Does reading about music production really help improve?

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:54 pm

I sometimes think reading too much about it can be a bad thing. Sometimes you come to a point where you are not sure what you should do and because you have read some guy on a forum say how he does it you try that and it may be the wrong path for example.

Experimenting is what it is all about when it comes to learning right? I keep doing the same things because I have read that is what I should do. I find it hard to block out stuff I have read and just work out how to do things myself.

Reading about how to produce music is all good if you want to do what someone else has already done.

Hope this makes sense.

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:02 pm

Yes, reading helps improve everyones music production skills. (I bet even Sensei Macc still reads the occassional SOS article

)

Reading helps to give you new ideas. It will help you see production processes in ways you never considered before.

When was the last time you considered tieing a sample & hold LFO to your portamento control whilst using an arpegiator? (If this idea is new to you, then the proof is in the pudding!)

Of course, as you've pointed out, the key is to read to gain new ideas or techniques, then to experiment with them until the concept or process is merely part of your vast sonic repertoire.

Go and read padawan.
:miyagi:

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:09 pm

I wish there as no internet and I just did my own thing

I recon it would help with the creativity and the result would be unique.

I could be just talking complete cod shit cos I am bored at work tho.

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:22 pm

Serox wrote:I wish there as no internet and I just did my own thing I recon it would help with the creativity and the result would be unique.

I could be just talking complete cod shit cos I am bored at work tho.

All you have to do is cancel your internet subscription. That way, your only web access wil be at work or dare I say it.... the public library!

Why not take Dizzee Rascals advice and go 'old skooooooool'.

Want to spread the word about your tunes? Ring people, text people, get involved with free parties and club nights etc...

Want to promote your night? Get out flyering with your street team.

Want to get that big dj to play your tune? Hit them up in person.

-----------------------------------------------

If your really bored, why not check out at&t online text to speech program?

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:24 pm

Oh I am oldskool bro lol. I am happy with everything but think I may have gone in a better direction if I had not spent so much time reading do's and donts on the internet.

lowpass · Post by **lowpass** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:25 pm

I read as much as possible about production, not because I can't think creatively or because I want to stick to a tried and tested method. It is simply that the more methods and techniques I know of producing, the more possibilities are immediately available to me, they are just tools, use them how you want, include, incorporate, or disregard them altogether, theres nothing wrong in knowing.

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:25 pm

What do you work as?

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:32 pm

futures_untold wrote:What do you work as?

me?

IT consultant with far too much free time to read the internet.

macc · Post by **macc** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:32 pm

Reading is essential.

Deciding whether falls into the category of 'true do's', 'true don'ts' (1% each) or 'this works for me but may not for you' (98%) is the tricky bit. When you are a relative n00b the division is more 50/50/0 - always do this, never do that.

This leads to confusion, and frustration, until eventually you learn to take it all on board, forget all that and just listen with your ears and do what sounds good. But by now, you know why htings sound good, and if they don't you have a better idea how to fix them.

There really aren't that many TRUE do's and don'ts, that apply in all cases. And even those are pretty general and vague.

Reading that last bit back, there's an actual truth hidden in there.

caeraphym · Post by **caeraphym** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:35 pm

I used to get kicked out of WH Smith's for reading SoS and FM 'til the cleaners came on shift

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:37 pm

Do you think people like Burial read on a production forum how to make his music? everything in his tracks is part of the 'dont do this' you may read on this forum lol.

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:43 pm

Hurtdeer wrote:
Since he writes all of his stuff in Soundforge, apparently, I'd imagine he'd have to really get to grips with the program before he could do anything meaningful about it. Might not be a forum-goer but I imagine he did more than just open the program and go for it

Yeh he was shown how to sue Soundforge I think I remember reading.

But his production technique is quite unique and he does things in a very rough, free way that gives it loads of feeling like its live. Unquantized, frequencies all over the place, EQing is nothing like what people say you should do imo.

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:47 pm

IT consultant

I feel your pain. (Mostly cuz I'm sat in front of the computer 16 hours a day too........) (I'm very sad)

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:48 pm

futures_untold wrote:IT consultant

Yeh

I hate it tho. Wish I could make enough from DJing to pay the bills but it aint happening.

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:49 pm

futures_untold wrote: I feel your pain. (Mostly cuz I'm sat in front of the computer 16 hours a day too........) (I'm very sad)

Reading too much just fucks with my head when it comes to sit down and play with buttons.

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:49 pm

Yeh Embarassed
I hate it tho. Wish I could make enough from DJing to pay the bills but it aint happening.

I think we all do tbh

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:52 pm

Serox wrote:Reading too much just fucks with my head when it comes to sit down and play with buttons.

Why not download this freeware pack and make the freeware album everyone is waiting for? ---> http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?t ... highlight=

Audacity and reaper will test your Burial choppage skills to the max!

that will be something to do at work at least......

setspeed · Post by **setspeed** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:53 pm

i'm with the ppl who say it's a good thing.

normally, whether writing music or engineering the mixdown, i try a bunch of things in an attempt to get to the result i want, and end up settling on the one that works the best. so reading up on stuff just gives me a wider range of things to try, and sometimes an understanding of why something doesn't work/exacerbates the issue etc etc

Reading about how to produce music is all good if you want to do what someone else has already done.

like what, a competent mixdown? yeah that's just for sheep with no creativity

Does reading about music production really help improve?

Does reading about music production really help improve?

Who is online