Discussion
  • Read More
    HellephantRich Juzwiak
    9/24/13 6:12pm

    "Hey, Franky, I'm writing a new song. Is thirty seconds too long for the chorus?"

    "I don't know, Dino. You don't go by time, you go by bars."

    "That's a dirty lie, Frank. I've never gone by a bar in my life!"

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      N*E*R*DHellephant
      9/24/13 10:45pm

      I can't tell you how much I laughed at this.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      HellephantN*E*R*D
      9/24/13 11:26pm

      Thanks! Just looking at Sammie cracking up makes me want to laugh, too. I wonder what they would make of "EDM."

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    filmgirlRich Juzwiak
    9/24/13 6:00pm

    I used to love House music and going to after hours clubs in San Francisco in the 90's. Now I have no desire.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      RugbyRugbyfilmgirl
      9/24/13 6:25pm

      Hate to say it, but you were an idiot in the '90s most likely. That show getting old works.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      pixiefilmgirl
      9/24/13 8:10pm

      DV8 4EVA!

      All kidding aside, we may know each other. I was a regular everywhere... and SF was a very small town in those days.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    ColoradicalRich Juzwiak
    9/24/13 6:03pm

    First of all "EDM" is a bullshit term. Stop using it. It doesn't mean anything. Absolutely no producer would describe their music as EDM. Second of all, this article doesn't even address the most appaling aspect of the electronic music craze that has exploded the last few years. The real problem I have with these idiots mentioned in the article is that none of them are true DJ's, just producers. They prerecord their entire set and then just press play and dance around. And they're putting actual DJ's who mix shit up live like DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Qbert, and DJ Z-Trip out of business. That is much more upsetting to me than the fact that these guys get paid a lot of money to play their gigs.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Peso28Coloradical
      9/24/13 6:12pm

      Eh, EDM is just an easy broad term to describe the whole culture. I agree with you on everything else, though. But, hey, that's what happens to a subculture when it gets big. Every genre of music has its frauds that coasted on little talent.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      Left HandshakeColoradical
      9/24/13 6:13pm

      Being a music producer is not the same thing as being a movie producer; music producers actually make the music, not just front the money and hope all goes well.

      If anything, DJs have by and large been subordinate to producers in the context of electronic music terminology throughout the years (even though there is a common overlap!), because they don't strictly 'make', they just press play on the CDJs, or know how to beat match, or have great taste in music, etc. It's just not the same thing as producing - making - in FL or Ableton or Renoise, etc. Don't get me wrong, they're both essential aspects to the "scene" or what the fuck ever, but DJs aren't the True Art(tm) of electronic music, and DJ worship has been a rampant shitshow for, well, decades now, depending on what genre you are into.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    BuffDrinklotRich Juzwiak
    9/24/13 6:02pm

    I figured out Photoshop on my own... EDM can't be much harder to learn, can it? Plus EDM comes with more money than Photoshop, and more hot zebraface women tripping on E.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      olalBuffDrinklot
      9/24/13 6:29pm

      Get yourself any decent sequencer: Reaper is perhaps the cheapest one that's reasonably good. You could go straight to Cubase, but it's overkill for most people since they won't understand what they're looking at anyway. Ableton Live is probably the very easiest, since help tips appear whenever you hover over something you don't understand. All of them come with a set of decent plug-ins built in, but you'll want some dedicated ones too.

      VSTs are more important than the sequencer, really. Get Native Instruments' Kontakt (sampler) and Massive (offensive sound-a-like synth), or the Komplete bundle which includes both and a ton of other instruments, effects and sound banks. A couple of free internet tutorials in those and you're away. You'll need a certain amount of theory learning, but there's never been a better time to find all of that for free online. It's easier than it used to be because you don't have to worry about a vinyl mix anymore, since you're almost certainly not looking for a vinyl release, and all the special considerations for vinyl and mono club systems are a thing of the past.

      Beyond NI's effects, you'll want Izotope's Ozone multi fx, maybe Camel Audio's Alchemy (or Iris) for easy atmospheric effects. You'll probably find plenty of suitably commercial sounds in the various NI sound banks above, but you could also get the Vengeance sample packs for high-impact drums. You could learn to make your own powerful sounds of course, but if you want quick success then don't bother; all the lazy scum love Vengeance. Read a couple of tutorials about EQ, compression and reverb until you get the gist. Use 24-bit settings, and don't mix individual channels too loud - there's plenty of headroom with 24 bit, and you'll just make it hard to get a good-sounding mix if any channels are eating up the master output. Set the gain sliders for your loudest drums about halfway, and mix everything else around them, and the mix should come together pretty easily.

      You could easily have a potential hit within a month, but the harder part is getting it into the right people's hands. I say "harder", but that doesn't mean it's difficult either.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      BuffDrinklotolal
      9/24/13 6:53pm

      Thanks for a thorough response!

      In all honesty, I now want to find someone with all of these things just to see what I can come up with. Thirteen years of concert band, orchestra, and jazz ensemble have to be of some benefit to me.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    cuntybawsRich Juzwiak
    9/24/13 6:02pm

    Is it really the case that these clubs are effectively barring dealers and patrons with Molly/E? Or has the scene changed THAT much?

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      flopsy124cuntybaws
      9/24/13 6:25pm

      No, molly is still ridiculously prevalent.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      cuntybawsflopsy124
      9/24/13 6:32pm

      Right ... because to paraphrase the magnificent Phoenix Nights, dancers aren't drinkers...

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    AtomicUnicornRich Juzwiak
    9/24/13 6:05pm

    This is just America, from what I understand EDM is a part of culture in England that's has been pass the point of "trend" for decades now. America just manages to get it's hand on something and cornballs the fuck out of it. It's insincere culture and shitty America cliche that tends to wreck shit up. Middle America and coastal people who might as well go shack up in a flyover state as you wonder if they are from one anyway.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Mike CrawfordAtomicUnicorn
      9/24/13 6:28pm

      I wouldn't even go that far, really. This piece, while interesting, is an isolated sliver: we're talking Vegas here, a city whose calling card is excess. Casinos have mastered the science of ambiance, controlling every aspect of the experience to keep you inside and spending money for as long as plausibly possible.

      While E.D.M (not a fan of this term, but for the sake of discussion) culture has doubtlessly mainstreamed, and a lot of people are arguably doing it wrong, there are still plenty of clubs that hearken back to the hallowed traditions Rich references. As with anything trending, the authentic representations have just become a bit more difficult to find.

      And while I know it's popular to contrast Euro v. American E.D.M culture, the New Yorker article's characterization is not representative of the larger scene in the States.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      La.M.AtomicUnicorn
      9/24/13 6:54pm
      GIF

      I believe this is the sentiment you are searching for.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    kathotdogRich Juzwiak
    9/24/13 6:03pm

    EDM? How about EMF?!! WhatWhat! Can I get some love?

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      cuntybawskathotdog
      9/24/13 7:58pm

      You lot sound like 24-hr party people!

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    La.M.Rich Juzwiak
    9/24/13 6:11pm

    I just watched a movie on EDC with will.i.am. all over it. Maybe his beef is just with the EDM superclub scene, but he seems to be all about it. All of it.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      heifahhoeLa.M.
      9/24/13 6:33pm

      His set at EDC sucked ass. Most people in the scene hate him so its kind of funny to hear his perspective. I also had no idea he DJs at Wynn. I'll be sure to avoid that place at all costs.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      La.M.heifahhoe
      9/24/13 6:42pm

      I didn't realize he was at the Wynn either. They must be getting desperate now that Hakansan is stealing all their 'talent'.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Left HandshakeRich Juzwiak
    9/24/13 5:48pm

    Really? will.i.am criticizing music shills? Hoh.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      tito_swinefluRich Juzwiak
      9/24/13 6:08pm

      That 8-ft yacht must be really something. How much does one of those cost?

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        Stetsonless Süspęçt and 6 otherstito_swineflu
        9/24/13 8:31pm

        Was looking to see if anyone else picked that up.

        Reply
        <
      • Read More
        WoodhouseStetsonless Süspęçt and 6 others
        9/25/13 8:33am

        Yeah, I saw that and sarcastically thought, "Wow... an eight-foot yacht? That dude is eccentric!"

        Reply
        <