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How to deal with almost finished tracks?
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aciduss
IsraTrance Full Member
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1490
Posted : Apr 15, 2010 18:39:20
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Look i have like 3 or 4 unfinished +7:00 tracks, the thing is i really find it hard to work on these projects since everything is automated and i have lots of channels and it is really a big mess eventho i try to organize everything with names and colors.
The more i listen to these projects the less i like them, and want to begin a new one but i know it will also become another unfinished one.
I know i just have to fix some buildups, add lots of incidental fx, edit here and there, i just can't get motivated enough to do so. Why is that it is easier to think "i'm starting new track, this time it will really kick ass", than to fix current one... lack of discipline i guess... any advice is welcomed. |
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TimeTraveller
IsraTrance Full Member
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80
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3207
Posted : Apr 15, 2010 19:07
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hehe I know exactly what you mean mate.I think I have sth like 20+ unfinished psytrance works..(and so far not one psytrance ever made finished,damnit) and now I*m like finished with psytrance ..
It seems to me no sense to start a new one,but I find it hard to work the old ones to end.HEard it to death,I think I have to delete alot of sounds and maybe make something which fits more.
For now I make again other music until I get enough motivation to end my unfinished psytrance works.I think it is important to make the tracks till end.
And 20+ is way too much  ..3 or 4 to finish is ok I think.
And maybe than delete ,if still not really happy wit it.
I think it is a process of learning and later with expirience it comes all eazier.But I don't know exactly.Good sounding psytrance with own sounds etc is a complex music for sure.
I think longer pauses are really refreshing.Best pauses are like spending the time really different ,even not producing music in sequencer of another kind.
 https://soundcloud.com/shivagarden |
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Kryten
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
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333
Posted : Apr 15, 2010 19:07
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Theres one advice I stumbled across very often :
Finish your trck, no matter what you think about it.
Its totally normal that your track starts to sound less godd the more you hear it or work on it. Thats a problem most, if not all producers have.
Just let someone else listen to it, if they think its good, than it still is....
Im just passing this advice, I never finished a track either yet(but im also not doing this for long...) |
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Scolopendra
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
64
Posted : Apr 15, 2010 19:25
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I'm in the exact same situation, and even though I haven't finished any tracks yet (mostly because my computer crashed and I haven't had the time to fix it) I have dedicated a lot of thought to this issue and here are some of them.
As you say, usually when you get into older tracks the whole project is just a mess. And as time goes by and you do not work on a project you distance yourself from the project, and of course; when listening to an unfinished track made by yourself it does not sound as good as a fully completed and mastered track by a pro. And since the last time you were working on a particular track you might have learnt some new techniques, come up with some crazy new ideas you wanna use etc. So your thinking; "I might as well just start a new project since the work that needs to be done on the almost finished track is so sincere." or something like that=)
I have noticed one thing when I open older project, and that is that I am sort of afraid to make big, drastic changes, afraid I might screw up the temporary result. But in my case this is where I have been going in the wrong direction I think. Try listening carefully to your unfinished tracks and analyze; What is it about it that you don't like. There's probably a whole lot you like, but something about the track that you can't stand. Now.. where is the logic in NOT changing the elements you don't like? I tells you.. it's lazyness! If the track intenionally is good, it's absolutely worth putting down some work in finishing it, even though that means you have to initalize a whole lot of the synth patches and start over, change aaall the EQ settings or comp settings, maybe writing leads differently to make them fit better. Maybe it's just an issue of adding more tracks or removing track. With an old project it takes more time to get back to the feeling you had when you started the project so this comes in addition to all the work you have to do with the track.
A couple of really objective, critical ears also helps! Fire up a J with some friends (non music producers as well as producers) and play them your track and explain to them what your intensions with the track are. Ask them directly "Do you think *** fits in? Do you think *** is to loud?" etc. Even though they're not musical at all they can surely tell you if something unbalanced or sounds wrong or maybe tell you if an element is missing and so on.
.. there are some of my thoughts at least. I think I have more thoughts on the subject, I will just have to find a way to formulate them=)
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Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Apr 15, 2010 19:47
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Quote:
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On 2010-04-15 18:39:20, aciduss wrote:
I know i just have to fix some buildups, add lots of incidental fx, edit here and there, i just can't get motivated enough to do so. Why is that it is easier to think "i'm starting new track, this time it will really kick ass", than to fix current one... lack of discipline i guess... any advice is welcomed.
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That is a big "just". Make sure there is enough happening to keep the tune interesting, mix it down to the bet of your ability and bounce it.
If the ideas are good enough and you are happy with how it came out, don't worry about small things other people will not miss in the track anyway.
But make sure you finish everything.
The whole thing with listening to my own music, is that I get really excited when the first good ideas get layed down and then its hours upon hours of listening to them same ideas that get less exciting over time, yet, if they are really good, they survive the test of that one week it took me to get to the part of the final mixdown.
Its was sets the good ideas, from the really good ones, apart.
Then just focus on getting the little things, that will spice up the main things once again, right. Mix it. Bounce it.
Its a 1-2-3 process, but you must get them all down if you want to release your music.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
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5380
Posted : Apr 15, 2010 20:06
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Listen to your track, and write a list of all the things you think need fixing. Then work through that list, one by one. Try to avoid listening to the whole track until you've got to the bottom of the list. When you've done everything, listen again and see if you need to make a new list. Repeat until finished, or needles in eyes. Motivation? Find it, or give up writing music for anything other than the joy of half-finishing tracks - it's in your hands.
The more you listen to the same section of a track over and over again, the more familiar you get with its sound, and the less interesting the ideas in it seem. REMEMBER that when you first put those ideas in the track, they really excited you and you got them sounding really good. Just because you've listened to them so much in production that you're bored of them, DOESN'T MEAN that other people hearing the track won't get just as excited as you did when you first heard them in the track.
Mastering - http://mastering.OOOD.net :: www.is.gd/mastering
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www.facebook.com/OOOD.music :: www.soundcloud.com/oood
Contact for bookings/mastering - colin@oood.net |
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Dharma Lab
Started Topics :
8
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342
Posted : Apr 15, 2010 21:20
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One thing I've tried doing is giving the unfinished track to a friend to remix. It sometimes provides:
1) Motivation/deadline to finish the original track
2) Rejuvenate your self-esteem- to hear your ideas thru someone else's perspective
3) Purpose- even if you never finish the track, maybe something good comes out of it thru the remix.
4) Sometimes, the remix turns from a solo project into a collaboration. Working with others can be a good contrast to working alone.
Keep The Faith,
Christian K. |
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skyhighatrist
skyhighatrist
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
101
Posted : Apr 15, 2010 21:41
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Just finish the tune!!
It is very easy to get sidetracked into doing other things but you really should try to finish your tracks. If you really dont like it then delete it and move on but having half finished stuff you may or may not finish later just really stiffles creativity imo.
I often get quite agitated nearing completion of a track as i feel a huge urge to get it finished asap so i can move on to something new. atm i have a couple of new tracks with the arrangement sorted but not the mix. I'm happy to leave things at this stage and come back to the production later on. I can do the creative side anytime but need to wait until i am fresh to mixdown the track at its best.
@Dharma Lab - i agree with that collabs usually result in good things. a different set of ears and ideas make a huge difference.
http://www.catawampus-records.co.uk/Catawampus_Records/Skyhighatrist.html |
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mist
IsraTrance Full Member
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68
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642
Posted : Apr 15, 2010 23:57
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I don't know. Just make a point to finish them. Colin gives good advice with the list. I work in a similar way even during the composition phase... Of course, I'll also work on like 4 tracks at the same time and work on each one as I'm inspired to do so. There's no rush for me.
Quote:
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On 2010-04-15 21:41, skyhighatrist wrote:
atm i have a couple of new tracks with the arrangement sorted but not the mix. I'm happy to leave things at this stage and come back to the production later on. I can do the creative side anytime but need to wait until i am fresh to mixdown the track at its best.
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This. I'll go back and tweak a track long after it's been "complete". I'll update the production techniques as I learn new things too. Why not?
Are you connected to yourself?
http://soundcloud.com/justincaseboy |
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supergroover
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
Posts :
1505
Posted : Apr 16, 2010 00:01
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Quote:
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On 2010-04-15 20:06, Colin OOOD wrote:
Listen to your track, and write a list of all the things you think need fixing. Then work through that list, one by one. Try to avoid listening to the whole track until you've got to the bottom of the list. When you've done everything, listen again and see if you need to make a new list. Repeat until finished, or needles in eyes.
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Excellent advice!
soundcloud.com/supergroover |
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*eLliSDee*
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
671
Posted : Apr 16, 2010 00:35
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its hard being a perfectionist. especially if you are your own worst critic.
My friend is a writer. he tells me we have the same problem. -many people never commit to paper or release because of fears of what others will think. -but its the only way you'll now for sure.
still, i'd like my stuff to sound even half-way decent compared to what is considered good before i release.
DON'T GIVE UP.
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reignthruacid
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
32
Posted : Apr 16, 2010 08:58
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I've had this issue many times and I have actually taken a track that I was finished with, but then i found myself nitpicking at it again when listing to it another time. Then i'd end up jumping back into it and tweaking a few things and maybe replacing a lead with an alternative or changing a kick.
it really gets on my nerves sometimes, hehehe.
Even though it seems that way it still comes back to you when you make new tracks that end up being "better" than teh previous one I finished. makes me cringe and feel my past work sucks no matter what.
Then again, that is perfectly normal for us as artists.
I make music as a hobby, but I am also an illustrator soon to graduate from college. so as an artist I feel the same way about my music as I do with my paintings. Funny it doesn't stop me from doing MORE stuff. lol |
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makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
Posts :
3087
Posted : Apr 16, 2010 10:31
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Hey, that's not a problem. Everyone has unfinished tracks. That's normal! 3-4 ones is a really tiny ammount. I have around 15 tracks since 2007 that needs to be finished... Nothing wrong with that. Recently I had a mood to make an ambient track, I found some old project from 2007 and finished it - sounds very good.
I see no sense in deleting projects also - why? Free disk space? Its cheap, and there are things less valuable to delete. Momentary hesitation? Dissatisfaction? Fuck all these things! You don't really like your work? That can be fixed also. Just add something to the track that you really love. Some sound, pad, trick, sample, golden rays maybe...
What you may need to finish the tracks is a motivation. Get some bookings and you'll get motivated enough to finish everyting and make 5 new ones. I tested, that works
Also you can find a partner that will throw some ideas and help you out.
As for the project management, well, there are plenty of sounds, leads, instruments, tracks... It's not deadly. Bounce down, delete, make folders. Just get over it, the result worth the efforts anyways.
www.overdreamstudio.com |
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orgytime
IsraTrance Full Member
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120
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1703
Posted : Apr 16, 2010 10:59
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i also suggest the list thing... its so much going on, that if you got no list, you got lost and find no motivation to go on.
with a list, you set up a plan... plans are fun, right? 
www.soundcloud.com/orgytime |
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-=Mandari=-
Mandari
Started Topics :
28
Posts :
655
Posted : Apr 16, 2010 11:03
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well mate,
i have to say i got hundreds of unfinished projectfiles, no joke. i deleted several times between and dont mind, cause many of them were experimental and very bad quality. they had no idea, no potential and often they just contain the basics....
for me it was some more easy to work on new ones and keep attention on quality before finishing a track. anyways i always try to finish the track. i leave them for some long or less between and have a listen after days, weeks, months and usually i think very different after that time. i hear the track and know right that moment what could be better, does it work like this or does it need a finish.
often i leave my tracks not that busy and some more deep in athmosphere, so that way im able to play a lot of live synth stuff to it. for release i just record a "live" version with synth stuff applied and some fx added. anyways....
so, another thingy i could recommend and i do really really often: try to mix the sounds of the projects and finish the track that way. pretty often i got the case that two different, uncompleted songs match that good that i just take the basics of that one and sounds, instruments etc of another one, some work on details and finish and there you go. very interesting way to get things forward imo. and very simple to me while im working on ableton live, i just have my project folder on one of these hot swap buttons, import files,tracks, midi, audio just by drag and drop of the songs i need. all tracks and clips with prelistening, so i can choose and mix any tracks and projects i like. btw. another simple way if you´re stuck into anything, just take from another song, change some settings or sounds and there you go. i often do that if im stuck to anything, cause it stops my workflow and creativity. so im only looking for a solution that moment and work later on it.
all projects that i think too old or got no idea, no sense, no quality i tend to delete. often i just save projects i worked on at bored times and leave just with kick/bass and some percussion or stuff. so imo one doesnt need that if it´s not a completely different and good idea worth to work on. just confusing if you leave hundreds of projects like these. not mentioning the hd space it takes....  im no fan of these TB HD´s and huge project librarys, i want everything as fast and clean as possible. my external is 160 gb and my internal same. only audio and stuff needed. so i have to keep attention on space
thats my solution so far for that, just mix and try around, gives some new flavour and things will turn very interesting usually.
sorry the novel, cheers: stephan
FUCK GENRES, LOVE MUSIC!!!!
http://soundcloud.com/mandarimedia
http://banyan-records.com |
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