analoq Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 For me it is easier to just create the sound I want rather than auditioning a ton of presets. But on the rare occasions I do find a preset that matches my artistic vision I'll use it. And that's what I advise people to do: If a drumloop/preset/etc adequately represents your artistic vision, then use it. But if you rely on drumloops/presets/etc. as a crutch or substitute for artistic vision, then you might as well just give up - your music is doomed to banality with or without the presets. cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Strader Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 The different "cliques" around here remind me of like, a prison cafeteria. Oh over here you've got your synth elitists, over here you've got your "It sounds like a MIDI" crusaders.. the live instrumentalists cowering in the corner, and over here we've got vocalists Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidd Cabbage Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I never use presets. All my synth sounds come from an Init patch. Doesn't mean I'm superior, am ambient says. It just means I'm superior when it comes to synth design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROTO·DOME Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Get preset, put bitcrusher on it = halc Fix'd10char Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analoq Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I never use presets. All my synth sounds come from an Init patch.Doesn't mean I'm superior, am ambient says. It just means I'm superior when it comes to synth design. If all your sounds come from an 'init patch' it does not follow that you are 'superior' when it comes to synth design. You could very well program your own sounds that are just as clichéd and lacking in originality as any preset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nabeel Ansari Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 If all your sounds come from an 'init patch' it does not follow that you are 'superior' when it comes to synth design. You could very well program your own sounds that are just as clichéd and lacking in originality as any preset. I think you're missing the point. The different "cliques" around here remind me of like, a prison cafeteria. Oh over here you've got your synth elitists, over here you've got your "It sounds like a MIDI" crusaders.. the live instrumentalists cowering in the corner, and over here we've got sequencer-hating acoustic elitists fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analoq Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I think you're missing the point. I think you're missing a chromosome. Please elaborate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexstyle Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I think someone earlier hit the nail on the head, in saying that "if it fits your artistic vision, go for it, but if not, you got problems." That's pretty much how I feel--if a patch doesn't fit what you're doing, don't force the issue. On the other hand, I've been inspired to create certain songs by a single loop or patch which I then elaborated on, and I'm pretty sure my "artistic vision" was only helped by the existence of the patch/loop. The difference between the synthesizer users and the analog instrumentalists is that synth users are inherently given far more options. I guess I just feel like it's a shame to waste those options--mastery of your instrument includes knowing how to make it sound how YOU want it to sound, and you're not using your instrument to its fullest potential if you're stuck with presets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I wanna argue against your point of it being counterproductive, since knowing how to tweak patches or make your own helps you tweak or design more fitting sounds. As useful as presets are when they fit, they're easily used when they don't fit, leading to problems mixing/getting a cohesive sound. Even when just a little editing would be enough. Agreed. I think maybe we are now arguing about the degree of tweaking the presets. Also, Mustin, thanks for your post, now I know that other remixers share my point of view and I am not just crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nabeel Ansari Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I think you're missing a chromosome.Please elaborate. I read it as he's superior in synth design to people who can't use anything but presets. Which makes absolutely perfect sense. If he can do it, and they can't, he's superior in that ability. Whether or not his actual sounds are good is irrelevant, he is "superior" because he knows how to do things from the ground up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analoq Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I read it as he's superior in synth design to people who can't use anything but presets.Which makes absolutely perfect sense. If he can do it, and they can't, he's superior in that ability. Whether or not his actual sounds are good is irrelevant, he is "superior" because he knows how to do things from the ground up. That conclusion does not follow either. Anyone can start from an init patch and arbitrarily tweak knobs without knowledge or understanding of synthesis. Not superior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozovian Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 That conclusion does not follow either. Anyone can start from an init patch and arbitrarily tweak knobs without knowledge or understanding of synthesis. Not superior. That's neblix' point. Just like using a box full of effects doesn't make your guitar playing any better just because you have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strike911 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Haha, I love how these people that hate presets and turn their nose up to them act like TERRIBLE custom synths have never existed. Haha. It comes down to the final product. I don't give a rats ass about anyone's technical skill with all their synths they've lovingly created, because if your music sounds like ass, I won't listen to it ever again. A finely crafted, unique sound is great, but it being solely UNIQUE by no means makes your music better than someone else's. Presets are effective, they can be modded and even layered on top of other presets. The whole argument is just silly, and sadly I've heard it all over the internet, but its all just a whole bunch of insecure prick waving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analoq Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 That's neblix' point.Just like using a box full of effects doesn't make your guitar playing any better just because you have them. No, that is the opposite of their point. It is me whom you agree with. Shall I explain? Kidd Cabbage's premise: - I never use presets. All my synth sounds come from an Init patch. Kidd Cabbage's conclusion: - I'm superior when it comes to synth design. Neblix's conclusion: - [Kidd Cabbage] is "superior" because he knows how to do things from the ground up I've argued that those conclusions do not follow the premise. Your guitar example is logically conterminous with my argument. cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozovian Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 neblix is being sarcastic. He's not very good at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analoq Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 If you knew that to be true, why didn't you mention it in your previous post? Sorry, I think you are still lost, or backpedalling. No evidence to believe otherwise at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zircon Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Some people might be surprised that I actually use a lot of presets in my music. I'm very capable at designing my own sounds and know my way around most kinds of synthesizers, but there's almost nothing more inspiring to me than picking up a beautiful analog patch from Omnisphere, or a gorgeous guitar instrument and just playing away. Sometimes, getting mired in programming kills my creativity, or I just spend hours on a patch that doesn't sound all that amazing to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nonamer Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Some people might be surprised that I actually use a lot of presets in my music. I'm very capable at designing my own sounds and know my way around most kinds of synthesizers, but there's almost nothing more inspiring to me than picking up a beautiful analog patch from Omnisphere, or a gorgeous guitar instrument and just playing away. Sometimes, getting mired in programming kills my creativity, or I just spend hours on a patch that doesn't sound all that amazing to begin with. Really? I find that hard to believe. Then again that explains how frequent you post here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gario Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I have no preset hate, and would love to use them if they sound good. Unfortunately I use Reason 3.0, which only comes with two synthesizers, and the presets on them are... well, limiting, after you use them for a while. That forces me to get into custom synths. Ah well, I guess that makes me a better musician overall, in the long run. I think I hold a common position here - if it works for you than go for it. The only time I'll point something out is if the preset is not working for a particular track, but then it's not an issue of a preset but of soundscape design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zircon Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Really? I find that hard to believe. Then again that explains how frequent you post here. Haha, you mean how often I post remixes, or post on the forums? Most times if I'm posting on the forums, it's because I CAN'T work on music. If you check out my YouTube channel and video walkthroughs, behind-the-scenes, etc. you'll see how I approach things. Some projects, I spend an entire day crafting a single sound. Other projects, I'm so inspired by a preset that I can roll with that without modifying it too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luhny Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I do not hate presets, on the contrary: I love them and I need them. I am by far not proficient enough to set everything up from scratch - be it a reverb or a compressor or whatever. I am happy to have presets that I can use. Of course I need to adjust them to the task at hand, but it is always a good basis to start working with. For me, at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Some people might be surprised that I actually use a lot of presets in my music. I'm very capable at designing my own sounds and know my way around most kinds of synthesizers, but there's almost nothing more inspiring to me than picking up a beautiful analog patch from Omnisphere, or a gorgeous guitar instrument and just playing away. Sometimes, getting mired in programming kills my creativity, or I just spend hours on a patch that doesn't sound all that amazing to begin with. I do not hate presets, on the contrary: I love them and I need them.I am by far not proficient enough to set everything up from scratch - be it a reverb or a compressor or whatever. I am happy to have presets that I can use. Of course I need to adjust them to the task at hand, but it is always a good basis to start working with. For me, at least. More voices of reason right there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROTO·DOME Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 ...I just don't get what the problem is. WTF c'mon guys, if you play any acoustic instrument you better get used to your "presets". This is a stupid thread and I can't believe that some people would be elitest over what is essentially harmonics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garian Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 posting on OCR forum + complaining about elitism = maximum rofl. edit: From what I've seen, we're retreading the discussion at this point. A few pages back someone mentioned that most people who participate in this community are musicians, or at least are familiar with the process, and are able to pick out "tired" preset sounds that a casual listener wouldn't, and I think that right there is pretty much what the OP was looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROTO·DOME Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 posting on OCR forum + complaining about elitism = maximum rofl.using a short, troll sentence + little punctuation or capitalisation to make a vague point about the apparent hypocrisy of the previous post = perceived personal elitism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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