Michael Jones
New member
How long, on average, does it take you to compose, perform, record, and mix 1 minute of finished music?
S
schenkerguy
Member
one minute?
Well, from the time I get the inspiration, record a demo, write midi tracks, play real tracks, mix, remix, fix and mix again... I average around 3 months per song. It's just a hobby though, maybe 1 to 3 hours a day.
Well, from the time I get the inspiration, record a demo, write midi tracks, play real tracks, mix, remix, fix and mix again... I average around 3 months per song. It's just a hobby though, maybe 1 to 3 hours a day.
Track Rat
Just Your Average Sized Member
Never the same. Sometimes it seems like I'm tuned into the Cosmic Radio and stuff can pour out fast, like three hours or so from insperation to a CD. More often it takes months for me to feel something is "done".
Chris Shaeffer
Peavey ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 minute of music?! That an odd way to ask the question...
Let's take one of my last 3.5 minute song and round it up to 4 minutes.
Wrote the lyrics in about a half hour. I was inspired, but I was also at work. Took a while to fit it in between tasks.
Wrote the base guitar music in about 2 hours, then another hour to record a couple good takes with different mics. Bass line took another hour- both wiriting and recording.
Vocals took about 2 hours to record- including writing and rewriting the harmony parts. Add another half hour for the leads.
Pepper it all and finish it off without about 6 hours of mixing, enjoying, remixing, jammin around the house while listening, and remixing....
.5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 + .5 + 6= 13 hours = 780 minutes
780 / 4 = 195 minutes per minute of music.
So, yeah, over an hour.
Chris
Let's take one of my last 3.5 minute song and round it up to 4 minutes.
Wrote the lyrics in about a half hour. I was inspired, but I was also at work. Took a while to fit it in between tasks.
Wrote the base guitar music in about 2 hours, then another hour to record a couple good takes with different mics. Bass line took another hour- both wiriting and recording.
Vocals took about 2 hours to record- including writing and rewriting the harmony parts. Add another half hour for the leads.
Pepper it all and finish it off without about 6 hours of mixing, enjoying, remixing, jammin around the house while listening, and remixing....
.5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 + .5 + 6= 13 hours = 780 minutes
780 / 4 = 195 minutes per minute of music.
So, yeah, over an hour.
Chris
Porter
aka WookieMan
I haven't recorded much of my work as yet. I have enough GOOD songs for a CD, however I haven't got around to making one yet.
A lot of my songs vary.. I've been working on some songs for a year, others take me 10-15 minutes for lyrics and a chord structure on my guitar or piano.
One song I did record was just over 3 minutes. It took 15 minutes to write. I had to record 3 instruments and my vocal.. i was coming down with a cold and I needed the vocal's done fast.. so that was done in 2 hours. Mixed in 30 minutes (basically faders up & a little EQ). So all up for that song just under 3 hours. Mind you I know want to re-record the song... That's going to take a bit longer.. many more man hours for arranging the strings.
On the other hand between me and my partner, we wrote a song in about 30 minutes (that was in February) and I'm still working on arranging the instruments (MIDI).. so that would be close to 10 hours + already!
Porter
A lot of my songs vary.. I've been working on some songs for a year, others take me 10-15 minutes for lyrics and a chord structure on my guitar or piano.
One song I did record was just over 3 minutes. It took 15 minutes to write. I had to record 3 instruments and my vocal.. i was coming down with a cold and I needed the vocal's done fast.. so that was done in 2 hours. Mixed in 30 minutes (basically faders up & a little EQ). So all up for that song just under 3 hours. Mind you I know want to re-record the song... That's going to take a bit longer.. many more man hours for arranging the strings.
On the other hand between me and my partner, we wrote a song in about 30 minutes (that was in February) and I'm still working on arranging the instruments (MIDI).. so that would be close to 10 hours + already!
Porter
Michael Jones
New member
I picked "one minute" of finished music because I get calls from time to time to provide music for theatrical backing. Sometimes in the form of whats called "bumpers". Bumpers are typically used to break to commericial on TV, or as score cues in films. These short little bytes of music are typically about one minute in length for score cues, and anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds for a TV bumper, sometimes less.
I'd say on average, one minute of this type of music takes me around 3 hours to compose, record, and mix. Sometimes less.
I was curious how this time compared with my contemporaries.
I'd say on average, one minute of this type of music takes me around 3 hours to compose, record, and mix. Sometimes less.
I was curious how this time compared with my contemporaries.
M
mikeh
New member
I normally budget 10 hours of studio time for a 3- 4 minute song (tracking, mixing, etc.) which equals about 3 1/3 hours per minute of recorded material. However, that's only studio time and that's assuming vocals and music.
For production music (requiring no vocals - or a simple voice over) I would normally anticipate 1-2 hours per minute of recorded material - this is "studio time".
When I do production music, the composition does not take too much time - maybe an hour for a 1-3 minute piece. In part, the "industrial/bumper pieces" seem to come more naturally to me than "songs" and in part I approach this music as "product" rather than as "my baby" meaning I "pound it out" since I'm billing my time.
So I'm right at the 3 hours per minute of music range (for production music) - start to finish. The key for me is to remember it's product and not get too anal.
Now writing songs is a different story. When I write "songs" I can sometimes be inspired and have words, melody and chord structure complete in 15-30 minutes - but then spend hours on intros, endings, and riffs.
If I'm not inspired (and try to "force out a song") it can take days for the basic structure - and several more hours for the arrangement.
I think like many writers, I find that the best stuff (that rare one out of twenty that's any good) has to come naturally - if the magic is not in the air, it is unlikely that you can "make it happen".
For production music (requiring no vocals - or a simple voice over) I would normally anticipate 1-2 hours per minute of recorded material - this is "studio time".
When I do production music, the composition does not take too much time - maybe an hour for a 1-3 minute piece. In part, the "industrial/bumper pieces" seem to come more naturally to me than "songs" and in part I approach this music as "product" rather than as "my baby" meaning I "pound it out" since I'm billing my time.
So I'm right at the 3 hours per minute of music range (for production music) - start to finish. The key for me is to remember it's product and not get too anal.
Now writing songs is a different story. When I write "songs" I can sometimes be inspired and have words, melody and chord structure complete in 15-30 minutes - but then spend hours on intros, endings, and riffs.
If I'm not inspired (and try to "force out a song") it can take days for the basic structure - and several more hours for the arrangement.
I think like many writers, I find that the best stuff (that rare one out of twenty that's any good) has to come naturally - if the magic is not in the air, it is unlikely that you can "make it happen".
WATYF
...happier than you.
I voted for more than an hour, but this question doesn't really apply to me. I never write a song and then immediately record it and mix it. I usually write the song all at once in a period of 10 or 15 minutes (sometimes less). But to record and mix, for me, takes a few hours... cause I suck.. and I gotta do lots of takes and mess with the mix just to get it to sound half-way decent... 
WATYF
WATYF
H
Henri Devill
New member
Writeing the song..With scratch writeing demos and then production demos and then the actual recording....Sh#* ..I take too long.LOL..Really the average is prob. five or six months for a project...Average song about 3.5 mins about seventeen songs or so per project..But I dont have anyone climbing up my ass to finish so there it is
Don
Don
Sennheiser
New member
I didn't answer the poll either. None of the answers were even close for what it takes me.
Sometimes writing is easy. Sometimes like now, I'm doing another edit. Changing a few lines or rymes, re-arranging a chord progression, etc. Smoothing it out.
Recording is a whole 'nuther story. Intros, endings, leads, all have to be written and arranged, practiced, recorded. Sometimes take after take. I don't do as well when the red light is on.
I can sit down a play a piece that I've been playing forever start to finish, not one mistake. When the tape is rolling, I'm lucky to get past the first four bars without screwing it up.
I would say start to finish anywhere from three weeks to three months. It depends on how complicated the work is.
Sometimes writing is easy. Sometimes like now, I'm doing another edit. Changing a few lines or rymes, re-arranging a chord progression, etc. Smoothing it out.
Recording is a whole 'nuther story. Intros, endings, leads, all have to be written and arranged, practiced, recorded. Sometimes take after take. I don't do as well when the red light is on.
I can sit down a play a piece that I've been playing forever start to finish, not one mistake. When the tape is rolling, I'm lucky to get past the first four bars without screwing it up.
I would say start to finish anywhere from three weeks to three months. It depends on how complicated the work is.
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
Most of my songs write themselves. I'll have an idea, either lyrics or music and I'll hum it to myself from time to time and that's the extent of it. I suppose it bounces around in my subconscious. Then all of a sudden, maybe a year later....maybe just a week, the song will come pouring out nearly complete. All I have to do is add a line here or there but it's mostly ready to go when it does come out.
As for recording.....I can't seem to find enough time for that so I really don't know. It's hard to get much done when you can't find more than a few hours a month. Someday I'll get around to putting all this stuff down.
As for recording.....I can't seem to find enough time for that so I really don't know. It's hard to get much done when you can't find more than a few hours a month. Someday I'll get around to putting all this stuff down.
C
chazba
terminally hip
Using the standards that have been set already, somewhere between 4 hrs minimum to forever, depending upon the whims of the muse and the severity of the "RED LIGHT FEVER" attack. Glad to know that I'm not the only one who gets it!!
chazba
chazba
WATYF
...happier than you.
LOL.. ain't that the truth...Sennheiser said:
Every time I hit record I turn into Jo-Jo the idiot circus boy...
WATYF
P.S. Lt. Bob.. you got PM.
WATYF
...happier than you.
O.K.... nevermind.. you don't got PM.. your box is full dude.. clean it oat so I can send you somethin'...
WATYF
WATYF
Michael Jones
New member
You've probably hear this before, but... everytime you play, you should be recording. Never know when magic is going to show up in the studio.Sennheiser said:
Thats probably a real tired old diatribe, but it is true! I used to get complacent(sp) about recording everytime I sat down to play, but after missing a few "magical" moments, I make it a requirement now. I keep my 2 fav mics set up all the time so all I have to do now is flick about 3 switches, and I am up and running!!
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
Hey Watyf....I think I got my inbox fixed, if not check your PM I sent my e-maill address
crawdad
Dammit, Jim, Shut Up!
I've written a few songs in an hour. Most take much longer...much much longer. The only way I think anybody writes anything decent in 30 minutes is if they have been doing it a long time or are zapped by divine inspiration. I've spent 4 hours in a room with two other pro writers and come up with two lines before. Or nothing.
I'm talking writing really well--great melodies, lyrics that are lock tight--no filler crap. I could write you a song in 20 minutes every day. Would it be any good? Probably not!
I'm not even gonna get into production time...thats another can of worms.
I'm talking writing really well--great melodies, lyrics that are lock tight--no filler crap. I could write you a song in 20 minutes every day. Would it be any good? Probably not!
I'm not even gonna get into production time...thats another can of worms.
WATYF
...happier than you.
Yup.. that's how I do aaaall my writing...crawdad said:
Well... actually.. I dunno. That's just how most of mine happen. (30 minutes or less) I find that inspiration is a tangible thing. It's either "there"... or it's not. And when it's there... I don't have to mull over each line and try to figure oat the best way to "phrase" some lyric. It just pops oat. Otherwise... (if it's not "there").. then I can't write to save my life...
I'll go back sometimes and redo a word or two here and there.. but for the most part.. once I drop em down.. they're finished.Lately, though, I've found that some songs come as the result of an "historical" collaboration. I've written a lot of stuff (since '96).. and sometimes I really like the verse of a song but the chorus doesn't do a thing for me (or vice versa) so every once in a while, I'll be writing a good chorus, and I won't be able to think of a verse to go with it and then I'll realize... "Hey.. there's that one verse from that old song that would fit perfect with this chorus" and since I hated the original chorus in the first place, I have no problem scrapping it and turning the old verse into part of a new song.
Anywhoo.. that's just my experience.. I don't know a God Blessed thing aboot "songwriting", as far as any kind of "official" or "educated" method. I just write down whatever comes oat.
WATYF
K
kylosius
I Like Rusty Spoons
since i don't record very well, if im on a roll, i can write a song in less than an hour (ok maybe 30 mins), then record it live first (to get everything right) thats about 3 mins (give or take on song length), then re-record guitar to get it better sounding and all down is about 20 mins, and vocals are usually done about 3 times (one on each track to pick one good one) is about 30 mins between fucking up and re-recording, then recording a back up vox track is about 10 mins (usually only 2 takes) then i might try a fake bass track or another guitar. that about 20 mins to get right.
so all in all
113 mins per song
so all in all
113 mins per song
badgas
New member
I've been working on Woolton Chruch for ten months. I'm green as spinach crap at recording. I find it very techie and very confusing. I have to redo, redo then I finally understand some of what I did. To be honest, I'm not the brightest bulb in the box.
I have an MP3 of Woolton Church, it's crude, but the best I can do for the moment. I've put that project on hold because I'm frustrated with it.
I'm now working on another song and hopefully it'll be a bit quicker. I'm aiming for seven months here.
I have an MP3 of Woolton Church, it's crude, but the best I can do for the moment. I've put that project on hold because I'm frustrated with it.
I'm now working on another song and hopefully it'll be a bit quicker. I'm aiming for seven months here.