discuss one method that seems to be working a charm for a metric tonne of internet-savvy musicians...


The importance of covers and remixes

YouTube has opened up a convenient door to anyone with a creative mind.   If you search for any song in the charts, chances are you'll find a bunch of remixes and covers of it.   Try it out - then take a look at the play counts of some of the earliest ones.

Pretty cool, huh?   To expose your music to hundreds of thousands of listeners, all you have to do is re-work a popular song.   If you can come up with a title that catches the eye then you're much more likely to get hits as well.   For instance: "Lady Gaga Telephone (DJ blah remix)" probably won't draw as much attention as "Lady Gaga attacked by Drum and Bass!".   Be imaginative and be a little bit mysterious if you can.


Picking a cover / remix

Well, the easiest option is to pick whatever's at the top of the charts, but if you're sick of doing Justin Bieber remixes, perhaps you should think about other things in popular culture.   How about adverts?   I've seen a dubstep remix of a Lloyds TSB advert with nigh-on 2 million views.   Or how about video game music?   Or TV shows?   Or internet memes?   The list goes on - I'm sure you know of some niches with content waiting to be turned into a quality cover or remix.


Promoting your track

If you have the most views of all the covers, chances are people will pick you - so how do you go about getting the most views?   Well, post the cover on relevant forums for a start.   The artist who you're covering might be a convenient starting point, then send it to blogs, ask your friends to pass it on and in general let the internet know about it!


Video matters!

If you have the best remix ever and it's got a still image, it's not going to do as well as if you've got some clever little video accompanying it.   It takes extra time and effort, yes, but it will undoubtedly pay off.   If you put in effort, the YouTube audience will recognise it and be more likely to let their friends know about your tune!

So what are you waiting for?   Have a think, pick a song, then make your mark on it and watch your fanbase grow!

How important is image in dance music

However often weathered, artsy producers claim "It's all about the music, maaan!"   They can't deny that some of the biggest acts in dance music spend just as much time on their style as they do on their sequencing.

Let's take a look at some of the biggest case studies in the scene and try to understand the reasoning behind their attention-grabbing looks...


Deadmau5

Let's start relatively small - Deadmau5 has become one of the biggest electro house producers in the world in a matter of months thanks to some incredible production and heavy internet hype.   His first performance was in front of thousands of people, but to really make himself stand out he equips himself with an oversized dead mouse head mask (stylised to match the one on his music artwork).

It doesn't stop there though - flashing eyes and who knows what else on the mask itself render it as a memorable prop that gives fans something to latch on to - something to doodle absent-mindedly when they find themselves humming "Ghosts n stuff" with a pen in their hand.

Deadmau5 teaches us that having an image that's simple but strong is vital.


Daft Punk

Deadmau5 wasn't the first dance artist to wear a mask - Daft Punk have been donning robot masks and gloves for years, accompanying the image with the backstory that at 9:09 on September 9th, 1999, they were working with their sampler when it exploded, turning them into robots.

While they may not be convincing backstory writers, their music speaks for itself.   Literally - in a robotic, synthesised voice.   Its robotic sound is reflected perfectly in the image, making the whole Daft Punk entity that much more powerful and enticing.   After all - who wouldn't want to see robot DJs spinning future-funk?

Their music videos are similarly mysterious, with most of them being a continuation of an anime storyline.   Japanese cartoons instantly spark images of robots fighting, so there, once again, is a tie-in with there music.

In interviews they have mentioned that the masks also have the convenient side effect of avoiding the stardom conventionally found with world famous musicians.

Daft Punk teaches us that reflecting the music in the image is a powerful idea.   Also, if you don't fancy being stopped in the streets as a result of your beats, masking your real image is an ideal way to avoid it.


Lady Gaga

Let's jump straight in at the deep end here.   You'd be hard pressed to find an act who has as diverse a fashion sense as Ms. Gaga.

Leaping from one outfit to the next, her performances are as much fashion shows as music shows.   From cool, collected and fashionable to shocking and sexy to downright hilarious (post-it note dresses are clearly in), she knows that fashion is a vital ingredient when enticing large crowds.

Her music is undeniably dancey (Incidentally, she produced or co-produced every track on her debut "The Fame") and yet it has hit the mainstream pop charts hard, in no small part to her extravagant and eclectic image.

Gaga teaches us that if you're always willing to push the boundaries of what's acceptable, people will pay attention.   Whether that's fashion or lifestyle (or in this case, both) - it all attributes to the image people associate with the music.


Benny Benassi

...and if you don't happen to be a hot chick, don't worry.   Benny Benassi's (totally original) idea of recruiting a bunch of models to wear skimpy clothes and move provocatively in music videos has certainly served him well.

Reflecting the lyrical content of his songs such as "Satisfaction" and "Who's your daddy", his image pretty much revolves around releasing images that are as close to pornography as possible, clearly getting the male audience to take an interest in his productions.

Benassi teaches us that you don't have to rely on your own image to sell your music!   Also, if you didn't realise by now, sex sells.   Especially when the basslines are as sexy as the women moving provocatively in time with them.


So there we have a few choice case studies that prove how image is just as vital as music.   So how will you stand out amongst the crowds of producers, performers and DJs vying for attention?

Let's talk about tags, baby!

So you're about to give your music to the world.

You've conceived your idea, used some freakin' awesome samples (you're welcome) and created your masterpiece.

But hold the phone!   Before you chuck your MP3s into the scary world wide web, have you thought about tags?

What are ID3 tags?

I'm glad you asked, Kevin!   ID3 tags allow information such as the title, artist, album, track number, BPM and other information about the file to be stored inside the MP3.   Even artwork can be included.   It barely does anything to the file size and it's seriously useful.


Why bother with ID3 tags?

Well, have you ever considered that ID3 tags are...

- the only way to keep your digital music library sorted (iTunes uses them so they're reasonable popular)
- necessary to enable scrobbling with last.fm or Spotify
- a must if you want to keep your DJ set in Native Instruments Traktor tidy and organised
- very important in connection with automated music recommendation functions (such as the "Genius" function in iTunes for example.)
- a hit with the ladies

It just gives that professional edge to the presentation of your songs.

The importance of uniqueness

So with all these tags flying about, it's only a matter of time before some French rapper called "Beyonce" comes to the horrible realisation that he's going to have to get a new stage name.

This is why it's vitally important to have a unique name - or at least be the most famous person with your name!

Not just for ID3 tags - though you obviously don't want other people taking the credit for your tunes, but search engines are another reason.   If someone gets your MP3, uses the tags to find your name and Googles you, if there are a million other "DJ AwesomeTunez"s in the world then chances are they'll lose interest, no matter how awesome your tunez were.

So ego-Google yourself and find out if you have to do a quick name change!


About that artwork...

With iPods and the latest iTunes updates pushing artwork back into the foreground of musical consumption, it's never been more vital to have a pretty picture accompanying your tracks!

Not only is it another method of artistic expression for the fans to consume, but it's also a way to add some more of that vital professionalism.   If you are not exactly an artist and shrivel up at the sight of Photoshop, make some art-inclined friends and exploit their skills so your MP3s can have a 300x300 .jpg file embedded (that is the standard) that will reflect your music appropriately.


And all this for free?

You don't have to spend money to keep your tags organised, like with pricey programs like "TuneUp" because there are also a bunch of really cool free applications that will help you to fix your tags and keep them organized - such as the amazing MusicBrainz Picard for example.
Otherwise, just jump on Google (if you can stop Google-ing yourself for one minute, geez...) and search for some ID3 tag editing software and I'm sure you'll find something fantastically useful!