NYMFO Q&A Session

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    • #63733
      ,GENIE HQ
      Keymaster

      Bardo has kindly agreed to have a chat with anybody who’d like to ask him anything, also if you want to send some demo’s to him to consider playing then feel free (only if they are good!)

      So if after watching this months tutorial you are wondering anything about his approach then drop him a line here and he’ll get back to you personally soon πŸ˜€

      Our question:

      1. Hey Bardo. Why did you choose life as an artist? Did you choose it, or did it just develop organically / by circumstance?

    • #63745
      ,Bardo
      Participant

      hi all! I hope you liked the tutorial and if you have any questions, please shoot.

      To answer the first question – I didn’t choose to be an artist, at some point it just happened. Off course I dreamed about it so now and then when I was a kid. But my main focus was always about having fun doing music, don’t see it as a competition and if u make money with it at some point it’s just a bonus.

      But I also have to admit when things were getting more serious after lots of years (releases and gigs) I made a little plan to make it all happen. But then again, it didn’t all go via plan. That’s music as well πŸ™‚

      • #63748
        ,JOPPA
        Participant

        Big ups Bardo, How many layers or should i say tracks do you usually have on a completed project,how long does it take to usually finish an idea? check out my tune for last months challenge #006 if you like it i will send yah a download link

      • #63794
        ,Bardo
        Participant

        Ez Juan! It really depends on the track, but in general with D&B we can make it ourself very complicated with way too many tracks lol! Sometimes ‘less is more’ can be the key.

        If u go for a minimal roller / stepper you can do a lot already with let’s say 30 tracks. But if u wanna go full on Neuro, I am sure u gonna hit 50 / 60 tracks.

        But I shouldn’t focus on that too much. If u think the track doesn’t need anything else then it’s good. Even when it’s 10 tracks or when you have 150 tracks.

        Hope this helps! And fire over your track to [email protected] please!

    • #63855
      ,Adam
      Participant

      hello. how u mastering tracks??

      • #63920
        ,Bardo
        Participant

        Hi Adam, I never master my own tracks. But a strong own pre mix is very important. Some producers to their own mastering, but I personally always like it when an extra pair of (professional) ears double checks your tune. And tweaks it where necessary. Because sometimes you work really long on a track and you loose focus on some parts maybe.

    • #63866
      ,Evan
      Participant

      Hey Bardo!

      Big ups for the tutorial! I really enjoyed seeing a basic track structure be created in real-time. I have been in a bit of a slump lately when it comes to creating music and this has given me some inspiration to start something new. Anyways big fan of your music and look forward to your future videos with Sample Genie!

      Cheers!

      • #63921
        ,Bardo
        Participant

        Nice one Evan, really happy to hear this!

    • #63876
      ,Harry
      Moderator

      Hi Bardo / NYMFO,

      Thanks for doing this month’s video, it definitely got some ideas stirring for me. Normally I do a write up of the tutorial videos, but since this month’s approach was different I was going to skip that and just post some thoughts & questions I had. Since you’re doing a Q&A, here’s a few:

      1. In the Part 2 video, I was wondering if this was a common way you approach creating basslines.

      2. In the Part 3 video you started an arrangement. I was wondering what kind of details you would typically add? Do you have a few standard arrangements you tend to use, and how would you describe them?

      3. More of a general question, but what was your experience learning to produce? What were some of the “ah hah!” moments? And what do you currently find most exciting about your production and creativity?

      And I’m going to send a couple songs your way in the next few weeks.

      "Knowledge kept is knowledge lost." - Bobbito Garcia

      • #63922
        ,Bardo
        Participant

        Morning Harry,

        See some answers below πŸ™‚

        1. In the Part 2 video, I was wondering if this was a common way you approach creating basslines.

        It’s a bit 50/50 for me. When I like a good bass sample, I really enjoy playing around with it. But it needs to sound different and more personal at the end. In my tutorial I did a good job with that (I think :)), but sometimes I fail as well. If it’s not working, I usually play around with Serum for example to create Basslines.

        2. In the Part 3 video you started an arrangement. I was wondering what kind of details you would typically add? Do you have a few standard arrangements you tend to use, and how would you describe them?

        I think every producer has a few ‘signature’ tricks they do in their tracks when it comes to arrangement. I especially like to play with the ‘less is more’ idea. Taking away sounds and bring them back 32 bars later for example. Then it feels like a lot is happening in the track, but you basically u don’t do that much. And I do a lot of automation on most of the parts in the track. Then it really feels like a journey when you listen to the track.

        3. More of a general question, but what was your experience learning to produce? What were some of the β€œah hah!” moments? And what do you currently find most exciting about your production and creativity?

        When I started there weren’t websites like Sample Genie or online tutorials. So at that time it was really important for me to sit in the studio with other people and look over their shoulder. When I just started Icicle and Proxima gave me a lot of ‘ah hah’ moments.
        The most exciting for me at the moment is to think outside the box and try to be a diverse producer. A lot of people know and like me ‘rollers’, but recently I also released music on Barong Family for example. This is a super commercial label runned by Yellow Claw. I am sure a few fans don’t like the music I put out on the label. But for me it was a new challenge to do. And even the music is a bit more ‘commercial’ I think you still can hear Nymfo and the realness in those tracks. Off course I can do the same kind of rollers for the next 10 years, but something like that Barong EP was a huge eye opener for me.

      • #64141
        ,Harry
        Moderator

        Thanks for the answers Bardo! I have some follow ups, if that’s okay. I appreciate you taking the time to pop in to the forum and doing this for people!

        It’s a bit 50/50 for me. When I like a good bass sample, I really enjoy playing around with it. But it needs to sound different and more personal at the end. In my tutorial I did a good job with that (I think :)), but sometimes I fail as well. If it’s not working, I usually play around with Serum for example to create Basslines.

        Cool, I was curious as one of my creative issues lately is I will get one good bassline and tone to it, and then I don’t push it in additional directions to get variations, to keep a song interesting. I get impatient, aside from drum programming, which I feel like I put more effort in to making interesting. Is your main go-to for variations different types of Trash2 passes? Anything else you like to do for variations?

        And I do a lot of automation on most of the parts in the track. Then it really feels like a journey when you listen to the track.

        What kind of automations do you like? I’m assuming basic stuff is volume and filter cutoffs, but do you have anything you think gets overlooked or should be explored more?

        The most exciting for me at the moment is to think outside the box and try to be a diverse producer.

        What kind of music do you like to listen to? I’ve seen you on IG with a Misfits shirt on. I have ideas for other types of music I like, I just haven’t jumped in, in a while. Actually one more question, related to this. How much music do you write that you listen back and go “this isn’t for release, this is just personal”?

        "Knowledge kept is knowledge lost." - Bobbito Garcia

    • #63918
      ,Joseph
      Participant

      Hi Bardo,

      When it comes to your Kick/Sub & low mid Basses for sidechaining or getting them to sit well together, what would you say you find your self doing most on your productions…. using Fades so the kick and sub/ low mids don’t exactly conflict with one another? (similar to what i think you did in the tutorial) or maybe automating the volume with a utility or sidechaing with a compressor?

      Thank you.

      • #63923
        ,Bardo
        Participant

        When it comes to kick and sub I always side chain. I never use automation with utility for example. And I always check the kick and sub channel solo on different speakers, headphone, etc. So I don’t use a lot of next level techniques or skills for this, I just trust my ears πŸ™‚

      • #63983
        ,Joseph
        Participant

        thanks man! Also when it gets technical, say you have an off beat right before or after the down beat, would those kicks be included in the side chain also? Do you SC the snare as well?

        Thanks.

    • #63945
      ,Zero Four
      Participant

      Yo,

      Cheers for taking the time on answering questions,

      My questions are;

      1) What plugin/bit of studio gear could you not live without and why?

      2) What entry hardware analogue synths would you recommend and why?

      • #64116
        ,Bardo
        Participant

        yo!

        1. I like Trash by Izotope a lot, because that’s usually a life saver when I am stuck in a tune. Especially when it comes to making midd bass sounds fresher and fatter, but not OVER THE TOP. With Trash I always can find a good balance for that.

        2. I work mostly inside the box, so I would say my coffee machine is my favorite hardware in the studio πŸ™‚

      • #64119
        ,Zero Four
        Participant

        Nice one, Good old coffee machine! Who can live without one of them! Which version of Trash do you have? Where can I send you a track for feedback?

      • #64224
        ,Bardo
        Participant

        Trash 2 and feel free to send any music to [email protected]

        Nice one!

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