eery wrote:Dont do composition and mixing in the same project. Export your stems, mix it there. Its much cleaner, and you get a new feel for it.
Captain Ironhelm wrote:templates, baby!
have a template with all of your routing, sidechaining, EQs, and the like already set up and ready to go. A step further you can have your drum sounds selected, common drum patterns laid out, and instruments chosen, which will then allow you to have almost a perfect mix before even starting.
When you actually produce a song, it's as simple as composing the MIDI and arranging!
Magnitude Zero wrote:Having tried this (if I understand you correctly), I really have to disagree with you there. For me there's really no clear line between "the composition stage" and "the mixing stage". When I'm working on mixing I might want to tweak melodies, drums, basslines, whatever. Even if I'm not planning on changing what I've already written, I feel really limited not having that option.
CitricAcid wrote:My advice would be that whenever you are beginning work in a new genre or with a new medium, don't stress over the details right away. Practice by producing something as fast as possible; use broad strokes so to speak. It will be wrong, but that's okay. Then put it aside and start over, again, as fast as possible. This time it will be less wrong. This process will help you work out the kinks quicker.
eery wrote:Mr. Bigglesworth wrote:Compression (although I tend to stay clear of it).
Compression is one of your most important mixing and mastering tools. I'm all for dynamic range, but by not doing compression, you're just missing out.
Mr. Bigglesworth wrote: but I find compression does shit all for me.
I'm not stupid, I steer clear of it because I don't like it.
Mr. Bigglesworth wrote:If you're having a little bit of a creative block, try writing in a scale you don't normally write in.
colortwelve wrote:-It is a good idea to separate composition from mixing, but you don't need to overdo this one. Write out your track in its entirety in one session, then come back later to do both mixing and adding finer sonic details like additional percussive hits, microsamples, and FX. Exporting stems after composition may help, but on the other hand you may have made a mistake when first composing and may need to go back and fix a few notes, or you might need to get rid of that lower octave your piano's playing so that there's room for the bass.
ClaviSound wrote:Collaboration and featuring artists can happen in many ways, but one of the most unhealthy is because it'll make your project more popular. Sure, it might be cool to work with a member of Twenty Ten or Feather or any number of big names, but if you're doing it for the prestige of the name more than the talent that said person brings to the table, then you're doing it for the wrong reason.
Music should be made for music's sake. Don't make it a popularity ploy. If you want to make a song with someone, make it with them and not with that person's fans.
If it seems I'm a bit bitter about this, it's because I've been there before, as one of those many people who want the popularity more than making music. It's a very negative environment in which to create, in my experience, and it can lead down some arrogant, narcissistic paths.
In short, don't do what I did, you'll save yourself a lot of stress and regret.
Freewave wrote:being too critical can make you too critical
Kyoga wrote:If you are not 'pitch perfect' spend some time practicing identifying tones and practice understanding tones. This will help you know which tones fit well with what you're writing and will help your compositional process as a result. it also helps you 'hear' the tones in your head which dramatically improves compositional speed and writing counterpoint.
Jokeblue wrote:You fool. You've doomed the Spam thread to yet another, inevitable :3 spam.
Captain Ironhelm wrote:templates, baby!
have a template with all of your routing, sidechaining, EQs, and the like already set up and ready to go. A step further you can have your drum sounds selected, common drum patterns laid out, and instruments chosen, which will then allow you to have almost a perfect mix before even starting.
When you actually produce a song, it's as simple as composing the MIDI and arranging!
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