what do you do?

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Had three days off to record some of my own stuff. Three days. Down to one (tomorrow) plus a couple hours. Haven't done much of anything.

Ever get to the point where you think you're sick of your own stuff? What do you do? I'd been looking forward to this weekend for six weeks...

Do you just push forward and do it? I can't stand the thought of cueing up the one particular song in Cubase and listening to it one more time. I imagine some will say get out and take a walk... whatever... but that's all I've been doing for the past six months ;) Think it's time to get another can of turd polish ;)

I'd really love to finish this song, since it's pretty darned close to finished -- just needs lead vox and some guitar. I hate thinking of letting this free time go, wasting it, and the song still not being finished :rolleyes:

Oh well. At least it's supposed to be fun :p Not like getting a root canal :D


Chad
 
Hey Chad,

I know the feeling, believe me! Since you have a day left, though, I'd power through and at least lay SOMETHING for those vocals and guitars. Then you'll have a more or less complete project to mix over the next 6 months. :D

Better to just get it done and redo it later if you really are completely uninspired. Chances are you can finish it and you'll happier having it done than leaving it hanging.

It least that's how I feel.

Good luck,
Chris
 
Thanks Chris.

That's probably what will happen. Did that last time I had a few days, and the vox sucked -- all 30 takes :D It's good to hear someone else has been there.

Maybe it's that concept of sub-conciously fearing that you have to get it perfect, so you make any excuse not to work on recording :( Producing other people sure *seems* easier :p


Chad
 
I suffered from massive burn-out the last time I took on a large recording project. The reason was that my approach was all wrong. I thought I'd record all the drums to all the songs first, then the guitars, etc. It was my first major undertaking and it was the stupidest way to accomplish it.

Now I space it out in a staggered fashion, with each consecutive group of sessions on a different song and instrument. For example, I may have just the vocals left to record on one song, while the next song needs a solo and vocals, while a third song needs solo, vocals, and bass, etc. Doing it this way allows me to keep a short enough attention span on the task at hand without it being so overwhelming. Plus, the next session will be a different instrument on a different song, so I have something to look forward to.

I suggest trying to get another session on a different song started, then at some point go back to the original work. You may have enough motivation to finish the older song so you can continue with the newer stuff.

Cy
 
Just ease up on yourself.

If you're talking about a highly concieved original work, then maybe give "Quadrophenia II" a rest, and do a couple of scratch covers, just for fun. You know, something that's fun but does not demand as much of you as your "Quadrophenia II" does.

It might help bring the basic fun back into the recording process.

I don't know any musician or member that does not think he sucks or does not rate with other musicians or home recordists. Sometimes, like in my case, it's true, but often it's just self defeating negativism, with no basis in reality.

Anyway, no matter how we all collectively suck, we all have something unique to offer, even if it's a polished turd.

To get a better idea of what I mean, see www.nowhereradio/davemania/singles

... or reference just about anything WEBCYAN ever posted in the MP3 forum, especially my favorite, "mytcbycupjustfell'. Anyone who's heard this gem will know what I mean, and will probably feel a lot better about himself.;)
 
Cyrokk said:
I suffered from massive burn-out the last time I took on a large recording project. The reason was that my approach was all wrong. I thought I'd record all the drums to all the songs first, then the guitars, etc. It was my first major undertaking and it was the stupidest way to accomplish it.

Now I space it out in a staggered fashion, with each consecutive group of sessions on a different song and instrument.
Cy
Click to expand...

Cyrokk, that is the approach I use now and it provides me with
variety! I too ALWAYS started a song with the drum tacks followed by the bass and after a while it got to be so monotonous and mundane that all my jammies started to sound alike which bored and frustrated me! I now record basic kick/snare-click track,throw on harmonic trx followed by rhythm git or melodic track ,bass and whatever always switchingthe order on ech new jammie I record! Variety was what I needed and this so far was the best solution so far!
Yo part-i-pants, MOTIVATION is also what may be lacking in your
drive to complete your songs! The motivation I get is listening
to c/d recordings of bassists Stanley Clarke,Miroslav Vitous,Will Lee:guitarist such as Jeff Golub,Al DiMeola,horns by Brecker Bros,
and the like! In other words, throw on some your fave jammies
that you like,listen to the performance,the recording,mix and let your mind relax! Upon rejuvenation, go into your stoo-dee-o and
lay down some of the phattest trax you've ever done!
Just Do It!!
Peace
Mr.Q
 
Thanks everyone for the replies.

Cyrokk: Yep. That was the other thing... there are other songs to work on. Or, you can always start something new -- get in that creative frame of mind and write something :) Thanks. That's a good idea.

Reel Person: LOL "quadrophenia" hardly! :) Just a 6-year-old polished turd I just have to re-record once and for all... you know -- THAT song. The song you started recording on a 4-track... then an 8-track... then 16... this song will be done once and for all after this marathon :rolleyes: :p And thanks... I'll check out your stuff... probably the next rock genius ;) Another good comparison I've been using for two years now is garageband.com... just found out about this BBS -- and it is :cool: :cool: :cool: !

MISTERQCUE: Don't know you well enough yet to call you my brutha from anutha mutha, but look forward to doin just dat ;) Motivation is right! Thank god for NIKE and "Just Do It". That phrase helps me get through some of the boring sht ;);) Thanks for the words! :D


Chad
 
Same here...

I also had three un-interrupted days to record and get some shit done..... I have accomplished nothing...

Instead of beating my head against my mixer and forcing myself to get something done, I walked away..

Three days and I touched the studio maybe for an hour.


Sometimes you just have to walk away.
 
For the last 4 days, I haven't done much else than working on a song. The deadline is tomorrow. It's for a local compilation cd and I didn't want to miss that opportunity.
Thursday I started from scratch with 10 lines of lyrics that I wrote on tuesday. Spent most of the time getting the guitar part merely good enough in cool edit pro (I'm "just" a bass player who picked up the guitar more seriously about three months ago..), and being embarrassed about my own vocals (luckily, a female singer already said she wanted to help me out and she will tomorrow).

I've got it almost recorded now. Looking back I can say that in those dozens of hours there were just a few minutes of pure excitement.

It took me ages to find a nice melody for the chorus.
When I had something that I thought was ok, I picked up my bass, let the "tape" roll and let my fingers lose at the chorus. The first take had some mistakes. The next attempt... Well, I couldn't believe what I heard when I listened it back for the first time. "Did I just do that?".

In just a few minutes I got the song working.

What am I trying to say here?
Writing and recording your own material can really be a pain and wear you out. But those few moments.... That's what makes it all worth it. But many of you will already know that, I'm sure.

I don't complain. Tonight I'm a happy man. I'm proud of myself. Some might say that it is a stupid song. I just don't care. :)
 
I've got the surefire antidote to boredom in the studio: YARDWORK!

Like the man said, sometimes you just have to walk away, and collect your thoughts.

No doubt, we all have original jams that are sometimes embarassing to listen back to, but they do offer other people a glimpse into our unique original ideas and techniques, however awful and embarassing the song or recording may be,... or may seem. Sometimes, I'm sure, that what we consider 'embarassing', some other members might think is 'interesting'.

Also, there's basically a point where enough is enough, and six years is an extraordinarily long time to be developing something. Probably only Steely Dan can top that,... or maybe Meatloaf or Boston.

The self imposed pressure to succeed is often stifling, so IMO the best thing is to just lighten up,... or maybe just light up.

I still want people to search the archives and listen to WEBCYAN's "mytcbycupjustfell", and believe me, it will throw a whole different perspective on things.

Oh, and the second gratuitous mention of my own stuff, at www.nowereradio.com/davemania

======

4 more antidotes to boredom in the studio:
1) new gear
2) bongloads
3) strippers
4) sex.



;)
 
just get it done! .. once it's done, it's over!!!

As was mentioned above, you can always just noodle around and see if you can come up with some new concepts .

Before you know it, you'll be right back at it.

Music is hard work .. but damn it, above all, it should be fun. Add some variety... do something new.

And if you're worried about that song not being finished .. no biggy. I'd rather have three unfinished tunes than just one unfinished one! You're obviously not in the mood to finish it. Create something else.

Yuu'll get the feeling again.. and perhaps next week you'll finish it.
 
Reel,

That's the problem :( It's been the walking away that's the problem. I've gone and bought gear, and done everything there with possible exception of the sex :D Sooner or later, you just have to "just do it". Gotta get to the bottom of what the problem is... trying to make everything perfect the first time, or something. You know how it is... you'd love to have recorded something, but the thought of doing it makes you feel like... procrastinating. Figured some of the more gifted people here would know how to break this urge to procrastinate. ;);)

Ah... no more whining. Actually worked on some other songs, and that seems o.k. This song will get done soon. :) tvaillan is right. Just do something, then the urge to finish will eventually happen :p


Chad
 
Yeah, I know how it is. I've had long dry spells between my creative spurts.

For me, it's not necessarily procrastination, but I'm full of energy and ideas in the morning before work, and after work I'm all spent, with no energy at all.

Still, despite it all, I try to get hands on action with the instruments and recorders as often as possible, if not every day, just for a little informal plinking around.

Like I said, many days my energy's spent before I get started.;)
 
There you go. at least you got something done.

Personal motivational rant to myself:

.. hey as long as you don't find yourself whacking off on the couch watching reruns on a perfectly good weekend day wondering why your 'shit' never came together, blaming it on your 'lazy ass' bassist or something like that. The motivated homerecer/musician IS part of the brains AND a good part of the talent behind the tunes.

Without the motivated homerecer/musician the whole enchilada is toast. At least the motivated homerecer/musician can come up with skeleton tunes, and cool passages and knows how to put things together and place them in a mix. At least the homerecer/musician had the patience to save up for the DAW!

Who cares if they're 'polished' or not, or have MIDI drums, bad bass and off tempo guitar!

So what if the motivated homerecer/musician has 12 unfinished peices. At least he/she actually made music!

And if this motivated homerecer/musician has what it takes to make most or part of a tune .. then irrespective of lazy bassists who only show up once a month, pain in the back, small computer monitor and drummer who don't show up half the time, then eventually the motivated homerecer/musician will get things done. Hey all that time waiting on other people is good time to really get into some post-processing and serious mixing and what not.

Even when by the time the motivated homerecer/musician has 30 unfinished works that the bassist and drummer manage to muster up their tracks, at least then the stuff will be done and then they'll have tons of more stuff to work on.


Now i need to go to bed, i've got 2 tracks to remake tomorrow and I'm working on a new tune. Wooo!
 
Vocal's sucking after 30 takes...

What sort of song is it?

Is it that it's becoming a 'chore' to get the song done that the vocals suck? You may need to be in the right mood or let it go for a while (6 months or more) and come back to it.

I'm working on a song.. which is the only one I've worked on in my spare time. Lyrics were written in February, basic chords also. We (my fiance and myself) worked on the intro and first verse together. The other day I had a spare hour and scored the whole Chorus.. I hadn't planned on doing it when I did and then the bridge I worked out one night in my head and yesterday I spent 15 minutes and wrote the score up then. I'm mostly working with Strings.. which I find a little tedious, however when you know what you want you can get it quickly.

The song is our first dance.. We have just under 5 months to get it done. I'm going to write the basic MIDI track to my recorder then record the vocals and lay the rest of the tracks down at my leisure.

This is the song that I want to get done so I can work on my other works... Getting the basics down on this song gives me time to work on my other stuff.

Porter
 
Just think of the unfinished gems rummaging around in Bob Dylan's head,...

or the hundreds of songs he must have written that were just throwaways!;)
 
I'm finding the biggest stumbling block to productivity is, for me, these damn addictive bulletin boards!:eek:
 
Good thread; I started a similar one in the mixing/mastering section of the board.

My take is this: if you have only a one or two more things to track, it's probably best to get something down, but understanding that you may not keep it. This way you'll have a completed piece to listen to for a few days and work on it all in your head.

I find this works well for vocal parts especially. Listening to the track, I'll sing it to myself and find spots where I could do something different and/or better. Then when I get a moment I'll concentrate on the one part that needs to be re-cut.

I find, generally, that when you're doing original music after a while burn-out does set in, especially if you're doing everything yourself. It depends on what's going on in your life, as well, because at times creating the music can be a sanctuary from the mundane world, and other times the music becomes the mundane. It's the razor's edge, so to speak.

christiaan put a finger on a fine point: it's those brief moments when you break through into a higher level of being that make it all worth it. "Basically, I no longer work for anything but the sensation I have while working." - Albert Giacometti (sculptor) This really sums it up for me.

http://www.soundclick.com/thefoolintheattic
 
Re: Vocal's sucking after 30 takes...

Porter said:
What sort of song is it?
Click to expand...
Kind of a little funky rock tune, not too loud. More edge than pop/rock.
Is it that it's becoming a 'chore' to get the song done that the vocals suck?
Click to expand...
Nah. It's cuz I keep dickin' with the levels in the cans! Too soft, and I go flat. Too loud, and I push the air out of my lungs -- instead of singing naturally. It's probably smart to keep the level low, then sing quieter... at least you don't clench your stomach muscles in that case. I'd have to experiment with singing levels :rolleyes:

You may need to be in the right mood or let it go for a while (6 months or more) and come back to it.
Click to expand...
Actually, I love the song... the 4-track version recorded 6 years ago still gives me goosebumps; that's probably why I'm retracking it :) Once and for all, give the song its due.

Good luck on your stuff, Port.


Chad
 
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