finishing tracks

[ojaymtl]

anybody have solutions on how to finish tracks??? I'm at a standstill point here.. I keep throwing together tracks with about 8 channels of midi content.. usually i only get one row of midi loops going and then just get blocked.. All the sounds fit well together, but the project just turns into one big repetitive loop. its so frustrating to get stuck at this point all the time. sometimes i try to record into timeline mode and try to get a beginning with sounds gradually getting introduced into the mix. but eventually the songs builds up to repetition again and goes nowhere. i think trying to follow the traditional way of building tracks is screwing me up. any tips ???

[Tarekith]

Try this:

http://tarekith.com/assets/arranging.html

And this:

http://tarekith.com/assets/transitions.html

[ojaymtl]

thanks !!

[AceLuby]

A big part for me is to get that loop over to the arrangement view as soon as possible to map out how I want the track to generally go. Where in the track do I want my drops, the buildups, the teardowns, etc... After I get that, then I work on the little things like transitions, swells, ambient noises, extra glitches, and general ear candy... Then it's tweaking and automation until I get something that's decent. Much of this I learned from the blogs previously posted.

The big thing for me is to not worry so much about the finished product, but to concentrate on the process and try to learn something each time and take that to the next track. That way when I compare it to another track and it sucks I don't get so down because in the end its not whether your good or bad, but if you're getting better and making strides in the right direction.

[ojaymtl]

This is great advise. The only thing is that I'm working with APC40 and i find it's designed to work well in building block mode in ableton. Working in the timeline mode kinda doesn't take ad antage of the grid of the controller . But great tips none the less. I'm gonna build with your tips to try and get further in the progression of finishing a track

[AceLuby]

This is great advise. The only thing is that I'm working with APC40 and i find it's designed to work well in building block mode in ableton. Working in the timeline mode kinda doesn't take ad antage of the grid of the controller . But great tips none the less. I'm gonna build with your tips to try and get further in the progression of finishing a track

I use my APC for effects, live work, and sketching ideas. It doesn't help a whole lot when you're trying to finish tracks.

[ojaymtl]

yea i agree. tweaking effects in Live with the device control section of the apc40, is such a useful part of this controller

[mayabong]

Try this:

http://tarekith.com/assets/arranging.html

And this:

http://tarekith.com/assets/transitions.html

Great articles. I tried filling the timeline up with the my loops then using the subtractive sequencing method. It worked awesome and I finished in record time. Its so easy to get caught up in the loops and its very important to move as fast as possible before you get sick of the song. After a while you don't know what sounds good or not, and it starts to become a chore.

I have about 80 songs that I have in session that I haven't put into arrangement yet. Its just so fun to start something new. Can be a problem though. Peace.

[ojaymtl]

good info funken. mostly minimal electro Im creating

[ojaymtl]

yea love the tech house too! so hard to catagorize music these days. sometimes i'll even start creating some idm.. i havn't found my sound yet..usually i'll get like a 32 long synth bar loop going with some various sounds..i don't really belive in using other people sounds (audio loops).. so i either sample audio from my hardware the (nord lead,dave smith or korg electribe) or choose from some vst instuments i have and apply effects. usually i'll get satisfied with how balanced the sounds all fit and then get stuck. i think its cause i have no knowledge in music theory..also i kinda think that i really got stuck when i started reading about how to create music..like that your best to start with drum parts with 4/4 beats and then intergate bass parts. Like the more i learn whats the right way to cunstruct a song, the more its killing my creative juices.

[jessemiller]

Honestly, I think this is one of the downfalls of ableton. Yes, there are ways around it, but in DAWs like Protools you are forced to think in a more linear nature that is more conducive to arrangement. Ableton is great for loops, but I would suggest printing your tracks and moving into another DAW if possible to arrange, mix and master.

[Tarekith]

You can just move everything to arrange view too. I almost never use Session view in the studio, sticking strictly to Arrange. I that sense (linear arranegment), Live is no different from other DAWs.

[AceLuby]

You can just move everything to arrange view too. I almost never use Session view in the studio, sticking strictly to Arrange. In that sense (linear arranegment), Live is no different from other DAWs.

Yup, I was just about to post this. Linear is pretty easy to do in Live.