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Rock music?

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Has anyone had any success with producing rock music in Synfire?

 

If so what is your workflow like? 

 

What aspect of the writing process did you feel Synfire helped with?


Sa., 23.06.2012 - 11:37 Permalink

I did a piece that is kinda rock, funk, 

 

(https://www.box.com/s/68632e98bcc99363907b)

 

I started in Logic with a Tyros 4.  I hand played some tracks and ported over to SFP and modified parts,  Some times I'll play a kinda messy solo that overplays hits bad notes, put into SFP, and have it melodically clean it up.  I think most start in SFP and move to DAW, I do that too,  Most people here I guess would be starting in SFP, and some are completely staying within it.  (which is fine too). 

 

Truth is, SFP is a VERY DEEP program.  It could use a lot more explanations, background, philosopy of it's beginnings, videos, and a lot more information.  As brilliant as Andre is, he kind of assumes you know more about the program, so some of his explanations sometimes, kinda start in the middle of a sentence (not enough set-up information).  After a couple of back/forths you'll get your answer.  More people are using a quicktime movie to illustrate the problem or solution which is helpful.. 

 

Cognitone is extremely quick to respong to found bugs, or a feature deemed important. (more so than any other software manufactorer I've had dealings with).  It's a deep program with tons of features.   I think the users are still feeling their way in how they are using it.  Hence not a lot of responses.  

 

I've started with SFP first, moving over to Logic and working from there.  Someimes I'll modify tracks and re-import back into SFP all as static inputs. So track is exactly the same.  I keep a Chord detect track which consists of blocked chords for each measure of song).  Tyros 4 also needs this to generate it's style generators.  Sometimes you may want to or have to modify this track when you start reprossing SFP tracks,  Cause although it's a C chord the bass temporily hits an E and a guitar throwss in an A, Hence you have a different chord when you take the whole song into account.

 

Normally of course as a band plays their all hitting blue notes, or notes temporily out of scale.  This is what gives you rich music, not just what the piano player used.  You may have to find chord substitutions to deal with this, or ease the rigidity of which SFP pays attention to melodic or harmonic content.

 

I'd say purchase the program, it is definitely not for the faint of heart, but mastery of it will give you quite an edge. Indeed I've found myself using SFP principles, that I'm applying by hand now as I work in Logic.  SFP has introduced so many new concepts, I feel like I want to go back and rearrange a lot of material I've done with the knowledge I've gained in the last year.  There still is a whole lot more I have to learn about SFP.  

 

SFP can actually help you with about any aspect you can think of.  If I've got a kinda stale part, I start playing with the "step" feature.  (it's my favorite feature right now).  It can make a tired  phrase alive and catchy.  Chord substitutions are great too.  a subtle chord substitiution in different places, can really add a new dynamic or feel even to a lyric phrase. 

 

Sometimes I  substitute a new chord progression in the bridge.  I took an excellent midi file to a popular song,  Changed the chord progressions, started sliding, cutting, pasting phrases, redrew some of the melodic lines, and make a beautiful piece that maybe one person out a hundred might guess where It came from.  Dumped the midi for the epiano and the bass, and put in some from SFP example phrases library. And came up with a great song.

 

And of course other times, the result is 'not so much'.  But like DAWs, the great thing is you can come back to the piece with a new phrase library you've made and breath a whole new life into.

 

Andre once likened SFP to a 3D modeling program for sound.  SFP is indeed a very unique and one of a kind program. Be prepared to put a lot of time into learning it, dealing with frustrations, when it doesn't respond the way you think it should, and very richly rewarded when a few mouse gestures brings you a 'diamond' idea or riff, or harmony etc. 

 

 

It's gonna gonna challenge you and keep you on your toes. 

Sa., 23.06.2012 - 11:38 Permalink

ANDRE - Server would not save text (in following post)... Wouldn't let me delete it either.   Bug or a senior moment on my part?