From EMPTY DAW To Full Track 😩

**Open me, DAWg**
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Howdy doody, buckaroonies! Today, we're here to explore a few songwriting tips to turn your loops into full tracks, turn your empty DAWs into finished productions, and just make some more interesting and effective music for your next writing session!
We'll be using a few of my favorite tools to turn an inspiration dry spell into a pretty killer start of a chill track.
And, hopefully, these ideas will inspire you to get out and work on your next track!
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▼▼▼TIMESTAMPZ:▼▼▼
0:00 My Sick Light Up Shoes
0:53 Howdy
1:53 Making Better Music
3:12 Setting Intentions
4:52 Setting The Vibe
6:03 The Challenge Of Random Choice
7:00 Exploring The Dorian Mode
8:38 Gathering Ideas
10:44 Key Cheat Sheets
12:21 Sketching Out The Idea
15:38 The Final Chord Progression
17:42 Exploring The Idea
20:10 Turning It Into A Track
23:05 Final Result
24:20 Closing Thoughts
Stay classy!
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#songwriting #beats #musicproduction

[@VenusTheory]

Any tips to get back in the music making zone? 🤔 🎼 Check Out Hooktheory! 🎼 hooktheory.com/affiliate/209.html

[@kristofwynants]

Getting my bass or guitar out usually sparks something interesting. Opening up an old Ableton sketch (preferably something that has only a few ideas and tracks) can get me going. If that doesn't cut it, I always have some weird instruments lying around the house and some plugins/softsynths to explore. And if thàt doesn't work I'll start doing some bowing exercises on the double bass or practice scale sequences on my bass or guitar. Getting back to basics, less clickin', more pickin'! In the end you just need to get to work, but it's definitely magical if you stumble upon an idea and the whole track writes itself, but that only happens I'd say in 1 out of 20 tracks. Great tutorial, so nice to have a peak at your workflow!

[@ImJonasCortez]

This man's voice is plain perfect for those cinematic intros :D

[@vdub4216]

+1 for chance composition... so many of the worlds greatest songs have started through the exploration and development of chance and randomness, an art that seems to be lost in so many of today's EDM 'in the box' bedroom producers. Great vid, keep 'em coming... Respect from Australia mate :)

[@VenusTheory]

For sure! Absolutely love having a bit of the unexpected in the process as it helps keep things fresh for me and get me out of the comfort zone now and again.

[@Vibesman2021]

@@VenusTheory So is there ever much copyright problems uploading on KZbin? Obviously if you make your own original sound samples.

[@ggsxr1000]

Just only now I discovered your channel ! Thanks for the great job you constantly do ! The progression you create with "Hooktheory" is amazing and it's inspiring ! Love this channel !

[@therealajnelson]

At 48 "4 chords and the Truth" has been all the theory I needed. Now I'm feeling like I'm in some kind of music loop where everything sounds the same. I recently discovered your channel and the way you explain and show what is going on in the composition process is really halping me move out of this self-imposed musical prison I find myself in. I also would like to add that I'm currently binge watching your videos lol. I'm in a pretty dark hole in my life right now and somehow your videos bring solace and peace. And I'm learning something too ❤ Thank you for that.

[@jbmecham]

Awesome video Cam. Love the resulting feeling that comes out of this approach to making cinematic pieces. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with us knuckleheads. Your video production quality is off the hook. Keep 'em coming!

[@nathanbryers]

Wow that was beautiful - the melody sitting inside the pads. A penny dropped thanks 🙏

[@gatekka.]

dude this video was a gold mine. ty for the great tools you shared!

[@edemerperson6199]

OMG We actually got to hear Cameron say "In a world" at last! But wait, there's more, a most excellent tutorial.

[@VenusTheory]

haha glad somebody caught it.

[@tori8098]

What a great video! I can tell you put a lot of thought and effort into all the videos you put out! big ups!

[@VenusTheory]

Glad to hear it doesn't go unnoticed!

[@geeleeggan]

Hooktheory & Hookpad are delightful! Thanks for the introduction - love your vids BTW

[@docjoesweeney]

Fantastic and really inspirational. I have been using Scaler 2 in a similar way, experimenting with progressions in less common scales. Recently, based on another of your videos, I grabbed the Captain Chords products. Having tools like these to guide experimentation is so impirtant for newbies like me: learning by creating. It also informs my modular (Voltage 2) set ups for generative music. Randomness within bounds. Again, thank so much for your videos. They are entertaining informative and increasingly practical.

[@vetiarvind]

A lot of value in this one bro.

[@darrylsanchez3131]

Venus Theory you are the greatest at what you do in music.

[@vasylmanchuk]

Thank you friend! Your channel and your videos are inspiring!

[@LCRLive687]

This is pure magic. Thanks for your process. Sadly there is not much money in the music industry.

[@aiaccident]

Super awesome content as always! Slowly becoming seriously addicted to you channel! Keep up the phenomenal work! Much love from random Swedish producer.

[@Harveevideos]

Really good video and lots of great tips. Thank you !

[@VenusTheory]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Mr.Gonfio]

...already clicked the like button at 00:50 !!! 😂I love this kind of video-tutorial-ideas ! ...keep going !! Fantastic !

[@odiroot]

Very important video. Thanks for that, Cameron. YT is full of "playing around" / noodling OR pure music theory videos but very rarely can you see the actual process of creating a track.

[@VenusTheory]

Glad to hear it! Figured this would be a good video for people who are just stuck in that 'what now' phase. I used to get stuck there a ton myself and this is my usual 'get out of the box' strategy!

[@prarydog66]

Super inspiring, I’d like to try this approach myself, at least the part about choosing the mode and key randomly. Though I create with guitar more so might have to cheat there to not end up with A flat or something barre-intensive. Loved seeing your process here!

[@suyashalhat2696]

Thnk You so much for this content!

[@StephenBennettVocalTracks]

Thanks VT. I’ve subscribed to Hook Theory. A great bit of software!

[@polmorgan3533]

How right on the button you are. I'm fifty six and i never learened music theory and had much the attitude you describe at the start. I have always been afraid if i learn too much i will spoil the 'magic', and i see the songs as comming to me if I am open to them. But finnally I have hit a quiet patch. thanks for the great videos.

[@DieselWeazel]

You’ll never master music theory and I’ll assure you that the more you learn the more you’ll become as a musician. I had this fear myself.

[@polmorgan3533]

@@DieselWeazel Great answer i never thought of it that way that,s very true.

[@docjoesweeney]

Great to see Reason Frikton in use!

[@TommyLoaded]

Thank you.

[@salvadorkda5758]

Those kind of videos are very useful when you start getting a bit of musical knowledge and don't know exactly how to use. Very very useful ! Thanks for the video

[@adamjerzyrodewald5752]

Love ya

[@austincopeland6177]

Sometimes I fall asleep watching your vids and wake up smarter. It’s all in the voice.

[@artfxdnb]

Nice one mate!

[@brianhudson7058]

Thank you, great video, very useful

[@VenusTheory]

Glad to hear it! Got some other cool stuff on the way that I think you'll dig too!

[@johnyred9303]

Well done! Incredible sound design! Oh....and is obvious why Zimmer use e minor to d...!

[@VenusTheory]

D minor is the saddest key after all.

[@traktorfaktor]

Verry Satie

[@bachcontra3606]

Nice one 👍

[@dougwaguespack1052]

Hey Cameron! Thanks for making this video; I’ve been watching your channel a lot lately. You’re a class act. One question: What website were you using to “roll the dice” when initially picking a key/scale? I’m trying to find it with Google, but it’s an ocean out there.

[@bennycgul2261]

Cool!

[@abhishekc1458]

You're Really Great

[@VenusTheory]

😁

[@darrylsanchez3131]

Maximus Song Making Methodology Venus Theory uses to create and continues moving a song into it’s completion in a super simple way.

[@eggbass]

Love those shoes. Are those Vulcs?

[@LabofmusicRecords]

Thank you for sharing that :)

[@VenusTheory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TerenceKearns]

Pretty cool demo of hook theory. I've been meaning to get a copy of Pianoteq and I just found out that they have Linux versions - sweeeet.

[@_boof]

I'm not sure if it's something you currently do.. But could you go into detail on composing for video? What DAW do you use for that? Its a good insight for people trying to delve into it.

[@alexvorotnyy2835]

Many people said it’s comfortable to work with video in Logic. But I can do it in fl studio.

[@Britske84]

Cameron uses Cubase for scoring. His gear list is on his website

[@VenusTheory]

Noted! Typically I always use Cubase for that sort of stuff. I do want to do some stuff about scoring and whatnot on the channel here at some point, just need to find the time to edit together a fake picture to write to!

[@ELLIOT8209]

@@VenusTheory I use Studio One and I find Cubase similar and easy to understand

[@umanoid1523]

I've used Ableton in the past. Im a creative director and ran my own motion graphics/ animation/ design studio so would occasionally do Cartoon VO and SFX for my productions.

[@scotfree7702]

I listen to my gut cos i ate too much bread yesterday. It moves me in unique and varied ways, like an internal LFO

[@nickluca]

Video idea - debunk music myths. One of the most unfortunate is the one you mention here, that learning theory will "ruin the magic." Of course as an untrained person one can have a certain "magic" quality and perhaps a unique take, but I found out personally (I have a masters in theory/composition) that knowing theory has made my career longer, deeper and vaster than my contemporaries that didnt learn theory. Many of them got stuck in a certain genre, maybe a rock band that is no longer playing a popular style, while i can easily glide from style to style, genre to genre, band to band over 30 plus years. Along with engineering and producing I am able to play keyboatds, bass, guitars and synths and more,, but also write string and horn arrangements for real musicians. So many valuable skills. Plus in my own writing i have classical, jazz, rock, and electronic music to pull from, and I'm not just picking the next chord that sounds cool, I actually understand the functionality. I figured I should learn as much as possible about the field I'm in. It's kinda like telling someone they shouldn't learn to read English because it will ruin the "magic" of things you say. Ridiculous when you look at it that way. There's lots of myths out there, that would make a really good episode! 🎵

[@jamesstevens351]

I missed how you got the sine arpegiated layer to match the notes of your initial chord progression. Do you input the entire chord into Rapid and then it discects it into an arp? Thanks

[@PeteKowalsky]

Great video, Cam. I will have to check out Hook Theory to learn more and start putting all the pieces together better - looks really helpful and the result here for your workflow was really nice. Did you ever finish that track, and is it online somewhere to listen to?

[@VenusTheory]

It's in the 'WIP' folder for now haha - still trying to sort out the vibe of whatever this next album will be so we'll see if it ends up getting used or not!

[@ckjjclan]

I’m 50, and even I want a pair of sick light up Velcro shoes… who the f doesn’t?

[@JasonGillmanJr]

You totally missed a rhyming opportunity with the title. "Empty rack to full track".

[@VenusTheory]

Damn

[@soundfx68]

Loved this. I bought Hooktheory best version a few years back, which has ran out now. Also, I bought the books on my iPad... TODO, read the bloody books you bought! I'm gonna buy the lifetime HT. If only Bitwig would add something like a mix of Hooktheory & Scaler 2 in their own special way.

[@notificationsareblocked.yo53]

Chord Prism is the music theory vst king

[@Wkcomposer]

That’s great! How do you generate those glitchy beats?

[@VenusTheory]

I have a tutorial coming out on that soon!

[@umanoid1523]

Interesting. Didn't even know about hook theory. I usually start from the beat /bass. I often build it in maschine which removes me from my daw. I export the tracks into Ableton and start to build adding pads, melodies and synths. The current track I'm working on I started in Ableton but the same idea. Started with the beat using my favorite drum machines Microtonic and Drum computer. When I work with Microtonic I often go to planetarium the soniccharge beat generating webpage and play with that for a while saving things I like. I'll open one up and then start to modify sounds.turn things off and swap sounds out. This usually gives me beats I would never have considered. I take the midi from Microtonic and import into Ableton where I edit the beat to taste.

[@VenusTheory]

Been thinking of creating some kind of DAWless setup myself!

[@umanoid1523]

@@VenusTheory it helped force me to think about my production differently. Forced me to use more audio tracks and make a decision. I tend to keep as much midi as my CPU let's me (It's an ancient upgraded Mac pro). I never used audio / loops unless I had to and about four years ago I decided I needed to change up my work flow. I find changing things up forces me out of my comfort zone when making tracks.

[@zmpfl5044]

It's called patternarium and it's incredible! A thousand thanks for the hint!

[@umanoid1523]

@@zmpfl5044 LOL. Autocorrect. Thanks though. I sometimes go just to generate a bunch of beats for future use.BTW I just picked up a new toy that's AMAZING for autogeneration and inspiration. Atlas 2 by Algonaut. Randomize your samples from your sample collection as adrum machine and randomize sequences. ENDLESS inspiration for beats.

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

i bought orb-composer software "ai" vst for same reason. great tool that pumps out chord progression in real time your vst. then you can write notes in your VST and start editing away...

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

for lazy producer who not good at playing notes in on piano, it all just becomes about midi note editing and tracking audio from there...

[@himagnamukherjee9382]

Hey, can you review Ribs? it's a granular sampler and it's pretty complicated, almost too feature rich, I haven't seen many tutorials or people talking about it in general

[@VenusTheory]

It's been forever on my list! It's a cool plugin, but unfortunately I'm not sure how to make a good video on it as the interface is so crazy backwards and would likely result in a ton of questions in the comments. Maybe one day though I'll crack the code to make a good video on it!

[@KnzoVortex]

​@@VenusTheory I love Ribs but I must warn, on my old 2009 mac tower and I believe on my mac laptop, I have never been able to get Ribs to behave without freezing, crashing, or when things are working, the state not saving with my project. It's a huge shame because Ribs is such a sick and impossible to replicate effect and it's just a blast to work with. For me anyways I'm going to be switching to windows very seeon so maybe things work in my favor there, but with regards to the video I'm afraid it may end up leaving your mac-based audience in dissapointment.

[@himagnamukherjee9382]

@@VenusTheory cool, would love to see it, In the meantime, could you suggest an easier (free) granular synth? Thanks.

[@kevinnel7038]

There's another free granuliser plugin called emergence. It came from the kvr developer contest this year so its very new but its WAAAAYY easier to use than ribs.

[@himagnamukherjee9382]

@@kevinnel7038 thx I'll give it a try

[@sound.silence]

10 people were triggered by Velcro shoes…. They totally missed the lesson! Awesome as always.

[@AntiPattern123]

Hookpad is really a magic wand for me. I really struggle to dive deeper into music theory, because I'm afraid I will loose my motivation during this learning process. So I just took in little bits of it during the last years. I'm definitely to lazy to really achieve anything in foreseeable time. But with hookpad it is more like an calming approach. It's like getting teached by an mature lady how to ***** XD Your song is great too :)

[@VenusTheory]

Yeah Hookpad is done in a really great way I think - it doesn't totally bog you down with a bunch of nonsense and technical stuff, but it doesn't feel too 'surface level' either. Great little tool when you get stuck or just have no idea what to start with!

[@AntiPattern123]

@@VenusTheory I agree. The setting of the time marker is sometimes adventurous. Scaling the loop indicator is fiddly sometimes. A button for "jumpt to start" is needed. Double clicking in the melody lane to insert notes etc. It don't have to be DAW-like. but some basics of the workflow of a DAW would help.

[@treyhudson73]

"In a world...of music and stuff" 🤣

[@iamsushi1056]

My favorite trick is to use Dorian, but make that third a neutral, the quarter-tone between major and minor

[@iamsushi1056]

But then I like to regarmonize that melody with some sort of just scale; Japanese koto scale/tuning is a fun one

[@Nogrim]

Have you finished the Track? and if so, how is it called? I really loved the vibe of it!

[@collinsutherland311]

Would hooktheory be a good starting point for someone near total beginner to theory? I know major scales from playing trumpet back in school and intervals as well, but not a lot about modes etc

[@bixbox3202]

wow look at you, Dr. Music theory

[@VenusTheory]

Absolutely! Book 1 is all about the basics and building on the 'core' ideas. Book 2 is a bit more advanced, but I wouldn't say it's out of reach with maybe a month or so of study of the ideas of Book 1. There's also musictheory.net, but personally I think the Hooktheory books are presented in a better way with better examples (and they're interactive too!)

[@Bomtoi]

I thought that I was watching an ad and tried to skip it before the voice actor started talking. Very cinematic!

[@VenusTheory]

Haha well hey hopefully you enjoyed it!

[@Bomtoi]

@@VenusTheory It was excellent as always!

[@Hirokee_]

I wonder what lights & lamps you use 😄

[@VenusTheory]

Yo! I use Neewer RBG 660 Pro lights as my main lights, and then a couple of cheap lamps off Amazon. I believe I linked it all in my recent studio build video. I am planning to do a studio tour / making of a KZbin video soon as well that will show my setup in a bit more detail!

[@pavelpetrikor]

caffeine will kill your ability to love and therefore make music

[@DieselWeazel]

I wish this guy had a Burger King Kids Club where we could all meet and collaborate. I feel like I would love working with someone who creates his style.

[@DuroSamples]

Mmh.. the tool you used, you can find in Cubase with chord assistance, to do the exact same thing you did online... 🤔🤔🤔. Im here just for the pads... hehe.

[@VenusTheory]

Yes and no - Hooktheory goes quite a bit deeper than the chord assistant. Covering Hooktheory here would take ages - check out the free version of Hookpad though and you should be able to see all the cool stuff it adds! Basically it's like of Chord Assistant could also give you references + handle melody ideas and chord suggestions that pair off the melody and all sorts of other crazy stuff.

[@DuroSamples]

@@VenusTheory well... I never use those things BUT, I'm getting the drum sample pack you used here and turn it into a VST and send it back to you for being a good sport. You making me wanna dive into Falcon. Im a Halion freak since 2001. Also got Dune 3 after your video. And congrats on your new place.

[@xavierxook5848]

How does this compare to say Cubase Chord tools?

[@VenusTheory]

Answered in another comment, but in short it's basically a much more expanded version of that as it also deals with melody and some more advanced chord options/suggestion tools.

[@thehowlingterror]

20 Bensons and a quarter of Red Leb. That's how 80% of the best music is made. Hope that helps.

[@IntiPeruCinema]

the unison midi pack is shaking up the youtube producer world

[@VenusTheory]

It's the bane of my existence.

[@ericdias4199]

@@VenusTheory I've been watching so many commercials from Unison that I don't need you anymore, Cameron. Unsub.

[@darrylsanchez3131]

Maximus Song Making Methodology Venus Theory uses to show how super simple a song can be started and continued on to it’s completion with all the essential music theory foundation’s and building blocks for music composition to be applied at it’s best performance.

[@haxxoda6196]

How to make Subnautica music

[@VenusTheory]

I've got some cool stuff coming soon that you'll dig! I'll certainly note this down though, I'd love to do some videos about more 'score'-y stuff.

[@melchiorvandijk6138]

Where full track?

[@VenusTheory]

Still a bit in the works! Might release it soon-ish!

[@schnabelborg]

This video is really gonna help me finnaly get started on some real songs! Thank you a lot! :) Your videos are a huge inspiration and really well made. Keep it up :D

[@VenusTheory]

Well hey I'm glad to hear that! That's exactly what I want to hear people get from my channel haha. Let me know how it turns out!