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I'm not sure if it makes sense or not, but because of the fact that I'm more kind of focused on working on stuff, I can't properly get an idea of what it sounds like. Like, every time I make something, I think it sounds pretty damn cool at the time, then later it sounds random or like rubbish. And then, there's stuff that I've heard too many times so I can't actually tell if I enjoy it or not, or if it's random or not(I know, it's weird). Thing is, if someone next to me was producing, and I was listening to what he was doing, I'd probably be able to notice if something doesn't work, but when I do it myself, I just can't tell. I produce at fairly low levels and try to take breaks as I've heard that it can help fix the problem, but me thinking something can sound good happens pretty damn quickly, and it gets really annoying. I know other people get this a lot as well, they wake up in the morning, and they're disappointed, and stuff like that. But Idk, it seems to happen so often with me and it sucks when 90% of the shit you make in a day sounds rubbish, but you can't notice it properly at the time. There are times when I am kind of sure, like, "This melody will probably sound random later," but sometimes I'm wrong and it actually sounds quite nice afterwards. Anyway, if anyone experiences it, and has anything to share, please do so. I'm just trying to work out how to kind of observe my production from a distance, rather than being so into it that I can't tell shit from good. Cheers in advanced,

Take a break from, possibly listen to some reference material, then come back.

Also try dancing to it.

The amount of times I've done the following is ridiculous:

10pm: "Ooh thats a nice little riff/sample/loop"
12pm: "Man this track is starting to come together nice"
2am: "Fuck yeah this is great"
3am: "OMFG awesooooooooome brooooooooo"
.
.
.

9am:


9:30am: "Ah fuck it cba, new track"


I think it's definitely part of the learning process as it still happens to me now and I know it even happens to "pro" producers too.

I think the idea is to find why it sucks, and replace it.

For me it can be as simple as making the LFO restart.


EDIT: Try listening to it as though you were somebody else hearing for the first time.

That happens to me when I listen to the track too many times without changing stuff. I like to try to avoid listening to the tracks as I'm working on them as much as possible. I usually can't though, but you kind of 'get used' to it and it's hard to picture it any other way. So try only listening to the parts you're working on and don't play the whole track in one go without actually working on it too often.

I gotta try to start doing that, I do tend to replay stuff a lot, and that is what gets me used to it. Cheers for the replies guys.

I tend to try and finish a rough version of a track in one sitting, then if it isn't immediately obvious that it's shit in the morning, i'll stick it on the mp3 player to listen to in the car and at work. I generally wont open the session again, instead just making more and more new music each day, if a track is still on my mp3 player after 3 or 4 months (i.e. i haven't deleted it because i'm sick of it) i know its worth going back to, to do a mix down ( though getting my ass in gear to do that isn't always easy). I find mixing a chore so this way i avoid wasting time working on something i'm not even going to listen to later.

mthrfnk wrote:The amount of times I've done the following is ridiculous:

10pm: "Ooh thats a nice little riff/sample/loop"
12pm: "Man this track is starting to come together nice"
2am: "Fuck yeah this is great"
3am: "OMFG awesooooooooome brooooooooo"
.
.
.

9am:


9:30am: "Ah fuck it cba, new track"


I think it's definitely part of the learning process as it still happens to me now and I know it even happens to "pro" producers too.

LOLOLOL That is def me at times!

Are u culling stuff as u go?

The quote that changed it for me was from SPL I think "don't be afraid to delete stuff just because u spent time makin it " or something like that

Well, that's the thing, at the time I'm not actually sure what I should be deleting cause I don't know what works and what doesn't.

I think it's normal that 99% of the stuff you make should never see the light of day. I'm reminded of a quote I can't quite remember word for word. It's by Brian Eno and goes something like: "The reason you work every day isn't to make amazing stuff every time you sit down to work, it's to keep your craft fresh so you're capable of giving those rare moments of true inspiration what they deserve."

Don't worry too much about it. Have an air of quality in mind but focus more on the fun of creating music for what it is at the time while applying new techniques and pushing yourself all the same. You'll get better as time goes by. Whatever you do do not become too critical of your work as it'll only begin to hinder your creativity. Some things are supposed to be shit, they act as stepping stones towards the future, not everything you make is supposed to be the best you can manage. It's normal so don't fight it, only learn to work it into your creative process and accept it as a part of development.

Yeah, I just wish a few more things would actually turn out good like I thought they sounded. But, I guess that 1% will have to do haha.

I personally cook up the main melody first without working on the drums (put in a random kick for workflow). A couple of additions here n there. Then hear it til Im sick of it. Go and listen to some major tunes for the night. wake up next day play the track. If its shit, i ditch it, if I like it, I'll finish it up and do the same thing until I'm kinda satisfied.

They do end up not cutting it enough for me in the end though. But each track is a step forward.

i usually start loving my track when it's about 1/3 to 1/2 done until after i've finished and mastered it. 2 or 3 days later i start to hate it and think about what i could've done better. when i listen to it again after like a month i like it again. it's almost always like that, my brain is weird.

I found that adding people on AIM (other producers is probably best) that will be straight with you, and send them your songs and just ask them if it sounds good to them. If it sounds good to the guys you send it to then your on the right track, If not then something needs to change and they'll probably have an idea of that needs to be changed. Thats the way I go with it if i'm stuck anyways if they think its good then I stop listening to it as a song and just work on the elements in the track and make them sound as clear as possible.

mthrfnk wrote:The amount of times I've done the following is ridiculous:

10pm: "Ooh thats a nice little riff/sample/loop"
12pm: "Man this track is starting to come together nice"
2am: "Fuck yeah this is great"
3am: "OMFG awesooooooooome brooooooooo"
.
.
.

9am:


9:30am: "Ah fuck it cba, new track"


I think it's definitely part of the learning process as it still happens to me now and I know it even happens to "pro" producers too.

Lol, brilliant! And a bit too familiar. Good to see we all do this - the amount of times i've thought i'm onto a winner, only to listen the next day and wonder what i was thinking.

Saying that - i always keep my projects, so sometimes i can take elements from a failed track and use them in a new one. So no work is really wasted, it's all practice and i'm building up a personalised collection of sounds.

Interesting thread defo been on the same tip in the past especially the yeah thats rocking, get in bed next day....hmmmmmmmmm.
Not to mention producing music can sometimes destroy casual music listening while you are trying to deconstruct the production and understand what synth that is and how they programmed that drum fill etc etc. Objectivity with ones own music can be really difficult. If you play it someone else sometimes you get a completely different set of input which sometimes helps but not always. You need to get some trusted listeners on the case if possible.

cheers

SafeandSound Mastering
cheap mastering

I know what you mean about casual listening.
If I listen to modern music on the radio nowadays I find myself thinking "oooh I bet that's how they did that" or negative stuff like "eugh those cymbals are so harsh and badly panned" haha.

Yeah man, the way you listen to music when you're producing is so much different to just casual listening(well, for me at least). I actually find that I'm more aware of bad sounding stuff and errors when I'm not focusing the way I would be when producing.

You've got to listen to both enjoy and study it.

Also enjoy studying it.