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So, recently I've been pushing myself to bang out tracks in an hour or so, just seeing how quick I can get the composition and mixdown done. Setting myself an imaginary deadline does seem to pay off...tracks I've spent 10 hours on aren't really that much better than ones I've spent 30 minutes on.

Anyway, I reckon the next step in limiting yourself when making beats is to entirely program a track (or at least the drums) without pressing play, or by just turning your monitors off.
I realise this is a pretty crazy idea, but it can't do any harm. DAWs are used visually - you can't program a beat without seeing what's going on. I figure the quicker you can convert the beat in your head in to a laid-out pattern in your DAW, the quicker and better you will be at making riddims.

Who's game for a little challenge? Anybody tried this already?

I'll give it a shot. You say no pressing play? so auditioning samples to use is still valid?

Also, I'm glad you mention "at least the drums" I don't think I can do melodic stuff without my the benefit of my ears.

I like this idea.

ive actually done similar a few times just to get a beat going fast, i usually do my drumz in audio but switching to midi loading semi random kicks snares hats etc into samplers then laying down some notes (lets face it theres only so many places drum hits can go and still work the mojority of the time) and then later switching out the sounds to make it all work better has worked out a couple times for me...its fun worth a try for sure.

i'll deffo try this!

i do this all the time.. I grew up reading classical when i was 6 so usually unless its a very complicated rhythym i can convert it isntantly. but i'd say i use the play button as a guide too

I've been doing this for quite some time now, just messing around on a track.. 30 minute jump arounds...
it's sometimes better that way just to experiment.. but other than that.. there's no reason to rush.. put everything and anything you can into a sound...

i do this like 90% of the time XD

£10 Bag wrote:DAWs are used visually - you can't program a beat without seeing what's going on.

I don't really agree with this. I program beats all of the time without looking at the DAW. I think this stems from most people on here that program their drums just with a mouse.

heres mine...so i programmed with no listen other than picking sounds. then some eqing and compression
Soundcloud

I bang out 8 bar grime with the audio turned off just as a compositional exercise

Mixed results

mks wrote:

£10 Bag wrote:DAWs are used visually - you can't program a beat without seeing what's going on.

I don't really agree with this. I program beats all of the time without looking at the DAW. I think this stems from most people on here that program their drums just with a mouse.

I challenge you to make a track in your DAW blindfolded.

Yeah, that would be a bit of a challenge.

3za wrote:

mks wrote:

£10 Bag wrote:DAWs are used visually - you can't program a beat without seeing what's going on.

I don't really agree with this. I program beats all of the time without looking at the DAW. I think this stems from most people on here that program their drums just with a mouse.

I challenge you to make a track in your DAW blindfolded.

That is a completely unrelated challenge. If you can't program a beat without seeing what's going on, I don't really want to hear your music.

Gusto wrote:

3za wrote:

mks wrote:

£10 Bag wrote:DAWs are used visually - you can't program a beat without seeing what's going on.

I don't really agree with this. I program beats all of the time without looking at the DAW. I think this stems from most people on here that program their drums just with a mouse.

I challenge you to make a track in your DAW blindfolded.

That is a completely unrelated challenge. If you can't program a beat without seeing what's going on, I don't really want to hear your music.

someone has never jammed on pads before

All I said was, "I challenge you to make a track in your DAW blindfolded."

Where you guys getting all this other bullshit from?