u/reginaccount

Look up a guitar chord chart.

An open G is GBDGBG (135131) An open C is CEGCE (13513) A 4 string F is FACF (1351)

See a pattern? There are also some that go root straight to fifth:

E is EBEG#BE (151351) A is AEAC#E (15135) D is DADF# (1513)

Keep in mind you can turn any of those into barre chords and play them up the neck. So a C shape up two frets would be DF#ADF# (13513) which is different from the order of the open D (1513).

People also use inversion or slash chords. A/C# is usually C#EAC# and that's also a movable shape.

It's really not that different from piano except you can't have really low fretted notes and really high fretted notes in one chord. You can use open strings (low E, A D B and high E) to add some interesting voicings like move an open C up two frets and keep the third and first strings open so you get DF#GDE which is like a Dadd4/9 or something.

This really depends on your DAW and workflow. If you use a bloated DAW like Pro Tools and lots of VSTs like Kontakt then it will seem a bit strained.

I have an old 8 gig laptop with Linux Mint and Reaper and it's just fine. The only problem is some plug-ins don't work with Linux.

I wouldn't really call myself a producer, but I record instruments and also use MIDI drums/synths with Reaper and Linux Mint.

Switching from Windows to Linux was not pleasant when it came time to figure out which plugins still worked. Anything with an installer or software manager usually doesn't work.

There are good plugins and many of them are free. The community is growing rapidly. I think both Linux and Reaper are similar in that they are moreso grassroots passion projects instead of capitalist corporations.

I really wanted to get into using Bitwig for production because it has so many cool synths and effects built-in. But apparently my pea brain can't handle learning the free demo lol. I may come back to it someday.

Recording yourself or others?

Ideally you would fix this at the source - vocal technique. I believe the vocal coach Michael Trimble has some video lessons on this.

Also mic technique - aiming mic slightly away from the singer. Use a fingertip or pencil to disperse the esses (not sure if that actually works but I think John Lennon used it lol).

You are hearing an 808 style bass.

There is a regular monotone kick (could also be from an 808 drum machine), but the pitched one is just a saturated kick drum that is then pitched up and down to create a bassline.

Tons of sample packs have 808s. You can also record a kick drum with a long sustain, saturate it to bring out the tonality, then sample that kick and play a bassline with a MIDI keyboard or in a piano roll of your DAW.

Lol this reads like someone who has never put in any hours to develop actual musical skills is looking for prompts to become an AI "musician".

I have a Behringer UMC204HD at work with Linux Mint and a UMC1820 at home also with Linux Mint. Using Reaper as a DAW.

I switched from Windows 10 to Linux this year and it was quite painless except some of my plugins don't work in Linux. Set i/o driver to ALSA instead of JACK and it seems more stable.

Buffer size is measured in samples and 64 is pretty low - great for low latency recording, but if you are using a plugin with heavy CPU load then raise it to like 512 or so

Check out r/Linuxmusicians (I think that's the sub).

I switched to Linux. Using Reaper. Lots of decent native plugins and many Windows plugins work using the Wine Emulator and a program called Yabridge which syncs VSTs to Wine.

However, certain installers like Waves Central do not work at all. I have activated Waves VSTs in my iLok but can't use them because Waves Central won't work. I don't think Kontakt works either.

I still make music though and Linux Mint + Reaper can run on a potato.

I mean it wouldn't be bad to have one, but I've owned SM7Bs for about 15 years and have never needed one.

My weak singing voice or fingerpicked guitar have never needed one. Lots of ways to boost gain in a DAW anyways.

I think if you were speaking at a distance or literally whispering then they are useful, but why not just get like a Rode NT1A or whatever for that stuff.

I used to have an Audiobox - whatever the one with 8 inputs is. I wasn't a big fan. Seemed like the input headroom was really low, so I'd have to feed it a quiet signal then crank the preamp gain which caused noise.

It came with Studio One which I did enjoy. I eventually switched to Reaper but don't have any complaints about the software.

Well you are gonna hate this answer...but that sounds like hip hop music.

More specifically, the background synth is playing a jazzy progression that is also found in adjacent genres like lo-fi. I'm old and probably out of touch lol, but to me "lo-fi" is often fairly minimalist and repetitive jazz or even classical based chord progressions played on mostly electronic instruments and usually to a hip hop beat.

A lot of modern French rap seems to go for this style of backing music, compared to more aggressive gangster rap or radio poppy stuff.

I'm in the same situation. I switched my laptop to Linux Mint to test it out before I do the same on my main computer.

I'm using Reaper though and they have a downloadable Linux version.

The only problem - which is actually pretty major in my opinion - is that certain VSTs don't work with Linux. First you need a program called Wine which is for using Windows programs in Linux. Then you need another program called Yabridge which kind of links VSTs to Wine.

Certain newer versions of Yabridge are buggy with the GUI of plugins, and if I'm not mistaken Kontakt and some other pretty popular plugins still do not work at all.

I've been using the 204HD and 1820 daily for years now and they have been solid. I'm always nervous about buying Behringer but the price/features make these a no brainer for budget setups.

I have been using the 204HD at work and 1820 at home almost daily for several years now. Never had a single problem.

I thought it was White Light White Heat that was blown out. But I'm not expert so will sit back and wait for others to help you.

Maybe just put everything through a small room verb and compress and saturate it?

Yeah I have a Behringer UMC204 and 1820 and both have been solid with daily use for years.

I have got some decent mileage out of the Sitala VST (the first version is free) and then downloading free sample packs.

I don't know any specific vintage sample packs but I searched "free boom bap sample pack"...you may not want rap or boom bap specifically but it's all samples from old soul/jazz/RnB etc.

Now that I think of it, I did find a free sample pack that has samples of several old drum machines as well. I've never paid for any of this, but sometimes you have to sign up for a producer website/blog and then get their crappy emails. I just unsub once I've downloaded what I want.

Sorry I can't give you specific names. I don't remember the websites and the packs are on my computer at work.

Hm I must be mistaken. Not sure which poll site I was thinking of. I will just delete my comment.

I have bought refurbished computers from Best Buy (not sure if that's just a Canadian chain or not) for about 1/3 the price of a new one.

Last year I got a desktop computer with 32 GB RAM, later gen i7 chip, and 1 TB SSD with a monitor and keyboard for like $400 CAD. Just search the specs you want and check the results. I was just shopping on there for a laptop and something similar spec'd is way cheaper than a MacBook or whatever.

For the price I really like the Behringer UMC ones. I have been using the 204 and 1820 daily for a few years with no problems. The Focusrite ones are similar specs for more money and many people complain of driver problems. I could be wrong but I also feel like the Focusrite preamps sound thinner/brighter.

You could go for the 404 (4 inputs and each can do Line, Instrument or Mic) or get the bigger 1820 with 8 inputs. The nice thing about the 1820 is you can switch on phantom power for just 4 of the inputs if you ever use a condenser mic.

I'll add that, while I haven't had any problems, Behringer isn't known for quality control - so buy from somewhere with a reasonable return policy or warranty. Don't just buy a used one off some guy locally.

Yeah this last part shouldn't be overlooked. Any half decent mic will use an XLR connector and need an interface to plug into the computer. You can get USB mics but they generally suck.

People crap on Behringer but their XM8500 is a good budget version of a SM58. More handling noise than a 58 but sounds similar. Their UMC interfaces are good for the money. I have the UMC204 and 1820 and neither has given me a single problem in years.

What you should do is get onto Facebook Marketplace or whatever local sell/swap website you have and see if anyone is selling a mic/interface bundle. Sometimes you find Focusrite Scarlets with a mic, cable, and stand all bundled for sale because someone tried streaming and gave up on it.

Are you looking for a new "assembled" PC?

I went the cheaper route a few years ago and found a refurbished Dell Optiplex with i7 chip, 32 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD. Much cheaper than anything I could find new. These days you could find a newer/better CPU and if you are gaming make sure it has a good graphics card. The trick is don't buy the absolute newest and best. Get one or two generations back and it will still be more than enough but 1/3 the price of the latest gen.

How often do you have to call up a tech to fix stuff? Do you have backups of "essential" gear?

I like the idea of outboard compressors and preamps etc, but it seems like one of my vintage tube guitar/bass amps is always acting up and there's only one tech in my city and he's got a long waiting list.