for how long can you work on a track?

radiance · Post by **radiance** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:44 am

I started a track in late dec/early jan, and decided to finish it tonight. With no luck, I think. I've been modifying it for 3months (damn!!!), but now I'm just fed up with it. The arrangement, the mixing, the effects, I can't hear none of it anymore.
For how long can you keep working on your tracks? One day? One week? One month? One year? :s

Here s track, if you wanna listen to it:
http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1S01 ... XPSE60I78W

ILTK · Post by **ILTK** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:19 am

Useually if I work on something for more than a day or two and can't make anything work I just ditch it and start something else, no sense wasting time on it.

All the songs I done that ended up being good, one thing just led naturally to the other, if I feel I have to 'work' on it then it's not fun to do and after a while I just start to hate it

fsk · Post by **fsk** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:27 am

Im in a similar state,

I find that I create a nice sequence of strings or a bassline, then I work it up, and its like ok... where do I go now!? ... and it just ends up being the same thing for 5 minutes, and I cant work on it, I get stuck and I dunno where to go next etc... its very annoying

anyone got any tips, how to move on into a chorus frmo a verse etc

mike holiday · Post by **mike holiday** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:35 am

if you get sick of it put it away, then if your in a slump go through all those you put aside! some will sound fresh and get you full attention again

amigo · Post by **amigo** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:32 am

If you have worked on it for that long there must be something in it that you like. Put it aside and come back to it fresh after working on something else. Alternatively you could offer it up for collaboration to see if anyone can fill in the missing pieces.

amigo

polyslax · Post by **polyslax** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:49 am

Mike's got the right idea.

Everything I work on gets saved initially to a folder called 'Current'. When I complete a track the rendered song and all related files get moved to a monthly folder, i.e. Feb06, Mar06 etc.

So, my 'Current' folder is filled with incomplete tracks. I recently went fishing in it and pulled out a semi-finished track from November of last year, worked on it for about a week and finished it up.

Straight through, I'll often spend anywhere from 1-4 weeks on a track.

RobStrobe · Post by **RobStrobe** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 11:19 am

oh hell...i know this...but usually if there is no vibe after the first day....i delete the non elementary things keep the drums and start it right new...

then there are sometimes tracks or 4-8 bar loops....i know they got something...but i don´t get the point to get them run....
those i keep in my mind and just open and let them run in a loop....and somehow after having them for 4 weeks....the idea and all appears...

in my opinion...we are back at a point where the idea counts...not the 2 month you spend on building the leadsound...

one · Post by **one** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:43 pm

I like it very much to listen to my old works. Its like - what the hell i've did there?

It is always an inspiration to go a step backwards. my cents

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:57 pm

radiance wrote:I started a track in late dec/early jan, and decided to finish it tonight. With no luck, I think. I've been modifying it for 3months (damn!!!), but now I'm just fed up with it. The arrangement, the mixing, the effects, I can't hear none of it anymore.
For how long can you keep working on your tracks? One day? One week? One month? One year? :s

Here s track, if you wanna listen to it:
http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1S01 ... XPSE60I78W

i just listend to ur track and heard things in it right away that i could put in it
get rid of the drone bass put somre nice chords in there then you have a deep house vibe
i think you should put this track up for all us to play with

talking about finishing tracks there was a article in computer music about this. it gave you a two day rota to finsh a track
also the video interview with rennie pilgrim . he thinks dance music should be made fast. and i agree with him
here is a copy of the article in computer music from march 2005
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAY 1 SATURDAY

1pm breakfast - eat a hearty late breakfast

2pm INSPIRATION - arrive at studio listen to some tracks

2.30pm IDEAS - start working on the initial idea

3.15pm ADD BEATS- and tweek one or two core ideas

4pm BASS - move onto the bass and try to get the groove down

4.45pm MORE MUSIC - tackle the complimentary musical parts

5.30pm STREAMLINING - you should have a few extra ideas by now- ditch the ones that are no good

5.35 BREAK - go to the pub or were ever

6pm VOCAL - all you need now is a vocal

6.45 REFLECTION - reset your mixer levels and have a listen a few times

7pm END OF THE DAY - get out and do something you enjoy

DAY2 SUNDAY

2.15 pm REMINDER - arrive at the studio and have a listen to yesterdays effort

2.30 REFINMENT - spend up to 90 min tweeking yesterdays work

4pm ARRANGEMENT - now get down to arrangement - you have 90min

5.30 BREAK - hit the pub for half an hour to reset your ears and brain

6pm MIXDOWN - spend half an hour checking your mix and then bounce it to audio

6.30pm MASTER - master your track . this should only take half an hour once you feel confident about it

7.00 CHEER - pat yourself on the back - youve finshed a track in one weekend

radiance · Post by **radiance** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:25 pm

i think you should put this track up for all us to play with

Not a bad idea.

I might make a big ZIP file and send it to anyone interested in remixing it.

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:05 pm

i would be interested to see what i could do with it