[Anorax]

Ugh, the grammar nazi inside me is screaming because of that thread title. When it comes to asking for help I feel like an illiterate n00b. anyway...

Does anyone know how to make eurobeat? I'm almost specifically referencing this guy with my idea of what eurobeat is:
http://odysseymusic.bandcamp.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/odysseyEurobeat

does anyone have any tips/tricks to go with this as well?

[Yoozer]

This helps immensely for lots of Eurobeat signature sounds (pianos, etc.) - http://www.korg.com/Legacym1 and it's very very cheap.

Some parts of http://www.loopmasters.com/product/d...ials-Psytrance may help you in terms of percussion (weird as it may sound).

Also, it helps if you already state what you already have in terms of equipment (even if you have nothing) because then we can direct you to various guides that explain what you need to get started regardless of genre.

The "how" part is hard to explain in a single post.

- around 140 BPM (but more is not a mortal sin)
- simple and somewhat saccharine chord progressions and melodies
- lots of caffeine

The best way to learn is to analyze in depth what is happening and what you are hearing. Take a sheet of 5 x 5 mm graph paper and put it in front of you, landscape orientation.

Every time you can count to 4 with the kick drum? (boom boom boom boom) That's one block on the graph.

At the top left, you write "kick drum". If the track starts with a kick drum that is repeated 8 times, you color two blocks in the kick drum row. You will color the blocks when you hear it, you will leave 'm empty when you don't. Listen to the entire song (if it fits on the paper) and you will have an overview of where you hear a kick drum.

Now take the next instrument. It doesn't matter if you don't know the exact names - "piano" sound be obvious but something like "high-pitched synth lead" works just fine and again, color the blocks when it sounds, and leave 'm empty when you don't hear it.

Listen to a track repeatedly and at the left, write the separate elements from top to bottom; from left to right, color the blocks when these elements appear in the track.

If you've analyzed a few songs like that you recognize the structure, and you start to recognize certain tricks and clichés - "ok, so when the kick drum stops, a snare starts to roll and increase in volume while the melody plays (and nothing else). Then you get a brief silence, and a big SPLASH sound of a cymbal and then EVERYTHING starts to play at the same time!"

When you recognize this, you can apply elements like that yourself; the rest is a matter of getting to know chords and picking the right sounds. That last part is not so hard; the only committee that will determine whether the sounds are "right" are the listeners. Read http://blog.kimlajoie.com/rap-it-in-a-grid/ - it'll explain why it's not bad to use certain clichés, just make sure your song doesn't consist of anything but clichés.

[Anorax]

Originally Posted by Yoozer

This helps immensely for lots of Eurobeat signature sounds (pianos, etc.) - http://www.korg.com/Legacym1 and it's very very cheap.

Some parts of http://www.loopmasters.com/product/d...ials-Psytrance may help you in terms of percussion (weird as it may sound).

Also, it helps if you already state what you already have in terms of equipment (even if you have nothing) because then we can direct you to various guides that explain what you need to get started regardless of genre.

The "how" part is hard to explain in a single post.

- around 140 BPM (but more is not a mortal sin)
- simple and somewhat saccharine chord progressions and melodies
- lots of caffeine

The best way to learn is to analyze in depth what is happening and what you are hearing. Take a sheet of 5 x 5 mm graph paper and put it in front of you, landscape orientation.

Every time you can count to 4 with the kick drum? (boom boom boom boom) That's one block on the graph.

At the top left, you write "kick drum". If the track starts with a kick drum that is repeated 8 times, you color two blocks in the kick drum row. You will color the blocks when you hear it, you will leave 'm empty when you don't. Listen to the entire song (if it fits on the paper) and you will have an overview of where you hear a kick drum.

Now take the next instrument. It doesn't matter if you don't know the exact names - "piano" sound be obvious but something like "high-pitched synth lead" works just fine and again, color the blocks when it sounds, and leave 'm empty when you don't hear it.

Listen to a track repeatedly and at the left, write the separate elements from top to bottom; from left to right, color the blocks when these elements appear in the track.

If you've analyzed a few songs like that you recognize the structure, and you start to recognize certain tricks and clichés - "ok, so when the kick drum stops, a snare starts to roll and increase in volume while the melody plays (and nothing else). Then you get a brief silence, and a big SPLASH sound of a cymbal and then EVERYTHING starts to play at the same time!"

When you recognize this, you can apply elements like that yourself; the rest is a matter of getting to know chords and picking the right sounds. That last part is not so hard; the only committee that will determine whether the sounds are "right" are the listeners. Read http://blog.kimlajoie.com/rap-it-in-a-grid/ - it'll explain why it's not bad to use certain clichés, just make sure your song doesn't consist of anything but clichés.

I need to get this framed. This is great advice! Thanks!

[Anorax]

Originally Posted by Yoozer

Also, it helps if you already state what you already have in terms of equipment (even if you have nothing) because then we can direct you to various guides that explain what you need to get started regardless of genre.

Well, ok then.

OS
- Windows 7 Home Premium x64 bit running on an Acer Aspire 5250-BZ669

Software
-Studio: Mixcraft 6 (registered) with preloaded VSTs
-NI Massive
-Several VSTis from http://amvst.com
-Studio (unused): FL10 Producer Edition
-Studio (unused): Ableton Live 8 Lite Edition

MIDI
- (1) CASIO LK-94TV (USB-MIDI) with modified Yamaha driver to communicate with x64 windows

Recording
- (1) TS-ended Microphone (mono) from Radioshack

No extra MIDI or audio interfaces.

[Yoozer]

Massive alone is already very capable and you've got enough in terms of DAWs to get going - so the problem is merely reduced to synthesis, choosing sounds, and arrangement. Still a lot of work, but it's not going to fail because of lack of equipment.

[Kuolema]

Hey Anorax, I just stumbled across a post on Odyssey's blog that gives some info on this. It looks like he has some other tutorial posts as well, so you might want to browse around.

http://eurobeatblog.com/how-to/eurobeat-for-garageband/

Edit: Actually it looks like you've already seen that. Oh well.

[Anorax]

Originally Posted by Kuolema

Hey Anorax, I just stumbled across a post on Odyssey's blog that gives some info on this. It looks like he has some other tutorial posts as well, so you might want to browse around.

http://eurobeatblog.com/how-to/eurobeat-for-garageband/

Edit: Actually it looks like you've already seen that. Oh well.

Yep, I sure have. However, that tutorial is Garageband-exclusive (refers to certain patches within Garageband) and seeing as I use Windows, I obviously can't use Garageband or the tutorial.

[Kuolema]

Originally Posted by Anorax

Yep, I sure have. However, that tutorial is Garageband-exclusive (refers to certain patches within Garageband) and seeing as I use Windows, I obviously can't use Garageband or the tutorial.

Figures you would have browsed MLR .
Still, doesn't it give some idea of how to achieve the same thing using different plug ins?

[Arcana]

Originally Posted by Anorax

Yep, I sure have. However, that tutorial is Garageband-exclusive (refers to certain patches within Garageband) and seeing as I use Windows, I obviously can't use Garageband or the tutorial.

I'm a Mac user, if you want me to I can make a project with these presets and just kind of play them so you know what they kind of sound like. Then you can go find equivalents for Windows.

But PM me and remind me to do it this weekend or I might forget!