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bitl3gs

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Posts posted by bitl3gs

  1. no paulstretch used on this one, but I do use that for layering in textures in some other works.  elements were isolated into individual channels, several layers of slowly evolving fx chains on each, and tempos stretched into varying speeds to change the melody phrasing with the key changes in the arppegiating synth.  It sounds more like this with something like Paulstretch or other standard timestretch.

    I don't drastically change much of the original in most cases, just trying to make things more atmospheric but still nostalgic.  So technically you could call it more of an edit or sound upgrade if you want, I could care less what it's labeled as, as long as I like how it sounds.

  2. Do you have any credibility to your attitude on improving? It seems like you're saying a lot of things without evidence to back up your claims. I would've stayed quiet, but since you're so insistent on disagreeing with Snappleman (arguably one of the most helpful people to my music making attitude), I seriously question if you really are sure of what you're saying, or if you're simply saying it just to sound progressive and "liberating". You're also making it sound as if personal style and comparisons are mutually exclusive things; that's pretty damn naive.

    You can doubt my credibility all you want, and this isn't really the space to rattle off my accomplishments, and it wouldn't really back up my claims anyway. Just because I disagree with some of what he's saying doesn't mean he's completely wrong or anything. I'm just sharing what has worked for me personally when dealing with discouragement, and how that particular mindset doesn't really fit in my view of artistic productivity.

    I guess when I'm in my creative space, I'm trying not think so much about real life. I'm reacting to my instruments, sequencers, whatever, just making music. not some genre of music, not "intelligent" decisions, or cultural conditioning, or how many plays on soundcloud I'll get, any of that noise. Just MUSIC. That's creative freedom for me. Call that naive if you want, but I'm having fun in my studio without a bunch of other crap getting in the way. Pure focus. It's not easy to achieve but when it does, the music writes itself.

    Now this I can get behind:

    Originally Posted by SnappleMan

    You win the race by having an open mind and understanding that you have an infinite amount to learn.

    Totally agree there. And I would add that you might also realize that there is an infinite amount of sound in this world, and you can find beauty in the most obscure frequencies.

    8 bit sunset I'm out!

    ninjaga2-34.gif

  3. It's not about comparing yourself to other people or their work, it's about comparing yourself to what you believe is a level you can't reach.

    Sorry, personally I still can't agree with that. This seems like you'd be oppressing your own potential. Those levels are all in your head. In the end, you'll always just have YOUR level, which is some combination of your natural talent and your determination.

    But to each their own of course. If that what drives you to improve, don't let me stop you :)

    Now I haven't been around this forum for long, but it seems like there's this inherent culture revolving a lot around meeting certain standards and winning competitions. These can be fun and productive exercises, but I think some of you also might find it liberating to approach music making without worrying that x is better than y. Just something to consider for anyone feeling discouraged!

  4. I guess I kinda ignore the bad parts of comparing oneself to someone else, so I don't really feel bad in any noticeable way when I do it. :)

    Cool I think that's the crucial part, what I was getting at anyway. I just think it's important to have a positive mindset about it, in general too, not just with music. It pains me to see people stressing out or getting depressed or anxious about something that should be simply FUN to do.

    And if you like ambient, you really should try doing some field recording sometime. You can even just use your phone or something. I think you'll find creating your own soundscapes with recordings that you've personally experienced to be a very rewarding effort. You can also take those sounds into your more electronic beat based production as well and get some really organic and unique textures in your mix.

  5. Hey Timaeus, I'm seeing your points for sure, I think we just have different core philosophies on the appreciation of music and sound design. Which is absolutely ok and normal :) I know I probably had a similar mentality when I was your age.

    I still think that this is a more positive approach to self improvement: Instead of putting effort and stress into comparing yourself or your music to something/someone else, just sit back and listen, absorb new music and sounds. Analyze something out of your typical wheelhouse. Experiment with new sound design techniques. Go out into the woods with a field recorder. Everything you hear and experience can be an indirect influence on what you compose, and whatever you are creating is a combination of all those ideas. The end result will be undeniably yours, whether it appeals to anyone else or not. In the end, music is not just data, or a sound wave, a vibration. It's how you experience it and how it resonates within you.

  6. well I'm in the mindset that good music does not have to be "perfectly" produced by any kind of standards. You can still get enjoyment of some overcompressed trashy loop coming out of a casio keyboard if you just open your mind to it. Or there can lot of introspection to be gained from listening to harsh noise. Sometimes you need to look past the EQ and just try to listen to the story the music is telling.

    One person's trash is another's treasure I guess. Honestly the criteria Timaeus listed as sensible seems like a formula for elevator music to me.

    I guess the main part of SnappleMan's statement that irks me is "comparing yourself". I think it's a waste of time. One song isn't universally "better" than another, it's just different. Everyone has different tastes. I do agree that you shouldn't have to always settle for whatever your output is, of course you should find satisfaction in discovering new ways to clarify whatever feelings you are trying to translate into sound. But at the same time you should have some confidence in your vision and OWN that shit. Otherwise you'll always be second guessing yourself and cutting yourself short.

  7. Always compare yourself to the very best. Work until you get there because you CAN get there with enough practice. The only hard part (aside from decades of relentless practice and study) is to make sure you're practicing and learning correctly, so make sure you get your information from multiple sources and study the things that are universally accepted as "right".

    sorry but I would strongly disagree with this, unless you are striving for commercial success of some kind, riding the coattails of whatever's fashionable...

    Just be yourself, blazing your own trail is immensely more satisfying. You should always be looking for inspiration in other music and seeking knowledge about different ways to do things, but the only "right" thing to do is what feels right to you.

  8. A lot of good suggestions in here. I'll add:

    Be confident in yourself, and try to find practical ways to improve what you think is lacking in your production skills. a lot of that is simply practice and experimentation, research, developing listening skills. This strive for improvement should probably be there for as long as you are a musician.

    Most importantly, HAVE FUN. Being discouraged every time you sit down to work on something is simply not productive and those feelings will probably translate to depressing music.

    And don't worry too much about unfinished stuff, that happens to everyone and is pretty healthy anyway. If a track is not coming together how you want it to, archive it somewhere and move on to a different project. Someday you might have new ideas or techniques at your disposal to work with it again.

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