"if the reference track sounds terrible, all you have to do is make your track sound terrible in the exact same way, and you are good!" this is probably the most underrated advice you can give someone
@@jeffreyhanc1711 If every novelist made up a language for every book, nobody would read them. You learn to talk from copying your parents, friends, media, and reflecting on what suits your purposes. Music is the same- learn languages, and make sentences. They need to make sense to you, so you need to develop your own sense of your tastes and opinions. And crucially, musicians need to appropriate techniques, such as the use of instruments, keys, modes, styles, rhythms, arrangements, motifs, or whatever else inspires you.
4:48 I was diagnosed with loopitis but then I started getting in those broad strokes during the session. After hours of hard stroking it finally happened! Thanks to Mr. Overchest I am no longer a loop-virgin!
Your last tip is so underrated! You might be the first person that I've encountered to talk about this. It's true, you gotta give up trying to make your song sound perfect on every playback device. It's an endless trap of analysis paralysis.
yep. it's only by time I've learned that many of my favorite producers and engineers work on Beats or other shit but they know the sound so well so it doesn't matter
@@snubdawg1386 Yah, nothing wrong with focusing on making your music sound good on those! Most people are going to be listening to music on headphones anyways, so I tend to make sure my mix sounds decent on ear buds and over the ear headphones. I used to primarily mix on headphones, but now I normally mix on speakers because I feel like it translates better all around to all playback devices. I suppose you have to find what works for you. 😀
I agree with the drum samples. Sound selection is a very fundamental thing people sometimes forget. This applies most for samples, since it's the most literal example of "sound selection" possible, but it also applies from synth patches too. You want your "starting point," whether it's a preset or an original patch, to be as good as possible. Like 90% of the way there. Then process from there.
One thing I've come to learn over the years is to not drown your music in instruments. Like good cooking, a few ingredients made well is good enough and can bring the flavour of that particular vegetable or meat savory and perfect. Same for sounds. The most common mistake I did in my early days was to add too many tracks with instruments. Another thing is to not let an instrument dominate too much, it should support the music not dominate it.
Ye simple is nice. Tough to achieve with enough fullness but doable. Having dedicated background sounds and rhythms that sit low in the mix helps fill out and create the space that leads and hooks float around in.
One thing I must stress to new producers to break out of loopitis is to work with vocals ASAP. Vocals can give a clear direction for a song rather than an instrumental. For instrumental music you need to have really solid motifs that act how a vocal would. Solar System by Sub Focus is a good example of this.
The two i'm currently working on are loopitis and reference tracks. The last one, has never really been a problem for me, but i think laziness actually helps me avoid falling into that bad habit. I have a desk with cheap (decent) speakers and a sub on the floor. I would usually get on there to create, but i have a pile of shirts n stuff on my desk chair that i'm too lazy to move/put away. So for the past year, i've just been producing on my bed with my headphones and recently, a bluetooth/3.5mm jack speaker. I test out my mixes in my car and it's been consistently good with this setup. Just don't think about it too much is what I would say lol
I haven't laughed this hard in so long. "If the reference track sounds terrible, all you gotta do is make your track sound terrible in the exact same way", love it because it's so true. Subscribed.
when I made my techno album, I was mixing on my KRKs and headphones, as well as doing a car check. Since both my primary mixing setups have little bass (5" speakers with no subwoofer), I realized very fast in the car, that the main thing was "sub is too loud", so I turned that down and now I really like my mix on most systems.
I know you have some older videos on it, but I think a video going in depth on gain staging, clipping, peaks, and generally just volume would be a great resource actually. I think both music producers and streamers would benefit a lot from it. I tune into way too many streams where the volume is just way too low.
I started using a reference track to do production now. as in, load "baby blue", notate every section and big change "-bass 4 bars here, add melody filtered back" etc, and then build my entire track around that. I've never fleshed out full songs so fast. having a skeleton is by far the greatest game changer.
@@jasonanderson5034 Just use one song from each genre, mash them together (with a saturator obvs, don't worry if one is 70bpm and one is 200) and add section refs: intro, whining about losing a lover, whining about why govts always go to war, chorus, more whining, break (more whinging), chorus, outro. Job done.
So glad you’re releasing this kind of content again! Been following the channel throughout my entire production journey and the fact that I’m somewhat half-decent now is thanks in a large part to you.
finally someone talking about that ive recently discovered that you can calibrate your ears to pretty much any output source no matter how shitty it is with the use of references. feels almost like a cheatcode. once you realize that, all that talk about "shit-testing" your tracks goes to waste
Maaan, that was gold! I knew that already. I was sick testing my classical guitar pieces in my car. It's always the most horrible experience. Of course I've learned a lot over time and hat much improved, but the rest of the bad noises are from the car speakers! I have another one: I've seen many finding a peak in the spectrum meter and then immediately eq it out. I mean, that really don't have to be always the case. Some notes or tone have that peak - it's ok!
Okay so I'm following the instructions and I just bought the 02 Corolla. I'm already battling student debt, and the apr is shoddy (only like 18%). Anywho will there be a part 2 to assist with loan issues? Thanks!
That list tip saved me 😅been stressing over getting the low-end right for multiple systems. I'll just focus on the ones i expect my song to be heard and call it a day! Release time 😊🎉
I still remember when you had the shitty webcam a few years ago. I sincerly thank you, you've taught me a lot over the years with your free ressources. You've made me into a better producer and still continue to. Thank you dr. Underbelly you've made me a licing
Daaamn, this has to be one of the most informative yet funny ass videos I’ve ever seen. Had me dying in laughter with “but heres the sit, only got 8 bars of this shit”😂
I have some really good headphones I've rarely used, I turn up the volume to 50 and make it sound ok between some sound magic in ears and some audio technica overly bassy headphones, most people are listening on something between the 2 as far as quality goes anyway lol
Bruh!! "You're finally ready to show off your shit song to your boys in your friend's 2002 Camry so you ask him to pass the aux, your song comes on, and it sounds terrible. There's like no bass bro." Bahaha. Man I needed this after a long day today. Thanks. You are the BroScience of producing haha.
Can you make a video on how to create multiple styles of dance songs(think James Brown, or Donna Summer or Cha Cha, Jungle)? A playlist with these kind of videos would suffice as well. By the way, your channel is a blessing.
The honeymoon phase is so real. If you don’t spend the time to really get as many creative ideas as possible while the track is still fresh, you risk hating your song cause you spent too much time trying to mix a 8 bar loop.
I’m lucky enough to never have a problem with Loopitis. I don’t know if it’s a good thing, but I only write one song at a time and I just keep at it. It takes me like 3 or 4 months to write, but it has gotten better since I enrolled in a legitimate accredited school. Which I recommend to anyone who has the money and is serious enough about it
"if the reference track sounds terrible, all you have to do is make your track sound terrible in the exact same way, and you are good!" this is probably the most underrated advice you can give someone
genius advice fr
That’s the problem with so much music today: everybody copying everybody.
Try making your music suck in your own UNIQUE sucky way.
he's the goat
@@jeffreyhanc1711 If every novelist made up a language for every book, nobody would read them. You learn to talk from copying your parents, friends, media, and reflecting on what suits your purposes. Music is the same- learn languages, and make sentences. They need to make sense to you, so you need to develop your own sense of your tastes and opinions. And crucially, musicians need to appropriate techniques, such as the use of instruments, keys, modes, styles, rhythms, arrangements, motifs, or whatever else inspires you.
@@kategoss5454 a+. people get too hung up on unrealistic and arbitrary ideas of "uniqueness"
the "ok so check it" gets me every single time. no matter how many videos i watch that confirm that i suck at producing
4:48 I was diagnosed with loopitis but then I started getting in those broad strokes during the session. After hours of hard stroking it finally happened! Thanks to Mr. Overchest I am no longer a loop-virgin!
hell yea, i knew after 10 years the reason my music sucks is because of my car
😂😂😂
Hahahahaha same
XD
Hahaha good I have no car. Spent all the money on gear.
Respekt
Your last tip is so underrated! You might be the first person that I've encountered to talk about this. It's true, you gotta give up trying to make your song sound perfect on every playback device. It's an endless trap of analysis paralysis.
the combination of my studio monitors + headphones + tv speakers (or laptop speakers) works pretty well for me
yep. it's only by time I've learned that many of my favorite producers and engineers work on Beats or other shit but they know the sound so well so it doesn't matter
analysis paralysis. Hot dam ima steal that
this was so refreshing to hear
@@snubdawg1386 Yah, nothing wrong with focusing on making your music sound good on those! Most people are going to be listening to music on headphones anyways, so I tend to make sure my mix sounds decent on ear buds and over the ear headphones. I used to primarily mix on headphones, but now I normally mix on speakers because I feel like it translates better all around to all playback devices. I suppose you have to find what works for you. 😀
I agree with the drum samples. Sound selection is a very fundamental thing people sometimes forget. This applies most for samples, since it's the most literal example of "sound selection" possible, but it also applies from synth patches too. You want your "starting point," whether it's a preset or an original patch, to be as good as possible. Like 90% of the way there. Then process from there.
"Just make your track sound terrible in the exact same way"
One thing I've come to learn over the years is to not drown your music in instruments. Like good cooking, a few ingredients made well is good enough and can bring the flavour of that particular vegetable or meat savory and perfect. Same for sounds. The most common mistake I did in my early days was to add too many tracks with instruments.
Another thing is to not let an instrument dominate too much, it should support the music not dominate it.
Ye simple is nice. Tough to achieve with enough fullness but doable.
Having dedicated background sounds and rhythms that sit low in the mix helps fill out and create the space that leads and hooks float around in.
Simple finesse is the way
One thing I must stress to new producers to break out of loopitis is to work with vocals ASAP. Vocals can give a clear direction for a song rather than an instrumental. For instrumental music you need to have really solid motifs that act how a vocal would. Solar System by Sub Focus is a good example of this.
Most generic tune ever. Boring
Happy recovery from loopitis guys🙌
Loopitis?! Is it loopitis?!
The two i'm currently working on are loopitis and reference tracks. The last one, has never really been a problem for me, but i think laziness actually helps me avoid falling into that bad habit. I have a desk with cheap (decent) speakers and a sub on the floor. I would usually get on there to create, but i have a pile of shirts n stuff on my desk chair that i'm too lazy to move/put away.
So for the past year, i've just been producing on my bed with my headphones and recently, a bluetooth/3.5mm jack speaker. I test out my mixes in my car and it's been consistently good with this setup. Just don't think about it too much is what I would say lol
Reference tracks for mixing is a stupidly great idea for making the most of any headphone/monitoring system.
I haven't laughed this hard in so long. "If the reference track sounds terrible, all you gotta do is make your track sound terrible in the exact same way", love it because it's so true.
Subscribed.
1:27 I was reminded of Bo Bunrhams Squares vs Circles joke haha.
Our beautiful Sine turns into an UGLY, ANGULAR Square wave 😂
I fuckin' love you dude
A non-serious serious tutorial video about all the things I've been doing wrong, in a way that just cracks me up just right
you're so great bro even after ten years plus of producing I still watch ya. love ya 💜
You've gotten really good at teaching production! Please keep it up!!!
Priceless with the hilarity 😂
when I made my techno album, I was mixing on my KRKs and headphones, as well as doing a car check. Since both my primary mixing setups have little bass (5" speakers with no subwoofer), I realized very fast in the car, that the main thing was "sub is too loud", so I turned that down and now I really like my mix on most systems.
I know you have some older videos on it, but I think a video going in depth on gain staging, clipping, peaks, and generally just volume would be a great resource actually. I think both music producers and streamers would benefit a lot from it. I tune into way too many streams where the volume is just way too low.
Addictive editing style and video format. Great video. Subbed
Thank you Underbelly! Who else in the world would remind me how much I suck at producing. Love to learn from you! Long life for your channel!
I started using a reference track to do production now. as in, load "baby blue", notate every section and big change "-bass 4 bars here, add melody filtered back" etc, and then build my entire track around that.
I've never fleshed out full songs so fast. having a skeleton is by far the greatest game changer.
if u actually make original music like unique u can't use a reference how do i find a reference for a lo-fi death metal song
@@jasonanderson5034 Just use one song from each genre, mash them together (with a saturator obvs, don't worry if one is 70bpm and one is 200) and add section refs: intro, whining about losing a lover, whining about why govts always go to war, chorus, more whining, break (more whinging), chorus, outro. Job done.
So glad you’re releasing this kind of content again! Been following the channel throughout my entire production journey and the fact that I’m somewhat half-decent now is thanks in a large part to you.
finally someone talking about that
ive recently discovered that you can calibrate your ears to pretty much any output source no matter how shitty it is with the use of references. feels almost like a cheatcode. once you realize that, all that talk about "shit-testing" your tracks goes to waste
Maaan, that was gold! I knew that already. I was sick testing my classical guitar pieces in my car. It's always the most horrible experience. Of course I've learned a lot over time and hat much improved, but the rest of the bad noises are from the car speakers!
I have another one: I've seen many finding a peak in the spectrum meter and then immediately eq it out. I mean, that really don't have to be always the case. Some notes or tone have that peak - it's ok!
Okay so I'm following the instructions and I just bought the 02 Corolla. I'm already battling student debt, and the apr is shoddy (only like 18%).
Anywho will there be a part 2 to assist with loan issues? Thanks!
You’re already ahead of the game using Leotrix as a reference
That list tip saved me 😅been stressing over getting the low-end right for multiple systems. I'll just focus on the ones i expect my song to be heard and call it a day! Release time 😊🎉
The king has returned
love the haïda pic in the background, have a moon design myself
Where has this guy been all my life
That beginning was amazing😂😂😂
Putting key changes or chords in locators is also useful.
Your videos never get old man haha. Love it.
Unironically some of the best advice for modern day bass music production. A+ work 🤝
It's always the car. Happy new year mate 🎶
Once again, wisdom was shared. So next time with the boys I can use the excuse that It's probably the car. Thank you underbelly 🙏
Finally an excuse that is actually legitimate. 😂
Your intro was REAL.
this was probably your best video yet
I still remember when you had the shitty webcam a few years ago. I sincerly thank you, you've taught me a lot over the years with your free ressources. You've made me into a better producer and still continue to. Thank you dr. Underbelly you've made me a licing
my music sucks, and I suck at producing. you are my only hope of getting better. love you man
I fcking love clipping
You had "contracting Loopus" and you whiffed it it. I can't believe it.
In the intro I always hear "Ok Sir chicken"
Why am i only discovering this channel now 😆😆 Enjoyed the video and learned a lot at the same time.
I suck at producing 🤣
ty!
Thanks!
McDonald coins
learning and laughing at the same time?!
Noiice!!
Getting there
The intro === my life
Great advice. I still can’t believe we’re at -4 LUFS though. 🙉
Underbelly, you’re a shining source of infinite wisdom! Thank you!
Daaamn, this has to be one of the most informative yet funny ass videos I’ve ever seen. Had me dying in laughter with “but heres the sit, only got 8 bars of this shit”😂
Youlean Loudness Meter is a game changer.
Remind me of Basically Homeless but for music instead of games.
lolol bro you are gifted with being so hilarious and being a great educator
mans still got it
I have some really good headphones I've rarely used, I turn up the volume to 50 and make it sound ok between some sound magic in ears and some audio technica overly bassy headphones, most people are listening on something between the 2 as far as quality goes anyway lol
Hahaha that intro. Banger in itself. 😮
Bruh!! "You're finally ready to show off your shit song to your boys in your friend's 2002 Camry so you ask him to pass the aux, your song comes on, and it sounds terrible. There's like no bass bro." Bahaha. Man I needed this after a long day today. Thanks. You are the BroScience of producing haha.
Can you make a video on how to create multiple styles of dance songs(think James Brown, or Donna Summer or Cha Cha, Jungle)? A playlist with these kind of videos would suffice as well.
By the way, your channel is a blessing.
The part on the “loopitis” is really deeply true
So in resume : thé right element with the right effect(s) AT the right time.
haha "its probably the car,..." wowzers' best video i seen in a while
I feel so called out I used to mix on inkd and I actually had the song pop the fuck off haha totally agree
Wowzers
That wowzers hit
I felt so attacked on 4:30 cuz is so fucking real 😭
8:17 this is so true
The honeymoon phase is so real. If you don’t spend the time to really get as many creative ideas as possible while the track is still fresh, you risk hating your song cause you spent too much time trying to mix a 8 bar loop.
What a great video and channel
I missed this kind of videos Underbelly, you gave me joy, and nostalgia when I found while I was really started producing music. Thanks.
youve got that funniest poker face ever, tips are useful thanks
I feel like I'm turning into a square wave while watching this.
🤪
Those saturated drums sound like Beastie Boys - So What'Cha Want. Everything is compressed and saturated to hell in that song and it sounds great
Best music producing teacher EVER!!!
actual useful information in a short time with great humor so it‘s even more fun to watch.. awesome!
tyyy man
i feel fucking blessed. Wowzers.
One of a kind sense of humor! Love your content man!
yer hes cool af ay
HE'S BACK
BABE WAKE UP UNDERBELLY JUST POSTED
incredible simply incredible
best proudction channel out there, actually watchable videos
i realllllly appreciate the attitude of this video it slaps ngl
Really helpful, love this style of video. Thanks man :)
Oh jeeze. Guilty as charged.
Your descriptions are the best, thanks beat man.
Wow, that was something I really needed to hear.
Have a great day!
I’m lucky enough to never have a problem with Loopitis. I don’t know if it’s a good thing, but I only write one song at a time and I just keep at it. It takes me like 3 or 4 months to write, but it has gotten better since I enrolled in a legitimate accredited school. Which I recommend to anyone who has the money and is serious enough about it
I just found ur channel some days ago and joined the discord a few hours ago. Glad ur back
Thanks for this juan my dooder
bro youre so right
8:22 funny but true
Lustig =) Stimmt auch.
8:12 those are literally the headphones I use to mix...
My mixes started taking much less work to sound complete using those compared to my ATH-M50Xs.
you’re amazing
this is invaluable advice mate
This was great
Good vibes only, wowzers
How is he wearing the same shirt as the stock image 8:04