So I've been working on making dubstep for about 5 months now but it seems that I've hit a roadblock in making dubsteps. Ever type of song I work on I feel it's not any good and I end up not even finishing it because I don't know where to go with it. I try to listen to the pros or even some well known amateurs and try to make what i have equivalent in skill towards them, but it seems that even if I try, it doesn't go well.
Here's something I've been working on, it's not finished, and it's really bad at the moment. But just in general, I need some tips on how to perfect what I'm making basically. I can make melodies easily, but I feel like bringing in my drop is just horrible, so some tips on that would be great. Also i need some help to keep my drop not boring ( like add more noises and effects in). Soundcloud
Thanks for reading/listening
-Arma
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:32 pm
by Nacklewicket
just do it over and over again, practice practice practice, after each track what u think is a bad ull make a better one. just make sure ur having FUN while doing it!! otherwise theres really no pointing in doing it at all
also theres a very useful stickied thread up there just for getting and giving feedback on ur tunes!!
wish u best of luck!!
also;i listened to ur tune and im not gonna lie and say i liked it but it was way better than my tunes were when i had been producing for 5 months if that helps u
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:33 pm
by legend4ry
Feedback for tunes go in the feedback threads.
Read the "WANT TO MAKE DUBSTEP?" stickie up the top..
5 months is a VERY short time to be making electronical music, I have been making it for 5 years and I still question things I do.
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:37 pm
by 3za
Their is not one set way to deal with this. Everyone will give you a different approach for dealing with this, some will say take a break, others would say keep pushing yourself, others will have other ways, but they will only tell you what works for them. We are all different so we have to find ourselves what works for us.
I would say one thing, try to always stay positive, don't let it get you down, but if you really ain't getting any enjoyment from making music, then why are you still doing it?
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:40 pm
by ArmaFace
if you really ain't getting any enjoyment from making music, then why are you still doing it?
I enjoy making it, I just get pissed because they don't sound the way i vision it I guess :\
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:43 pm
by Nacklewicket
if u enjoy making music ull keep it at no matter wat then one day ull be able to translate your visions completely precisly
period!
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:49 pm
by 3za
Nacklewicket wrote:if u enjoy making music ull keep it at no matter wat then one day ull be able to translate your visions completely precisly
period!
I thought you was going to say, "if u enjoy making music ull keep it at no matter wat then one day ull be able to translate your visions, to money"
I wish...
ArmaFace wrote:
if you really ain't getting any enjoyment from making music, then why are you still doing it?
I enjoy making it, I just get pissed because they don't sound the way i vision it I guess :\
If thats the case, then just keep at it, but try not let it piss you off.
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:23 am
by daft cunt
My advice is to consider separately all the elements your tunes are lacking.
For instance, about bringing the drop, what is it better producer do and you're not doing ?
* usually they have background sound effects that are coming increasingly from the beginning to the drop.
* also the drums oftenly get more complex along the intro
* when you're finally getting a few seconds before the drop you could use "risers" like reversed crash cymbal, white noise sweeps or more complex sounds with a couple of octaves pitch bend, etc
* you could also add a movie sample just before the drop
About the tune you posted, a couple of things that are fucking it up :
* the bass and the synth riff are discordant
* the snare seems to be quieter after the drop
* your synths are too loud compared to the drums, the bass in particular
* it definitely needs additional sounds to make it more interesting.
To me, it sounds like you don't really know what you need to do with your tunes and this is something only you can decide... Once you've figured out whether it needs pads, arps, background noises or the whole fucking lot you can start adding each track by track...
But yeah patience is a must and if you need tips on dealing with frustration search the forum for threads about writers block, there has been plenty of good ones recently.
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:23 am
by daft cunt
double post
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:25 am
by makemerich
ArmaFace wrote:So I've been working on making dubstep for about 5 months now but it seems that I've hit a roadblock in making dubsteps. Ever type of song I work on I feel it's not any good and I end up not even finishing it because I don't know where to go with it. I try to listen to the pros or even some well known amateurs and try to make what i have equivalent in skill towards them, but it seems that even if I try, it doesn't go well.
Here's something I've been working on, it's not finished, and it's really bad at the moment. But just in general, I need some tips on how to perfect what I'm making basically. I can make melodies easily, but I feel like bringing in my drop is just horrible, so some tips on that would be great. Also i need some help to keep my drop not boring ( like add more noises and effects in). Soundcloud
Thanks for reading/listening
-Arma
yo im the same way atm lets do a colab send me something ur half done with.
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:20 am
by benjam
First off im pissed so disregard this if u want. To me it seems like youve spent 5 months working on your wobbles ( your on the right track btw) but youve neglected the rest of the elements. The lead synth sounds gash a bit of reverb and delay would work wonders for a start. Read up on humanising percussion too. Overall the track lacks a vibe think about panning reverb and volume so everything has its own place and space. As i said before im leathered so ignore if you want but something to think about.
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:39 am
by Mannyyyyy
Sinisterbeats wrote:
Sharmaji wrote:everyone who's underwhelmed by what they're producing, or are continuing to produce-- watch this:
watch that and also don't make just dubstep i found out not to long ago that making other genres can help with your skills overrall and mostly play with your daw and synth a lot. that's what i do now and i go through the same problem i still am. but you can definitely say your better than how you were when you first started. soo at least your getting progress and like how everyone told me its takes time
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:42 am
by TSH-Tim
1: Some of the best tracks ever made ( & best sounding ) are simple.... dont keep adding & adding & adding
2: Dont know if you know this but that track you made never dropped very low...
3: For a simple track which is simply mind blowing oooh and drops sillllly loooooow See here > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOT2-OTebx0
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:55 pm
by R3calCulation
I now know I just entered that phase...
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:03 pm
by halifaxer12
Mannyyyyy wrote:
Sinisterbeats wrote:
Sharmaji wrote:everyone who's underwhelmed by what they're producing, or are continuing to produce-- watch this:
watch that and also don't make just dubstep i found out not to long ago that making other genres can help with your skills overrall and mostly play with your daw and synth a lot. that's what i do now and i go through the same problem i still am. but you can definitely say your better than how you were when you first started. soo at least your getting progress and like how everyone told me its takes time
Wow, what a great video. I can relate to everything he is saying, and it gives me a lot more hope. I think the most important thing in being a producer is patience. I think patience is the most imperative value to have in life, and if you can master it, your productions will improve dramatically over time. I'm in the phase he is talking about right now, and he is right about everything in my opinion.
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:09 pm
by paravrais
You've been producing 5 months and the stuff you're making is crap?
Fucking no shit sherlock.
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:59 pm
by TSH-Tim
Just dont give up buddy
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:06 am
by gforce
With melody, a great way to get good at composing is by *practicing* scales, dont just learn them, practice, Major, Minor, Pentatonic, Blues scales... try it out... You will get an Ear for it very quickly, and a natural feel for where to put your fingers/notes... And until your confident you have great melodies, why not focus on other elements of your music while you practice, melody doesnt have to be the focus, effects are important, rythym and just the 'sound' a pleasing sound is priceless...
Maybe look at structure and dynamics a bit more too... And be patient, many pro's are rich kids who's parents got them on violins when they were five and then dropped out of highschool to join a Music Technology Institute in london, and still there music can be very crap sometimes... five months is nothing, there's a lot to learn in this, keep up the good work!
Re: It seems i've hit a roadblock
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:55 pm
by thefrim
legend4ry wrote:
5 months is a VERY short time to be making electronical music, I have been making it for 5 years and I still question things I do.
you can't practice guitar for 5 months and then play like this
so why should producing be different? just keep making tunes ALL the time just like Shawn probably practiced ALL the time as a kid and they will slowly get better and better
See here > 