Is there anything more intimidating than a new empty project?

[thecontrolcentre]

I don’t even open my DAW until I have an idea.

This

[BONES]

What do you first reach for when beginning a new song?

Whatever it was I wanted to open when I created the new project. I don't just create a new project for no reason, although I pretty much never save them. Usually I will create one so I can load a new purchase or recently downloaded trial version up and put it through it's paces. Very rarely, maybe one time in a hundred, I might end up with something I want to save to work on later but mostly it's just for screwing around, in the forlorn hope it might shake loose something I can turn into a song.

I have never in my life put myself in front of my set-up (hardware or software) with the specific intent of writing a song. I have never had an idea in my head that I wanted to get out, all my song ideas come from just f**king around with the instruments and or sequencer.

[JerGoertz]

I just open up a softsynth and start dicking around. Or I load a drumloop or other sample and try to discern something musical about it.

Failing these, I open one of the hundreds of song-starters I've already made by doing the above.

[CrystalWizard]

A rolling paper.

[rj0]

In addition to the many ideas above, for songs that build up to peak energy, consider taking a fundamentally subtractive approach. Work on your full-on chorus early on, then start subtracting for build-up choruses, verses, etc. Think of your full-on chorus as your destination, with your build-up containing the hints, teasers, and increasing energy that creates the path there. If you know your destination, it's a lot easier to pick a path there, than to not know where you are going and meander around hoping a destination shows itself.

[Synthman2000]

A 16, 32 or 64 bar loop that you have not got the fearlessness to push through into a track.

Chords or drums and a bass line usually get me started.

An empty project is the very essence of creation.

[jamcat]

First thing I put down in an empty song is D minor.
(but true)

[crimsonwarlock]

First thing I put down in an empty song is D minor.

The saddest key of all

[mjolnir]

I used to work faster when I was a lot more familiar with my synth patches. But this year I don't really have any synth patches, just WAY too many presets and no VSTi's that I completely comprehend. Whereas in the past, I had one hardware synth and that was it, so I learned how to use it 100%.

But what I'm thinking about doing soon is this:

1) set up a second computer to use as only a performance synth
2) use REAPER as a synth rack with multiple VSTi's per sound
3) performance jamm into the first computer as a multitrack recorder only
4) use step sequenced drums as a click track

But what I really need to do is switch off of software and get back into hardware.

[legendCNCD]

Most intimidating for me is old project full of stuff to modify etc. It is like slap to forehead "why I did it like this"

[lfm]

I have never had an idea in my head that I wanted to get out, all my song ideas come from just f**king around with the instruments and or sequencer.

This is pretty much how I go about it too, but instruments like guitar or keyboards then, sometimes a beat practicing drums
- just keeping a dictaphone within reach to save an idea, just 15-30s or so
- I find it really difficult to remember exact frasing otherwise
- and frasing is everything for a riff or melody

So wanting to start something new
- I check out dictaphone for an idea that holds up for a second test
- or just delete those that don't pass the test

So there are loads of stuff on dictaphone always, since just playing around more often than finishing songs/projects.

[seafire]

I don’t even open my DAW until I have an idea.

This

Same here.

[mjolnir]

I used to fantasize about using a pitch to MIDI converter on my dictaphone recordings to get really good musical ideas.


But the actual pitch to MIDI stuff doesn't seem to be at that level yet.

[crimsonwarlock]

I used to fantasize about using a pitch to MIDI converter on my dictaphone recordings to get really good musical ideas.

But the actual pitch to MIDI stuff doesn't seem to be at that level yet.

I'd say that is probably more of a recording issue than pitch-to-MIDI failing. With a good vocal take, results can be quite awesome.

[mjolnir]

thanks i'll think about it.