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I haven't been at this producing stage for long, probably 4 months or so. In that time I've been covering music theory -- finished, and a little music composition. I know there's still a lot to learn and I don't feel comfortable with making actual tracks yet, but I try anyway. My question is, is there a point where you just feel ready to make a complete track? As in you know all the necessary knowledge for building basslines, pads, leads, melodies, etc., that you can properly create all the sounds in your head?

I'm hoping so. I've made a lot of progress since I first started, but as I've become aware of what works and what doesn't, I feel less inspired to make actual tracks because everything I used to make now sounds awful. I still play around with synths and drums.
I just hope I keep progressing this way and soon reach professional standards. So hopefully improvement is inevitable.

Well you gotta start somewhere. I've made a few tracks so far, in like 5 months that I've been producing, and they just keep getting better and better because in between making tracks I just learn stuff. I spend like 90% of my time learning about synths and music theory and stuff, and the other 10% I spend making tunes. Because tunes usually come out of me wanting to try out a new idea that I have or something I want to mess around with.

I think you should go ahead and attempt one. For me, I learned the most from trying to apply what I already knew to a song.
Plus, experience with writing different melodies, drum patterns and so on will defiantly make you better.

I've been producing for about 4 months as well, and I've finished 2 tracks. I don't really think I'm experienced enough to make tracks, but I do anyways because I think it's good practice.

Go ahead and try to build something. As you learn more about music theory and sound design incorporate those ideas into your track. Also, don't try to rush it. Leave it as a long-term project that won't be finished for at least a few months.

paridiso wrote:Go ahead and try to build something. As you learn more about music theory and sound design incorporate those ideas into your track. Also, don't try to rush it. Leave it as a long-term project that won't be finished for at least a few months.

I always rush my stuff to some extent. Because if I leave it be for too long I get out of the mood and it just disappears. I usually take like a week or two to finish a tune now.

Yeah I agree. I'll get to production, testing and applying theory as soon as I've covered all the theory. I still have a few PDFs, books and countless bookmarks to read. As soon as I'm done with theory and have composition elements down, I'll get right into making practice tracks

I like to work on tracks a lot actually, I learn tons of stuff with every one.

Make tunes, and figure shit out first hand
The best learning environment is practice in your DAW.

you should attempt to finish tracks from the day you begin producing that way you get experience and can find faults with a track and then try to do something about that in the next song.. and its a good thing you've already learnt music theory.. for the first 3/4 months of my production I just through random notes together and didn't even know about staying in key now try that for bad! ha ha

I'd say I felt comfortable with tracks after around 5/6 months of production and could actually post them and feel slightly proud.. I've probably been producing around 10 months now and feel like I can finish a track and post it out and it will go down well.. although it takes longer than it will for someone with less experience as I have a really bad case of wanting everything to sound perfect and sit tweaking one sound for hours to make it how I want. But yeah keep going the more you practise on a song the more you will improve

FuzionDubstep wrote:you should attempt to finish tracks from the day you begin producing that way you get experience and can find faults with a track and then try to do something about that in the next song.. and its a good thing you've already learnt music theory.. for the first 3/4 months of my production I just through random notes together and didn't even know about staying in key now try that for bad! ha ha

I'd say I felt comfortable with tracks after around 5/6 months of production and could actually post them and feel slightly proud.. I've probably been producing around 10 months now and feel like I can finish a track and post it out and it will go down well.. although it takes longer than it will for someone with less experience as I have a really bad case of wanting everything to sound perfect and sit tweaking one sound for hours to make it how I want. But yeah keep going the more you practise on a song the more you will improve

FuzionDubstep wrote: I'd say I felt comfortable with tracks after around 5/6 months of production and could actually post them and feel slightly proud.. I've probably been producing around 10 months now and feel like I can finish a track and post it out and it will go down well.. although it takes longer than it will for someone with less experience as I have a really bad case of wanting everything to sound perfect and sit tweaking one sound for hours to make it how I want. But yeah keep going the more you practise on a song the more you will improve

FuzionDubstep wrote:I've probably been producing around 10 months now and feel like I can finish a track and post it out and it will go down well..

FuzionDubstep wrote:I've probably been producing around 10 months now

FuzionDubstep wrote:around 10 months now

FuzionDubstep wrote:10 months now

FuzionDubstep wrote:10 months

Only? No way D:

Well you guys have inspired to me try more practice tracks. I see how it would help in seeing what you know and what you need improvement on. Cheers!

Only? No way D:

Well you guys have inspired to me try more practice tracks. I see how it would help in seeing what you know and what you need improvement on. Cheers!

haha! I wouldn't say I'm at an amazing level just put my head down and always try new things rather than trying to keep it simple! .. but seriously if you would have heard my tunes a few months ago you would have literally laughed at them! haha trust me keep experimenting and you WILL get good

I think you should just keep trying to make as many tunes as you can, because every tune you make teaches you something new. Having said that, I know no music theory at all. So I 'd keep doing what your doing with that side of it, and learning theory because it will make your productions and composition stronger. Right now, I focus more on the actual sound of the bass than the melody because I have no theory knowledge, and my tunes are weaker for it, but in the future im going to learn it so its all good. If you know theory, youll be able to write tunes where the melody is the strongpoint and the bass compliments it rather than defines it.