Writers Block?

[Synthetic Future]

I was curious to see how often/how you guys deal with writers block when it comes to producing music?

[ehbes]

There are a million and one thread on this ... Try either producing something else or not producing at all for awhile

[jaimelee]

I get into option 2 there every third day.. That or life keeps you busy enough to not have time to produce.

[hasezwei]

had writers block for years but yknow it comes and goes and having proper monitors got me to a level where i spend most of my day making music. now i have too many ideas so i cant focus on one track

but dont worry it's normal, and most likely just slacking off. either that or you're intimidated because you don't sound like the guys you wanna sound like. i had that problem, no matter what i've done it never sounded the way i wanted because i SO wanted to sound like Icicle or LX-One or whatever. what helped me with that is just choosing a totally different bpm and forbidding myself to compare my stuff with other producer's sounds.

the problem with genres like dubstep and dnb is that you're always gonna compare your tunes to other's becaues you want to make dj's play them. so if you make music thats basically unplayable you can just be yourself and once you've developed a workflow and the ability to create what you envision with ease you can go back to club music.

[Synthetic Future]

@ hasezwei I think my frustration comes from not being able to find my "own" sound. And when producing a track I tweek with it sooo much that I end up HATING it because Ive listened to it a million times. I think your right about monitors though, they are my next purchase. Mixing on headphones is getting old. I really think monitors will help.

Thanks for the advice bro!

[Alistairr]

just work on some patches, that'll keep u busy, then when u get bored of that, ull probably be excited about producing again...

[alphacat]

It's part of a larger cycle - it just means that it's time to listen to more music instead of trying to make it at that particular moment. When you're ready to pick it up again, you'll know.

[jaimelee]

It's part of a larger cycle - it just means that it's time to listen to more music instead of trying to make it at that particular moment. When you're ready to pick it up again, you'll know.

Amen..

[Mad_EP]

There are a million and one thread on this ... Try either producing something else or not producing at all for awhile

this.



Either you produce something, or you don't. There is no right or wrong answer.... I don't understand how people keep looking for something mystical.

Because even within those choices - If you produce something: if it is good - GREAT. if it is shit, scrap it and TRY AGAIN.

OR -----

If you don't produce something you still have 2 choices.

1) REALLY DON'T produce something - play video games, learn to bake a cake, teach a neighborhood kid to throw a perfect spiral, volunteer for a charity that helps cross-eyed hedgehogs....

2) use your "non-production" time to get sharp as fuck. practice making the perfect kick drum without any intention of it going in a beat. record some shit with yer shitty mic and drown it in reverb, see what happens.



Just cos yer inspiration goes into the toilet, doesn't mean your discipline needs to follow the same fate. Learn when it is time to say FUCK IT - but STILL keep at it. And learn when it is time to say FUCK IT... and do FUCK ALL. It is a fine balance... but one that can only be learned from experience. Sorry, not everything has an easy YOUTUBE tutorial answer. Somethings you need to find out for yourself.



See what happens - it works better than asking an anonymous forum

[Gutcha]

when your in a block don't even try to make any music, go outside and maybe even socialise with real humans.
give it a week and it should be live

[hasezwei]

@ hasezwei I think my frustration comes from not being able to find my "own" sound. And when producing a track I tweek with it sooo much that I end up HATING it because Ive listened to it a million times. I think your right about monitors though, they are my next purchase. Mixing on headphones is getting old. I really think monitors will help.

Thanks for the advice bro!

i've had EXACTLY your problems man... i'd say listen to what the guys above me said and just make patches and beats et cetera, build up a nice library of loops and ready-made stuff so that when inspiration hits you you can just blast out a 16 bar loop in 5 minutes and then keep adding stuff like incidentals and atmospheres to keep it interesting, suddenly you have an intro and a buildup, if you then push yourself to get past the drop thats it your tune is basically done already. all you need then is fleshing out, working on the structure and detailed automation n shit.

dont be afraid to just use percussion loops, i have lots of loops split up in different categories like kicks, snares, hats, percussion et cetera and while someone might call you lazy for it it really helps. you can still go back after the song structure is done and replace stuff, dont look for the perfect snare from the start just see the one you have as a placeholder and who knows you might end up liking it.

and last but not least, do NOT compare your tunes to those of your favorite artists. really, it only ends up with you getting frustrated. thats why i love 160bpm right now, i dont listen to any music besides juke at that tempo so if my tune doesnt sound as crisp as icicle or sp:mc or noisia i can just tell myself 'fuck it thats different music anyway'.
that way your personal sound will come naturally after a while.

[fumister]

i tend to get them so i either will take a few hours break or smoke some herb which will always do the trick. i start fresh in the morning and then work back at it later in the evening.

[zeta]

Comparing tunes to other artists isn't usually a bad thing, sometimes I use another song as a reference track in terms of levels etc

Although you're also right in that it can depress you more, it can also be positive especially if you feel like you've improved.

Also I'd definitely recommend getting some monitors. First time I upgraded I felt like I was listening to music for the first time all over again! Whooo

[Acidhedz]

Never

I never set out with anything in mind, I just start making song and see where I end up. Pure expression man.

[Synthetic Future]

Some awesome advice here Thanks so much! this is an awesome place!

[B-Frank]

I've had it for a while in fairness... While I haven't had any ideas I haven't sat in my studio to make anything for longer than 15 minutes at a time. One day you'll get an idea, a few things click then you'll go on a roll of churning a few bangers out... And repeat.

this has always happened with me, there is a lot more to life than producing.

[Killamike49]

Yeah man, socializing with friends is usually a good way to get a mental block out. Look up some crazy theories, like relativity or some shit. If its night look up at space and have your mind explode once you realize what you're looking at. Listen to some weird music and clean your room. Cycle through old songs you might have and turn synth lines into sub lines, and vice versa. Make a few incidental effects. Just do something that's not counter-productive, and you can only move forward.