Music Production Theory & Arrangement Hacks
Studio wiz Larry Holcombe delivers comprehensive production video tutorials on how to easily create professional chord progressions and arrangements! See how to use some of the latest 3rd party software applications like Captain Chords and Scaler 2 to create amazing songs quickly and easily. These videos are for those who already know their DAW of choice, but don't want to learn music theory, and are looking for innovative ways to create chords and arrangements. You also get the accapella and audio tracks used in the videos so you can follow along on your system!
Videos
• Detect Key Signature with Mixed In Key Studio Edition (07:07) - In this video, we'll use Mixed In Key Studio Edition to calculate the key signature of our accapella giving us a starting point for our composition.
• Creating Drum Grooves with Captain Beat (11:25) - Next up, we'll create a drum groove using Captain Beat. A preset pattern is taken and then edited to fine tune the groove. The drum hits are also tweaked to fit the vibe of the track.
• Creating Drum Fills Using Captain Beat (04:26) - Now we'll create 2 drum fills using the brand new drum fill feature in Captain Beat. These are placed in the verse and pre-chorus section to allow us to flick between them.
• Importing & Tuning Drums (12:44) - In this video, we add in some custom drum hits to help the drums match the artistic vision. We then use Mixed In Key Studio Edition to try tuning our kicks and toms so that they are tonally suited to the key of the track.
• Chords Pt. 1 (09:48) - Now we use Captain Chords chord selection process to map out a chord progression for the verse section of the track. We then experiment with rhythm presets to find a rhythmic structure for the progression.
• Chords Pt. 2 (14:38) - In this second part on chords in Captain Chords, we try out a progression using preset progressions and timings. Then we use the play mode to jam out a progression using our computer keyboard. Finally we use the MIDI keyboard to experiment with a progression which we then input using the custom option.
• Chord Rhythm (10:40) - Now it's time to make a decision regarding our chord ideas and then add a custom rhythm to the progression using the rhythm record feature.
• Chord Arrangement (14:40) - Next up, we export MIDI from Captain Chords to allow us to arrange the various sections in Logic Pro. We'll also program one more alternative progression to use in the arrangement.
• Chord Editing in the DAW (09:42) - In this last video on our harmonic backdrop, we do a final amendment of the chords using MIDI in Logic Pro?s Piano Roll.
• Arranging Beats from Captain Beat (11:03) - Now see how to export our drums from Captain Beat and arrange the main loops and fills to create interest in the main drum arrangement.
• Adding a Bassline Pt. 1 (11:32) - Watch how to use Captain Deep locked to Captain Chords to automatically generate a bassline for our main section, which is then added to the arrangement and tweaked to fit the groove.
• Adding a Bassline Pt. 2 (08:49) - Now we'll add a second bassline that completes our B section chords, and then add it to Logic Pro for further tweaking and fitment.
• Adding a Melody (13:14) - In this video, we use the idea function of Captain Melody to create a simple melody using fifths and roots of our chords, and arrange them rhythmically to complement our other elements.
• Arpeggiation Pt. 1 (12:28) - Next up, we'll enlist the help of Xfer records Cthulhu to create some interesting rhythmic arpeggiator sequences that follow our chords. We'll then tweak the parts by switching off steps and experimenting with patterns vs note numbers.
• Arpeggiation Pt. 2 (18:08) - In the second part on the Cthulhu arpeggiator, we cover randomizing the sequence, changing octave for steps, adding custom pitch, groove and gate times and also ways to add harmony on a step by step basis.
• Detecting Chords Using Scaler 2 (07:51) - Here we introduce a new concept of using the chord detection feature of Scaler 2 to work out the harmony of an electric piano part. See how!
• Quick & Dirty Melodies (07:00) - In this final video, we'll go through a very simple way of ensuring that you stay in key and write harmonious melodies by drawing in reference scales in Logic Pro's piano roll.