My suggestion if you dont feel inspired to write or produce tracks. Add yours inside!

[perx]

We all have our days or even weeks where we just dont feel inspired to work with full tracks/songs.

My suggestion is that you take this time and build up your sound library.

So instead of maybe working on creating full tracks, you simply kick back, relax and build your own patches on your synths, or you build a sample library of your own kicks, snares and what not..

Part of your brain will relax and you´ll know when the time is right to open up your sequencer when you feel that inspiration coming back and when your fingers start playing melodies with your brand new patches. ;-)

I spent the last 2 weeks just filling up synths with my own patches, expanding my sample library and anything that doesnt involve opening up the Sequencer and start making a song. And I gotta say I love this process! ;-)

I think too many are just plain lazy and always using factory presets of synths, so this is a good way of getting a sound of "your own". And there is a very special feeling of satisfaction when you are using a sound that you built up from scratch. :-)

[fondone]

do some hard, repetitive labor ......like shoveling dirt....

it gives you a good heart beat and your brain releases feel good chemicals when you work hard......

I think of my best beats and melodies while working physically.

[Johnny Wrong]

I like all the above suggestions, especially working up a sweat.

Also,I like to go out to a different club, not one of my favourites, to listen to DJs and music that I might not usually choose to.

And I love to meditate, and this nearly always puts me in touch with interesting feelings/ideas that have me itching to make tracks.

Actually, thinking about it, I think the reason that exercise works for me may be the same reason meditation works, as they both tend to get the more linear/rational part of my mind out of the way and allow better access to the more creative areas of the mind.

I used to use drugs to get the same effect, but with the downside that everything sounded good, even when it wasn't really.

[lukejay]

well to tack on to "jon wrong" i don use drugs but alcohol but it has same effect.. things sound great when yr trashed....

hmmm

dont wait for inspiratiion, i don kno but for me if 2 days wen by an i hadn made a song (ie comletely finished one) i'd feel like i've been too lazy

i think it was hemmingway that said "they say "only write when yr inspired" yet I feel inspired to write everyday"

and another thing, i think bacharach said, the more u push thru that phase of "not being" unspired the better... ie just getting shootin for something no matter how crap it is, cant tell u how many times i've don a song , and originally it was they worst piece of shit ever, yet give it time (and most importantly "faith--which is tha hardest thing to master") and its great

anyway thats my 2 pence
Sam

[digital 1010]

Run till ya almost puking listening to something youd love to have written. For me listening to people like groove aramada,virgin souls,kosheen,leftfield etc etc when running hypes me right up to write. I normally run at midday and get back in there for the afternoon after a shower,really works for me

[lukejay]

yea i'll reply again...
i think it comes down to (as the last poster said) wat time of day yr most inspired at, for me its circa 2am, lol
also i do got inspired by songs, espesch tom waits, bboys, rollin stones etc that if i didn't listen to wat they sung i may not have written a song or two in "that" style

[alexp]

I agree with everyone on here.

For me its running. When I run, I tend to come up with some fantastic ideas for sounds and tracks.

Good thread.

alexP

[digital 1010]

I love to run and listen to stuff it really really does work. As i say it's even better if ya push yourself hard and get in the zone.

My mp3 player at present has Groove armada -if im wanting to feel uplifted and jazzy, Crazy Penis for pure quality crossover of electronic and real instruments, Calyx some old mix - for if im in a bad mood and want to do some twisted sounds, a way out west really tribal 35 minute mix with like 7 amazing tracks,all 3 kosheen albums, sasha - involver. all old stuff but really really quality stuff that i look up to

Then i run up hills and down for about 30 - 40 mins.

Im blowing out my arse if i push it but when you start breathing and running to the tempo and groove of the music you seem to get the same feeling you would by smoking grass (which i have not for years-but each to their own). That sense of really understanding music and thinking yeh man that's how you do that or yeh that's what i like etc.

Then a shower afterwards and get in the studio and i swear youll flyout the ideas!!!

A really good one is when ya hit a patch on a run where you are pushing cos you feel weak and everything is crying for you to stop and just walk. I had it one day and i was listening to a couple of leftfield tracks. phat planet was playing when i was struggling and i swear it made me keep going then i broke though the wall and the track swords came on,i was like whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooa what a track!!!!!! even though i knew it so well the state of mind made me see it in a different light.

Now im rambling!! ehe

which reminds me

I rang the local ramblers club this morning - The bloke who answered went on and on and on.........

[sctt_stone]

Yeah, I love to run in the opposite direction of my wife and kids. Its the only time I get to think!

Originally Posted by alexp

I agree with everyone on here.

For me its running. When I run, I tend to come up with some fantastic ideas for sounds and tracks.

Good thread.

alexP

[DivineChemical]

Whenever I'm going through a lull period where I'm not feeling inspired to write, that's when I play catch up on music crap that isn't so much fun usually involving something I promised I'd do for somebody else's music. (What better way to waste an uninspired moment than to play uninspired guitar for your friend's album, mixing another friend's Smashing Pumpkins knockoff tracks, or running somebody's digitally recorded songs through a reel-to-reel for them?) If I've got all that shit out of the way, and I don't feel inspired, then I just sit around in the studio goofing off, doing things like programming new patches, screw around on the guitar, or making music in genres that I normally don't work in.

One thing I like to do if I'm not feeling inspired, but I feel that I've been unproductive for too long is to get away from the studio, and just write music with a pen and paper (sometimes a guitar is thrown into the mix.) If you're having trouble getting the creative juices going, try some free-association writing until something sticks.

[robd]

I bought an Edirol R-09 flash recorder about a year and a half ago. I carry it with me pretty much everywhere, and if an interesting melody or beat or something pops into my head, I sing it or whistle it or hum it or beatbox it or beat it out on some nearby object into the flash recorder. Periodically, I dump all these onto my computer. If I'm not feeling inspired, I can just use one of those as a starting point. The R-09 is, after my acoustic instruments, probably the single piece of gear that I use the most.

I used to do this with a little bitty staff paper notebook, but that wasn't nearly as convenient as the pocket recorder, especially cause it took a long time to figure out a way to capture the phrase with accent and articulation marks well enough that I could remember it later.

[perx]

I can totally relate to those that mention exercising (in one way or another). I get really inspired by putting on some of my old favourite tracks on the ipod, and then either go out for a run or go to the gym.

But for those days where I want to work with music, in the studio, being productive - I find working with building patches, creating sound libraries, etc is the best. That way Im still doing something that in the end will be very useful when my inspiration comes back and Im ready to hammer out songs again.

For me, the process of disconnecting from the song writing / producing and switching to creating patches and work with audio in another way - really relaxes me while still keeping me in the studio. Then, when my fingers start playing a cool lead or doing some nice chords with a pad that I programmed - I know its time to fire up Cubase and start building a track again.

Sometimes, you ofcourse gotta disconnect 100% from the studio and do something else - but from a personal perspective, when I get to that point where Im not inspired - Im still in a "WORKING" mode. I still want to be in the studio and work. So switching to working with sounds, but not building tracks is a great way for me to keep working until the inspiration to build songs come back. It actually helps to build up that inspiration.

And one other thing I forgot to mention: You can also spend the time learning something new. I, for example bought the NI kontakt Video Tutorial probably over a year or so ago. Since I´ve always wanted to get deeper into Kontakt, I decided to put it on when I recently found myself lacking inspiration to write full songs.

So learning more about the tools you use (or want to use) is a great way to move "forward" even when you are not actually writing any songs or producing. :-)

[memedesigner]

Turn off your computer, stuck it to the back of closet and take out only once a week to check emails and pay bills.

[Fishy1500]

List of things I do when I get stuck:

- Piano practice
- Create some drum sounds (kicks, HHs, snares, claps)
- Create some synth sounds
- Read up on production techniques, synthesis articles, etc
- Listen to a lot of different music
- Head out to Shibuya and listen to some indie Japanese Pop groups, House clubs, etc
- Run by HMV and listen to a bunch of new CDs

- Last but not least, this may be a strange one but really helps me get some ideas in. Walking around Tokyo, there's always noise, people, and some music playing over some speaker somewhere. With all this randomness going on, I sometimes hear a couple of notes of one song, a couple of notes from another, which is nothing really memorable but really gets my imagination running. By the time I get home from the mayhem (collecting the typical 5 packs of advertisement tissues along the way), I usually have verses/choruses/bridges that I've come up with, which I then just plop into logic and come back to later on as a starting point.

-Maru

[allcentury]

i also do finger techniques/piano lessons when i'm uninspired. that was my trick for the last few years but since TWO tracks last month have been denied, i am less active on music then ever before.

i work out 5 days a week and i think i need a change of gyms. my place is dark, grosses me out etc, maybe its time to to start doing stuff outside instead.

[perx]

Another suggestion that might inject some energy into it all: bring in another producer / collaborate with someone.

I usually prefer to produce on my own. Except when I work with my singer. But sometimes its a great thing to bring in someone else and work with them.

Bounce off ideas, etc.

I recently had a another producer over which gave me some feedback and ideas to put in use on my 2 new tracks.

Try it! ;-)

[Stevil]

i decided a while back that i have 3 basic phases;

absorb: take it all in, shut up & listen, read, go experience something, collect data, see a show, horde & stockpile...

edit: weed thru all the crap i've taken in, throw shit out, criticize everything, trim the fat, tweak everything...

expel: play, perform, publish, omnidirectional sludgepump til the bile runs out.

i can always find something to do related to one or more of them.

[Popbott]

It's very easy to get into a rut and get bogged down, I am glad I am not the only one. When I am stuck, I usually spend time creating new sample sets or I try program some new sounds.

I love window shopping on Craigslist or eBay, researching pre-amps or compressors looking for my next purchase.

I find that taking the studio apart and reconfiguring everything around in a different way can be refreshing. Putting a synth I don’t normally play within arm’s reach will spark new ideas.

Very often, watching Depeche Mode's "Songs of Faith and Devotion" DVD will get my creative side going.

[Barbary Ape]

When I'm stuck I visit Gearslutz. Then I read about some new gear or plugin, which eventually makes me feel slutty so either demo or purchase it, then after a while I will realize that I don't actually need it but hey it gets me working back inside the DAW.

Actually that happens 50% of the time the other half is when I'm stuck I simply reread my audio books, it refreshes my knowledge and makes me try something I might have missed before.

[perx]

how the hell could I forget this one:

BUY NEW GEAR! ;-)

It´s amazing how a new synth or effect box, etc - can inspire to create.

Also, GETTING RID of stuff that is not used can be a good thing.

I believe that in some subconscious way the gear I wasnt using for a long period, that was just sitting there - affected me in a negative way.

I cleared my main studio desk recently of a desktop synth I wasnt using that much, and replaced it with a brand new synth.. The diffirence is amazing. Not only did I get rid of something that I really was not using, but I replaced it with something full of fresh sounds and as a bonus - also freed up some space on the desk which really feels nice. :-)

Which leads me to another thing I also did recently:

"Interior Design". ;-)

I used to have these DARK curtains for my studio windows - to cut most of the light out. But I decided to change them to something white and fresh, letting in most of the sun, etc. I also added alot of smaller spotlights on the side or above each keyboard. The diffirence for me was amazing. Sometimes simple changes in how the studio LOOKS, can make a HUGE diffirence in how it FEELS. And if it feels good to be there, chances are youll feel better spending time there doing something productive. ;-)

[ignatius]

Originally Posted by fondone

do some hard, repetitive labor ......like shoveling dirt....

it gives you a good heart beat and your brain releases feel good chemicals when you work hard......

I think of my best beats and melodies while working physically.

i have to agree. now that portland is easing in to summer there's all kinds of stuff to do around the house. so i've been doing all kinds of labor intensive yard work. it isn't fun but it does become sort of like meditation and frees up the brain from thinking of only music related stuff for a while.

another guy i know has been taking his dog on really long walks every morning. maybe an hour or so and many times when he gets back he writes a melody or sketches out an idea or makes notes for a patch in his G2 or whatever. he says it's been super helpful since he doesn't have that much time to work on music lately. this makes him more productive when he does have the time.. so he says.

building up the sound library is always a good one. learn some new trick or explore some other function of a synth or application that you've never really gotten into.

i have to add that getting away from music is a good thing sometimes too.. when you're all boxed up in a project and hit a wall of some kind its good to go hang w/some friends and grab a pint and try to talk about something other than music.

or make a nice meal at home.. cook some good eats and get all into the preparation.

[triez]

I think this is one of the most sensible and useful threads I have read on GS.

[infopimpster]

I agree about the hard labor!

Engages another part of the "brain" and new ideas can come out.

Also just good for you™

[DivineChemical]

Originally Posted by Popbott

I love window shopping on Craigslist or eBay, researching pre-amps or compressors looking for my next purchase.

I have had to forbid myself from doing this. I have a bad habit of deciding that I absolutely need every piece of gear that I spot that I like. My studio spending gets out of control because of this. Hell, I just bought a DX-7 a couple days ago simply because it was only $30.

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

Hell, I just bought a DX-7 a couple days ago simply because it was only $30.

holy crap what a steal.
lemmie know how long it takes to figure out how to program those frosty warm Brian Eno synth pads on that thing.

[DivineChemical]

Originally Posted by Stevil

holy crap what a steal.
lemmie know how long it takes to figure out how to program those frosty warm Brian Eno synth pads on that thing.

I got it cheap because the eBay listing was listed simply as "Yamaha Digital Synth." I'm not such a big fan of the 6-op FM synths. I have a feeling that what I'm going to end up doing is just plugging it in, playing around with it for a couple days, and then sell it for a DX-11.

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

I got it cheap because the eBay listing was listed simply as "Yamaha Digital Synth." I'm not such a big fan of the 6-op FM synths. I have a feeling that what I'm going to end up doing is just plugging it in, playing around with it for a couple days, and then sell it for a DX-11.

that poor seller. that listing sounds like the kryptonite of catch phrases.

i understand they are hell to learn to program. i had one in college midilab many years ago & never really took the time to get under the hood of it.
for reasons i dont recall, i was kinda partial to the v50 back in the day. i think it had a bigger screen & a disk drive.

i dunno if yer familair with Xymox. but their keyboard player Pieter Nooten did an amazing, mellow, mostly instrumental album that has a ton of DX7 pads on it programmed by Eno.
4AD - Pieter Nooten And Michael Brook - Sleeps With The Fishes

[DivineChemical]

Originally Posted by Stevil

that poor seller. that listing sounds like the kryptonite of catch phrases.

i understand they are hell to learn to program. i had one in college midilab many years ago & never really took the time to get under the hood of it.
for reasons i dont recall, i was kinda partial to the v50 back in the day.

i dunno if yer familair with Xymox. but their keyboard player Pieter Nooten did an amazing, mellow, mostly instrumental album that has a ton of DX7 pads on it programmed by Eno.
4AD - Pieter Nooten And Michael Brook - Sleeps With The Fishes

I used to make it a habit to check every couple days on eBay for generic tags like that and see if there's any crappy listings for cheap gear.

I haven't actually programmed via the front interface of the DX7, but I did have a TX7 for a short time and used to program it via software. FM synthesis really isn't that hard to wrap your head around in and of itself. It's these shitty interfaces that Yamaha slapped on them that make them so tough. I've just always kind of preferred the TX81Z style FM (four operator with waveforms other than sine) because even though they don't sound quite as fat, they have a broader sonic palette. That V50 looks awesome though. I'm going to have to check that out. How bad was the front panel on that one?

[Absent1]

Originally Posted by Popbott

I find that taking the studio apart and reconfiguring everything around in a different way can be refreshing. Putting a synth I don’t normally play within arm’s reach will spark new ideas.

I love to reconfig my gear setup.

It puts me in a zen like state to have everything ripped out and deciding cable runs and so forth.

Than it never fails after a couple days of that some idea pops up and I have to get it back together " PRONTO" !

I am debating real hard on going all out and getting a D-SUB patchbay but my brain keeps melting at all the possible connections.

However I will have fun putting it together if I can afford it.

Cheers, Rob

[DivineChemical]

Tearing down all of my gear and reconfiguring was fun when I had a small setup, but now that I have a whole room dedicated to the studio, I dread it. Tearing down takes half a day, and then putting it all back together usually takes two and a half days including the time it takes to map out where I want everything to go.