HS Music Discussion 3: Universe B is where all the Mayhem is at!

[TheLovableTramp]

Okay, I think I got this

Granted, the above is probably a good majority, and the standards are very low for the other two. It's still probably some huge number.

[DragonXVI]

Randall would be proud of that diagram.

[curiousTerminal]

Tramp, my eyes, that diagram is too beautiful for them. I think your perfect circles are shaming me with their eternal stare.

[mysteriousOutsider]

I like how it would have been faster to use a circle tool

But you were too dedicated to your craft.

[Slogbait]

I don't think it would have as big an impact had they used the circle tool.

Right now it's got that nice hand drawn feel to it.

[mysteriousOutsider]

Exactly.

Craft.

[curiousTerminal]

My favorite part is the comic sans.

[InfiniteNutshell]

Wow eight pages of discussion overnight. What are we, the comic discussion thread? It's like there's some big thing to talk about all of a sudden.

Anyway I will almost certainly not be entering the contest, but if anybody in the Boston area needs people to record vocals from, I'm your man.

Not that I think it's at all likely anyone will take me up on this. But man would it be fun.

[Slogbait]

Guys, I need a little push in the right direction. I know it's probably not advised for beginners to start off on Reason, but it's the only program I have that I can compose with that's not a free trial.

I have... no idea what I'm doing.

[Daysi]

Guys, I need a little push in the right direction. I know it's probably not advised for beginners to start off on Reason, but it's the only program I have that I can compose with that's not a free trial.

I have... no idea what I'm doing.

I understand how you feel. I downloaded the FL Studio 10 demo this morning and it's like I'm flailing horribly all over the place trying to figure out what various buttons do and what the heck a VST plugin is and how the heck do synths even work and so on.
Just keep trying different things and looking up tutorials and such if you get really lost. Since you don't know what you're doing it'd probably be better to get a feel of how the program works for a couple of days before attempting to make a whole song.

[Daniel990]

I wanna make a song but I can't make songs how do I make a song

[Slogbait]

Yeah, that's a pretty accurate summary of what just happened.

[DragonXVI]

Rad did a thing on his site about getting started with FL Studio. It does contain a percentage of badshit insanity but if you've never opened it before it's a relatively swift intro. Namely opening it, getting some voices, placing notes, adding FX, plonking down patterns to make up a song etc.

HAVAAR.

(I still remember when it was only called "FruityLoops")

If you can come to terms with the piano roll/sequencer part, you can pretty much understand DAW-software things like Reason and FL Studio. If you're more a music score-writey person (Generally true if you've been taught or learned to play an instrument) then there's options out there for you too.

Also, FL Studio can openify MIDI files since most sequenced music is basically that - There's probably a source of 'em hidden away in the Homestuck Music Sheet thread which you can open up and take a look at (Though be advised they're unlikely to sound too much like the original music and more like your delightful Microsoft GM Wavetable farting in your ears)

[Daniel990]

I want to make music, but I don't want to buy a recording software.

[Xzaz]

Man, I always miss those livestreams. Solatrus, Eidolon, Bowman... you name it, I only find out that it happened after the fact.

It was the best livestream.

Bowman revealed that all of his songs were covers of Sburban Jungle, and that he could not do a British accent.

Also, Jit is terrified of two headed dogs. Pictures incoming!

And he started singing Mister Bowman Tells Us About the Squiddles.

Also it was fun seeing him explain some of his stranger Youtube videos.

[Slogbait]

I want to make music, but I don't want to buy a recording software.

Or better yet, I want to make music, already have recording software, and don't see the point in buying another no matter how far out of my league it is.

[MuzikalNotes]

Alright, since I already have some notation software, along with a decent-ish soundfont, I'd prefer to use those, but the sound probably won't come out as well as I'd like it to be. Does sound quality count, or can we send in something with good composition, but bad sound quality?

[Daniel990]

Is there a free software anywhere?

[Daysi]

Rad did a thing on his site about getting started with FL Studio. It does contain a percentage of badshit insanity but if you've never opened it before it's a relatively swift intro. Namely opening it, getting some voices, placing notes, adding FX, plonking down patterns to make up a song etc.

HAVAAR.

(I still remember when it was only called "FruityLoops")

If you can come to terms with the piano roll/sequencer part, you can pretty much understand DAW-software things like Reason and FL Studio. If you're more a music score-writey person (Generally true if you've been taught or learned to play an instrument) then there's options out there for you too.

Also, FL Studio can openify MIDI files since most sequenced music is basically that - There's probably a source of 'em hidden away in the Homestuck Music Sheet thread which you can open up and take a look at (Though be advised they're unlikely to sound too much like the original music and more like your delightful Microsoft GM Wavetable farting in your ears)

Thanks for the tutorial link! It's a tad confusing, but it helped.
After a few hours of messing around and looking up things I didn't know were things I now understand the piano roll and the concept of patterns more or less, I just need to figure out how to make more varied sounds and then figure out how to make a song that is listenable. I'll go look for those MIDI files and give that a shot, too.
I'm still so confused about most things but it's SO FUN

[Jit]

Alright, since I already have some notation software, along with a decent-ish soundfont, I'd prefer to use those, but the sound probably won't come out as well as I'd like it to be. Does sound quality count, or can we send in something with good composition, but bad sound quality?

Sound quality counts quite a bit, nowadays, unfortunate as that is. Maybe you can find someone with really kick-ass samples, if you need them?

[Daysi]

The FL Studio demo is free and has no time limit but I've heard you can't properly save anything unless you export it as an audio file.
Actually on Radiation's tumblr he listed a bunch of music programs, and a bunch of them are free (you just have to flip through all his other posts to find them). http://fwugradiation.tumblr.com/

[Niklink]

Man I love how the general reaction to the contest was 'WELP, time to learn MUSIC'

Yeah I suppose I'm gonna try my hand at it too.

[Jared-hai]

Was nepeta's theme done on mario paint? Because that's the impression i'm getting. Or walls covered in blood. One of those.

[Slogbait]

The contest is the perfect excuse to learn music, and you know it.

[Plazmataz]

Sound quality and composition are equally important, writing and production being two completely different skills which both need to be learned in order to make something truly great. For instance, I'm a shitty composer but a more versatile producer. My advice on the production front would be to read up on mixing, mastering, and most importantly effects plugins. A savvy producer can make great music out of less-than-great samples.

Alternatively, make your own samples out of random sound files and use them for musical experimentation. Also known as "being RJ." Basically, do what Bandages does to .gifs, except do it on music.