What is MLR's opinion on presets?

[digitalbrony]

Do you use them? Or do you make your own? Or do you tweak them? What's your opinion on songs made of just presets?

[Nine Volt]

I don't have a problem with people using presets, so long as they use some of their own sounds too.

I never use factory presets, always make my own. Sometimes I save my own, but that's generally only if I like the sound but don't think I'll actually be able to use it in the song I'm working on at the moment.

I used to tweak factory presets, and I used a few presets for my WIP, The Icefield, simply because I couldn't be bothered to go make my own wind sound when Z3ta +2 had a preset. I only needed to disable on oscillator for that one.

A song made out of presets... well I'm not good at discerning between factory presets and someone's own sound, but I wouldn't really have a huge issue, unless they're using just the very generic Nexus and Massive presets.

So overall, I see no harm in using them so long as you don't overuse them.

[the4thImpulse]

There's been threads about it before (a couple in the last few weeks too).

This one was the biggest.

I have deleted the factory presets of most of the synths I own both hardware and software, I would also suggest everyone doing the same. I will not say any more here as I have said it in the thread above.

[Beetie Swelle]

I was never too keen on using another person's sounds in my own music, but sometimes I might look at a preset to see how the other person accomplished making a certain sound.

[Thyrai]

Hmm, it's a tricky one. I prefer to make my own sounds (especially for leads and basses), but I do use Nexus on occasion for odd things like bells, pianos and pads. Here's my two cents anyway,

Presets, especially in synths like Sylenth and Massive are incredibly helpful for new musicians to learn how synthesis works. I remember spending numerous hours when I was just starting out deconstructing and rebuilding synths to get the hang of patching.

As you grow as a musician, the more you're going to be inclined to build your own sounds. But let's me honest here, you're never, ever going to create a truly unique sound in a synth (unless you're like Kyoga). Any sound you make, I guarantee someone out there has already used something extremely similar.

It's really like walking up to someone like Eric Clapton and calling him a bad musician because he didn't build his guitar.

[Sonarch]

I don't plan on using presets in whatever the hell I end up making. I don't have any idea what that'll be yet. BUT I am still learning what everything in Massive does and reading the manual, and until I can make my own cool stuff for my songs, I'd like to practice actually making things by choosing some presets and jamming out.

[the4thImpulse]

As you grow as a musician, the more you're going to be inclined to build your own sounds. But let's me honest here, you're never, ever going to create a truly unique sound in a synth (unless you're like Kyoga). Any sound you make, I guarantee someone out there has already used something extremely similar.

It's really like walking up to someone like Eric Clapton and calling him a bad musician because he didn't build his guitar.

I'm sorry but that's is a bad analogy. The guitar, and almost every other instrument out there, has little potential for truly unique sound creation (there are always exceptions but I'm speaking in general). The skill or uniqueness in those instruments comes from the way a musicians plays them, or at least that's how I see it.



About you comment on synthesis: go back a few years as this new 'dubstep' or 'brostep', or however you want to define skrillex esque music, was starting to be heard by people. Those sounds were new, no one made stuff like that 10 years ago and as we advance in technology new sounds will be created with new synthesizers, guaranteed. I'm not hating on Kyoga but his stuff isn't really revolutionary either when it comes to ambiant music.

[Error404IsFound]

Presets, Presets. I know MANY people who do use presets and people who don't. In my POV, I don't car if you use a preset if you use it in an original way. using an overused Massive wobble preset for a dubstep drop is not how you use a preset. You use presets to add that bit of flair, and get the perfect sound. Me, I use presets but I always skew them and remaster them. I never use the raw sound.

[phantomignition]

If I'm stuck on what I should try to make, I go through presets and see if there's anything there that I like, and then I try to recreate that sound, then after that I tweak it a bit. I like to think it's helping me learn, and after recreating something a few times I'll be able to make something like the sound, but more... mine I guess.

If you're only using presets, you're probably not going to learn how to make the sounds you want to make. I wouldn't be against it if maybe you were just practicing composition rather than synthesis or something, but I myself don't do that.

[Thyrai]

The guitar, and almost every other instrument out there

The skill or uniqueness in those instruments comes from the way a musicians plays them, or at least that's how I see it.

That's exactly what I'm saying, but what you're implying is that synthesis is somehow exempt from finite existence of sound. Yes, they're super versatile, but not unlimited.

Those sounds were new

Skrillex-type sounds occur in nature, you can make wub wub and yah yah sounds with your mouth. Those sounds were not new. Just look at George Antheile 100 years ago with his mechanical ballet - My lawn mower can make the majority of dubstep sounds. (hyperbole, but you get my point.)

Unless you're keen on inventing a new instrument or programming a revolutionary new synthesizer, your sounds aren't going to be absolutely innovative.

(hopefully this makes sense, I'm mega tired.)

[Gray Ham]

I use presets and tweak them a little. I'm experimenting and trying to make my own, but until I reach a certain point, I'll use presets and tweak them a little.

[Kopachris]

It all depends on context. Use whatever you think works best. Sometimes, a regular, plain, classic supersaw is what works best because the sound itself isn't the important part. Other times, for example in modern dubstep, the sound itself is the main recognizable part of the music, so you need something unique. The "building a guitar" thing isn't a good analogy for complaining about presets, but only because it doesn't go far enough. To me, complaining about using presets is like complaining to an acoustic composer that he didn't invent his own instruments. Usually, it's not the instrument/preset used that's the problem with the music, but that it wasn't used well enough.

[CommandSpry]

Preset sounds, I don't see why not. I don't like preset arps and sequences (ex. nexus arps or zeta+ 2 default sequences), and in a couple of cases things like nexus plucks which are really recognisable and overused.

[Applejinx]

The guitar, and almost every other instrument out there, has little potential for truly unique sound creation

OOOOOOH


0:13 and on. The rhinoceros noise? A guitar

Yes, I know, you said there are exceptions I just tried to find the track 'Hot Sun' off that album, which is much the same kinda thing: neat sounds, that aren't anything like a guitar.

Now ya got me wanting to just make Belew noises- which may be a good thing!

As for presets, I'm happier deleting them all. Downside is, I tend to get the same sorts of sounds out of things- like, various similar FM8 noises, various similar Massive starting points etc. But this isn't so bad since they're my own preferences.

I routinely build tracks out of templates which are like one BIG preset for everything at once- I can depart from it or leave it as it is, depends on the track. I made these templates myself, though- have never used any of the Logic templates, and those are much more generic than say a synth patch.

[5COPY]

I think presets are out good for beginners, but as you progress you should highly consider moving away from them or tweak them. I personaly tweak presets all the time. But I do also make my own sounds and save them of course.

But as I see it. It really is a mixure on how original you want to be and how lazy you are. I myself use presets and samples when I feel lazy, and not afraid to admit that. But I know from experience that in order to bring your own sounds out or bring your music to "the next level in originalty" you should try and step away from them. A good way to start on slowly moving away from presets are by tweaking.

As for using sounds you learn to make through tutorials I see no problem in that at all. It's a perfect way to learn the software you're using more, and a better idea of sound design but ofc that would more lay into the learning process.

But as for what originaly goes, I would say presets are alright when you tweak them. Just make sure not to always use them. In order to maintain your originality you need to be variant and keep on experimenting with new synths and try out new presets, tweak presets and most importantly test your entirely own sounds out. So basicly I would say it's okay to use presets as long as you don't let yourself getting locked up with them.

Also I hate songs where I hear nothing but presets that I recognize. But I'm okay if it's using one or 2 but if it's purely just ew.

[Thyrai]

Also, the Eric Clapton analogy is one of the worst parallels I've ever heard. Sorry bro.

How so? I believe that the important part of any musician is their ability to compose and use the instruments they have in a pleasing way. Patching your synth well is important, but it's only a small part in the overall compositional spectrum.

[Thyrai]

I never implied that Eric Clapton invented the guitar, you're missing my point

[5COPY]

Thyrai actually got a pretty valid point. My big brother build his own guitar. And if you put that in perspective with making your own synth you would get the idea. (Why do you think some people actually buy presets?)

however in the end the most skilled musician/producer is the one that can both manage to make outstanding tunes and also outstanding sounds/instruments at the same time.

It really just is a big debate about if sound engineering should stand out on it's own, while music theory/instrument technique also stand alone in terms of what skill that should be practiced most. Some people focus on only 1 at a time while others focus on both. And it's just that some people learning better from taking each subject one at a time.

[Freewave]

Think of it this way, if you make your own sounds you are effectively MAKING a preset (which you will likely abandon repeating). So if you uploaded those to MLR and made a preset pack would that be an awful thing? Several people here HAVE done that. I think we all agree the more you change up a sound the more unique it becomes. A preset only becomes BAD when enough people use the same ones or dont alter them so they become stale and recognizable. Then again there's so many synths, so many preset add-on's its really kinda lame to say that everyone that presets are a bad thing or that someone else shouldnt use them. Just try to make your sounds and your music as a whole a little unique and you mihgt not doa load of that when you start but it's smart do more as you grow and develop.

Kinda funny that Tombstone in particular has been identified several times in the past as using the same presets in many songs (including applying loads of Soundgoodizer reportedly) over and over (along with Eurobeat Brony / Eurobeat music which often does in fact use a very small range of presets and sounds) and they are two of the most popular artists in the community.

[Sonarch]

So, not exactly specific to presets, but at what point does reusing a certain sound cross over from being part of your style to being bad?

[Nine Volt]

So, not exactly specific to presets, but at what point does reusing a certain sound cross over from being part of your style to being bad?

When you start not even changing it and use it in every song.
Using the same sounds every song gets boring very quickly.

[Captain Ironhelm]

@Original Post

Basically, use the tools you've got, but make sure it's not a crutch that is hindering your improvement as a producer.

There's my take on the subject.

[XXDarkShadow79XX]

I don't care.

I seriously DO NOT care. ArtAttack and Silva Hound - How Far We've Come, Aviators - Melody, (Almost the entirety of the drop!) and even more popular songs like The Bloody Beetrots - Warp 1.9/Nero - Doomsday. (BOTH of them use the SAME EXACT preset, don't change it, and use it for the entirety of the drop!)

Now that do those songs all have in common?

They are all awesome.

This goes for loops and samples too. It doesn't matter IF you use it, it matters HOW you use it.

[ph00tbag]

Presets have a time and place, and there's a good way and a bad way to use them.

I don't have presets, but I have certain values on my knobs memorized that I tend to gravitate towards because of how they impact the sound. But I always tweak them to fit the mood of the track I'm working on.

[Matthew N.]

There are sounds (e.g. bass sounds) that I always make by myself. Then I save them as presets and from there change them around for my own needs.

Of course, I sometimes do use non-self-made presets as a basis for my new sounds, but I have literally maybe used a preset in its basic form maybe once or twice; usually they are derivations that don't even resemble the sound of the base.

So, yeah: I have nothing against those if they're used wisely.