KVR Audio

andyeb · Post by **andyeb** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:59 am

Is it just me, or do any of you guys find it really hard to get down to making music? I just find it so easy to get distracted and go off and do something else (like visiting KVR) instead of getting on with what I really enjoy - making music.

How do you stay focussed and productive in the home studio?

regards,

Andy

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:30 am

I don't always. I haven't written a new thing in about 18 months but I don't care. I've been focussed on other things, like rehearsing for a couple of gigs and finishing off a remix, so I'll do it when I feel like or when I need to. Its fun when I feel like it but when I need to it can be boring and unproductive so I try not to get into that position. If its easy to be distracted, be distracted. What you really need though, is something that you can use music as a distraction from. At the moment I am supposed to be converting units in 1300 pages of a school curriculum but I don't want to do it. Music is the perfect distraction from it.

Paulie Phonick · Post by **Paulie Phonick** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:38 am

BONES wrote:What you really need though, is something that you can use music as a distraction from.

Exactly, studies are perfect, especially writing a diploma thesis...

Shit, I'm never gonna finish that darn piece of crappy technical literature... Oh well, let's play bass for a while.

LBN · Post by **LBN** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:52 pm

I start throwing away things.

I have a tendency to collect things with the excuse that I might use them later. A good purging of the clutter always makes me feel inspired. Even if it's getting rid of a stack of papers on the desk.

My current purging project is my collection of vintage computers. Do I really need five variations of a Commodore 64? Although I might pull the SID chips from them before getting rid of them.

andyeb · Post by **andyeb** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:12 pm

Funny you should say that - it is part of the reason why I'm currently slimming down my setup and selling loads of stuff

.

deleted · Post by **deleted** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:17 pm

DELETED

Stupid American Pig · Post by **Stupid American Pig** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:18 pm

I am slimming down as well, I am even considering getting rid of my wurlitzer.

warp x · Post by **warp x** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:25 pm

I stay productive because I have deadlines.
one is October 7th
other is October 12th

endmusik · Post by **endmusik** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:28 pm

Stupid American Pig wrote:I am slimming down as well, I am even considering getting rid of my wurlitzer.

you don't say?

check your PM

emdot_ambient · Post by **emdot_ambient** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:57 pm

It can be difficult but here's my top 10 ways of staying productive:

10) Delete all PC games off your PC, get rid of any game consoles you have and avoid looking at gaming magazines and going to gaming stores.

9) Do most of my KVR time while away from your music PC, or schedule a certain amount of time for KVR activity so you're not tempted to dick around here while trying to get something done. (Got internet access at work?)

Drink coffee.

7) Participate in deadline oriented projects (the monthly contests, Katrina Relief CD, music contests elsewhere) as often as they can help provide inspiration and focus which often can bleed over into your non-deadline work.

6) Listen to and constructively review as many songs as possible in the Music Cafe and Audio Shot's Auditorium. This, again, can provide some inspiration.

5) Schedule time to do non-music fun things with friends and family, but NOT every weekend. I.e., be frugal about your non-productive fun time but realize that you DO need it and really have to get away from things--away from PC things--some times.

4) Drink more coffee.

3) Sex on a regular basis helps keep you focused . . . even if it's a solo activity.

2) Drink lots of coffee.

1) (Drum roll, please) Stay regular.

androidlove · Post by **androidlove** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:44 pm

i just make music.....good and bad. it's all exercise. i just pick up the guitar or load up some synths and just PLAY. i'm now working on so many tunes, i come to kvr to take a break.

djsubject · Post by **djsubject** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:49 pm

drink lots of water

opiadream · Post by **opiadream** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:52 pm

andyeb wrote:I just find it so easy to get distracted and go off and do something else (like visiting KVR) instead of getting on with what I really enjoy - making music.

are you absolutely sure that making music is the thing you really enjoy most?
I can't help thinking that if it was
you wouldn't find yourself so easily distracted.

andyeb · Post by **andyeb** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:57 pm

opiadream wrote:
andyeb wrote:I just find it so easy to get distracted and go off and do something else (like visiting KVR) instead of getting on with what I really enjoy - making music.
are you absolutely sure that making music is the thing you really enjoy most?
I can't help thinking that if it was
you wouldn't find yourself so easily distracted.

That is a fair point... but when I'm actually being productive and the ideas are flowing, I _do_ really enjoying making music. I guess it is just getting to that point that is the hard part of it.

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:02 pm

I try not to be goal-oriented with music most of the time, just do what's fun/interesting/natural and make something as I see fit or as it happens.

Once in a while, I find doing something for a specific project very motivating, at times a little too motivating as I start skipping sleep (not easy with a 9 to 5 and family). Right now I'm working on something for Stillstream's long player project, been putting in no less than a solid three hours every night (which usually means to bed at 1am and up at 7am for work).

I worry that I'm neglecting my goofing off.

How do YOU stay productive?