What do you do when you run out of ideas?

[Aleksandr]

Well, I finally learned how to create a nice sounding wobble, managed to create a nice, calming intro, managed to add in the first wobbles, and then I ran out of ideas.

Do you just leave the track and come back to it when you feel inspired?

Or do you force yourself to try and create something?

[3za]

I have a total different problem, I have to many ideas, and not a enough time to implement them.

When i get stuck on a track I do one of three things;
-scrap it, and work on another track.
-or put it in my wip folder, and come back at a later date.
-or just push through, and get it done.

If your just starting out don't be to hard on yourself, just have fun.

[dj nation]

yea man, i used to always make these ideas on a rapids but then id get stuck n just move on to next rapid 4 bar idea, but what i found about that is now i have like 50 saved files, only about 5 i wanna finish, the rest just distract me, end up like openin em up n listenin to em, closin them, openin next, so what ive started doing now is really just trying to push through n get the track done, someone one here said if u keep pushin through your writers block youlll get used to doing that and everytime u get it it will be easier to push through, not that you have to do that obviously but just thought id share it, someone else also told me to finish your tracks that you start, otherwise u kinda get stuck on that same sound, that also helped me out alot.

[DigitsUK]

If i start to run out of ideas I crack out a synth, scroll through settings for hours untill something tickles my fancy. once i get a tone i like inspiration usually follows, ill have a feel of what sort of layers i might like to add and such

[Aleksandr]

That's the thing, I don't want to force it through, because that really takes out the main purpose of music, and ruins the music in my eyes.

I've always told people if music doesn't have emotion, it's not music, it's just noise.

[dj nation]

That's the thing, I don't want to force it through, because that really takes out the main purpose of music, and ruins the music in my eyes.

I've always told people if music doesn't have emotion, it's not music, it's just noise.

i guess, but the emotions will still be there from when you started it, i guess this has helped me alot in my eyes because i used to leave tracks for months, n theres still tracks that have been sittin there for months n months n there still not finished, all of em are really close to finishin but just not quite there yet

[Aleksandr]

That's the thing, I don't want to force it through, because that really takes out the main purpose of music, and ruins the music in my eyes.

I've always told people if music doesn't have emotion, it's not music, it's just noise.

i guess, but the emotions will still be there from when you started it, i guess this has helped me alot in my eyes because i used to leave tracks for months, n theres still tracks that have been sittin there for months n months n there still not finished, all of em are really close to finishin but just not quite there yet

Yeah, but I'd rather put out 1 track every 6 months that has emotion and will make people feel what I was feeling when the song was written, rather than a song every month that people will forget over time.

[dj nation]

That's the thing, I don't want to force it through, because that really takes out the main purpose of music, and ruins the music in my eyes.

I've always told people if music doesn't have emotion, it's not music, it's just noise.

i guess, but the emotions will still be there from when you started it, i guess this has helped me alot in my eyes because i used to leave tracks for months, n theres still tracks that have been sittin there for months n months n there still not finished, all of em are really close to finishin but just not quite there yet

Yeah, but I'd rather put out 1 track every 6 months that has emotion and will make people feel what I was feeling when the song was written, rather than a song every month that people will forget over time.

fair point really, keep on it mate

[deadly_habit]

work on patches, drums kits, base sounds. get my learn on on technical things
lay the groundwork so when ideas do hit, i'm not impeded by the basics

[3za]

That's the thing, I don't want to force it through, because that really takes out the main purpose of music, and ruins the music in my eyes.

As I said before having ideas is not the hard part for me, it is pushing through, and making them a reality. One thing I have learnt from producing, is sometimes you got to draw lines through things, just so you can concentrate on more inportant things, and when a track is good you just got to grit your teeth, and get it done. I used to start about 50 tracks a week but finish at max 1 a week (normal none), now I finish about one every other day, and sometimes I finish 2 a day.

You should try my system, I have two folders one called "shit to be finished" the other is called "scraped" when ever I start a new track, as soon as I get stuck, I make a decision their, and then which folder it will go in. I also have a rule when my "shit to be finished" folder hits ten tracks, I only work on getting these track done, and will not move on to start a new track till they are done. I have never revisted the "scraped" folder, and don't plan to for a long time.

You should give it a go, it might not work for you, and you might want to tweak it a bit, but it sorted me out. I only wish I know this system a long time ago.

work on patches, drums kits, base sounds. get my learn on on technical things
lay the groundwork so when ideas do hit, i'm not impeded by the basics

Also this is key, make time to make patches/sounds. So when it comes your good to rock out

[3rdeye]

9 times out of 10 I go down the pub

[th@-pu$$y]

Write patches to use at a later time.

[legend4ry]

Just do something else, nothing worse than trying to false something what isn't there.

[filthy_]

Write patches to use at a later time.

this.

[shaneynclan]

abuse substances

[nowaysj]

I change the way I work.

Don't underestimate the impact process has on your artistic progress.

You will never have your sound until you have your process.

This is difficult.


You must continually probe and push until you find a way of making music that suites you.

You must keep in mind that you may NEVER find what you are looking for.

You may never find yourself.

You may spend your entire life looking for your process, and never ever find it, never make anything of value.

If you do find it, it may last only a short while, and be gone forever, likely never to return.


This is a substantial risk, to say the least.

If you do nonetheless continue on, it is because you are an artist, and you don't really have an alternative.


A true artist would not look upon this identification with pleasure.

A true artist would experience joy, because joy only comes as the result of great sorrow.

To be an artist is to know great sorrow.

Only complete exhaustion brings complete satisfaction.

THE TIME IS NOW.

XX tio Bot

[wub]

- Create random patches and save

- Bounce out twisted 16bar automation loops for inclusion/chopping later

- Play xBox

- Go and see the GF

[Dr Bloodnugget]

^^ About right. Give your creative brain a rest. Listen to other tunes to get your inspiration back. (Not necessarily the same genre you're trying to create). Most of my tunes are inspired by other genres.

[mta7388]

play call of duty
force myself to sample from my small vinyl collection and work off that, giving me some forced direction

[wub]

force myself

Never force. You can't make creativity happen. It's an organic process, just chill out and take time away for a bit.