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Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:28 pm
by wub
Depends. My entry for the brostep contest (RIP) took about 3hrs not including sample digging time, but I've had some tracks that have taken months as I'm consistently revisiting them whenever the vibe hits.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:38 pm
by NinjaEdit
I throw away a lot, so it depends how you count it. probably a couple weeks between finished tunes. I've finished stuff in a few hours as well.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:40 pm
by SaveMidnight
When I've had time to sit down and blow a day on a song I can pretty much knock it out.
But it all depends on how much of the mental work I've done.
If I have a good chord progression/ melodic idea/ and some good percussion patterns then all that's left is just sound design.
On average a tune a week is a good idea, but I have at least 2 going so when one starts to slow down I can use that creative time and energy on something else.
Also, sometimes songs get cannibalized into other songs. It really just depends.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:43 pm
by jTerror420
Yea, I def have multiple projects going on. Sometimes it seems like that may be detrimental bc then I choose not to complete one and instead work on others, even though there's a couple that I know are pretty good. Alright, new question, when do you guys determine that a song is done? Like sometimes i feel like the track might be a tad basic but on the flip side, sometimes basic is good.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:59 pm
by NinjaEdit
Can it be improved? A hit song is not written, it's rewritten. It's sounds to me like you aren't changing things, you're adding them. If you add something, but muting/disabling doesnt sound worse (even if aren't sure), remove it.
It's more a question of when do you know a stage in the process is done? When you decide it is, I guess.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:10 pm
by jTerror420
Eh, I am changing things but a lot of times, ill change it back to how it was bc it sounds better that way (to me, anyway). It's like i strike gold, then try to make it a little better and I kinda lose the vibe of the original idea.. So i take it out, like a cheesy riser or vocal sample. I'm also a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to art (I also draw) so that has a lot to do with it. But yea, I work Monday through Saturday, 7 to 5:30 so I was just curious how long other people spent on songs. For all I know, this could be some of you guys' day jobs haha
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:27 pm
by dickman69
1-2 hours
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:36 pm
by Optimal Prime
Oh average i'd say around 15-20 hours.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:42 pm
by mthrfnk
Sometimes I can knock something up in a few hours and have a listenable "mastered" version up on SoundCloud soon after, on the other hand I've been working for just over 3 weeks on a 4 track EP - none of the tracks are finished.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:57 pm
by jTerror420
Okay, another question, how long have you guys been producing? I'm sure that's got lots to do wih the speed of workflow, how well you know your synths and whatnot. I made my first song about two years ago but there were circumstances that caused me to stop. I started up again a few months ago and have been at it pretty much every day since. I know that everybody's speed and focus etc is different, just curious as to how long you guys were producing before you found your "rhythm"
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:59 pm
by mthrfnk
jTerror420 wrote:Okay, another question, how long have you guys been producing? I'm sure that's got lots to do wih the speed of workflow, how well you know your synths and whatnot. I made my first song about two years ago but there were circumstances that caused me to stop. I started up again a few months ago and have been at it pretty much every day since. I know that everybody's speed and focus etc is different, just curious as to how long you guys were producing before you found your "rhythm"
Took me around 6/7 months before I was able to sit down and actually bash a tune out without looking something up in a manual or online.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:59 pm
by Cryoshok
I can make a song in a few hours...can take me weeks to ''finish'' a song.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 5:52 pm
by NinjaEdit
I made some tunes in Fruity Loops 3.4 with my friend in 2003-2005? Did some audio recording and very small amount of electronic music during 2007-2008. Got out of music until this year

and I'm into electronic music proper. My musical training goes back forever though, and I've played guitar in bands.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 6:00 pm
by Triphosphate
About 15 hours. Most of the magic happens in the first 6, where I focus only on arrangement. Then about 6 hours of tone-chasing/tweaking/polishing. Then a 3 hour mixdown session split into 30 minute segments to stave off ear fatigue. Any time I don't have at least 3-6 hours to spend on making a song I spend designing sounds instead.
Been producing for about 13 years on and off, but consistently producing for the last 5-6 years.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 6:13 pm
by JustDubIt
I have just started and I know that I can make a dubstep song in no time at all, it's how long does it take to get a song to turn out how you visioned it, which even for the dubstep gods the time varies.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:15 am
by illtabulous
I have not finished a song to date. But it takes me about a week or two to produce a song to shit. :/
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:23 am
by Hircine
a lot of time. I like to get a few elements in, take a huge break, watch tv, add a few more elements, walk around with the track playing, turn on my romplers and play with vintage sounds, browse the forum. I know I should focus more, but I can't. Not focusing is part of the process
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:41 am
by Samuel_L_Damnson
^Basically that

Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 3:57 am
by ljk32
Been producing for like 2 years, still haven't finished a song. The latest one I'm working on may actually be able to get finished(I hope to god) - over 20 hours so far.
Re: How long does it take you to make a song?
Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:09 am
by skerrick
it takes me anywhere between 45 minutes and a few weeks. depending on a few tings. really hard to say though, completely depends on the individual and the idea.