u/Lazyrecipe5264

When it comes to instrumental production how do you guys know what level to set the track to? For my drum track I find it easier to just mess with velocity inside the midi than the actual track volume. How do you apply more or less fx to each track? I see some people find it better to spend more time on sound selection than mixing a generic sample or instrument. I have been making beats on reaper for about 2 months. I am progressing but still find it hard to master a drum pattern and match a good sounding instruments to pair. Chord progressions and placements I can figure out but just finding matching sounds is hard to me.

So overall how do you choose to use more or less fx.

ill start by saying i am only looking for free methods and tools at the moment, but ill take suggestions of things that cost money for the future. So far it seems that omnisphere is the best/most used paid for vst for pads and stuff. Artists beats I like include Gunna, Offset, DBE/ producers would include tm88, southside, atl jacob. pretty much anything wavy with a melody and/or drums with a nice bass. I have nyrell, vital, cymatics free packs, analog free pack, and just basic drum packs.