While listening to your own tunes...

[Atac]

So right now I'm workin on a new track of mine. Like every one I make, I try to listen to it from beginning to end after I've made a huge addition.
It's very rare that I just stare at my DAW because I try to imagine the song as if I was hearing it for the first time on my iPod or something.
To occupy my eyes, I tend to just browse through NSFW or something.

Just out of curiosity, what do you folks do while you listen to your WIPs?

[daddy mchectic]

I try not to look at the screen, maybe even sit somewhere else in the room. Also it's good to take a break, maybe listen to some other stuff and then come back to it - unless you're in the zone, never leave then. Sometimes I'll stick on something of a similar style, that is well produced, for me to compare the levels and clarity to.

[Atac]

I try not to look at the screen, maybe even sit somewhere else in the room. Also it's good to take a break, maybe listen to some other stuff and then come back to it - unless you're in the zone, never leave then. Sometimes I'll stick on something of a similar style, that is well produced, for me to compare the levels and clarity to.

Yeah I tend to do this in the mornings more, dunno why though.

When its at night and there's nothing to do (its 1:30 where I am right now), I often just close my eyes and listen. Maybe I'll browse through the WIPs on here for inspiration and what not.

Some good tips though thanks!

[Promise One]

I tend to make love to 2 prostitutes in front of a large mirror on my wall. If I'm more interested in looking at myself, the song isn't good enough

Seriously tho, I like to play tracks on different systems in different places. To get away from the place it was actually made, physically and mentally and hopefully get some fresh prospective on the progress of a track. I also make notes as I think of them for improvements.

[daddy mchectic]

Seriously tho, I like to play tracks on different systems in different places. To get away from the place it was actually made, physically and mentally and hopefully get some fresh prospective on the progress of a track.

Good point. I have my DJ headphones and my in ear mp3 headphones from which I compare my tunes to. Also if you're feeling that the track is pretty much finished, stick it in a DJ mix with some well produced tracks and see how it stands up when dropped into and out of proper professional tunes.

[Shum]

I'm a bit different to you OP in that I never really have works in progress. I write, record and put together a mix of a song in one session. Then I'll bounce down several tracks, put them all onto CD and listen to that in the car, on my home system, headphones, wherever there's a CD player handy really. From those experiences I'll make notes and make changes when I get back to my studio. Big changes are very rare, usually it's just minor studio tweaks. To answer your question, what do I do while listening to tracks? I just do other stuff ha ha.

[Atac]

Yeah I usually try to finish my current track before I export it for the first time (simply because I hate waiting for it).

But once I do export the tune I throw it on my iPod to listen to in class, in the car, at a friend's house, etc. Then I usually go back after a couple of days of listening/mental notes and make whatever changes I feel necessary. Finallyyyy after all that, I'll upload it to soundcloud.

Sure enough after all this, I'll notice the tiniest thing when I relisten to it in soundcloud -_- That drives me insane.

But yeah I guess I do a combination of what Shum and Promise One were saying.

Awesome ideas from everyone!

[triggy]

I bounce it down, chuck it on my ipod, then go shops, I cant listen to the full thing if its still in the DAW. to distracting, Stop, Pause, Change, Edit, Take this away, add this, etc.
I take a little piece of paper with me, write down what I wanna change, then get to it when I get back. Look winded, and often means bouncing down shit loads, but works for me,

after its done and im happy i'll

stick it in a DJ mix with some well produced tracks and see how it stands up when dropped into and out of proper professional tunes.

Then find out its still not good enough

[Promise One]

Sure enough after all this, I'll notice the tiniest thing when I relisten to it in soundcloud -_- That drives me insane.

Yeap you'll always listen again later and most likely find something your not happy with like" why the hell is that hi hat so loud?! what was I thinking"

Mixing is the art of compromise, there is only so much you can do.

[Electric_Head]

eyes down

hands in the air

[-[2]DAY_-]

switch systems as often as possible. Can't look at the screen if it's not a 2-track wav yet, bc i'll just stare at the sequencer anticipating changes and biasing my perception.

I like to pack a bowl, get a water, clip my nails. ... load it up on the ipod, check the mix in my car, driving. A/B with radio tunes, see how i feel about it, take mental notes, go home and mix it to death for another few hours =\

[Daskmajster]

I´ve noticed that my DAW blinds me. I spend hours and hours creating a sound and think it sounds all right, but when I listen to it later it sounds fucking terrible =/

[-[2]DAY_-]

sort out your room and monitors, maybe write in headphones more?
when spending hours and hours, take some short breaks so your ears aren't burned out on the sounds youre fucking with

[Shum]

I definitely look to reduce the amount of time staring at the computer screen. To the point where I've downgraded to composing with piano and paper.

[DannyLifted]

I take it to the car. listen to it while driving

[Atac]

I take it to the car. listen to it while driving

This is probably the best thing for my tunes. I think I pay the most attention to music while I'm driving.
My body is occupied with driving while my mind is free to explore any music that is playing.
I barely have to look where I'm going. There's times when I snap out of it and realize that I'm almost home just like that.

[JensMadsen]

About 80% of the time i'm making a tune i'm just listening to it. If i make dark music and it's late in the evening i like to turn off all the lights in my studio and just listen. The same goes for happy, light tunes: Those i like to listen to in bright sunlight. After having listened to my tunes over 100 times on my monitors, i render it and run it through traktor and my big ass mobile DJ'ing speakers to hear if the bass and everything sounds alright. If it does i listen to the tune on my laptop speakers, my Sennheiser HD-25s and my terrible ear-plugs. If i like it on all the above, i'm satisfied.