At what point do you stop yourself adding new elements?

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:04 am

When you`re producing a track and feel it is complete but maybe tomorrow you`ll check out the track and decide to fiddle with the effects chains, more for experimentation purposes for eg.
You end up finding yet another element that just fits and sounds great in the context of the track.

When do you simply stop yourself from adding new elements?

What makes you:
a) Leave the track as is?
b) Remove the element and start a new track incorporating the new sound?
c) Add the sound?

This is really just a general production question.
There's no wrong or right answer.

I do all 3 of the above by I don`t necessarily know what my decision making process is.
Sometimes I`ll make a place for the sound.
Other times I`ll lob off entire sections of my tune to create a new tune.

So? How do you make your decisions?

gen_ · Post by **gen_** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:06 am

I stack and stack and stack on an 8 bar loop till I can't add any more without making things clash, then I spread the elemetns from that loop over a track, bringing things in and out to make it sound like there was more to it.

jrisreal · Post by **jrisreal** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:07 am

when you get happy and can't think of anything it needs, thats when you stop, drop, and be proud of yourself.

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:08 am

Gen_ - You`re missing the point me thinks.

I`m asking, at what point do you stop.
I have no issue finishing tracks, knowing when to stop, etc.
There are just times when the track is done and I find more elements that would work with the track.
So i either add the element or create a new track incorporating the element.

paravrais · Post by **paravrais** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:24 am

Doesn't happen to me cos after I've played my melodies I put my midi keyboard away. I usually do what gen said and then as soon as all those 8-16 bars feel as full as hell I stop adding new parts and won't add anything new to the track at any point after that (except for sweeps, incidental background ambience etc)

gen_ · Post by **gen_** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:28 am

Your right, I probably did.

I suppose its more of the feel of the track for me. I like all my melodic elements to give me the same feel when solo'd as when their altogether in the mix. If I create a line with a different feel to it, and that line inspires me, I'll lop it off and make a new track.

If I've pretty much finished the track and I'm still finding elements that I think work with it, I will sometimes thrown them in for a short period of time or use them as a one off. It's hard to explain.

If you look at the track in my sig for example, theres a bit after the first drop where I pull the kick out and play a sort fuzzy synth line. I made that line after everything else and could'nt figure out where to put it, but it just wasn't inspiring enough to make a new track, so I threw it in for 4 bars just to make the drop a bit different.

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:55 am

That`s pretty much what I do.
I find that there's times when I have 5 or 6 synth lines playing between each other.
If I don`t stop creating synth lines I could end up with 20 elements flowing around.
That`s where I need to get hard on myself.

wub · Post by **wub** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:16 pm

Electric_Head wrote:When do you simply stop yourself from adding new elements?

When it sounds right.

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:26 pm

wub wrote:
Electric_Head wrote:When do you simply stop yourself from adding new elements?

When it sounds right.

Which is why I`m asking.
When do YOU feel your track sounds right?
I find if I listen to the track and it sounds whole then nothing else needs to be added.

Last night however, I was getting my sample pack comp entry done.
I had a glitchy background percussive sound playing slightly after the hit.
It created a great grainy effect.
I just decided to fiddle with the sound for a sec and created a different sound that also had it`s place in the track.
I just couldn`t find myself removing it.

cloak and dagger · Post by **cloak and dagger** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:57 pm

I usually either:

a) add stuff until I have a bunch and run out of creativity and see how far it takes me (e.g. if the tracks going to be 2 mins or 7 mins, or if it's not enough to keep it interesting)

or

b) make too much stuff and take some of it out. if you have too much, you definitely have enough.

usually b.

Moody Strings · Post by **Moody Strings** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:01 pm

grooki · Post by **grooki** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:14 pm

As Ikonika said, press play on the track, lie down on the bed and listen with eyes closed, if nothing bothers you, done! I don't know if that's what you're asking about though. As far as when I think a sound is complete, well, it's completely subjective, I just make that decision at some point. Recently I haven't been able to satisfy myself in that regard and so haven't completed and posted any new tracks.

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:38 pm

grooki wrote:As Ikonika said, press play on the track, lie down on the bed and listen with eyes closed, if nothing bothers you, done! I don't know if that's what you're asking about though. As far as when I think a sound is complete, well, it's completely subjective, I just make that decision at some point. Recently I haven't been able to satisfy myself in that regard and so haven't completed and posted any new tracks.

that`s what I`m asking really.
Just creating constructive conversation.
It`s always interesting to hear what another person's decision making process is.

I`m finding myself getting into the realm of 8-12 minute tracks because I just let it flow.
I have to hack them down quite often and make new tracks with the cut elements.
I really have no problem writing tunes or finishing them, I just find myself being overly entertained by new elements.
Or adding minute subtleties.

Not twiddling, just adding.

Moody Strings · Post by **Moody Strings** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:42 pm

Just add as much as you want, but from time to time, remove the elements you've added and listen to the impact it makes on the track. If it's minuscule to the point your track is better off without it (shorter and more fluid) then just remove it, but if it adds extra depth and purpose to your track, keep it.

That's what I do, I don't like my tracks tailing on above 6-7 minutes. It's dance music, it should be engaging, not boring and overly complicated.

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:48 pm

I am a huge fan of atmospheric soundscapes so 8-12 minutes is a mere heartbeat.

But I totally hear what you`re saying.

Sparxy · Post by **Sparxy** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:18 pm

When my PC starts shitting brix

brack3n · Post by **brack3n** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 5:52 pm

Sparxy wrote:When my PC starts shitting brix

Lol, ditto.

Atac · Post by **Atac** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:02 am

Sparxy wrote:When my PC starts shitting brix

Haha this^^

I'll stop when I'm sick of bouncing everything through Edison just to listen to it.

(Although I did just invest in a new Macbook Pro so hopefully this will be a thing of the past.)

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:35 am

Constructive conversation dudes.

Let`s assume my pc doesn`t shit brix.
I can load unlimited synths and just overload a track.

So what then defines my end point.
I think for me it is as grooki posted.
If it feels and sounds right ey Wub.

At what point do you stop yourself adding new elements?

At what point do you stop yourself adding new elements?

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