Djuna

If you're talking about samples implemented in a track, not just movie quotes during a break, I'd say definitely Deflo.

Yeah, the topic title suggests that there is only a choice between these two things, while in fact one aspect influences the other. You should always create whatever you want, that is consistency! Thinking about what genre or scene you'd like to be in doesn't help for creative impulses imho.

The MS20 (mini, I guess?) is great for learning the basics and more advanced things regarding synthesis. With the patch panel you can go very far with creating new, weird sounds. It's (been) used in many genres, also oldschool goa trance. One of the synths I'll never sell.

That doesn't make much sense: in your example, if in a mix a kickdrum clips, an instrument that's pretty stable dynamic-wise through-out a song (in most music), then you've put the kickdrum track too loud. No point in using a limiter if you yourself are overcooking the input in the first place. It's not the tool, it's the way of thinking that is a bit off. Like Recursion Loop said, if you put the BD around -10dBFSsomething, and build the rest of the song around that, you will have less problems with headroom if the song is ready for mastering.

Why would you use a limiter if you know that there are tracks going to clip - why not just lower those tracks in volume, and create a balanced mix in the first place?

Good tip! I wasn't really impressed by the tracks I already knew, but that's pretty good.

I'm listening to Slugfest at the moment, and damn, what a compilation. All killers no fillers! This is simply, in the pure sense of the word, outstanding.

You know why they call it 'brickwalled', right? Because when you look at the waveform, it looks like a wall of bricks; a square block. Like this: http://postimg.org/image/xfn6vfarl/. In my own track there are subtleties and accents that are partially gone because of such mastering. Now don't get me wrong, of course this is a release by and for friends and fans, I'm just pointing out the incorrect statements that don't correspond with what can actually be heard or measured. It's rather about the lack of knowledge than the lack of money. There's nothing wrong with the (limited or not) tools that are available, but with how they are used IMHO. I know this isn't going to change anything about this release, I'm saying this more out of trying to create some awareness. The other aspects of the mastering sound fine. I, hopefully, can be thankful for being on the compilation, but at the same time still can say what I care about, right?

*raises glass*

You think something with a range of 5dB is "dynamic"?

Probably something from a sample bank.

Can't really answer that without an example! You mean with converting wave files ripped from CD's, right? How did you rip them in the first place, with what software? And which CD's? That's maybe interesting to know - in a lot of releases there's not much dynamics left in the music after mastering. So if you'll create mp3's from these tracks some clipping may indeed occur, those are artefacts caused by compression.

A small update: added a vintage spring reverb with psychedelic display ( ) on top of my effects rack. It's already friends with the Minibrute! Sorry for the crappy picture, don't have a top notch camera.

Congratulations to everybody, thanks for the votes on my part, and best of luck next year for those who did't make it to the tracklist! There were more good tracks than open spots, so let's keep that creativity going.

Happy holidays! We still got a week left to do the things we've promised not to do in the next year, so let's get wild!

Darshan - Spectra A great album, story-wise. A lot of variation in rhythms and tempos between the tracks, an album you should listen from start to finish.

My entry for the Psynews contest this year @ 148 BPM. Dragon Twins - Foster "> " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"> >> And my facebook artist page https://www.facebook.com/Dragon.Twins.Music Cheers!

Votes: 01. Neuropa - Seven Circles 02. Phobium - Orbital Resonance 03. One Arc Degree - The Tree Maiden (feat. Georgia Irakli) 04. Spiral Minded - Swampy Séance 05. Mellow Sonic - Psychokinesis 06. ShySun - Noir York 07. phillip anossov - Conspiracy Theories 08. Xenofish - Made Out Of Stars 09. Cardiac Arrest - There is no try, just do! 10. Colin OOOD & Goa Travellers - 100 Billion Neurons Pretty varied tracklist, me gusta! Couldn't fit in all the tracks that I wanted, first world problem. :-)

Good point, but RCA to Jack cables are not that hard to find, if that would be an issue.

If you buy RME and Avid stuff, you pay for routing, mic preamps, multiple inputs and outputs, multiple headphone inputs, midi, digital i/o, and a bunch of other stuff you don't really need in this case. You only need 2 line inputs, and I guess just 2 line outputs (for your monitors)? Focusrite is a solid name, can't go wrong with the Scarlett 2i2 for example. Other names to look out for are MOTU and Steinberg or Tascam perhaps (don't have any experience with them though), but I doubt with your needs you'll get a better deal regarding price/quality than Focusrite. Good luck with the hunt! And remember, how you record (too hot/too low) matters too.

Okay, clearly it's time to chill down with a cup of tea.

Oh right... Me + math don't add up.

Soundcloud is getting buggy again, it's in the group according to my settings, but I can't see it in the group itself. :/

Man I got a love/hate relationship with deadlines... Just contributed my track Foster to the Soundcloud group, with only 20 minutes left! Glad I don't live in a country that's a time-zone further.

Deadline is 10th of November? Or 11th?