| Author
|
Stucked in music production
|
SpEeD
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
29
Posts :
27
Posted : Jul 18, 2010 00:52:39
|
Hi there isratrance community! It's been 5 years now since i first started my journey through psytrance production. Over the last 5 years i think i maneged to know all the main concepts related to my favourite DAW (cubase) as well as Subtractive and additive synthesis quite well. Through the reading of hundreds of topics from this forum as well as watching all kinds of video tutorials i came to a point where i think there's not much more to learn in technical terms.
The fact is that i rarely finish one track, and i think i know why.. Since when i started to produce i became a little obsessed with sound quality (i mean: kickbass perfect, drums , etc etc) and i think o have focused too much in technical terms instead of focusing on finishing the tracks. So i entered in a contant loop of starting new tracks, new tracks, new tracks, and i came to a point where have like 150 songs that only has like 3/4 minutes. Simply when the track is entering the middle part my creativity get stuck and my only wish is to start a new one. This is very annoying and frustrating and gets my head blowing!
Do you think that if i have done the things a different way ( like for instance, when i started if i had just finished song by song instead os focusing on thecnical) it would be different? What advices you have to give me that can change this vicious cicle of stating new tracks over and over while not getting any finished tunes?
I think i know the technical side well enough but how to employ that knowledge and convert it into killer tunes?
Any advices and suggestions will be appreciated. Sorry for the long post, i just had to unburden this feeling with someone. |
|
|
daark
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
58
Posts :
1397
Posted : Jul 18, 2010 07:49
|
there is always what to learn 
just keep trying and u'll see 
don't be affraid of trying new stuff new plugins and new knobs and routings different eq different polyphony
there is alot of things u never did believe me
 http://soundcloud.com/magimix-1/chilling-forest-whispers
Wierd shit happens :) |
|
|
|
PtitDav
Started Topics :
1
Posts :
11
Posted : Jul 18, 2010 16:12
|
Maybe you should try to learn FM synthesis(that's what i'm trying to do right now) i do beleive there is a lot of ("psy")sounds you can't do with subtractive synthesis only (maybe im wrong). 
About how to convert knowledge into killer tunes i don't know haha. anyway goodluck and don't give up! |
|
|
|
PsiloCybian
Mammal Footwork
Started Topics :
92
Posts :
557
Posted : Jul 18, 2010 17:15
|
i was in a similar situation, lots of started tracks but a small percentage got finished
the answer to my problem was the daw I was working in, kinda weird but when i switched over to ableton everything changed I guess ableton works for me couse its fast and i like to work fast so i dont lose the initial momentum.
www.psilocybian.com / www.facebook.com/psilocybian |
|
|
|
PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Jul 18, 2010 22:58
|
maybe it could be cause of your speakers? do you like their sound?some monitors are really good for mixing but are too lifeless and detailed to really enjoy making music on them imo . i guess that why the dynaudio are very popular for example, good compromise between accuracy and enjoying making music on them.
|
|
|
|
minddoctorsmakeacid
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
74
Posts :
577
Posted : Jul 19, 2010 04:07
|
Mate if you are looking for the pro sound quality of a mastered track of the "big boys" forget it you will never gonna get it.
Do the best you can in your daw and send it for someone to master or you can also try to send it to mix 2.
5 Years is a long time, its time for you to start finishing your songs.
What helped me a lot was to only make songs for a project like an album or a featured track with another artist or even a remix contest, something that gives you motivation to start and finish.
Put your half finished projects aside and focus on something you know you will use.
Promisse me you will finish you next track no mather what...
I want to ear the result...
Send it to me at minddoctorsmakeacid@hotmail.co.uk
or put it here in the forum for opinions.
PS- Most of the times if we take too long creating a track our ears trick us in a way that the track doesn't sound as good anymore.
This is usually due to what you mention of staying hours and hours trying to get the perfect sound quality.
Forget about the sound quality when you are creating, focus in the creation and structure of the song and run trough it to finish it ASAP.
You can worry about sound quality when you get to mixing.
If it helps, check out my workflow technique in the free course Im supplying for everybody @:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MDMApsy
All the best and add me if you like.
Peace |
|
|
|
Midnight Sun
ProtoDrive
Started Topics :
91
Posts :
529
Posted : Jul 19, 2010 06:17
|
I had exactly that same issue bro, i used to finish a track in 3-4 days but then when geting more into technical values i sometimes took a full week and dont even reach the middle section of a track, i discovered that is really important to have a full motivational idea before starting any track, so you finish it always in max. 4 days. Think of a very special trip and wait the moment (it usually comes in night time to me) and start creating. Also it helps constantly updating your sample library so you dont get bored of the same sounds. I hope that helps! 
ProtoDrive https://soundcloud.com/protodrive |
|
|
|
mk47
Inactive User
Started Topics :
118
Posts :
4444
Posted : Jul 19, 2010 11:19
|
hey , SpEeD , i have the exact same problem , it`s been about 5 years since i started fiddling around with music stuff too , maybe 5 or 6 complete tracks , just starting to warm up again past few weeks though , putting my new i7 build thru the paces and making some beats , feels great , all this new processing power
... has given me a bit of inspiration i guess , so , my advice , buy a new chip , infact , everyone should 
|
|
|
|
aciduss
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
112
Posts :
1490
Posted : Jul 20, 2010 06:15
|
I see myself in your words man... i feel exactly that way, only difference is i keep making 8 minute 90% finished tracks then i get lazy and start news track.
Try to glue 2 different tracks in same key... that was suggested to me recently.
I think this also has to do with... do you really want to finish those tracks? Because one part of you might say "yeah of course" but other might be arfraid of actually releasing something or not being at the same quality levels as, like someone said "the big boys".
I have also around 5 years on this. I know how to make almost every sound i ever wanted... time to create my own stuff and really get sound design to work.
At the moment i'm trying to optimize my workflow so my 8 minute fully automated projects don't get too heavy on my machine and i still get on the end-game details.
Only thing scaring the shit out of me and my production dreams is...
Next July 27th Starcraft 2 release, someone, please , please keep it away from me.
Good luck.
And if you use ableton or cubase im up for a collab
Cheers. |
|
|
|
knocz
Moderator
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
1151
Posted : Jul 20, 2010 15:25
|
I have a hard time saying a track is finished at all.. It can have everything in place, I can already have mastered it and rendered to a single track, and I tell you: The next time I listen to it there's always something I can change, something I can add or tweak. It never stops for me. (One friend suggested me to start using a version control system on my tracks to get version 1.0, 1.1, etc.).
But what helped me out was changing to Ableton, it's more of a "me" DAW. I can create lots of projects, consisting from only some initial ideas to a full track, and play and mix everything together, so having a bunch of 3 minute tracks in your portfolio is having a lot of different resources to use and play with, and you can achieve great results with this..
Imagine two 3 minute tracks (A & B) with all elements separated, and image all the ways you cam mix them together to create a 3rd track (C). Now imagine, add in two more 3minute tracks (D & E), and two complete tracks (F & G). If you are given the ways to manipulate these tracks on demand, mess up, tweak and mix with them, you can create some very interesting stuff. (You can also mess up big time , but only he who really plays live makes mistakes..)
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz |
|
|
|
orgytime
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
120
Posts :
1703
Posted : Jul 20, 2010 16:30
|
i have a good advice
buy a pair of cheap monitors (20-40€),
install your daw at a cheap computer.
start making music with NO ANALYZERS.
just use a very small drum library or make your own...
just use daw synths and tools (eq, distortion, reverb...)
this will force you, not to concentrate on quality!
you will focus on workflow, and other essencial things!
you will not take it to serious!
it will change the way, of how you make music.
dont mind, after finishing the track, you can mix the shit out of it
cheers
www.soundcloud.com/orgytime |
|
|
|
Becktrank
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
537
Posted : Jul 20, 2010 18:00
|
+1, i dont have that much time on music production and still have much to learn but for now I focus much more on the actually composition than the sound quality or mix
``We shall not cease from exploration - And the end of all our exploring - Will be to arrive where we started - And know the place for the first time.``
bahia |
|
|
|
yveusss
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
125
Posted : Jul 20, 2010 18:14
|
I had the same problem as you. My suggestion is to enter a remix competition, tell every mate, every one around you that you've entered that remix competition. Or better (worse maybe), invite some friends for your liveset in 4 month. That's a good kick in your creative ass as you don't want to feel ashamed.
Otherwise, I use these techniques inspired by a friend :
- think about where you want to take your track to, build a few rythmic patterns, create breaks, set an approximative end point with markers in your sequencer to help your realise that it's not "that" long.
-Work on your melodic parts so that you can create variations and motifs of already existing parts with new sounds, half tempo.
-Maybe try thinking of using categories : drums / pads/ fxs / ins / outs / reverse / leads / glitchs / acid sounds / one shots / atmospheres / cowbells /whistles / movie samples / pitched bitcrushed reversed animal noises you know what I mean.
-Think "question / answers" , "layers", "dueling banjos"
- Do not overload your tracks if you don't know where to take it and go to arrange mode.
- Think about how proud and happy you will be when your track is finished.
- Don't start a new track until this one is finished.
Good luck and good work, because this takes time, love and dedication.
|
|
|
|
yveusss
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
125
Posted : Jul 20, 2010 18:36
|
+1 with orgytime for the minimal setup too : few samples, 2 powerfull vsts synths, crappy speakers can force you to be creative on the composition side. I do that on my GF laptop while on holydays.
also bounce your parts to audio (keep the original parts out of your project). Not only you will stop the newer ending tweaking but also it will free ressources on your computer.
allow yourself to make something that is not perfect
|
|
|
|
alien_radio
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
16
Posts :
67
Posted : Jul 20, 2010 20:45
|
May b u can work on 3 tracks simultaneously. Switch through them when u get tired of workin on the same track. That might help u to stay productive at the same time without losin ur interest. In a production cycle we might end up listenin to our track a thousand times in the process of tweakin the sounds. Listening to any track a thousand times would make u tired Go easy on it. Listen to individual sounds and loops to tweak sounds and play the whole track only a few times jus to check how they all fall in place.
BTW.. I'm not a pro yet. Whatever u read above is jus my opinion. |
|
|
|
