One [or more, as necessary] Sentence Music-Tip Dump

[UnderpΩny]

Save a new version of your project file before you start a new stage. That way you can easily revert if you fuck something up.

[Kryptage]

Never write without a purpose.

[bartekko]

Always write without a purpose.

[CGEyeGuy]

Play what you like to hear, not what others like to hear.

[TheSunAndTheRainfall]

If you think a melody, a chord progression, or an entire section of your song don't sound good enough, or like they fit anywhere, don't be afraid to scrap it; it can sometimes be liberating.

[cyrricky]

Not quite a music tip, but try to keep a bottle/glass of cool, fresh water in your studio at all times.

[randomblockfilms]

Don't let stupid little things distract you.

Make music to express, not impress.
(meaning don't make music to impress anyone but you. make music to express yo thoughts and feelings)

[CGEyeGuy]

Try something different. Sometimes you may not be able to incorporate it in the song you are currently working on, but you might be able to use it in another.

[Navron]

Plagued with the common issue of getting sick of your song before you finish?

Well, if you're writing with VSTs and MIDI tracks, transpose the song to a different key (make sure you don't do it to the drums). In a new key the song has a refreshing sound to it.

Halfway through song, sick of it?
Transpose MIDI to another key.
Finish song.
Bring back to original key.
Not sick of song anymore

[PrincessAddictia]

Only use presets for sounds you can create on your own and learn to build your own sounds from scratch.

[TaisiKP]

Don't let your instruments fight; make sure the frequencies are properly represented and you place things in the panorama correctly.

[PrincessAddictia]

Never let haters drag you down. Be motivated to proof them wrong!

[firlalaith]

Save often. You don't know when the power is going to go out, or your computer crash.

[bartekko]

Who said you always have to upload the original mix of a song?

If the song's missing something, export all the midi clips and .wavs and remix it.

[[voodoopony]]

Never try to sound like anyone and become disappointed and quit music when you don't, this is a method Nature™ uses to weed out the weak.

[[voodoopony]]

Also, by all means try your best to avoid that ugly, crisp and clean DAW sound and learn how to utilize dirt into your production, not mud.

[Random111223]

Bumping this, we can't let a good thread like this drop

Oh, and here's (an obvious?) tip for vocal samples; slightly equalizing the higher frequencies down from the sample (+3,5k hz) will soften the annoying "s" sounds. This ofc won't be needed if you have a good sample, but i often find this helpful.

[bartekko]

the first thing to do when making a synth sound: add reverb. It will prevent you from thinking it's flat unless it really is

[the4thImpulse]

EQ every drum sound you use...
-Hi Hats I high pass at atleast 1kHz
-Snare I high pass around 450Hz
this gives you much more room for your bassline, lead, and kick drums to punch through the mix.

[Wintergreen]

If you can't make something new, change the view.
--Iron Will

(If you're stuck writing, just changing your location might do the trick. I work on a laptop, so I can do this, but I've found it's a lot easier to write and work on music in new places, like the coffeeshop.)

[randomblockfilms]

if you are stressing out cause your song doesn't sound as good as you want, instead of trying to make the best song ever, take a break and try to make the cheeziest and corniest song you can. dont make it sound bad, just make it sound funny.

[Trixie]

Never write without a purpose.

Always write without a purpose.

My best, completed songs have always come from writing with an overall idea of what I want to achieve and what I want to express.

However, I've learned the most from simply sitting down and writing...anything.

I agree with both of these fully.

[LunchBagMusic]

Write away from your computer with a pen and paper.

(Focus purely on desired sound and form, and don't tweak or experiment until you finish the song in pencil). It's much easier to read off you notes then to recall memories or to find creative flow when you're searching for that 'one VST' or worrying about trivial things (idunno what you people with your Albetons and FL's consider trivial). You could use pictures, words, even lines and arrows to show change in pan, volume, etc.)

[Spirit]

Always have about 6 send tracks ready to go, generally a short verb, long verb, short and long delay, compression and overdrive

[Spark]

Your platform (DAW - Computer and Software combination) for creating your music in is not as important as the basic skills needed to manipulate your musical choices. There are other sites that carry on the DAW evangelical debate - I do not care for it at all: if it works for you use it, if it doesn’t, then don’t use it. The rest is religion.

I got it from here: http://www.bandcoach.org/drumProg/index.html