The LANDR Resource Hub: via LANDR Blog
Learning music is how you move forward with your creativity. Whether you’re building your first beat or releasing your magnum opus there’s always something more to learn. To help you on your journey we’ve published tutorials, explainers and in-depth guides on all the topics that matter in music creation. But it doesn’t end there. Sometimes you need hands-on experience to break through a tough topic. That’s why we’re providing direct access to the best tools, resources and raw materials to help you progress. In this collection you’ll find the DAW Sessions, MIDI packs, Printables, Free Samples and Plugin Presets you need to follow along with our resources and keep growing your music. LANDR DAW SessionsThe best way to learn music production is directly in your DAW. When you’re working through a tutorial inside an actual DAW session you can see how every detail in a track fits together. Here’s every DAW session included with LANDR tutorials. Download How To Chop Samples Ableton SessionLANDR MIDI PacksChord progressions? Minor scales? Cadences? If you’re just starting with music theory it’s easy to get stuck looking for the notes on your MIDI controller. To make it faster we’ve created pre-built MIDI files to help you with concepts from music theory. Here’s every MIDI Pack included with LANDR tutorials Download How To Write A Song MIDI PackLANDR PrintablesIt’s not always easy to keep the details at hand when you need them. Sometimes the best solution is good old fashioned pen and paper. That’s why we wrote the essential music cheat sheets to help you keep it all straight. Here’s every printable resource included with LANDR tutorials Download Lo-Fi Hip-Hop Guitar Chord ChartDownload Music Scales Cheat SheetDownload Form and Structure Cheat SheetLANDR SamplesYou can never have too many cool sounds for your tracks. That’s why we include every sample you’ll need to follow along in your DAW with the exact same sounds—absolutely free. Here’s every sample pack included with LANDR tutorials. LANDR PresetsVST instruments are a major perk of modern music production. You get access to tones and timbres that were once only found in expensive big budget studios. Even so, many VSTs aren’t easy to use right out of the box. Complex controls and endless parameters make creating presets from scratch difficult for beginners. Use the custom presets we build for popular VST instruments and effects to get great sounds from your plugins instantly. Here’s every preset included with LANDR tutorials. Download 808 Bass Tips Simpler PresetThe post The LANDR Resource Hub appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/resource-hub/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/634612600377933824
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Lo-fi Music: The Basics You Need To Start Making it: via LANDR Blog
Lo-fi has taken on a lot of different meanings in recent years. The term low-fidelity once referred only to the quality of a sound signal. Specifically, a sonic signal of a poorer quality—usually one produced by cassettes. But today, the grainy, warbling sound that came from tape recordings and cassettes has given birth to an entire genre of music and production style. Lo-fi music now refers to an entirely instrumental brand of sample-based hip-hop beat production—and its sprawling community of beatmakers, listeners and live streaming playlists. The genre has exploded in popularity over the last few years, especially on YouTube. So you might be interested in learning more about the new genre. Especially, if you want to create lo-fi tracks of your own. In this article we’ll look at everything there’s to know about lo-fi music—the music theory behind it, the different production techniques used to make it and where to get the best lo-fi samples. What is lo-fi music?Lo-fi music refers to a genre of music produced with low-fidelity signals, typically re-creating the hiss, warble and saturation of recordings made with a tape machine. Most lo-fi music draws on hip-hop influences—especially its typical drum patterns. Lo-fi vs. lo-fi musicWhile today the term lo-fi refers to an entire genre of music, lo-fi traditionally referred to low fidelity sound signals. In the past, lo-fi was not a compliment. In fact, most producers worked their hardest stay away from a “lo-fi” sound. In the past, lo-fi was not a compliment. In fact, most producers worked their hardest stay away from a “lo-fi” sound. But now, with the marvels of DAWs and digital music production, a certain nostalgia for the warbling sound of cassette recordings has returned. Today lo-fi producers use a slurry of modern production techniques to bend samples into hip-hop tracks that evoke the sounds of 90s car stereos. How to make lo-fi musicMaking lo-fi music is surprisingly simple—even if it relies on some slightly more complicated jazz theory. That’s because it’s sample-based. You don’t necessarily have to know how to play certain chords on the piano or guitar when you can just sample them. Today’s lo-fi producers bend samples into tracks that evoke the sounds of 90s car stereos. Pretty much anyone can get started making lo-fi beats with a handful of samples and a free DAW like GarageBand. Let’s explore a few of the most basic elements behind making lo-fi music. 1. Sample in a DAWThe first step is to learn how to sample in your DAW. There’s a few techniques you can use, and we’ve created tons of content around the subject before. But as a basic start, you’ll either want to drop samples directly into the timeline of your DAW project or you’ll use a sampling plugin to chop the sample according to its transients. Of course, you’ll need some good samples to work with—let’s take a look at the kinds of sounds you should be looking for. 2. Hip-hop drum loopsLo-fi music is based on hip-hop. Specifically, it almost entirely borrows the style of drum production found in 90s and early 2000s hip-hop. Hip-hop loops with snappy snares, thuddy kicks and hissing hi-hats are staples in this genre. But snares, kicks and hi-hats aren’t all you should focus on. There’s plenty of lo-fi music out there that uses samples of bottles, pots and pans, stick clicks and pretty much any odd percussion you can imagine. Lo-fi lends itself towards recorded samples of live percussion elements, even if some sub-genres like lo-fi trap lean towards electronically produced samples. Live recorded samples are more popular since they’re easy to manipulate and break down into lo-fi territory and because recorded drums just sound jazzier. Speaking of jazz… Lo-fi chord progressionsLo-fi chord progressions are mostly just simplified jazz chord progressions. You’ll hear many lo-fi producers applying jazzy two-five-one chord progressions with more complicated 7th and 9th voicings in their lo-fi tracks. We’ve written about chord progressions before, including jazz chords. So take some time to brush up on your basic music theory if you want to write a really good lo-fi track. Even if you don’t play guitar or piano, knowing a little theory will help you know what to look for when searching for the right jazzy samples. Lo-fi instrumentsWhen you’re writing a lo-fi track, think like a jazz composer. Lo-fi music crosses over with jazz in many ways— but with a lot of loops. So you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the instruments that jazz music commonly uses. Most jazz is built on top of a rhythm section that consists of drums, double bass and piano. So these instruments should absolutely be part of any lo-fi arrangement you create. Of course, you can always add some spice with saxophone, trumpet, guitar, trombone, harp… just listen to a couple classic jazz records and you’ll get the idea. Common lo-fi production techniquesOkay now comes the fun part. The production side of lo-fi music is really what defines the genre. Here’s four basic production techniques that almost every lo-fi producer uses. Tape saturationTape saturation is the main effect that gives lo-fi its sonic qualities. But in short, tape saturation is the main effect that tape machines are still beloved for. In short, it’s what happens as you add more audio to a tape. Tape saturation is caused by the physical limitations of cassette tape. When you record more and more audio to tape it compounds subtle distortion, compression, phasing, small irregularities in pitch, roll-off of high and low frequencies and general changes in resonance across the frequency spectrum to create a “saturated” effect. Essentially, tape saturation is that thin, warbling sound you associate with lo-fi. Of course, if you don’t need a tape machine to get a tape saturation effect, there’s tons of tape saturation plugins out there that effectively emulate the effect of recording on a tape machine. SidechainingThe next production technique you hear all the time in lo-fi music is sidechaining. You can dive deep into how it works in one of our previous articles, but the sonic effect is easy to explain. Next time you listen to a lo-fi playlist, pay attention to a certain pulsing rhythmic effect that makes the entire track duck in volume every time the kick drum is struck—that’s sidechaining! Essentially that’s what sidechain compression does—every time a specific sound occurs (in most cases a kick), the entire track ducks to make the kicks more audible adding a rhythmic element to the track. You can easily learn how to set up a sidechain effect in your DAW if you follow this tutorial. DAW swingLike jazz, lo-fi music doesn’t strictly adhere to a grid-like understanding of rhythm like rock or electronic music. Instead, notes are loose and slightly off-kilter. In jazz, this rhythmic feel is called swing. But lo-fi music isn’t swung exactly. Rhythms are instead played “in the cracks”—meaning the beat isn’t perfectly straight but nor is it perfectly swung. This effect was pioneered by beatmaking legend J Dilla, who learned how to use his MPC to place notes off the rhythmic grid to create a rhythmic feel called MPC Swing. Later, with the introduction of DAWs, the term became known as DAW swing. With any DAW you can add the exact swing feel you want in your track, whether you want a classic MPC swing pattern or your own custom swing pattern. Adding DAW swing in your DAW is easy and we’ve written about it in-depth in other articles. Lo-fi audio effects and lo-fi VSTsLo-fi music makes use of a ton of audio effects. You’ll hear phaser, reverb, pitch bending, chorus, delay… the list goes on and on. Getting acquainted with exactly what each audio effect does is a great way to level up your production skills and improve your tracks. We’ve written a lot about different ways to use audio effects in your music production, so dive in a play with some knobs! And of course, there are so many lo-fi VST plugins out there to help you hone your sound. How to find lo-fi samplesBe careful when hunting for samples to use in your lo-fi tracks. Sampling copyright is still a murky area and your tracks might get taken down if you haven’t cleared your tracks before release. Your best bet is to use royalty-free sample markets like LANDR Samples, where you can freely use any of the samples you download. There are so many amazing lo-fi sample packs out there to sift through. I guarantee you’ll find something amazing, especially because these sample packs are formatted to be easy to arrange, chopped and crafted in your DAW. Lo-fi music foreverLo-fi is a music trend that isn’t going away. Just a simple YouTube search will provide you with so many playlists that your tracks could be featured on. There’s a huge community of lo-fi music lovers out there, so if you feel called to write some lo-fi tracks there’s tons of support out there for you. Get out there and make a lo-fi beat to chill out to! The post Lo-fi Music: The Basics You Need To Start Making it appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/lofi/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/634593711626584064
The 10 Best VST Instruments Every Producer Needs: via LANDR Blog
Ever since the VST first made its way into the music production world, VST instruments dramatically increased the capabilities of DAWs. It’s truly incredible how this technology that remains relatively unchanged from its first versions in the late 90s, continues to shape modern music production as we know. There are 1000s of VST instruments on the market today, including some great free ones. But freeware plugins can only take you so far. The top tone tools for music production are still commercial products that come with a price tag. When it comes to paid synth plugins, knowing where to put your money is hard. Which is why LANDR now offers rent-to-own plugins—to bring you the tools you need at affordable prices. With all the options out there, it doesn’t have to be scary or expensive if you’re able to pick the best synth plugin that’s right for your music production needs. Let’s take a look at VST instruments that are responsible for iconic tracks and sounds you can’t get anywhere else. Here’s the essential list of the best VST instruments and synth plugins
Use this list to choose the best synth plugins from the cream of the crop. 1. Lethal Audio LethalPrice: $199 Lethal by Lethal Audio is a ROM based powerhouse that includes thousands of sounds and presets and 24 genre-specific expansions. It’s also the first rent-to-own plugin from LANDR… We know, we know: we’re a bit biased. But we had to put it first on this list because we’ve been enjoying it so much in our own productions lately.
This soft synth puts some of the most in-demand tones in modern production right at your fingertips with it’s easy to use preset browser. From there’s plenty of room to sculpt them with effects and powerful synthesis features. Plus its light enough on your processor that you can create an entire track using just Lethal. If you’re looking for simplicity and great value, Lethal is the perfect synth for you. 2. Spectrasonics OmnispherePrice: $499 USD Spectrasonics Omnisphere is one of the biggest names in software synthesizers. This massively powerful instrument packs an almost overwhelming amount of functionality. There’s so much going on under the hood in Omnisphere that it might be a little intimidating to new users. But there’s a super helpful community around this synth to guide you on your journey—and plenty of resources available if you’re feeling stuck. If all else fails you could get lost in the sheer number of presets and discover some incredible sounds without ever once needing to do any tweaking. Omnisphere is a powerful experience!
3. Xfer SerumPrice: $189 USD Xfer Serum is usually next on the list of the most essential soft synths. Serum is a wavetable synthesizer. Unlike the hardware synths of the past that rely on wavetable technology, Serum has no processing limitations—and it shows. Serum’s wavetable tech is incredibly powerful. Even for simple waveforms, its expertly implemented wavetables sound ultra-clear and clean. This gives the synth a crisp and clean sound that can be quite intense! 4. Native Instruments MassivePrice: $149 USD Native Instruments’ Massive has been around since the early days of softsynths, but it’s an all-time favourite for a reason. This synth is designed to make basses. Massive basses—and it works. Its easy to use virtual-analog subtractive design will seem familiar and intuitive, even to new users. Its extremely fat sound has defined a generation of producers and continues to be a great option for plugin synthesis. Hot Tip: Massive has just received a significant update with NI Massive X. Massive X is an entirely new synth plugin reimagined from the ground up to bring the classic VST into the modern era of music production. It just might end up being more legendary than the original! 5. Native Instruments FM8Price: $149 USD Native Instruments FM8 is another longtime favourite soft synth from the classic plugin manufacturer. FM8 uses frequency modulation synthesis like the iconic Yamaha DX-7 that defined the sound of the 80s.
This method can seem complicated, but FM8 focuses on putting all the control you need at your fingertips. Plus, FM8 takes FM synthesis much further than classic hardware. All the delicate, crystalline bells and keys you might associate with FM are there, along with all kinds of inspiring new sounds and textures—FM is cool! 6. Arturia V CollectionPrice: 499$ The Arturia V Collection is truly incredible because it gives you access to a library of legendary vintage synths. It’s hard to express just how incredible it is that you can download and emulate genre-defining synths like the CS-80 or the ARP 2600. Having access to a literal library of classic synths opens up your production capabilities to levels that producers of eras past could only dream about. 7. Native Instruments Kontakt 6Price: $519 Kontakt 6 is a collection of sample-based instruments from Native Instruments. It’s essentially a platform that plugs into your DAW and gives you access to its three Play Series synths, Retro Machines MK2 and its original Factory Library. The Play Series synths come with three synth engines—Analog Dreams for classic analog-style synths, Ethereal Earth for atmospheric pads and Hybrid Keys for interesting Rhodes style sounds. Retro Machines is Native Intstruments’ retro synth offering that gives access to 16 re-creations of classic vintage hardware. And of course, the Factory Libary comes with 1000s of stock samples you can freely use in your tracks. 8. Reveal Sound SpirePrice: $189 USD Reveal Sound Spire is a hybrid synthesizer that covers everything from analog modelling to “HardFM.” Spire’s powerful unison modes allow for up to 9 unison voices per oscillator And its internal effects system is like a built-in sound design tool, complete with its own LFOs and matrix slots. Onboard mixing tools like EQ and compression make Spire a one-stop-shop for designing tones that work great in a mix. 9. u-he HivePrice: €149 Euro u-he Hive is a sleek and lightweight multipurpose synth with tons of functionality. Hive’s effective workflow can get you started creating great sounding patches right away. It’s ability to support microtunings and unique mix of synthesis styles makes it unique and it’s extensive modulation matrix and function generators make it flexible. But at heart Hive is a two oscillator subtractive synth. That means that even if you’re still getting comfortable with the basics of synthesis, there’s nothing here you can’t handle. 10. REFX Nexus2Price: $249 USD REFX Nexus2 is another ROM based plugin with an extensive library that’s fully loaded for EDM production. Nexus has made its way into the studios of some pretty big names, but the sound quality speaks for itself.
Nexus is expandable via a huge amount of downloadable content and expansions on REFX for every style of music. SyntheticaSynthesizer plugins are one of the most exciting parts of digital music production. No matter what sound you’re chasing, there’s a soft synth out there that will help you get it. These are the best synth plugins to check out next time you’re GAS-ing for a powerful new plugin to add to your arsenal. The post The 10 Best VST Instruments Every Producer Needs appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/best-synth-plugins/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/634522124928811008
3 Reasons Why You Should Write Music in a Different Genre: via LANDR Blog
Inspiration and energy are easy to find when you’re exploring and writing music for the first time. But the longer you create music in the same predictable ways, the harder it is to feel engaged and challenged. This is where exploring new genres comes in.
When the usual ways of making music aren’t exciting and rewarding anymore, it’s time for a major shakeup. Exploring a new genre as an exercise is always a great way to do it, here’s three reasons why. 1. Exploring new genres breaks you out of old habitsWhy do people quit making music? Some leave music behind because they get too busy with life and careers, but many quit because of boredom. To be an impactful music-maker, writing has to be a rewarding experience for you. But, by copying and pasting your creative process over and over again, you end up taking the joy out of making music. Instead, take a risk and learn what it means to write in a new genre. It’s a great way to boost your creativity and keep newness in your process.
If you’re hesitant to write in a new genre because it would make you uncomfortable, that’s exactly the point! Not knowing how a song will end up sounding before you start writing is a tried and true way to change up your workflow and your sound. 2. Countless artists weave different genres into their musicThink about the new music fans engage with the most right now, is it straightforward and predictable or is it fresh, innovative, and new? The answer is almost always the latter. There’s a long tradition of artists successfully exploring new genres and combining different styles into their music. Musician Amelia Meath went from playing folk music in a trio called Mountain Man to being nominated for a Grammy with her electro-pop band Sylvan Esso. By blending hip hop and country, Lil Nas X managed to write one of the biggest hits in the history of pop music. When Damien Jurado lent his warm vocals to the electronic track “Take Your Time,” his brief departure from folk yielded exciting results. The takeaway here is that there’s a huge benefit in trying something new in music. Failing is an unavoidable part of creating in a new genre, but it’s worth it. 3. Writing in new genres sharpens your creative instinctsAs a musician, nothing is more valuable than your perspective and intuition. But when those assets are applied to the same tired creative process, they get dull. Embracing newness in the way you write is key for keeping things sharp.
A huge benefit of exploring a new genre is that it blows up your creative process from top to bottom in an exciting way. Doing this will keep your mind engaged and your creative instincts sharpened. How to explore a new genre for the first timeIf you’re unsure what it will take to successfully write a track in a new genre, here’s a few handy pointers to keep in mind. Identify the genre you normally write in and get specific about your processGet to the bottom of the genre(s) you normally write in. Think about things like instrumentation, song structures, and lyrical themes associated with your genre. If you don’t understand the patterns you follow in your own genre, it’ll be difficult to know what to pay attention to when diving into a new discipline. Once you recognize old habits and tendencies connected with your previous genre, you can break them when writing in a new one. Think about music in other genres that resonates with youChoose a genre that’s new to you, but isn’t completely unrecognizable. Even taking a look at other subgenres in the genre you work in is a viable step. Take some time to listen to new music, get recommendations from friends and commit to going through a research and learning phase. You could even pay for mentoring and advice from a professional who understands the genre intimately. Nail down specifics about what musical aspects shape the new genre. The elements that make up a genre comprise instrumentation, song structure, types of chords and rhythms used. If that sounds challenging to you, it may be worth brushing up on your music theory. There’s tons of resources on YouTube to help you too. The cool thing about focusing on a new genre is that you’ll use what you learn to create music in new and exciting ways. Explore, experiment, and recordOnce you’ve chosen a new genre to explore and are familiar with why it sounds the way it does, it’s time to jump in. With an open, patient mindset, try experimenting and recording. The most important thing to remember when writing in a new genre for the first time is that failure is okay.
Running into dead-ends during this process is nothing to be ashamed about. Give yourself the time and freedom to explore new ideas during this process. Believe it or not, feeling out of your depth is actually a great thing as a musician. We fail when we write the same music over and over again, but venturing out into new genres is a great way to keep things fresh. It might feel easier and safer to write predictable music in predictable ways, but doing so won’t result in finishing music that engages people. When things feel stale in your process, don’t be afraid to embrace change and take a risk. The post 3 Reasons Why You Should Write Music in a Different Genre appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/write-new-music-genres/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/634340853180153856
Hard Truths: Not Everyone Will Like Your Music: via LANDR Blog
It’s natural to want to win over the world with your music. After all, connecting with audiences should be one of your top priorities as a music-maker. But the reality is that your music can’t and shouldn’t be loved by everyone. Here’s my hard truth for today—not everyone will like your music. But that’s not meant to be discouraging. In this article I’ll explain how getting over it will help you be truer to yourself and more creative. Try to please everyone and you’ll end up pleasing no oneThink about the sort of music that’s truly shaping the cultural conversation right now. Is it distinct and original or is it bland and forgettable?
Time and time again, the music that cuts through the noise is authentic and different. Impactful music is rooted in humanity and creativity—not the desire to be loved by everyone. As a music-maker, one of the trickiest balances you’ll need to strike is between wanting to find listeners and the desire to create meaningful work. If your work is motivated more by your need to be successful and loved than genuine creativity, you’ve got it backwards. Connecting with listeners in a meaningful way starts with your motivation to create music. Aiming for universal acceptance stalls your creative processWhen you write music, what do you think about?
Are you curious about where your ideas will take you? Or are you more concerned with writing songs everyone likes? If you’re more focused on writing music to please than creating honest work that reflects your best ideas and who you are, you’ve got a problem. You’ll make your best work with a curious, open mindset. But your process gets derailed when it’s weighed down by the unrealistic pressures of trying to attain everyone’s approval. To prevent this from happening, check in with yourself during your creative process. If you find yourself making choices to try and please crowds and dumb down ideas, take a break and refocus. The more heart and unique personality you can throw into your process, the more specific groups of listeners will relate with your work. In doing this you’ll realize it’s impossible for each and every person to like your music. When you stop and think about it, there’s an incredible amount of freedom in knowing that. Choose honesty over broad appealNo musician wants to make music people forget about as soon as they hear it. And yet, bland, safe music is easier to make than songs that actually say something about yourself. It’s not realistic or possible to make the entire listening public fans of your music. But creating deep, engaging music that speaks directly to a specific audience is. Forging real connections with audiences has never been more important. Endless release cycles and forgettable playlists make it easy for listeners to disengage.
Making those lasting impressions starts with creating music authentically. Writing this way can be risky. In fact, you’re bound to fail more often than you succeed. But taking the path of authenticity gives you the best chance at making work that truly speaks to your listeners. Each and every listener isn’t going to love your music. Instead of worrying about that, focus on meaningfully engaging audiences that are most likely to resonate with your songs. Embrace authenticity to create meaningful musicThe songs that resonate most are made by creators who embrace their unique musical identities. Headed by the Swinomish/Iñupiaq singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Katherine Paul, Black Belt Eagle Scout’s thoughtful take on indie rock has earned a passionate following in recent years. In 2016, the American rapper, producer, and poet Noname won over audiences and critics with Telefone, a mixtape with songs presented as phone conversations.
With a career spanning almost 25 years, of Montreal’s otherworldly pop music and captivating live shows have won over loyal fans. No matter how talented, lucky, and hardworking you are, you’ll never be able to win over the whole world with your music. Your best chance at making lasting connections with listeners is by doubling down on your own unique creativity and authenticity. The post Hard Truths: Not Everyone Will Like Your Music appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/hard-truths-universal-appeal/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/633970900440662016
50 Music Symbols You Need to Know to Understand Written Music: via LANDR Blog
In sheet music, music symbols are used to describe the way a particular piece of music should be played. That’s why sheet music is still so important for communicating how to play a piece of music. But written music uses a lot of different symbols to describe what to play exactly and it can be confusing to know what each symbol means.
That’s why we’ve put together a master list of music symbols you need to know to read sheet music. Let’s learn the 50 most important music symbols! 1. AccentThe accent is a sideways V found on the top or bottom of the head of a note. It indicated that the specific note should be played at an increased dynamic over the other notes in the bar. 2. ArpeggioThe arpeggio symbol indicates to the player that the notes in the chord should be played independently and in a sweeping motion similar to the way an arpeggio is played. 3. BarsA bar or measure in music is symbolized by vertical lines on the staff. The notes of a specific measure are written between each vertical bar. 4. BraceThe brace symbol is used to indicate that two clefs on a musical staff are connected and should be played together. It’s used most commonly to visually connect the bass and treble clef in piano music. 5. Breath MarkBreath marks are comma like symbols used between notes to indicate where wind players and choir singers may take a breath between passages. 6. Chord NumeralsIn sheet music, you’ll often see roman numerals denoting the chord’s position within the key of a piece of music. 7. ClefThe clef is a symbol used at the beginning of every piece of sheet music. It indicates the note value of each line on the staff.
There are many clefs in music but the two most common are the treble and bass clef. These clefs are also known as the G-clef and F-clef because they both indicate where G in the treble clef and F in the bass clef are found respectively. Choral music also makes use of different C-clefs for soprano, alto, tenor and baritone to indicate where middle C is found on the staff. 8. CodaThe coda serves as a reference point in a piece of music. For example, when the instruction “to coda” is written the player is expected to continue playing from where the coda symbol is located on the sheet. The coda is denoted by a circle with a cross through it. 9. Common TimeThe common time is 4/4 time. It’s denoted by a C symbol where the time signature is found. It’s simply another way of instructing the player to play 4/4 time. 10. CrescendoA crescendo indicates an increase in dynamic (or loudness) during a piece of music. As the shape opens up the player should increase their volume. 11. Cut TimeSimilar to common time, cut time is another way of writing 2/2 time in the time signature section of a piece of sheet music. It’s denoted by a C symbol with a bar through it. 12. Da Capo“Da Capo” is an instruction given on a piece of sheet music to restart playing the piece from the very beginning. It’s usually symbolized by the initials D.C. if it’s not expressly written. 13. Dal SegnoSimilar to Dal Capo, Dal Segno instructs the player to resume playing from a sign symbol found elsewhere in the piece. It’s usually written as the initials D.S. if it’s not expressly written. 14. DampThe instruction to damp is symbolized by a circle with an X through it. For example, the instruction is may be given to a timpani player when a drum must be muted. 15. Damp AllSimilar to Damp, the Damp All symbol is used to instruct a player to damp every part of the instrument that’s ringing at a specific moment. It’s denoted by two circles with a cross through it. 16. DecrescendoThe symbol for decrescendo is the opposite of crescendo. It indicates to the player a gradual reduction in dynamic over a series of notes. 17. Double FlatA double flat symbol is used to indicate that a note is to be played two steps down. It’s symbolized by using two flat symbols together. 18. Double SharpSimilar to the double flat, the double sharp refers to a not that is to be played two semitones up from its natural state. 19. Dynamic NotationDynamics are notated in music with the letters p for piano, m for mezzo and f for forte. Piano means a quieter dynamic than mezzo piano and forte means to play with a louder dynamic that than mezzo forte. 20. FermataFermata is a music symbol used to indicate that a note should be held until given a cue from the conductor to continue playing. 21. FlatA flat note is a note played one semitone below its natural state. 22. FortepianoThe fortepiano music symbol tells the player to abruptly shift from a loud dynamic to a quiet dynamic. 23. G-clef Ottava AltaAn ottava alta g-clef indicates that all notes on the staff should be played one octave higher. 24. G-clef Ottava BassaAn ottava bassa g-clef indicates that all notes on the staff must be played one octave lower. 25. Glissando
A glissando symbol instructs the player to slide in pitch up and down from note to note. 26. Grace NoteA grace note is a short note that’s played quickly and quietly before the main note on the downbeat. 27. HemiolaA hemiola in music defines a rhythmic ratio of 3:2. It’s notated with a bracket and the number three if the music is in duple meter or the number two if the music is in triple meter. 28. Key SignatureThe key signature is symbolized in music by a series of sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece on a musical staff. 29. Marcato AccentA marcato is a slightly more intense accent than a regular accent. 30. Multi RestA multi rest indicates that the player should rest for multiple bars. 31. Music EndA double bar is the music symbol used at the end of the piece to indicate where it ends. 32. NaturalA natural note is a note that’s neither sharp nor flat. 33. NoteNotes are used to communicate rhythms and pitches. There’s many different kinds of notes, each signifies a specific subdivision in duration relative to a whole note.
34. Ottava AltaOttava alta indicates that the notes on the sheet should be played one octave higher than what’s written. 35. Ottava BassaOttava bassa indicates that the notes on the sheet should be played one octave higher than what’s written. 36. Percussion ClefA percussion clef is used to indicate that the sheet music is written for atonal instruments that aren’t subject to a specific pitch. Usually, this applies to percussive instruments. 37. RepeatA repeat symbol indicates to the player to repeat a section, either from the top or from the repeat start symbol. 38. RestRests are used to communicate when a player should be silent. There are many kinds of rest, each with a time length value based on a subdivision of a whole rest.
39. SegnoSegno is the sign where a player resumes playing after passing a dal segno instruction. 40. SforzandoSforzando calls for a loud and abrupt increase and decrease in dynamic. 41. SharpA sharp symbol indicates that a note must be played one semitone higher than its natural state. 42. SimileIn sheet music, a simile symbol indicates that the player should repeat what’s written in the previous bar. 43. StaccatoA staccato mark on a note indicates that the player should play the note shorter and more abbreviated than it’s typical value. 44. StaffThe staff in sheet music the five horizontal lines around which notes are written. The staff is the base structure for all written music. 45. Sustain Pedal EngageThe sustain pedal engages symbol indicates to a piano or vibraphone player to depress the sustain pedal and let the notes ring out. 46. Sustain Pedal ReleaseThe sustain pedal release symbol indicates to the play that the sustain pedal should be turn off at a specific point in the piece. 47. TenutoThe tenuto marking tells the player to sustain the note to its absolute maximum values. Tenuto notes should as little space as possible between them. 48. Time SignatureThe time signature is the stacked number symbol at the beginning of a piece of music. It dictates the meter and number of beats in a bar. 49. Tremolo
The tremolo markings indicate the player should play the notes in a rapidly repeating way to create a tremolo effect. 50. Volta BracketsVolta brackets tell the player to play an alternate ending section after a repeat. Music symbols are importantNow you know pretty much every symbol used in sheet music. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be reading and playing music without thinking twice about the music symbols on the page. The post 50 Music Symbols You Need to Know to Understand Written Music appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/music-symbols/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/633412183961812992
Staff Picks: The LANDR Distribution Artists We Loved in October: via LANDR Blog
Thousands of artists trust LANDR Distribution to get their tracks on streaming platforms worldwide. But did you know we listen to every single submission? In this series, we highlight some of the incredible musical talent that comes through our distribution community. Remember when summer was here? We do, too. Fall is well under way in our corner of the world and its brisk weather is bringing on waves of nostalgia. That’s why this edition of Staff Picks features LANDR Distribution releases that embody a mid-season mood. From Japanese shoegaze, to bright Spanish indie-pop, here are some of our favorite emerging and established artists. 1. otom – Brilliant Sky, Pt. 2Tokyo-based otom is a mainstay in the Japanese Shoegaze community with more than 16 years of recorded material under his current project. The blissful layered arpeggios and understated vocals of “Brilliant Sky, Pt. 2” perfectly embody the nostalgia of fall. Layers of sustained vocals punctuate the track serve and as the melody that carries the song throughout its 7-minute runtime. Even so, the track’s meticulously-crafted progression is an easy listen. This recording-only project is part of Japan’s established shoegaze scene and appears regularly on Shoegaze radio station DKFM and the Muso Japan blog. otom’s work features a lot of takeaways for those new to this branch of the cult-favorite genre. With its focus on melodies and atmosphere, “Brilliant Sky, Pt. 2” is a great entry point to this localized sound. Sounds like: Tokyo Shoegazer, Real Estate, Goji-Sanpun 2. Xenia – Sería Lo MejorThere’s something endearing about listening to Xenia’s “Sería Lo Mejor.” This new addition to Spain’s growing indie-pop scene is part of Valencia-based indie label Futuras Licenciadas. Xenia’s release echoes the days-gone-by with old school synths and programmed beats that are just plain cool. Its air of intentional innocence recalls the staples of the twee and indie-pop classics. “Sería Lo Mejor” translates roughly as “Would Be the Best” in English. It’s a track that feels like a perfect reminder of life’s past possibilities. Sounds like: April March, The Field Mice, Talulah Gosh 3. freddyboy – Foyer
Another nostalgia trip, “Foyer” is a throwback to the early 2010’s-era of normcore, jangle pop and lo-fi goodness. The droning guitar and the almost canon-esque vocals put you in a daze as Kwon obsessively voices out his longing. “Foyer” is part of a collection of “short love songs and beats” recorded on a Tascam 244 portastudio called Vignette 001. This DIY mixtape showcases Kwon’s versatility as a solo artist and band member of Heaps. Sounds like: Connan Mockasin, HOMESHAKE, Toro y Moi 4. thanks for coming – Selfishly “Nothing is good enough. I am what I am. What am I? What could I become?,” opens Rachel Brown (aka thanks for coming) 24-seconds into “Selfishly”. The track is part of their latest collection of raw, acoustic tracks labeled as “bummer pop.” It isn’t hard to hear the influence of bedroom pop legend Daniel Johnston in the earnest, emotional sound. Brown is able to convey feelings of vulnerability with pure honesty through matter-of-fact lyricism and an intentional lack of embellishment. With more than a year since no problem was remastered and released through Spain’s Beauty Fool Records, I’m excited to see what’s next. Sounds like: Daniel Johnston, Mitski, SASAMI 5. TEEN BLUSH – Graveyard Girl
TEEN BLUSH is an indie favorite among YouTube playlisters and joins otom as a dreampop highlight on DKFM Shoegaze radio. What makes TEEN BLUSH so accessible? The simple melody and washed-out vocals make the lyrics “Graveyard girl / I don’t know where I’m going” hit you right in the feels. Sounds like: Wild Nothing, Beach Fossils, CASTLEBEAT 6. Fisherman Sweaters – Turtle With a GunFisherman Sweaters’ “Turtle With a Gun” takes a similar approach to teenage melancholy with muted vocals and warbly synth lines. The track is a downtempo lo-fi bop that brings indie dream-pop contemporaries like Cemeteries to mind. The minimal production creates a stark contrast between the lead synth and Fisherman Sweaters’ prolonged vocals. The result sounds like an evening drive through the suburbs as you think back on the good ol’ days. Their ability to convey this energy throughout their discography makes the prospect of an EP or full length something to anticipate! Sounds like: Cemeteries, Future Islands, Craft Spells The post Staff Picks: The LANDR Distribution Artists We Loved in October appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/staff-picks-october/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/633329168394895360
10 Exclusive Sample Packs You’ll Only Find on LANDR Samples: via LANDR Blog
Throughout the history of sampling, finding unique samples that no one else has ever heard or used has always been key for crafting your own sound. It’s still true today, even with royalty-free sample market places. Every producer wants to be sure that the samples they get their hands on are special and exclusive. That’s why each month we’re letting you in on a secret cache of exclusive samples from LANDR. Here’s 10 exclusive LANDR sample packs we loved in October. 1. Vexxxed – UK Drill & TrapUK drill music is the fusion of UK grime with drill music from Chicago. It’s been growing in popularity ever since UK based AXL Beats worked with Pop Smoke to create the most convincing fusion of the two genres yet. Vexxxed carries on this tradition by offering incredible grimy UK rap acapellas, bumping 808s, winding synth samples and the hard-hitting trap hats that drill is known for. It’s perfect for making Pop Smoke or Skepta type beats. Our favorite sample from the pack: AAVE_vocal_loop_140_payment_full vocal 2. Syrup 2 – New Wave TrapAtlanta is the birthplace of modern trap. Producers like Metro Boomin and Zaytoven pioneered the genre with their personal touches and specific sounds. Syrup 2 is your go-to if you want samples that are authentic to that Atlanta trap sound. It’s full of hard-hitting drum kits, powerful 808s, chimey synths, brooding pads and much more. Get this pack if you want to make 21 Savage or Migos type beats. Our favorite sample from the pack: AAS2_trap_full_drum_loop_160_low 3. Night Roses – Guitar TrapGuitar recently gained popularity as a prominent instrument in trap music with the rise of the emo trap subgenre. In Night Roses you get exactly what you need to create authentic emo trap tracks with perfectly recorded guitar samples. Perfect for making Juice WRLD or Lil Uzi Vert type beats. Our favorite sample from the pack: AAS2_trap_full_drum_loop_160_low 4. PainkillerToday’s trap music calls for some pretty hard-hitting drums and 808s. But it also calls for tripped out synth samples and emotional chords. That’s exactly what you’ll find in Painkiller. The sample pack focuses on the psychedelic yet sensitive side of trap production. Perfect for making Travis Scott or Rich the Kid type beats. Our favorite sample from the pack: AAPK_808_loop_142_C#min_gangster arp 5. Trap Caviar 2Named after the famous Spotify playlist that’s known for breaking new artists into the mainstream, Trap Caviar is the sample pack that will help you get there. You’ll find bouncy melody loops, chunky drum kits, booming 808s and much more. Get this sample pack to make Drake or NLE Choppa type beats. Our favorite sample from the pack: AACT2_trap_synth_loop_effected_90_Fmin_shima: 6. Latenight Lo-fi Beats 2Latenight Lo-Fi Beats 2 is the sequel to our best selling lo-fi sample pack. If you’re looking to make chilled out lo-fi infused hip-hop, this sample pack is an absolute go-to. Our favorite sample from the pack: AALN2_Lo-Fi_Keys_Loop_90bpm_Dmin_ready 7. Bailando Follando – Reggaeton Trap BeatsThe fusion of reggaeton and trap was inevitable. The two genres complement each other so well. Bailando Follando embodies this new vibe—combining that classic reggaeton beat with sunny melody loops and hard-hitting trap drums. Perfect for making Rosalia or Bad Bunny type beats. Our favorite sample from the pack: AABF_Reggaeton_melody_loop_104_C#min_latino 8. Autonomy 3 – Hiphop & TrapAutonomy 3 is your classic trap sample pack, it’s really got everything you need to piece together a unique sound. You’ll find all kinds of trap friendly melody samples, 808s, drumkits and more. Perfect for making Offset or Tyga type beats. Our favorite sample from the pack: AAAT3_melody_loop_150_Bmin_spacey 9. Fuego – Reggaeton TrapIf you’re looking to add some extra fire to your reggaeton trap beat, definitely check out Fuego. The name says it all—this is your go-to for fiery guitars, sensual synth melodies and, of course, that trap-infused reggaeton drum sound. Perfect for making Farruko or Ozuna type beats. Our favorite sample from the pack: AAFU_reggaeton_trap_full_drum_loop_98_beeps 10. Safehouse – Dirty Trap BeatsSome trap artists stick to a dark and scary aesthetic. This sample pack riffs on the creepy sounding lead lines, synth textures and overall vibe authentic to dark trap. Perfect for making DaBaby or Lil Pump type beats. Our favorite sample from the pack: AASH_pluck_loop_Emin_172bpm The post 10 Exclusive Sample Packs You’ll Only Find on LANDR Samples appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/exclusive-sample-packs/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/633231009054392320
Make Beats With Creator: The Online Beat Maker from LANDR Samples: via LANDR Blog
We all know the importance of creating at home right now, so we’re excited to share Creator, the new free online beat maker on LANDR Samples. Creator lets you make beats, unlock ideas and stack loops while you browse. It’s an inspiring way to piece together new ideas and hear how samples sound together. The possibilities are endless with over one million samples available to combine on LANDR Samples. Here’s how to use Creator:
Once you’ve made a beat you can also share it with your followers and fans on social media by clicking the share button. Make something and share your creations with us on social media with the hashtag #MadeWithCreator! To get you started we’ve even curated a handful of sample packs made to work perfectly with Creator. It’s the perfect way to get started making beats on LANDR Samples. What is Creator?Creator is an online beat maker that makes it easy to hear how up to 8 samples sound together. It’s the only beat making tool of its kind on any sample marketplace. We built it directly into your sample digging workflow on LANDR Samples to help you unlock ideas, layer loops and sketch ideas while you browse.
Creator lets you instantly hear how samples will sound together. Choose a key and BPM and Creator will automatically match your loops. Once you’ve built your beat, download your sounds time-stretched, pitch-shifted and ready for the DAW. Make beats with CreatorWith over a million samples, we know it can be tough to go from browsing to creating. Creator is here to help you find the right samples fast and get inspired with new ideas. To really get the most from this massive library, you need the right sample at the right time. Browse our curated Creator Collections, get AI-based recommendations from Selector, play with trending samples on our top samples Charts or start a search to find your first loop and add it to Creator. The post Make Beats With Creator: The Online Beat Maker from LANDR Samples appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/online-beat-maker/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/633227235725393920
Dynamics in Music: How to Unlock the Power of Expression: via LANDR Blog
Dynamics is a basic concept in music that affects everything from songwriting to mastering. But the word comes up so often that it can mean different things in different situations. In this article I’ll go over what dynamics are and explain what the term means everywhere it’s commonly used. Let’s get started. What are dynamics?Dynamics are the variations in loudness that occur in a passage of music. That might sound simple, but dynamics is a broad concept that comes into play at all the different stages of music production. Dynamics in music can refer to:
I’ll go through each and explain how they work. Dynamics markingsIf you’ve ever read a score or a lead sheet you might be familiar with dynamics markings. They’re the small letters written in script that appear underneath a bar of music. Dynamics markings are there to let you know how loud to play each passage of the song. The instructions range from very quiet (ppp) to extremely loud (ƒƒƒ).
Here are the commonly used dynamics markings in music from loud to quiet: Like anything on a musical score, dynamics markings are open to interpretation. They’re the general guidelines the composer provides, but it’s up to the people playing to decide exactly how to play the music. Dynamics in arrangementThe written method for communicating dynamics is pretty old fashioned, but dynamic contrasts play a part in almost every genre of music. Think of the rising tension of an EDM buildup or the loud-quiet-loud approach of the grunge era. Dynamics are one way to create the sense of tension and release that gives a song its narrative structure. It can be as simple as building steadily to a loud finale or as subtle as varying loudness to define sections of a song.
Dynamic rangeIn music production, dynamic range means the difference between the loudest and quietest sounds. It’s measured in decibels, or dB for short. In a single audio track, dynamic range means the dB difference between the loudest and quietest moment in the audio file. Recording mediums and audio systems also have a dynamic range. This figure determines the loudest and quietest signals they can properly represent. You can think of the dynamic range in a system as the space between the noise floor and the clipping point.
When a sound goes below the noise floor you won’t be able to tell the difference between the signal and the system noise of the medium. When a sound goes above the clipping point the tops of its waveform will get abruptly cut off, causing harshness and distortion. Despite the advances in digital technology, your DAW still has a limited dynamic range. You might never come up against these limits in your workflow, but you have to keep them in mind in some situations. Beginner and intermediate producers often don’t have good gain staging habits and accidentally let their tracks pile up at the master bus. The maximum point in your DAW’s dynamic range is 0 dBFS. If you push your levels higher than this at your master fader, your entire mix will clip! Gain staging is how you keep your tracks, busses and plugins in the sweet spot of the dynamic range. Instruments with abrupt peaks and aggressive transients like struck percussion have a naturally large dynamic range while sustained synths and distorted guitars are typically more compressed. Dynamics in mixingControlling your dynamics is one of the most important jobs in mixing. To do it well engineers use tools like compression, expansion, limiting and noise gates. Dynamics are important because sounds in the real world vary a lot in volume. For example, imagine a whisper and a scream on the same audio track. If they were the same difference in loudness as they are in real life it would be shocking to listen to. To make each element sound natural, mix engineers alter the dynamics so that each part of the sound can be heard clearly.
That might mean making an aggressive transient quieter to bring out the body of a sound’s waveform using compression. Or making a flat percussion hit punch through the mix more aggressively with expansion. Here’s a in-depth walkthrough on how compressors work with examples that show their effect on dynamics: Dynamics in masteringDynamics and dynamic range are incredibly important in mastering.
Loudness, headroom and dynamics are all related in audio. In mastering, each factor influences the others in the final result. You’ll have to decide whether to go for a louder more compressed master, or a quieter, gentler one with punchier dynamics. Making the right decision depends on the genre of music, the target medium and the mix itself. If that weren’t enough, mastering has strict guidelines for peaks and maximum levels overall. Get them wrong and at best your song will sound quieter than other music on the major streaming platforms. At worst, you risk creating harsh digital clipping and distortion. With so much riding on a good master, the best way to get it right is to hire a professional or try AI-powered mastering online. Loud quiet loudDynamics are so fundamental to music that you probably have an intuitive feeling for them already. Even so, unpacking the issues that make dynamics significant will change how you think about music production. If you’ve made it through this article you’ll have a great start for working with dynamics in your tracks. The post Dynamics in Music: How to Unlock the Power of Expression appeared first on LANDR Blog. from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/dynamics-in-music/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/633057358284718081 |