| I sometimes don't like to admit it, but I am | | | | each other because the sampler has twisted |
| nostalgic. I like 80s music, old type | | | | the dial a little and then sampled the sound. |
| computer games (Street Fighter, | | | | Now you have loads of sounds altered |
| Defender..come on!) and classic techno making | | | | slightly. These are pretty cool. The only |
| machines. | | | | problem is that you get the samplers idea of |
| | | | a good sample. Also you don't get all the |
| Why? | | | | dials being twisted together- too restricted. |
| | | | However as a free source of nostalgic sounds |
| I think they forged through and made todays | | | | they can't be beat. |
| music what it is. Machines like the TB303, | | | | |
| TR909, JD800 and the famous Moog- what an | | | | So we have identified one sound source (for |
| effect they have made on dance and techno | | | | free), however we have also noticed some |
| music! The rise in popularity of techno, i.e, | | | | problems- a lack of freedom, and because we |
| with the makers and in the audience, was down | | | | are a creative bunch, we have to find another |
| to the cool sounds and the general | | | | way. |
| compatability (sound wise) between the | | | | |
| machines were the key. | | | | 2) VSTs. Wow, what a revolution to the music |
| | | | world. A fantastic resource that should help |
| In some cases limited numbers were made and | | | | musicians who are looking to make music with |
| the increase in popularity only meant two | | | | little, or no cash. VSTs are either effects |
| things. 1) An increase in the same old songs, | | | | (like distortion) or they are some sort of |
| rehashed versions that sounded similar in | | | | music sounding device (like synths (called |
| everyway, and 2) The price went into | | | | softsynths), drum machines etc). Some are |
| overdrive. Machines like the TB303 were | | | | stand alone programs, or some need a host |
| selling for silly money. This trend is still | | | | program. The most well known softsynth has |
| being seen today. You can buy one of these | | | | got to be Rebirth, the TB303 and TR909 |
| machines for between $600-$1000. | | | | emulator. It is really cool, emulating the |
| | | | machines really well, however, the best thing |
| And why? | | | | about this softsynth is that it is free. Now |
| | | | there are plenty of VSTs out there that are |
| The old favourite answers are "because you | | | | free, offering great synth sounds or great |
| can see the lights moving", "Its just great | | | | effects. |
| twisting those dials"- and so on. This is | | | | |
| where to me nostalgia stops, especially when | | | | The possibility of sound creation using VSTs |
| you want to make techno. Sure they were great | | | | has now become infinite. The actual sound of |
| sounding machines, sure if you didn't have | | | | the sounds has become endless, so now there |
| their sounds in your music you were classed | | | | should be unique sounding musics out there. |
| as old fashoined...but for $1000! | | | | Are there any disadvantages? Well not really. |
| | | | Some sound the same, and some of the pay for |
| This isn't ravings from a person who never | | | | ones are expensive, they are cool, but too |
| had one at all. I have a Roland MC202. I love | | | | expensive. |
| the little box of tricks. The little rubber | | | | |
| keyboard is novel and the sliders are cool. | | | | So what you can do, is add VSTs together, add |
| However, once all the fiddling is out of the | | | | an effect plug-in over a synth VST. The cool |
| way. Once you have gone oooOOhhh...there | | | | thing is. Nostalgic sounds can be processed |
| isn't really anything left. Thats the problem | | | | through these plug-ins to bring them more |
| for me. | | | | up-to-date, and to add a flavour of your |
| | | | desire. |
| Once the coolness has worn off, you have to | | | | |
| go through extra work to hook it up into your | | | | So, going back to our original question do we |
| set-up. Do you sample the loops off the | | | | need a $1000 techno machine. Well as every |
| machine? Do you buy a synch box? Do you | | | | diplomat states, yes and no. If I had a TR909 |
| MIDIfy it (costing extra cash)? I don't mean | | | | I would keep it, sample it, and then add VST |
| to be all doom and gloom, and if you do have | | | | effects to give the sounds more spice, |
| one, keep it- they are cool to work with. But | | | | because they are good, no doubt, but music |
| if you don't...well, look at the other | | | | moves on and you have to follow. If I didn't |
| options. | | | | have a TR909 I wouldn't be upset, I would |
| | | | search out the samples from the various |
| There are two great alternatives out there in | | | | sample sites, add again the VST effects and |
| Internet land that can help us out. | | | | get the sound that I want...for free. |
| | | | |
| 1) Sample sites. Nowadays they house great | | | | If you have a low budget (or no budget), |
| sample loops, and single hit sounds from the | | | | there are now no obsicles to stop you |
| various machines. Housed in sample packs, you | | | | recreating those sounds that make your music |
| will notice that the sounds sound similar to | | | | sound like it was made with a $1000+ set-up. |