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be helpful people

1) downloading/buying every vst in the world
2) buying every book,and not reading it properly

lol the vst thing is an addiction.

i've only very recently gathered enough willpower to not download random vsts I come across.

I'd say not reading the manual FIRST.

I only use like 5 or 6 plugins and that is tops

levels too loud, too much eq, too much compression that's too fast/high ratio because you can't "hear it" unless it's doing too much.

that and getting caught up in what something is 'supposed' to sound like, rather than finding your own voice.

Tweaking a song ad infinitum, aka "polishing a turd" instead of just moving on.

Your first batch of songs WILL suck. Deal with it. Learn from them and keep going.

TeReKeTe wrote: that and getting caught up in what something is 'supposed' to sound like, rather than finding your own voice.

This. I've been producing for 10 years and still fall for it. Happens to us all, particularly when you genre jump alot.

Not taking enough breaks

86 Position wrote:lol the vst thing is an addiction.

i've only very recently gathered enough willpower to not download random vsts I come across.

I'd say not reading the manual FIRST.

manuals are for noobs.

like has been said, attempting to emulate without the desire to inovate ie sounding like everyone else or worse, trying to sound like everyoe else

thinking the tools will make a difference, running through various daws instead of just focusing on getting to grips with one

taking it far too seriously, not doing it for enjoyment or listening pleasure of your self or others

i've fallen victim to all aside from the first, which has never been a concern of mine,

the daw thing comes from frustration I think..

If software was reasonably priced I think everyone should test them all, then buy one and stick with it.

choosing any samples thinking you can make them work with enough effort, some are just shit.

Sample selection is one of the most important things I've learned so far, a shit snare is a shit snare, make sure you start off with a decent base.

layering over layers over layers over layers over layers

trade off which line/synth/bass sound gets the limelight or else it will sound like noise to everyone else

Putting your tunes on the internet You will be ashamed of the crap you put out there once your production & songwriting skills improve.

Taking every bit of advice as though it's the law, you will make your own style and your own way of working I mean I bet if one of the guys from here came round to mine and watched how I make tunes, they would probably be scratching their head wondering what the fuck is going on and vice versa.

There is a wealth of knowledge out there but the only way to learn is to try and try and fuck it all up then do it again till it sounds the knackers

collige wrote:Putting your tunes on the internet You will be ashamed of the crap you put out there once your production & songwriting skills improve.

this is quite big

but in some ways you either need to be slammed by people or you need some positive feedback so go 50/50 with this one!

I'd say my mistake was trying too many VSTs and using too much pirated shit originally. Also learn who to take advice from, everyone deals out advice on the internet, even if it's blatantly wrong and they can't make a half decent tune (I've done this too ).

Haha I wouldn't say I'm a beginner, but I'm definitely in the "downloading way too many VSTs" category after switching over to Cubase...my excuse is that I'm trying to find what suits me the best, but yeah, there's just so much free stuff that I'm pretty much addicted.


My golden advice: fuck what EVERYONE says about tools, sound engines, production quality, etc. A good musician will make good music on the tools that suit him or her the best, and if it's good, nobody will give a fuck about those things. I've heard so much "_____'s sound engine sucks, you can totally hear it..._____is way better" over the years, and it's all pretty much bullshit; I've heard it about opposing DAWs enough times to realize that most of it is in peoples' heads. And for some reason people forget that pretty much all of the best electronic music was made on shitty (or limited) equipment. Nobody complains about old jungle, hardkore, techno, electro, etc. even though the production quality on a lot of it is pretty poor.

I think obsessing over one section/loop and working it hard until either A) you fudge it up entirely, or B) you get fed up and frustrated with it is a bad mistake.

If shit's not perfect the first time round, carry on, then come back to it later. By that time you'll be able to work on it with a fresher mind.

Also, trying to do everything 'how everyone sez it should be done' should be avoided. Just take on the information that you need to help you.

Putting techniques ahead of principles.