Tollo
RIP <Quality Control>
Hi Twinkinfo!
My name is Nick (or Tollo). I mostly play 19s currently but have played other brackets in the past.
I am making this thread as a sort of blog where I’ll be posting things I’ve learned about Electronic Dance Music and the Industry and Culture associated with it. I have a very special perspective as I have close ties with many promoters in my area who book world class artists. One example comes to mind (this being the internet and all): My friend booked Darude and I got to hang out with him. He was kind of an asshole but it was still fun to watch him drop Sandstorm haha.
Anyways, I'm a HUGE edm (blegh, cliche word) advocate.
The only thing I would consider I have as extensive a knowledge of besides WoW is Electronic Music.
I spent a few years as a club promoter, as well as producing my own events, and am an avid, daily listener.
So listen up nerds: I’m going to teach you about edm so when you’re talking to someone, you can sound cultured and act like you actually go outside sometimes.
This thread will include music reviews, history lessons, music appreciation, and culture information (and maybe an industry perspective if anyone is interested in what happens behind the scenes).
Edit: I already got some positive feedback which I was happy about so I’ll probably be keeping up on this.
Anyways, enough about me… On to the reason for this thread!
The first thing I must say is that I do not have a formal music education. I'm a business major with some experience in marketing and graphic design. I can build you a business plan, but I can't write you a song. I just have to clarify this.
So anyways.. Let’s start from the top:
I just have to come out and say it: The standard, overused electronic music today (something you'd hear on Sirius BPM) is garbage. It really is, I’m sorry. It’s the pop of Electronic Music; just another way record companies can make a quick buck. Push those four chords through a 4x4 template and send it off to Spinnin (lol, sorry Spinnin but you suck).
This isn’t to say ALL electronic music is garbage (otherwise why would I waste my time supporting it?).
Okay, so now that we established that there is good and bad electronic music, we can explain what electronic music really is.
1. CRASH COURSE IN MUSIC THEORY
First, it usually follows a beat pattern called "4x4" (Pronounced "Four by Four" or just straight "Four-Four"). It's also referred to as "Four To The Floor" because it is a very stable beat pattern. The reason this pattern is so common is because of DJing (also referred to as Mixing).
FUN FACT: DJ stands for Disc Jockey. And even less known, MC is "Master of Ceremonies".
For the most part, producing and DJing (aka "Mixing") are two completely different things and one artist may excel at one of these and suck at the other (e.g. Bad Boy Bill [Awesome DJ, No Production Skills] or Firebeatz [Some solid productions and yet their DJing is some of the worst I've ever seen]).
By making everything follow a "4x4" pattern, a DJ doesn't need to know a track in and out to mix it. They just follow some very basic math and they're guaranteed to have it sound at least acceptable to the untrained ear.
It is also important to note that not everyone just smashes 4x4’s together and cashes in on the trend. There are a large number of amazing dj’s who spin 4x4 who can make much more complex mixes that really show off 4x4’s value (e.g. Richie Hawtin).
There are also DJ's who don't use 4x4 (such as Deadmau5) and their sets tend to be much more unique.
Finally, there are also artists who produce live (like actually making the music in front of you). If an artist on a lineup says "Live", this is what they mean. The artist is producing, not mixing. I had the privilege of seeing Simian Mobile Disco produce live on old school 1970s and 80s analog synthesizers and it was probably the coolest show I've ever been to.
Looking a little more in depth at 4x4 now, there are a couple things you can notice for yourself (which makes for a fun experiment):
First of all, in layman's, each beat is "one" in music theory. It takes four beats to make a measure and 4 measures to make a “bar” (notice this is 16 beats). If you count 16 beats from the first beat in a 4x4 track, I guarantee you'll hear a change in the sound.
Now, looking at the bigger picture, there are major changes to a track every 64 beats (Four "4x4"'s! Who knew!?). These 64th beats are where a dj will try to mix in a new track because as a song drops (we'll get to what that means shortly) a new 64th will start so you start playing the second track and voila, we’re mixing!
Congrats! You just survived an extreme crash course in music theory.
Okay, so you kinda understand what's going on.. there's some math.. theres something about beats.. but what does this sound like to the listener?
2. PARTS OF A TRACK
So the next thing to introduce is the different sections of a track.
First on the list, and by far the most popular in today's edm, the drop. The drop describes the point where the build up reaches critical mass and the bass kicks in... hard. Most edm today is drop-oriented (not all).
Another aspect, as mentioned, is the build up. The build up is when the track is usually just starting and it sounds like there's tension building.
Finally, the breakdown. The breakdown is when the bass is taken out. This allows the track to breath.
I won't go into what these are used for really or the more complex aspects of a track.. just know there's three main parts: the breakdown, the build up, and the drop.
So put these together and you get something like this:
INTRO BEAT -> BREAKDOWN -> BUILD UP -> DROP -> BREAKDOWN -> BUILD UP -> DROP -> OUTRO BEAT
*The intro and outro beat are for mixing purposes
FUN FACT: This is why artists make a "Club" mix of their track. Usually the original is not easily mixable and they make the "Club" mix because it basically requires zero effort to mix.
3. SOUNDS
Okay, so now we have a basic idea of music theory (4x4) and the parts of a track.. but what goes into a track?
First, the "bass" (or lows). The bass comes from the kick. The kick is really what defines the beat (that and the high hat). It's hard to describe a kick but if you have your bass turned up, you'll feel the kick.
Next, there's the high hat. A less obvious noise, this one sounds like a snare drum..
The third key component of electronic music is the synthesizer or "Synth". This is the sound(s) that range(s) from mids to highs. There are a million synths from a million different places but the important things to know are:
1. They are made electronically.
2. Many mainstream artists use template synths (tried and true sounds) that mainstream listeners expect their tracks to sound like. These are usually all in the same key.
After these components, you start to get more technical and it usually involves some combination of "traditional" instruments (piano, guitar, etc.).
4. TEMPO
Okay, good job if you've stuck it out this far! We're almost done! So we have the rhythm, the sounds, and the different parts of a track. The last thing we need is the tempo, commonly referred to as "bpm" or beats per minute.
The tempo (or bpm) really ranges from genre to genre but most dance music is anywhere from 80 to 130 bpm. Anything faster and you're going underground dance music (which I will cover some other time; go DJ Gammer!) And anything slower is painfully slow and not often used. The most common tempo is 128bpm. This is what almost every house track is played at.
It should also be noted that any track can be sped up or slowed down to match the the tempo of the other track (this is called beat matching and I’ll cover it a different day).
Hooray! We’re done! You now know all the basics of edm and probably have enough information to compete in quality with Chainsmokers (lulchainsmokesusuk).
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed my first post. My next post will probably be on genres and artists associated with those genres!
My name is Nick (or Tollo). I mostly play 19s currently but have played other brackets in the past.
I am making this thread as a sort of blog where I’ll be posting things I’ve learned about Electronic Dance Music and the Industry and Culture associated with it. I have a very special perspective as I have close ties with many promoters in my area who book world class artists. One example comes to mind (this being the internet and all): My friend booked Darude and I got to hang out with him. He was kind of an asshole but it was still fun to watch him drop Sandstorm haha.
Anyways, I'm a HUGE edm (blegh, cliche word) advocate.
The only thing I would consider I have as extensive a knowledge of besides WoW is Electronic Music.
I spent a few years as a club promoter, as well as producing my own events, and am an avid, daily listener.
So listen up nerds: I’m going to teach you about edm so when you’re talking to someone, you can sound cultured and act like you actually go outside sometimes.
This thread will include music reviews, history lessons, music appreciation, and culture information (and maybe an industry perspective if anyone is interested in what happens behind the scenes).
Edit: I already got some positive feedback which I was happy about so I’ll probably be keeping up on this.
Anyways, enough about me… On to the reason for this thread!
First Lesson: The Basics
The first thing I must say is that I do not have a formal music education. I'm a business major with some experience in marketing and graphic design. I can build you a business plan, but I can't write you a song. I just have to clarify this.
So anyways.. Let’s start from the top:
I just have to come out and say it: The standard, overused electronic music today (something you'd hear on Sirius BPM) is garbage. It really is, I’m sorry. It’s the pop of Electronic Music; just another way record companies can make a quick buck. Push those four chords through a 4x4 template and send it off to Spinnin (lol, sorry Spinnin but you suck).
This isn’t to say ALL electronic music is garbage (otherwise why would I waste my time supporting it?).
Okay, so now that we established that there is good and bad electronic music, we can explain what electronic music really is.
1. CRASH COURSE IN MUSIC THEORY
First, it usually follows a beat pattern called "4x4" (Pronounced "Four by Four" or just straight "Four-Four"). It's also referred to as "Four To The Floor" because it is a very stable beat pattern. The reason this pattern is so common is because of DJing (also referred to as Mixing).
FUN FACT: DJ stands for Disc Jockey. And even less known, MC is "Master of Ceremonies".
For the most part, producing and DJing (aka "Mixing") are two completely different things and one artist may excel at one of these and suck at the other (e.g. Bad Boy Bill [Awesome DJ, No Production Skills] or Firebeatz [Some solid productions and yet their DJing is some of the worst I've ever seen]).
By making everything follow a "4x4" pattern, a DJ doesn't need to know a track in and out to mix it. They just follow some very basic math and they're guaranteed to have it sound at least acceptable to the untrained ear.
It is also important to note that not everyone just smashes 4x4’s together and cashes in on the trend. There are a large number of amazing dj’s who spin 4x4 who can make much more complex mixes that really show off 4x4’s value (e.g. Richie Hawtin).
There are also DJ's who don't use 4x4 (such as Deadmau5) and their sets tend to be much more unique.
Finally, there are also artists who produce live (like actually making the music in front of you). If an artist on a lineup says "Live", this is what they mean. The artist is producing, not mixing. I had the privilege of seeing Simian Mobile Disco produce live on old school 1970s and 80s analog synthesizers and it was probably the coolest show I've ever been to.
Looking a little more in depth at 4x4 now, there are a couple things you can notice for yourself (which makes for a fun experiment):
First of all, in layman's, each beat is "one" in music theory. It takes four beats to make a measure and 4 measures to make a “bar” (notice this is 16 beats). If you count 16 beats from the first beat in a 4x4 track, I guarantee you'll hear a change in the sound.
Now, looking at the bigger picture, there are major changes to a track every 64 beats (Four "4x4"'s! Who knew!?). These 64th beats are where a dj will try to mix in a new track because as a song drops (we'll get to what that means shortly) a new 64th will start so you start playing the second track and voila, we’re mixing!
Congrats! You just survived an extreme crash course in music theory.
Okay, so you kinda understand what's going on.. there's some math.. theres something about beats.. but what does this sound like to the listener?
2. PARTS OF A TRACK
So the next thing to introduce is the different sections of a track.
First on the list, and by far the most popular in today's edm, the drop. The drop describes the point where the build up reaches critical mass and the bass kicks in... hard. Most edm today is drop-oriented (not all).
Another aspect, as mentioned, is the build up. The build up is when the track is usually just starting and it sounds like there's tension building.
Finally, the breakdown. The breakdown is when the bass is taken out. This allows the track to breath.
I won't go into what these are used for really or the more complex aspects of a track.. just know there's three main parts: the breakdown, the build up, and the drop.
So put these together and you get something like this:
INTRO BEAT -> BREAKDOWN -> BUILD UP -> DROP -> BREAKDOWN -> BUILD UP -> DROP -> OUTRO BEAT
*The intro and outro beat are for mixing purposes
FUN FACT: This is why artists make a "Club" mix of their track. Usually the original is not easily mixable and they make the "Club" mix because it basically requires zero effort to mix.
3. SOUNDS
Okay, so now we have a basic idea of music theory (4x4) and the parts of a track.. but what goes into a track?
First, the "bass" (or lows). The bass comes from the kick. The kick is really what defines the beat (that and the high hat). It's hard to describe a kick but if you have your bass turned up, you'll feel the kick.
Next, there's the high hat. A less obvious noise, this one sounds like a snare drum..
The third key component of electronic music is the synthesizer or "Synth". This is the sound(s) that range(s) from mids to highs. There are a million synths from a million different places but the important things to know are:
1. They are made electronically.
2. Many mainstream artists use template synths (tried and true sounds) that mainstream listeners expect their tracks to sound like. These are usually all in the same key.
After these components, you start to get more technical and it usually involves some combination of "traditional" instruments (piano, guitar, etc.).
4. TEMPO
Okay, good job if you've stuck it out this far! We're almost done! So we have the rhythm, the sounds, and the different parts of a track. The last thing we need is the tempo, commonly referred to as "bpm" or beats per minute.
The tempo (or bpm) really ranges from genre to genre but most dance music is anywhere from 80 to 130 bpm. Anything faster and you're going underground dance music (which I will cover some other time; go DJ Gammer!) And anything slower is painfully slow and not often used. The most common tempo is 128bpm. This is what almost every house track is played at.
It should also be noted that any track can be sped up or slowed down to match the the tempo of the other track (this is called beat matching and I’ll cover it a different day).
Hooray! We’re done! You now know all the basics of edm and probably have enough information to compete in quality with Chainsmokers (lulchainsmokesusuk).
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed my first post. My next post will probably be on genres and artists associated with those genres!
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