Improving production while on vacation?

[4rantare]

Helo! I am going to Croatia for 8 days in the end of this week and I can't bring my laptop => no producing.
I was wondering if you know any good ways to improve my production while I'm away? I thought of books and is there any good book I can order from e.g. Amazon on production, Reason (I am currently using Cubase but I hate all the bugs that comes with it and I'm thinking about moving my workspace to Reason) or mixing (that I can learn from without having my laptop nearby)?

I am mostly interested in making music for dubstep, EDM and house.

[wub]

Listen to as much of the local music you can and buy CDs from any street performers you encounter to sample when you come home.

[societyloser1]

http://www.amazon.com/Mixing-Engineers- ... 1598632515

[deadly_habit]

http://www.moultonlabs.com/full/product01

[Climax]

i would order a book, buy a couple production magazines, load up your MP3 player with some new music, bring a pad and paper to write out some ideas for keys/chords/etc, do some soul searching meditation

[jrisreal]

The best thing you can do IMO is not focus on production while you're away. You can constantly feed yourself with knowledge, but you'll also need some time to let it soak in.

[JTreeZY]

Listen to new music on the plan/train or w/e... I actucally worked on a track today on a long train ride and sumthin about being in public made me work faster it was crazy

[paravrais]

Open your ears. Don't worry about music, listen to everything around you. Try to take the time to properly absorb the sounds you hear and just rest on them without the pressure of having to come up with any sort of coherent musical ideas.

[didi]

http://www.amazon.com/Mixing-Engineers- ... 1598632515

I actually have that book. It's sick.

[MaZa1]

Do NOT listen any of your production, listen some new music, listen your favorite music and try to notice hows things done and you will notice some new things you haven't even noticed before. Also,take some time to relax, just sit back in a silent place and dont think about producing just give your ears and brains some time to relax and when you come back and listen your tracks, youll hear things that you havent even noticed.

I usually leave mixes alone like day or two and when i listen em after that, i always notice somethings not fitting or something needs to be louder etc.

[ehbes]

Enjoy your vacation?

[sketchyderek]

A while ago I wanted to bring my laptop so I could produce on my vacation and be "inspired by it."


...glad I left it at home. Just enjoy the trip. Nerd out when you get home.

[viberous]

Bring a digital recorder stick it in your pocket for a brief walk or something during your trip and listen to it when you get back home. Also graph paper is always nice for beats and graphical ideas of pieces

[outbound]

I say don't. You're going on holiday? leave the music behind for a week or so.

Last time I went on holiday was a couple of years ago, no production / writing w/e. I just hung out for 2 weeks, listened to local music + cheesy dance stuff on the tv there. Got drunk, saw new sights and became immersed in not only the surroundings but also got a bit more in touch with the culture and way of life etc etc.

Fair enough my production level didn't increase while I was away but when I got back it was like everything had reset, I wasn't stressed trying to push myself to make good music I just sat down, made what I wanted to and had a good time.

Right now I'm on full throttle trying to push myself everyday (like I know a lot of us here are doing) but I know if I got the chance to go away again I would do the same,

Kick back with a beer and enjoy the sun

[OfficialDAPT]

http://www.moultonlabs.com/full/product01

This actually looks pretty cool... you have it?