I’m new to the forum and new to Renoise. I’ve played in bands for a long time but was never really the type to sit with a DAW and write songs. I’d just remember riffs and turn up to a practice then record stuff later in a studio. Now I’d like to try a new process. The DAW I’m mostly familiar with is Reaper, but I’m no expert.
I’d like to try and write some stuff along the lines of early Seefeel or Bowery Electric. I like the more guitar driven songs both bands have done. I’m intrigued by trackers and how Renoise might relate to early sampling and sequencing tools possibly used by bands like Seefeel, MBV and other bands. I’d like to record guitar and bass parts live and wondered if anyone here does the same and has any examples on line?
I think a combination of Reaper & Renoise make sense, but I’m concerned about obstacles in doing in using both. Maybe exporting tracks for each and sticking them in the other is just a pain? I’m just looking for some insights really!
(I also want to get into using the SP-404 Mk2 as a writing tool but that’s another story)
There are lot of ways to use Renoise ! From very “written” workflows to modular/generative/open ones.
Renoise is not the best for recording and arranging sounds over a timeline (it’s doable, but Reaper would be the best fit imho).
Renoise really shines in:
manage samples (slicing, freezing/bouncing samples, building multi-sample instruments)
having an awesome sampler built-in: with deep modulation controls and FX, phrases (a sequencer in the sequencer)
being the master of time (automatable BPM, LPB settings). No wonder why this software is very popular for breakcore/jungle enthusiasts: you can go at microscope level of time/event timing / sample management.
generative capabilities: complex and deep modulations and controls (with meta devices), and notes-generative scripts (pattrns)
Tools ecosystem that extend Renoise behavior, sometimes in a very creative way.
Reaper + Renoise seem a popular combination. I’ll soon need a software of this kind. I’ll hesitate between Reaper and Ardour.
IMHO, this the way. Besides Renoise, it’s a well tested way of working and keeping the recording/mastering aside of composition may help too.
Be clean in your file management (naming/organisation) and be sure to use the nice little features of the Renoise file browser: bookmark your “stems” and “recordings” master folders for quick access.
Be sure to dig the manual and take the time to get a grasp of the beast: years ago, I’ve late discovered very efficient small features that weren’t “UI-obvious” because I’ve didn’t read the manual enough.
For example, for “very written workflows” (not really my case), keyboard shortcuts are a must.
The sampling side of things seems really powerful. I’m actually planning on picking up an SP-404 to get into more of a sample based way of working. I think that would help me with Renoise.
Great point on file management. I don’t have a sample library right now but I can foresee how not keeping things organized would cause problems.
It all sounds pretty promising. I think I could build drums, incidental noises and pads in Renoise, and record short bass/guitar parts into Renoise to loop and build layers with. It sounds like if I wanted to play a guitar part in for a longer length of time (eg 5 mins) I might be better off opening Reaper.
I’m interested in how bands like Seefeel used samples and sequencing in their tracks but at least in earlier records the majority of songs had parts played in “traditionally”. Guitars with DP/4 and using some EHX pedals for abnormal sustian. A lot of Ebow too. I also dig how MBV used sequenced drums and loops on Loveless. I feel like chapterhouse did more of this in Blood Music which was remixed and ended up as Pentamerous Metamorphosis by Global Communication. Such a cool record. It’s a great ambient work and totally diffrent to the source material.
Maybe looking into some early 90’s workflows might help me, and maybe I should just dive in.
Using the SP-404 you wouldn’t use much advantages of Renoise tracker philosophy and insane sampler, but that could still be an interesting workflow to re-sample SP-404 already sampled bits ?
Looking forward to hear some things you make!
If it doesn’t sound good enough to your ears, put it through a convolver. Soon all the tracks in the project will be light and ambient. just put impulses in convolver that sound cool like synths or violins
Thanks @broh! I’ll deffo have to post something up when I get my head around things. The SP-404 is something I’m getting as kind of a portable tactile unit to write with on the move before moving to some kind of DAW, but I’m hoping it’ll help my brain shift in the way I think about writing songs.
I came to Renoise after reading about folk using the Polyend Tracker with the 404 as a DAWless rig. I’m not that bothered about going “DAWless” but the idea of a tracker seemed cool.
@EETTEE I’ll look up Convolver. I’ve got the demo of Renoise installed now.
I’ve got PaulXStretch to mess about with. I’ve played about in Reaper before making pads by stretching short samples of guitar feedback, then sticking those sounds in Reapers sampler and using the piano roll to build ambient sounding chords.
