getting fed up with getting nowhere in my tunes

[mjolnir]

lately i've been getting fed up with getting nowhere in my tunes.

so what I might do is delete all my VSTs and samples and start from scratch.
I'm thinking something like only one of each thing, almost like Noah's Ark of sounds to compose with.

[WackyZoundz]

What's wrong with your tunes?

[thecontrolcentre]

Rather than deleting stuff, pick a set of tools from what you have and write a fresh tune using only those plugins. Works for me ...

[eLawnMust]

Sometimes it's more inspiring to create in something retro/vintage & simple/simple... I got plenty of complex sequencers with crap that gets in the way...

Found it satisfying to create tunes in this old freeware tracker only 352 KB EXE Internal multi-timbral synth (up to 7 instances) & samples... That's it...

Got a thread over at the Sunvox forum over 806,000 views now so others taken interest too...




That's a GIF of skins I made recently...

Most recent tune-

https://alonetone.com/TalkOrBell/tracks/axs-jazzmonger

Before that-

https://alonetone.com/TalkOrBell/tracks/pulp-friction


Though not the best sonically certainly satisfying creating under constriction 'oldskool'...

Just a though, maybe it will help....

[mjolnir]

The last five trackers I tried to use I couldn't figure out at all or they were incompatible with my system.
But FL Studio / FL step editor are kinda similar. Maybe I'll go ahead and buy it 'cause I only have the demo.
I just can't quite justify spendin' money on my hobby while I'm not even able to put any tunes out lately.

I love the idea of trackers though. I probably need to focus more on creating arpeggios.

I didn't delete my local tunes, but I did delete my soundcloud. I won't delete my tunes, but my DAW (Reaper) isn't getting me where I need to be musically, and my mind and body are just not getting me anywhere either.

I'd cash in my mind for a new one if I could too.

I agreee that going antique / retro might be the way.
I will probably also just use a few tools instead of the motherlode that I used to use.

It just sucks because in the past I got all my tunes done with 200 some plugins and a huge palette. But this time around I just can't concentrate well enough to get to a proper pro level.

Really the only recent tune of mine that I'm really proud of was "Danka"

[WackyZoundz]

"Change the process, change the outcome" - Mick Gordon

[jethrobull]

Don't delete anything, ever.
Buying more software/gear isn't going to be the answer either.
I've no idea how much time you spend on your hobby, but maybe a break is the answer?
Unfortunately I feel I never get enough time doing the things I love, but that just makes the time I do spend more important.
Also, good advice from thecontrolcentre. Limiting your options and using only a handful of tools always worked for me.
Hope you find your way out and feel good about producing again

[EfreetiSultan]

Go back to reason 5.0 for a while

Just a subtractor and a matrix step sequencer is very inspirational in creating both basslines and melodies with 303 style glides.
Add a 3/16th (1/8d) delay to the mixer aux.

Right click and add a redrum for instant 909 grooves with some flam on the hihats and boom you've got something already and it took a few minutes

[mjolnir]

thanks for being helpful, guys

[_leras]

Rather than deleting stuff, pick a set of tools from what you have and write a fresh tune using only those plugins. Works for me ...

This is always a good idea. Forces you to learn a few tools in a bit more depth.

Another option of you're really out ideas, or just as an exercise, is to choose an existing track and recreate it. This way you don't need to worry about ideas and also have a clear set of steps to work through. It can be pretty interesting to figure out the arrangements etc and see how other people have put something together.

[dexrow]

Getting new vst's or new sounds always ends up changing what I end up with either by reducing or by expanding.

[mjolnir]

I ended up getting a little bit of improvement lately by partially switching DAWs and (re-)learning how to use some other ones.
In that process I also had to add some 32-bit plugins and remove some 64-bit plugins for stability reasons.
This helped me reduce the number of unneeded plugins I have.

One of the main things to speed up my workflow was ditching REAPER for USB MIDI input for synths and instead using LMMS and EnergyXT.
REAPER's quantization and autoquantization are all effed up in my opinion. I have no issues with LMMS's and EnergyXT's or anybody elses, for that reason. Although, even FL studio is kinda wierd how they implement quantization. I rely upon quantization for my style (except for pads) so I really needed the change.

I still probably need more samples of drum loops and synth tones, but after the recent upheaval I'm starting to get a few tunes happening again, but only slowly.

I'm really frustrated because I used to be good at making tunes quickly, and this year I'm as slow as can be.
It's a hit to my self esteem.

But thanks to anybody who helped me here.

[Joliciel]

I appreciate the feedback from everyone on this journey of music creation.

In my experience, I’ve found that the creative process thrives best when judgment and rational thinking take a back seat. When I allow these elements to dominate, my music feels disconnected from who I am. Instead, I trust my intuition and let the rhythm of my thoughts guide me. Creating music is about tapping into the emotional melodies that emerge spontaneously, which can lead to ideas I never anticipated. It’s this pleasure of creation that truly resonates within me.

I understand the frustrations shared here—feeling stuck or overwhelmed by the tools at our disposal is something we all encounter. mjolnir, I can relate to your feelings of frustration and the urge to start fresh by deleting everything. However, I resonate with the idea of simplifying our approach. Limiting our tools, whether it's plugins or samples, can actually spark creativity. Embracing a minimalist perspective—like having just a few sounds, akin to a "Noah's Ark of sounds"—can sometimes lead to breakthroughs.

I think exploring different DAWs and reducing the clutter can help you reconnect with your music. It’s great to hear you’re finding some improvement with your new setup. The journey of creating can be slow and challenging, but every small step counts.

Ultimately, it’s about finding joy in the process and allowing ourselves to explore music without the weight of expectation. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts—let’s keep inspiring one another!

[yoursoul]

^ good points!
about the emotional side of it... lately i found out that my attempts to make music turn out different (in a good way) when i put my laptop on the kitchen table and jam around while standing, instead of sitting. the ability to walk around while vibing, a bit dancing and so on, made the whole process much more fun.

i will move to a new place soon and put a size-adjustable table on the shopping list for my room.

so...

[vurt]

mix down the tracks, cut them up, splice bits of each together.

just create "something" dont think about what it might be, just let it be.