KVR Audio

tranel · Post by **tranel** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:06 am

Hmmm... not sure if this is the right forum, but here goes:

How do YOU beat musician's block? You know, when you sit there and stare at your synth/DAW for hours, noodle a bit, get a nice 2-bar loop going but nothing ever develops. The inspiration muse is utterly quiet. When that happens, what do you do?

As for me, I build a movable platform (on casters) for my rack equipment, collected all the cables going between this equipment and my Triton into one multi-cord, and can now move my equipment whereever I want. If I don't feel like sitting in the (smaller) studio room, I just roll everything out into our (more comfortable and spacious) living room. And it seems to be working!

Yes, if I move my equipment, I won't have the same direct integration with my computer DAW anymore. But I've decided to get the music out of my head first anyway, make the song as complete as possible on the Triton and then bung everything into the DAW for final tweaking and maybe a few VST tracks.

But, all of this is my approach. Again, I am curious what you do to get inspiration flowing..

Regards,

T

ephrem · Post by **ephrem** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:16 am

..sadly for me, inspiration cometh and it goeth at it's own accord, and there's little i can do to make it returneth again once it's goeth. So, i stopped worrying about dry spells, and stick those out until i'm in the flow once more...

EuropeanOnUranus · Post by **EuropeanOnUranus** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:25 am

Pot. Or if drastic measures are needed, booze. A collaborator to get the competitive thing going can help a lot too, as long as he doesn't smoke all your pot and drink all your booze.

topaz · Post by **topaz** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:33 am

make music you want to hear,not what you think other people want to.

if you are stuck in some sub dance genre branch out and learn some new styles, many dance guys get fed up with music when their fashionable genre goes out of fashion.

Cyrosis · Post by **Cyrosis** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:45 am

I normally don't.

ollybfocusritenovation · Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:06 am

set yourself a challenge.....

e.g. I'll only use 1 synth in this project.
or I'll only use audio samples,
or only use sound that i have recorded with my mic.

try to stick to the challenge as far as you can through the project, and by the end you should be happy and break your challenge rules to finally finish it.

Aroused by JarJar · Post by **Aroused by JarJar** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:10 am

tranel wrote:Hmmm... not sure if this is the right forum, but here goes:

How do YOU beat musician's block? You know, when you sit there and stare at your synth/DAW for hours, noodle a bit, get a nice 2-bar loop going but nothing ever develops. The inspiration muse is utterly quiet. When that happens, what do you do?

As for me, I build a movable platform (on casters) for my rack equipment, collected all the cables going between this equipment and my Triton into one multi-cord, and can now move my equipment whereever I want. If I don't feel like sitting in the (smaller) studio room, I just roll everything out into our (more comfortable and spacious) living room. And it seems to be working!

Yes, if I move my equipment, I won't have the same direct integration with my computer DAW anymore. But I've decided to get the music out of my head first anyway, make the song as complete as possible on the Triton and then bung everything into the DAW for final tweaking and maybe a few VST tracks.

But, all of this is my approach. Again, I am curious what you do to get inspiration flowing..

Regards,

T

That's a great approach you've got there. Computers are ergonometrically (sp?)
bad for you anyway.

My method for beating musician's block is... deadlines. No option not to create.

Plus whenever I have to do something I get inspiration to do something else I shouldn't be doing- like right now I'm supposed to be learning some Chinese songs to sing, and writing a harpsichord piece based on the themes, for a concert but instead I suddenly figured out exactly how to do some sound design I've been daydreaming about for years.

When I work at home instead of the studio my neighbors must be filled with anguish. With a Moog Theremin running an arm's reach from the computer,
it all must sound like JarJar Binks doing unspeakable things with a waterbuffalo.

Speaking of JarJar, hands up anyone who surfs for porn when computer music inspiration lags?

HelgeG · Post by **HelgeG** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:15 am

oblique strategies

The Kob · Post by **The Kob** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:43 am

HelgeG wrote:oblique strategies

i like it, i could do with those for work!

i often think "what would Hugh Heffner do?"

but after that i don't get much music made and i don't work to deadlines:

it could be commitment fear? if you absolutely have to get something going for a.n.other reason it can often stop you in your tracks, so just start anything rather than waiting for the 'right thing'...
A four-on-the-floor at 120 will soon tell you it is too fast or slow for what you think you might want, the same goes for a first-fith-fourth chord sequence on a basic piano sound.

it is like having a colouring in book rather than a blank page...

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:47 am

Never happens because I never aim for anything in particular.

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:06 pm

Simple: I don't rely on inspiration.

-Kim.

CypherOne · Post by **CypherOne** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:18 pm

what bugs me is when I want to sit there staring blankly at my screen and make a 2 bar loop and instead I accidentally write a series of club and chart hits, leading to a world tour and series of albums, fame, fortune and a guest spot on Richard And Judy.

nightmare.

vespers75 · Post by **vespers75** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:24 pm

Kim (esoundz) wrote:Simple: I don't rely on inspiration.

-Kim.

care to elaborate on this a little?

mike@manike · Post by **mike@manike** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:35 pm

I think the thing to realise with writers block is that is comes becomes you are trying to better yourself.

You could just write anything but the fact is you want to write to something better than you have before. As long you realise it's part of a learning process then I think it's easier not to be stressed out by it.

Often I find there is something I want to achieve in my head that I can't manage to replicate or perhaps its the otherway around, and I have techniques I want to use but I can't think of a way to use them. Either way its because one part of myself has improved and the other needs to catch up.

If you don't get writers block then perhaps you arent improving?

Mike

MaliceX · Post by **MaliceX** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:41 pm

I beat writers block by listening to different music to mix in different ideas. Not necessarily stealing a riff, (I don't do rap beats kthx), but analyzing the characteristics and reasons why this bit sounds as good as it is, and trying something similar with a different train of thought.

I had writers block so many times back then, until I started learning some proper music theory and exposing myself to more eclectic bands such as Level 42, Casiopea, and expanding my musical palette through listening, replication, and therefore innovation/reinvention.

Course, still learning in the process, but that's the point isn't it?