Freestyle Beat Making/Composing (The Creative Process)

[Thunderdan]

I never ever have an idea in my head, i usually pull up a piano or ep patch and start messing around.

[AKA-I-Addict]

Last night was talking to someone about photography, and they said when they first got Photoshop they'd spend hours tweaking minor details and then hours would elapse and they'd realise they'd done F all. T get around this they decided to only open Photoshop once they knew what they were going to do with it and why they using it.

I found it really interesting as I could see how it relates to music. The photographer was one of these people that go n with a specific goal/vision and use their tools to create/capture it. Where as some people approach the tools as the creative device itself.

It's a bit of a ...is a zebra black on white, or white on black question

[d1rdyd]

Originally Posted by AKA-I-Addict

Last night was talking to someone about photography, and they said when they first got Photoshop they'd spend hours tweaking minor details and then hours would elapse and they'd realise they'd done F all. T get around this they decided to only open Photoshop once they knew what they were going to do with it and why they using it.

I found it really interesting as I could see how it relates to music. The photographer was one of these people that go n with a specific goal/vision and use their tools to create/capture it. Where as some people approach the tools as the creative device itself.

It's a bit of a ...is a zebra black on white, or white on black question

Thats a good analogy

[bytehoven]

Atleast photoshop has a HISTORY that let's you walk back from the changes you have made.

[AKA-I-Addict]

In Scratch, DJ Premier said he'd hear a sound in his head and keep searching until he found that sound. I guess that is somewhat an example of someone who goes in with an idea and their tools allow them to capture the sound ....I

I'v read of instances of Dre just having the muso's jam and going back and listening to what was recorded and then trying to recreate and build on the good bits...example of a freestyle'ish process

[d1rdyd]

Originally Posted by bytehoven

Atleast photoshop has a HISTORY that let's you walk back from the changes you have made.

You could Always save your work .. I do it all the time. I'll be in the process of making a beat and I'll save what I started and make a whole different beat

[bytehoven]

Originally Posted by d1rdyd

You could Always save your work .. I do it all the time. I'll be in the process of making a beat and I'll save what I started and make a whole different beat

Of course. Then you have numerous ideas to flush out later.

However, there is something nice and compelling regarding how you can visit the history page of a photoshop edit, and back track just to where you went off the rails and get back on track. But I understand and agree with your point.

[SeriousPancakes]

Originally Posted by bytehoven

Of course. Then you have numerous ideas to flush out later.

However, there is something nice and compelling regarding how you can visit the history page of a photoshop edit, and back track just to where you went off the rails and get back on track. But I understand and agree with your point.

I don't know about your DAW but mine has an Undo History that I can look at and skim through and click and it will go back step for step. Up to 128 undos.

[smoke]

Originally Posted by bytehoven

Of course. Then you have numerous ideas to flush out later.

However, there is something nice and compelling regarding how you can visit the history page of a photoshop edit, and back track just to where you went off the rails and get back on track. But I understand and agree with your point.

The pros use layers and comps rather than history! Non destructive always.

I don't have a formula for starting anything. I think that keeps every song fresh, keeps me from getting stuck in one way of thinking/working, and it keeps me aware of what tools I have available to be creative with rather than going about the same exact route and forgetting that I can use other methods.

[d1rdyd]

Originally Posted by smoke

The pros use layers and comps rather than history! Non destructive always.

I don't have a formula for starting anything. I think that keeps every song fresh, keeps me from getting stuck in one way of thinking/working, and it keeps me aware of what tools I have available to be creative with rather than going about the same exact route and forgetting that I can use other methods.

I feel the exact same way

[SMARTGUY]

I've done it many ways. When writing songs I try to get as close to what I'm hearing in my head. When making beats, I may have an idea already but I most times will also have an idea on the rhyme or cadence to go along with it. I find that most rappers don't like to have a rhyme idea already in place. For these guys I'll just let them run down what they have and I'll make a beat according to how their flow makes me feel. I also will have stock beats on hand to see if anything inspires them. Meeting somewhere in the middle brings the best results. In the past I've had many experiences where in the quest to produce what's in my head many new ideas would come up and the original idea gets tossed. Or I would build around a particular sound or groove. But I am now finding it easier to chase what I'm hearing.

[smoke]

Originally Posted by SMARTGUY

I've done it many ways. When writing songs I try to get as close to what I'm hearing in my head. When making beats, I may have an idea already but I most times will also have an idea on the rhyme or cadence to go along with it. I find that most rappers don't like to have a rhyme idea already in place. For these guys I'll just let them run down what they have and I'll make a beat according to how their flow makes me feel. I also will have stock beats on hand to see if anything inspires them. Meeting somewhere in the middle brings the best results. In the past I've had many experiences where in the quest to produce what's in my head many new ideas would come up and the original idea gets tossed. Or I would build around a particular sound or groove. But I am now finding it easier to chase what I'm hearing.

Oh I wish.

I get the best ideas in my head when I'm nowhere near a place to get the idea down. If I'm near the DAW...nothing. It's all from scratch when I get there. But on the subway, no one alive can touch my imaginary beats.

I wish I could have ideas in my head ready to go as I sit down. Even if I did, by the time, I've got some dummy stuff set up, that idea seems to corny-ize as soon as it's converted from thought to audio. I just can't work like that.

[derpydoo]

i usually create the most when i'm sad and depressed about something.

[SMARTGUY]

Originally Posted by smoke

Oh I wish.

I get the best ideas in my head when I'm nowhere near a place to get the idea down. If I'm near the DAW...nothing. It's all from scratch when I get there. But on the subway, no one alive can touch my imaginary beats.

I wish I could have ideas in my head ready to go as I sit down. Even if I did, by the time, I've got some dummy stuff set up, that idea seems to corny-ize as soon as it's converted from thought to audio. I just can't work like that.

I feel you. I also could not connect to ideas I would get at the worst times. But the radio station in my head was in full swing at work, on the train, at the supermarket, etc. When I would get in front of my ax, nothing. Or I would get something but nothing as good as I would get when I was busy. So I copped a portable tape recorder, and sing and beatbox into it constantly. I would then work the ideas out but this time with the same intensity as when they were originally conceived. Hearing my own playback inspired me because through the rawness I heard the feeling I wanted to convey. I then moved on to a cell phone that records notes. I would get funny looks while I would beatbox into my phone, but I didn't care. I'd done this to the point where I can now retain ideas and work them out in my head. I also got real familiar with my equipment. Learn it's strengths and weakness. So when it came time to put something down, I could do it without diluting any idea. It's gotten to the point where I can even hear how my idea would sound comming through my equipment.