Happy New Year folks. This is something I've done for myself and I thought I'd share in case anyone else finds it helpful.

This tip could help you if...

A: You have some bad habits when producing.
B: You lose sight of your goals and get distracted.
C: You forget cool tricks you've used previously.

So let's say you monitor too loudly. You also are working on a minimal techno album, but you keep making trance beats because it's what you're used to.

You could create a text file with a reminder to avoid this. Then create a batch file that launches the text file along with your sequencer.

For anyone who's unsure of how to make a batch file, it's very easy.

1. Open notepad

2. Type the below code which will launch your sequencer, changing the executable path to whatever suits you.

Start "" /Min "C:\Program Files\Ableton\Live 8.2.2\Program\Live 8.2.2.exe"

3. Hit return and type the below code which will launch your text file, changing the path to whatever suits you.

Start "" /Max "C:\text file.txt"

4 Save with a .bat extension e.g. filename.bat

5 Launch this .bat file from now on, instead of your sequencer.

The /Min and /Max determine if the window will be minimised or maximised when launched.

There's other ways to do this like if you have a notepad in your sequencer. You could have a template project with these notes inside.

I dunno, I just find that with all the possibilities in music production, it's real easy to get lost. Any help to stay focused can only be a good thing.

Here's an example of the kind of things I have written in my text file:

No FX until source is bang on.
3 Solid sections and you're laughing.
Go easy on the volume.

Anyone else have any similar methods they'd like to share?

Write shit in notebook. No need to back up.

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quote:

Originally posted by dj_alfi change your avatar for fucks sake.

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cryophonik.com | facebook | soundcloud

Sonar Platinum | Ableton Live 9 | Logic Pro X | Access Virus TI2 Keyboard | Kurzweil PC3X | Nord Lead 4R | NI Maschine

Hmm, well post it notes are messy. A notebook is ok, but not as in your face as this method. I'd just forget to look at the notebook, as would most people I imagine. :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Dwarf Shortage Hmm, well post it notes are messy. A notebook is ok, but not as in your face as this method. I'd just forget to look at the notebook, as would most people I imagine. :-)

You asked us to share our methods, and we did. Why argue?

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cryophonik.com | facebook | soundcloud

Sonar Platinum | Ableton Live 9 | Logic Pro X | Access Virus TI2 Keyboard | Kurzweil PC3X | Nord Lead 4R | NI Maschine

Not arguing mate, just my opinion. So how do you use post-its then?

I don't really take notes per song. I usually just write down ideas as they come.

Some famous song writer said that he has a lot of ideas just because he jotted them down when he had them, and saved them up as sort of a creative reference library.

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quote:

Originally posted by dj_alfi change your avatar for fucks sake.

Yeah sorry I kinda shot down your ideas! The more I think about it I can see how they'd be useful.

It would be great to build up your own personal manual. That way you could for example have a compressor section, tailored to your own style and experiences.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwarf Shortage Not arguing mate, just my opinion. So how do you use post-its then?

Not trying to flame here, but is that a serious question?

If/when I have to leave myself a reminder, I write it on a post-it note and stick it on my synth. If I'm working on a song, I keep a task list in a notebook. I spend most of composition time NOT sitting in front of a computer, so your approach wouldn't be effective for me. If it works for you, that's great. Rock on.

___________________
cryophonik.com | facebook | soundcloud

Sonar Platinum | Ableton Live 9 | Logic Pro X | Access Virus TI2 Keyboard | Kurzweil PC3X | Nord Lead 4R | NI Maschine

personally i like to write down my ideas when working on a track and render in to a folder from a midi and a wav.