Mon Jan 12, 2015 4:53 pm
Sometimes I struggle using presets on the different synths because I didn't create it myself and it seems less genuine to me. Is this just me?
Do you think using presets is "cheating"?
Anything that doesn't fit into other topics goes here!
Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:44 pm
The only thing I consider cheating is using a midi file. (not just to learn from, but using the notes from a midi file) when you cover a song.
Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:48 pm
In my opinion using presets without understanding how they were made isn't cheating, just ignorant. When using them, try to figure out which knobs, parameters, etc. are involved in creating/shaping the sound. This will allow you to change the presets according to your wishes and create your own sounds from them.
Mon Jan 12, 2015 10:22 pm
I used to hold a very staunch opinion that utilizing presets and pre-made loops was definitely "cheating", although I would word it differently. More like not being a "real" producer. To an extent, I think it can still be true in some cases. For example, people throwing presets and loops together and calling it a song are still artists, just maybe not what I would consider as a "producer". Nowadays I just recognize that when people want to make music, they go about it in the way they choose. If someone just wants to write melodies and not pay much attention to the nitty gritty production details, it is completely up to them if they want to use resources available.
My stance on my own work is that I hate using things that I didn't create (aside from drum one shots, because it's hard to make/record those) because like you mentioned, it makes me feel less genuine about my work. It's up to what you are trying to accomplish.
My stance on my own work is that I hate using things that I didn't create (aside from drum one shots, because it's hard to make/record those) because like you mentioned, it makes me feel less genuine about my work. It's up to what you are trying to accomplish.
Tue Jan 13, 2015 12:34 pm
*smiling.. almost too wide*
Ask Paganini if he considered it to be cheating to play on Stradivarius violins..
Or Lennon if a Fender Stratocaster was 'cheat'..
Great instruments are for inspiration and aiding the creative process -Kind of like girls (Called 'muse' in that context
Ask Paganini if he considered it to be cheating to play on Stradivarius violins..
Or Lennon if a Fender Stratocaster was 'cheat'..
Great instruments are for inspiration and aiding the creative process -Kind of like girls (Called 'muse' in that context
Wed Jan 14, 2015 4:12 am
The arguable difference is that your examples are from a completely different medium. You could slap a great sounding Nexus preset into a song and make it work in minutes, but learning to play like Paganini could take years (and talent 
). I think that creating amazing patches (learning complex synthesis and the fundamentals of sound waves) should be considered a skill comparable (in some cases) to learning to play a real instrument. There are things that do and don't work, as well as particular traits for the synth/instrument.
Still, whether or not it's "cheating" really just depends on what the artist is looking to achieve and how.
). I think that creating amazing patches (learning complex synthesis and the fundamentals of sound waves) should be considered a skill comparable (in some cases) to learning to play a real instrument. There are things that do and don't work, as well as particular traits for the synth/instrument.Still, whether or not it's "cheating" really just depends on what the artist is looking to achieve and how.
Sat Jan 17, 2015 3:54 am
Yes and no.
I will fully admit I know next to nothing of sound design and utilize presets. If you are just a hobby producer, then no, I don't think it's cheating. If you're a pro, then yes, I think it's cheating.
I eventually want to learn sound design, but at the moment I am just ignorant.
I will fully admit I know next to nothing of sound design and utilize presets. If you are just a hobby producer, then no, I don't think it's cheating. If you're a pro, then yes, I think it's cheating.
I eventually want to learn sound design, but at the moment I am just ignorant.
Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:44 pm
If I find a preset that fits what I'm trying to achieve, I use the preset. I'm a musician first, sound designer second. If I already have the sound I need without fiddling around I see no reason to waste time tweaking when I could be writing actual music. It's only cheating if you have someone else write the music for you and pass it off as yours.
Tue Feb 10, 2015 1:14 am
^I agree with this, although I find sound design really interesting and as I learn more I have started using more and more of my own plugin patches. I'm now pretty comfortable with manipulating the triple oscillator, so soon I want to learn ZynSubAddFX. My current project has about 10 original 3xoso. patches and a couple Zyn ones that I technically made (but were from watching tutorials).elendarsilvermoon wrote:If I find a preset that fits what I'm trying to achieve, I use the preset. I'm a musician first, sound designer second. If I already have the sound I need without fiddling around I see no reason to waste time tweaking when I could be writing actual music. It's only cheating if you have someone else write the music for you and pass it off as yours.
I don't think presets are cheating, but to me, making your own patches gives your songs a more unique tone and can help you achieve the sound you're really looking for (that's one reason why I learned how to fully utilize the triple oscillator). Other people's presets are definitely helpful for learning though so I'm not afraid to at least look at them. Some of my favorite sounds I've found on the LMMS sharing platform (yay open source).
For drums and standard percussion I do use the built in samples or samples I find online. Somehow I think that's more OK (or maybe I just can't synthesize a good kick n' snare
).
Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:25 am
I think it depends on who/what you think you are. I see sound design as one skill, music composition as another, production as another etc. I'm confident that I will never be good at all the possible skills associated with starting from nothing and arriving a complete finished original "song". So I use the help that's available.
Having said that I usually end up making a few adjustments to most presets. And when I use midis I nearly always have correct them or change the arrangement a bit. And I wouldn't dream of claiming that something produced that way was an original composition.
But if it makes you feel bigger or better to call any of that cheating then go for it.
Steve
Having said that I usually end up making a few adjustments to most presets. And when I use midis I nearly always have correct them or change the arrangement a bit. And I wouldn't dream of claiming that something produced that way was an original composition.
But if it makes you feel bigger or better to call any of that cheating then go for it
.Steve