[Neutrikconnector]

Funny this should come up. I was digging through my iTunes and found three songs I created. They're actually all three the same song, just improved at a few steps.

Listening to the different versions really gave me insight into how I work, and how little I think about it.



Generally, I'll start with a drum loop, usually rex. I'll loop it out of the length of the song. I'd use a click, but I find my sequences groove more when I program to a drum loop. I guess it comes from by background as a guitar player.

Then I rummage through my bass presets. I usually have a slight idea of genre/feel that I'm going for, so I get as close as I can. I also usually start all my songs with my headphones on, as my roommates are usually asleep when the inspiration hits.

Then I usually fill in with pads, then my leads.

After all that, then I'll go back and replace my drum loop (maybe) or take out part of it, and use it for an intro, or bridge or something. I almost always usually run it through some distortion process, mangle it, and then compress the crap out of it. Or I'll just shift the pitch so it doesn't even sound like drums any more.

Then I program my own drum loops, Then I work on finding a lead sound. Sometimes I change the presets, sometimes I don't. Or somtimes I'll find three or four presets I like and just layer them all, so it's a little bit of all of them.

Then at a point when no one else is home, I'll plug into my studio montitors and tweak the bass so it's nice and fat, and get the snares/claps popping.