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What keeps you going ?

I'm sure I'm not the only one here who sometimes feels like production is a pain in the neck. I know it sounds strange to say that about a hobby. It's a strange love, hate, and frustrating relationship!

I know that I have my ups and downs, and I'm sure some others here do too. What brightens your spirits and makes you want to open up your DAW again? (Money can't be the answer)

For me, at the moment, it is sample packs. I've spent way too much over @ producerloops.com - Some damn good stuff though. The Chris Cowie pack is wicked. Two big thumbs up for Fidget House and Synthation. I've got my eye on Swen Weber's bass infarct next and then the ambient axes and Largo. I'm stopping after that!

Red Bull and hookers. I guess I actually enjoy it, too ... the key is to stop for a few days when you feel it's getting like a chore.

well all kind of things keep me going only lately I've had my faith restored by watching tiesto elements of life vid and radio podcats.

lol@ that if you wish but if it keeps the love alive so be it.

also ta and the music scene in general can help keep me in the loop.

but i think for me and most importantly making things work for you,after hours of effort makes it all worth while

I feel like if I come up with an inspiring melody, then it's a lot easier to work on the track because I think there's always going to be at least one good part to the track while you build it up.

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo the key is to stop for a few days when you feel it's getting like a chore.

This is key for me. I took at 2 month hiatus just because I was getting burned out.

Now I'm easing back into it. A lot of inspiration comes from just going through the BeatPort Top 100. Generally 5-10 outstanding tracks, and lots more just good tracks.

I usually end up buying about 50% of that list, then DJ for a bit. Usually after throwing down a couple of sets with new stuff, I'm inspired enough.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J This is key for me. I took at 2 month hiatus just because I was getting burned out.

I think the most I've ever taken off without doing anything significant was a month ... that was during my ... darker days ... my ... WoW ... addiction.

But even now it's not uncommon for me to take two weeks between tracks and just listen to podcasts to/from work and play PC games in my free time. The music turns out better when I 100% want to. If I can come out with an awesome original or remix once every 2-3 months, I'm doing just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo I think the most I've ever taken off without doing anything significant was a month ... that was during my ... darker days ... my ... WoW ... addiction.

Well, this time my hiatus was extended a bit because of some family stuff going on. Usually it's 4-6 weeks. I have been filling up the time with games myself. MLB 09, Tiger Woods 09, Spore, Sims 3, etc. Sometimes its good to just relax and not have to think about it for a bit to clear your mind. I find that I come back with a fresh perspective that way.

On a side note, I actually got Windows installed on my Mac Pro. I was able to put in a 3rd internal disk and install Windows entirely on that disk using Apple Boot Camp. So now I can use the Windows system for Windows-only stuff (games, development, etc.) and still keep the Mac OS X side healthy for production, without any fear of the two system clobbering each other! Very cool! The Mac Pro is definitely the coolest computer I have ever owned.

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo But even now it's not uncommon for me to take two weeks between tracks and just listen to podcasts to/from work and play PC games in my free time. The music turns out better when I 100% want to. If I can come out with an awesome original or remix once every 2-3 months, I'm doing just fine.

Yeah, that's basically where I am at. As long as I get 3-4 tracks out per year, then I feel like I'm doing OK. I'm not looking to make a career out of this.

quote:

Chris Cowie pack is wicked. Two big thumbs up for Fidget House and Synthation

Really? I thought the chris cowie pack was absolute garbage. If you think any of those packs are good i would seriously reccomend you trying any of these two:

HERE

and

Here

Just read the reviews from music tech, computer music etc. They are much much better than anything else out there at the minute. I too am a big fan of buying sample libraries lol and agree it can burn a huge hole in my pocket!

making music is actually whats keeps me going.
its the other stuff that wears me out.
9-5 day-job, making dinner, washing clothes, cleaning apartment.
all that is bullshit

quote:

Originally posted by palm making music is actually whats keeps me going. its the other stuff that wears me out. 9-5 day-job, making dinner, washing clothes, cleaning apartment. all that is bullshit

Same here, I hate work, not production work, job work, takes all my time.

i just go to beatport or audio jelley and dig dig dig, and i'm always amazed at what people are making.

I'm trying to get my Djing off the ground at the moment so have spent less time on producing..I really want to work on percussion as I think my general synth quality is good but my sence of rhythm has never been that good and good percs can make a track bounce all over the place.

So anyway I've been importing lots of tunes in to Cubase and really analysing beat/perc structures to death

From over three years of producing I'm fairly happy with my progress...here's a short clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Hc-nqcNjA

quote:

Originally posted by daeus I'm trying to get my Djing off the ground at the moment so have spent less time on producing..I really want to work on percussion as I think my general synth quality is good but my sence of rhythm has never been that good and good percs can make a track bounce all over the place. So anyway I've been importing lots of tunes in to Cubase and really analysing beat/perc structures to death From over three years of producing I'm fairly happy with my progress...here's a short clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Hc-nqcNjA

For trance?

Trance was never about the percussion...

lol it has been for me, and obviously the synths.

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo I think the most I've ever taken off without doing anything significant was a month ... that was during my ... darker days ... my ... WoW ... addiction.

HAHA!!! WoW has been holding me since my 2nd year of producing

I think I would be alot better at making music if I didn't play that damn game.

Thing about trance is that the drums are precisely quantized, and also considering they aren't live means there is even less expressiveness than you get from a live drum set.

Sometimes trance used to have breakbeats in them, there was even a spell of cheesy breakbeat trance and trancy progressive breaks, but otherwise I wouldn't expect someone to get their kicks from listening to trance percussion.

I would imagine breaks, drum and bass,rock, or jazz would be more suitable.

Post what you think is exceptional trance percussion.

Yea their quantized but its the timbre's and arrangements that build up that can work a dance floor, not just talking trance though, all EDM, minimal right now I find interesting.

I think one reason I don't like today's trance as much is the overemphasis on percussion.

Old-school trance was pretty much all about the synths, while the percs were mostly simply 909 or 808 with the occasional congos and stuff. Everyone now is focused on getting the tightest kick drum or the loudest snare and clap or whatever. Screw that. Give me some sweet trippy synth noises!

quote:

Originally posted by Beatflux For trance? Trance was never about the percussion...

Drums in trance is as important as anything else.

quote:

Originally posted by Dj Pyster I think I would be alot better at making music if I didn't play that damn game.

It's pure evil. Stop while you still have control ... if you still have control.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J A lot of inspiration comes from just going through the BeatPort Top 100.

Yeah, hearing something one likes always gives inspiration. It doesn't have to be in the same genre even, lately I've been inspired by Sigur Ros and some prog/tech house.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles I think one reason I don't like today's trance as much is the overemphasis on percussion. Old-school trance was pretty much all about the synths, while the percs were mostly simply 909 or 808 with the occasional congos and stuff. Everyone now is focused on getting the tightest kick drum or the loudest snare and clap or whatever. Screw that. Give me some sweet trippy synth noises!

I think percussion is one of the things thats evolved the most and its for the best, it drives a dance floor more than ever since those times, also other sounds that replace percs.

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo It's pure evil. Stop while you still have control ... if you still have control.

I quit and became a much happier person overall.

I get inspired by new tracks and try and make something from that inspiration, but it never turns out well, and then I listen to the track that inspired me and it really rubs in how much better these guys are, and then I get all down and frustrated again.

I do it for the love of sound, and thats what usually brings me back to the DAW, but the repetitive emotional beating of consistent failure can be depressing. The hardest part for me is knowing the next step in a production, and sometimes that will only come to me when I am away from the DAW. So leaving it for a few hours or days can be the best thing.

I think having a few projects on the go at once is good, because once you are frustrated with one you can go and frustrate yourself on other tracks.

Computer games are more fun, but nothing's as challenging and rewarding as EDM production.

quote:

Originally posted by Beatflux For trance? Trance was never about the percussion...

Faillllll, wrong sir.

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