With all of my stuff I've posted, it's all been recorded live. With a drum track or not, I recorded it live on the spot.

So with the suggestions of my Org musician family, I've been trying to make things sound more polished/complete.

The problem is that my stuff now sounds forced and mechanical. It's as though playing with a digital drum track and putting down one track at a time is killing the creativity. It doesn't help that I'm trying to get a little funkier (it's where I'm going musically) but that's not the issue. Then again, maybe I'm being hyper-critical and it sounds alright.

Anyone else ever feel this way after they listen to the final product?


I'm just curious before I delete another song.

Slave2daGroove said:

Think of it this way S2G. First, you learn the basics, without any rules, and you run wild in the forest.

And then you learn the basic rules of recording, and at first it totally cramps your free reign, it forces you to plan ahead, think about your steps, anticipate your actions.

After awhile, that kind of thinking comes naturally, or at least it's second nature so you're able to map out the same kind of things you did originally but now you recognize what you were doing.

Take photography as an example. When you first get into it, you get a disposable camera, or one of those point and shoot numbers. You start getting a little artsy and taking cool pictures of buildings, trees, bugs, whatever.

But soon, you notice that the little camera you have doesn't put out the high quality photos you see in them photo magazines. You check into it, and sure enough, them photo mags are using cameras that are big-league cameras.

So you get a 35mm slr with 2 or 3 lenses, a camera bag, 5 different types of film.

And suddenly, you're not able to go from shooting a bug to a tree to a building. You have to anticipate the kind of shot you're going to take, and use the right film, the right lens, maybe a tripod, extra lighting... and the spur of the moment photos are shot. Your stuff looks like boring stilted photos.

BUT, then after time, you figure out ways to get the photo you want, when you want, by planning ahead, and you learn which lens works best with whatever.

Get my long-winded point? The open-ended jamming you used to do still has a place... it's like doodling in a notebook... you listen to the jams, pick out the good stuff, and work it into a song. Then you map out the song, then you record it.

I understand your frustration. The more you work at it, the more you'll be able to fly OVER the technicalities and electronica of it, to produce something that will blow away your old recordings.

And then, you'll want to get real drumming in there... it's just like the old saying about learning, "first there is a mountain, then there isn't a mountain, and then there is a mountain".

Starts out hard, gets easy until you want to get really good at it.

Here is what I do. I lay down a drum track first and quantize it to be exact. Then, as I add tracks, sometimes, I play along on the 4 track with a plugin instrument like a guitar, bass, another synth sound from the keyboard that I can't use in sequence mode, etc.

I suggest that you first just lay a basic drum track down, or use a metronome that you can later take out. Then, just jam along, and use your computer software to quantize your plugin music so that it is more on time with the original metronome time. Or, if you don't have a computer to do the mixing and editing, just redo it until you get it on time.


Peace,
Sarah

I cant compose anything good if I force it so I always avoid doing so. Thats why things have been so quiet for new cloud9 mission songs, I seem to have to be in the mood.

SexyPeach said:

I thought yo name was suzie??

OTAN-
Thanks for your analogy, it really helps me feel like I'm not just trippin.

Sexy Peach -
That's a good idea too. It will take away the stiffness that I'm feeling when I'm trying to get it perfect.

Lewis-
Thanks for responding.

Thanks a million, the Org musicians are the best!

Slave2daGroove said:

You are probably just being hyper-critical. I think if you leave it alone for a day, (sometimes longer), you come back to it with fresh ears and you can edit it better. That's what I do. I get overload with a song, then I come back in a few days and I automatically can hear things that need to be done. I guess that kinda goes more for editing, once your basic track is already recorded.

Cloud is right, you gotta wait for inspiration sometimes. That's just the way it goes I guess. I can see how you could miss the energy and interaction of jaming, but songs are not jams. Otan's analogy is a great way to look at it. Unfortunately, we do have to map songs out and think about how they are going to develop over the length of the song and how we are going to keep the listener interested. It is frustrating, but you have to be patient and wait for inspiration to hit.

Don't dwell on a song for too long. I usually will play what I got so far for a song and try a few things. If nothing magical happens in 15-30 minutes, I move on. I don't really time myself though. I'm just guessing. Basically if something doesn't happen soon enough I figure it ain't gonna happen. Even if you don't put anything down, at least you listened to it. I sometimes get ideas for songs on the way home from work or wherever, because it's in my subconcious, working itself out.

heres me "ima make a song, shit!"

then i just sample sum random snare, then just place the kickdrum anywhere and then play it and then see what i can do with it.

Just start off randomly. very good things happen. well 4 me at least.

paisleypark4 said:

That approach works too PP4 - but - just wait til you swap out your current app with some $3000 keyboard, $500 drum machine, $5000 program - and suddenly, the spontaneousness of it all kinda disappears.

VinaBlue said:

Thanks Vina. All good suggestions/truths.

I've decided to step back and write some stuff with the guitar and then take it to the recording level.

paisleypark4 said:

Everyone has their own way. I've tried the random way but it doesn't work for me. I just need to work with a friend and work on songs that way or sit with the guitar. Again, step away from the recording process for a bit.

Thanks for posting.

otan said:

yeah u r rite, i would b the same way.

And Slave, maybe sum inspiration in ur life can conjure something. Like a breakup, or a makeup, or somebody pissing u off..those always make good songs..lol

Ohhh, if only I had recorded every snippet or idea that I had been singing in the car or in the shower! Unfortunately, all of those seem to get lost.

cloud9mission said:

By the way, cloud 9 mission is one of lots of the stuff I've listened to in this musicians forum, and I'm totally impressed. Thanks for the free funk all!!!

zachypoo said:

Thanx man. Glad you enjoy the music

Slave2daGroove: heres my theory on writters block & forced creation. Ive always found that if I want something to come out (a good song) I have to put something in (listening). Ive not been able to get a good tune going for a month or so but during that time, ive been downloading loads of inspiring music & have been listening intently. It works for me man, try it