Song Production Q's

1trickymicky · 9th February 2012

hey peeps,

I'm a native singer song writer dude, but i've been practicing the art of electronic music production for about a year now. I'm definitely honing in on my own sound - but I tend to have a problem where I can get some great base ideas, beats and the general feel of a track down fairly easily.

But then when it comes to finishing the track, I tend to struggle. Struggle to create the structure, to bring the track in, to create drops, and to create the highlights in the tracks that keep things fresh while you're pushing through the original ideas...

I kinda feel like something gaping is missing from my work flow..... Any golden tips?

thanks!

modularjack · 9th February 2012

Yup, and it's pretty simple-- don't give up!

Finishing projects is where writing music tends to cross the line from being a fun pasttime and into being a bit more like work. Of course it's most fun and relaxing to have no pressure, no goals, nothing but knobs to twiddle and cool sound to play with.

Now trying to piece all your loops and cool sounds together into some formal structure, add little variations and fills, record and mix it properly, well this is all stuff you are gonna have to discipline yourself to do if you want a proper finished product.

On the bright side, you're not alone in the least! Literally every musician I know struggle with the same thing and on an ongoing basis. Some are certainly more disciplined than others though, and it tends to be the ones with the biggest payback that get better and better at it as they can see the effort/reward equation is clearly in their favour. But it takes a long time to get there, and most successful musicians are 10+ years into the game before beginning to get the royalties and recognition they deserve. So don't give up on polishing your turds-- polish them until they're proper tracks.

1trickymicky · 10th February 2012

much appreciated mate. probably not what i wanted to hear, but what i had to hear.

I guess, what im used to in singer/songwriting, is riding that buzz you get when you're onto a good thing - all the way to the end of finishing the song.

But I shouldn't expect that so much with electronic music i guess? And I guess that'll come with time right?

9th February 2012	#1
1trickymicky Gear interested Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Thread Starter	Song Production Q's hey peeps, I'm a native singer song writer dude, but i've been practicing the art of electronic music production for about a year now. I'm definitely honing in on my own sound - but I tend to have a problem where I can get some great base ideas, beats and the general feel of a track down fairly easily. But then when it comes to finishing the track, I tend to struggle. Struggle to create the structure, to bring the track in, to create drops, and to create the highlights in the tracks that keep things fresh while you're pushing through the original ideas... I kinda feel like something gaping is missing from my work flow..... Any golden tips? thanks!

9th February 2012	#2
modularjack Gear addict Joined: Feb 2010 Location: Canaduh Posts: 348	Yup, and it's pretty simple-- don't give up! Finishing projects is where writing music tends to cross the line from being a fun pasttime and into being a bit more like work. Of course it's most fun and relaxing to have no pressure, no goals, nothing but knobs to twiddle and cool sound to play with. Now trying to piece all your loops and cool sounds together into some formal structure, add little variations and fills, record and mix it properly, well this is all stuff you are gonna have to discipline yourself to do if you want a proper finished product. On the bright side, you're not alone in the least! Literally every musician I know struggle with the same thing and on an ongoing basis. Some are certainly more disciplined than others though, and it tends to be the ones with the biggest payback that get better and better at it as they can see the effort/reward equation is clearly in their favour. But it takes a long time to get there, and most successful musicians are 10+ years into the game before beginning to get the royalties and recognition they deserve. So don't give up on polishing your turds-- polish them until they're proper tracks. __________________ Eclectic Electro >> Modular Jack

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10th February 2012	#3
1trickymicky Gear interested Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Thread Starter	much appreciated mate. probably not what i wanted to hear, but what i had to hear. I guess, what im used to in singer/songwriting, is riding that buzz you get when you're onto a good thing - all the way to the end of finishing the song. But I shouldn't expect that so much with electronic music i guess? And I guess that'll come with time right?