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legend4ry wrote:Starting a tune is the easiest thing - its finding an idea worth going with whats the hardest... I think theres a 20 minute time period where if the track still isn't working, you should just close your daw and go do something else.

This.


Also, if you get really stuck, make up a couple of templates to fuck around with samples and bounce the output to spark some ideas, or else make a shit load of really messed up presets (if they're shit, delete them).

wub wrote:

legend4ry wrote:Starting a tune is the easiest thing - its finding an idea worth going with whats the hardest... I think theres a 20 minute time period where if the track still isn't working, you should just close your daw and go do something else.

This.


Also, if you get really stuck, make up a couple of templates to fuck around with samples and bounce the output to spark some ideas, or else make a shit load of really messed up presets (if they're shit, delete them).

this.

making patches can then inspire you to start a track and if they dont, you still end up with some new sounds to use in later tracks.

Yeah, I guess I have this kinda thing from time to time... That said, I do have like ten half-finished tunes so I can usually get a nice creative flow going and then switch the song I'm working on to something that's either a new track or one I'm stuck with

And @ OP, the 'Song Starters' folder in that refill is Reason project files... Try pressing 'Open File...' and going into that folder


Dub Fiend

Genophonics wrote:I don't know why but it's always the absolute hardest part for me...once i get started I can breeze through and create some pretty interesting stuff but the starting point is what always tough for me...I never know how stuff should start with drums or pads or bass or everything at once. Anybody else find this is somewhat true or just me? haha

Havent read past the first post but im the opposite. I find starting a tune easy, Program a few synths, work with a few scales and its all going good... Then the problem strikes where i sort of lose the passion I had for the tune and i find it hard to finish it. I mean i have been sitting on a half made tune what people around me says is sick (i stuck it on my decks at a house party n they all asked me what is was) yet i still cant finish it. Starting to find this a bit of a problem, i only ever finish like 10% of my tunes.

really? for me it's like the opposite. its the easiest thing (and most fun) to start a new project file...but progressing it is always the hardest.

I find the start the easiest bit. Knowing when I have enough noises/drums and keeping things flowing is harder.

Finishing is hardest for me, about 25 tracks WIP atm. I find it easiest when I've been listening to something I really like over and over, try and emulate the sound you like in the track because you'll always end up with something different, either through different vsts/hardware or ability (in my case haha)

I always start with the drop too and work back from there for an intro, followed by breakdown second drop etc.
Then again some of my songs don't have any stucture and are just a mess of noises.

My two cents...
Ash.

P.S. This is what I came up with when I was listening to Rusko - Take me to the hospital and wanted to get that bass sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXNfFKD_DL8

noctonal wrote: P.S. This is what I came up with when I was listening to Rusko - Take me to the hospital and wanted to get that bass sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXNfFKD_DL8

I avoid Rusko like the plague. Gave it a listen but it made my ears hurt lol

I am guessing you use Reason?

You guessed wrong, Ableton all the way.

noctonal wrote:You guessed wrong, Ableton all the way.

Good thing I corrected my post because I was sure it was Reason!

Not my thing but sure ppl will love it.

this is my method now:

start with an idea, a mood, feeling whatever. hyper, chill, aggressive, melancholy, cheesy, whatever.
pick a tempo (or set your template to 140 and never change it )
start choosing sounds that sound great and also work well together - drum sounds that compliment each other, synth sounds that you like that evoke the mood you are after, samples , efx

by the time you get this far you already have some rhythmic and melodic ideas sketched out and the track usually writes itself from here.

right now working on several 120-125bpm things. interesting tempo....it's helping me get back into this shit after like 4 months of not writing anything

Heres my method;

Write a pretty little melody
Pads & ting
Drums
Realise melody is stupid, delete it
Turn tune into ominous drone/shackleton esque piece
Delete
Attempt to recreate original melody
Fail
Cry
Wank
Sleep

Kochari wrote:Cry
Wank
Sleep

too familar

ahahha funny shit. and thanks dub fiend for the starting songs template thing. That did in fact work.

I dunno my biggest thing is i don't know anything about scales or chords or basically anything....I put stuff in the grid and play around with it until i think it sounds good...half the time stuff is probably out of key and tune...lol. I think that's the hardest part for me knowing barely anything.

Also what are the advantages of using my mbox for the output source on the audio in reason? just smoother CPU?

legend4ry wrote:Starting a tune is the easiest thing - its finding an idea worth going with whats the hardest... I think theres a 20 minute time period where if the track still isn't working, you should just close your daw and go do something else.

20 minutes? fuck if i followed that rule i think i'd have maybe one project file.

bumping this just to get this question answered. (Don't want to make a new thread and waste forum space when i can just ask here )

What are the advantages of using my mbox for the output source for the audio in reason? just smoother CPU?

mks wrote:Starting a song is always the easiest for me... Finishing it is something else though.

This. I would bet that most people have the same problem.

B-Frank wrote:

Genophonics wrote:I don't know why but it's always the absolute hardest part for me...once i get started I can breeze through and create some pretty interesting stuff but the starting point is what always tough for me...I never know how stuff should start with drums or pads or bass or everything at once. Anybody else find this is somewhat true or just me? haha

Havent read past the first post but im the opposite. I find starting a tune easy, Program a few synths, work with a few scales and its all going good... Then the problem strikes where i sort of lose the passion I had for the tune and i find it hard to finish it. I mean i have been sitting on a half made tune what people around me says is sick (i stuck it on my decks at a house party n they all asked me what is was) yet i still cant finish it. Starting to find this a bit of a problem, i only ever finish like 10% of my tunes.

Exactly the same here . only lucky to finish sometimes. lol must try harder i think

Kochari wrote:Heres my method;
Wank
Cry
Sleep

Good Night, DSF