[Crude_beats]

To much of one thing is good for nothing.

But a little can really help.

I think 1-2 glas of wine can probably aid the creative process. But 1 liter of vodka surely will harm it.

As with weed if you smoke yourself into oblivion you wont get very good results. If you take just a little sip you will have other results. Also go with sativa. Yes the difference is huge.

However the best album of the century was made by someone that was high probably everyday for 10 years so who knows...... (Lee perry - super ape)

[ManpulateRealty]

I recognize myselfe in what Kainonaut says (maybe it's because I'm dutch too )
The use of THC does improve creative abilty, but then it's the challenge to work those ideas out.

I personally smoke hasj on a quite regular basis, and I find it more difficult to create music without it. It helps me to intuitively try things out and experiment. I don't think it matters that the music you make is not exact the music you intended to make. Most of the greatest inventions are made by mistake.

If you intuitively follow the path in creating music, you'll find patterns in it. And than you're brain is able to make a logical piece of music out of it.

[macropsia]

I used to make it under the influence but find myself going 1,000 directions at once and nowhere at the same time, now i write sober, mix sober, but enjoy playback high & produce my own soundbanks high. Basically i save the best to be enhanced and the worst to be numbed.

[Dugg Funnie]

I used to do basically everything blazed off my ass. But it got to the point where I couldn't focus or even remember what I had planned to do halfway through doing it. Now I'm sober 100% of the time, and I take smart drugs haha.

[CallAndResponse]

Smoking makes you unproductive and kills work ethic BUT I for one have breakthrough moments of genius when stoned. Many times I'll hit a bong and then 30 minutes later an entire song will fly into my head and I proceed to my computer, load up the microphone and just hum or make noise with my mouth to replicate the melody best I can and then when I come back to it sober I remember the idea and can put the song together. Many of my best tunes have been made like this. If I don't document the song however I inevitable forget it later so I always record it or at least get some of it down in MIDI.

[Crude_beats]

Originally Posted by CallAndResponse

Smoking makes you unproductive and kills work ethic BUT I for one have breakthrough moments of genius when stoned. Many times I'll hit a bong and then 30 minutes later an entire song will fly into my head and I proceed to my computer, load up the microphone and just hum or make noise with my mouth to replicate the melody best I can and then when I come back to it sober I remember the idea and can put the song together. Many of my best tunes have been made like this. If I don't document the song however I inevitable forget it later so I always record it or at least get some of it down in MIDI.

Kinda similar experience to what I have.

[Psynik]

Yes weed good, don't produce high anymore though. It's good for creativity, like I'd think up some crazy shit, but it didn't work well when I wanted to master my tracks.

[VTechno]

This is all giving me a good giggle. But im sure you guys can tell what my opinion is based on my profile picture/avatar.

[WillyZi]

I've never had any of these drug dependency problems, I absolutely love produce when I'm high. It makes me feel like I'm somewhat closer to my sounds.
I can produce high, or not high. It's just about the experience to me.
Smoke!!!! Smoke!!! Smoke!!! Screw the haters

[Nootch!]

I'm not a fan of producing when I'm smoked.. I spend way too much time on the simplest things. My buddy on the other hand, loves to smoke and pump out tunes.

I enjoy a few beers when I produce. I can't really explain why. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. As long as you are having fun, I guess it doesn't matter.

[turtleneck]

Originally Posted by RFJ

I'm going to have to disagree with this also.

When I went to treatment this was a major concern of mine. How on earth would I be able to enjoy even listening to music without being intoxicated, in one form or another, much less have the inspiration to make any?

I have found the opposite to be true. It did take a bit to reverse the psychological effects of 17+ years of external stimulation but not all that long in the grand scheme of things. Today I'm able to concentrate more, focus and, get shit done that I am happy with. Sure I still run into making shit that I think is awesome until the next mornings re-listen proves me wrong but it's not near as prevalent as it used to be.

For me, when I'm inspired by the music because of the music alone, it's much more satisfying than the alternative.

Good on ya mate!
I've been dabbling in a drug abuse for a while now, but not as long as I've expressed myself in artistic terms. I've produced radio shows, music and sung on stage while being "clean", and there's absolutely no way that my cleanness was a bad influence on my performing.

HOWEVER
I really liked being a bit cunted while writing and arranging (and sometimes smoking a wee spliff during mixing). But I'm quite shit any ways. The whole question is a bit weird though (like asking whats best, porn or the wankbank). just try it out man, you know you wanna

[Slump]

In regards to drinking and weed:

If you haven't started working on a track or you just started one, then these are both creative stiflers. Starting a track is a lot of work, and when you're high or drunk you get distracted very easily IMO.

Let's say you have most of a track done, like sound creation and some basic composition, then weed and alcohol really puts you in that creative mood to work without realizing how much time is flying by.

IMO weed and alcohol is a double edge sword in regards to the creative process. They don't help start songs, but they sure as hell finish songs.

[itwasthesun]

I can't compose or produce while intoxicated. Generally, I've found that altered states are more rewarding for listening than producing. Great for listening to other music for inspiration, or just listening to your own stuff with a different ear. Being able to hear things in different ways lets you think of new ways to approach it, but actually DOing the work is a little too complicated for me in that condition. I usually just make a note to myself to work out an idea later, when Ableton doesn't look like an alien spaceship command console. Really, open up ANY synth plugin under the influence, and I know I'm just going to fuck around for an hour until I get bored or distracted. Synplant in particular seems to have that effect all on its own. I don't even smoke weed any more, but I never get anything done when I start playing with that one.

[stray medicine]

No joke, I'm about twice as good at making music while I'm baked. A lot of my friends have told me this too.
If I don't write music while I'm high at least for a little bit, then I feel like I've wasted time.
It helps me with any form of creativity really and the best stuff I've made usually comes out while I'm under the influence.

[Capo]

Originally Posted by Slump

In regards to drinking and weed:

If you haven't started working on a track or you just started one, then these are both creative stiflers. Starting a track is a lot of work, and when you're high or drunk you get distracted very easily IMO.

Let's say you have most of a track done, like sound creation and some basic composition, then weed and alcohol really puts you in that creative mood to work without realizing how much time is flying by.

IMO weed and alcohol is a double edge sword in regards to the creative process. They don't help start songs, but they sure as hell finish songs.

i agree with this, i cant start something when im baked, if ive got some melodic ideas down or at least a section i can start working and generally come up with some interesting ideas (i think so anyway).

so yeah the trick is start sober end blazed

[Djreject]

you know, sometimes i play call of duty when i'm high...and my playstyle is very different, i tend to go for the shotguns and a more reflex based playing...

sober i tend to avoid open areas and try to be as much invisible as possible...

either way I still have fun you know...and my score doesn't really get's higher or lower...


Now if you produce music for fun...then I guess you should not even ask yourself if the track is worth more because you made it sober or high...

if it's good it's good...


everything else is intellectual masturbation...



but they don't call it Idm for nothing lol

[Ukio Dzantala]

The weed, well this think kills the muse inside me. Definitely it doesn't help . Couple of beers or glass of wine make me relaxed and ready to work

[Wide Eye]

Originally Posted by relic

I'm really considering giving up the herb altogether. We've been friends for well over a decade...it just doesn't seem to fit well into the scheme of my life these days...

Though a little, tiny toke and some quality coffee in the morning on a day off really is a nice way to smooth into the creative process...but then again I'm serious grump in the morning...

This is me exactly, friday night is a religion(first day off) but it needs to stop....soon....

I find that the begining stages, finding a melody i like, getting a good beat going weed can help in moderation but for anything more involved it just gets in the way, maybe it's the weed i smoke tho....

[Jhon Vhon Skream]

Originally Posted by RFJ

I'm going to have to disagree with this also.

When I went to treatment this was a major concern of mine. How on earth would I be able to enjoy even listening to music without being intoxicated, in one form or another, much less have the inspiration to make any?

I have found the opposite to be true. It did take a bit to reverse the psychological effects of 17+ years of external stimulation but not all that long in the grand scheme of things. Today I'm able to concentrate more, focus and, get shit done that I am happy with. Sure I still run into making shit that I think is awesome until the next mornings re-listen proves me wrong but it's not near as prevalent as it used to be.

For me, when I'm inspired by the music because of the music alone, it's much more satisfying than the alternative.

Pretty much this. For roughly 2 months after I detoxed I would find myself sitting down and almost forcing myself to do something. (Obviously not the right approach at all.) Then I stumbled upon this place...Well, these days I like to think that my creative process is back on track.

[LadLiS]

I tend to boost my creativity and flow with many herbs that set me much more productive mood than MJ. If I drink a rawcacao enhanced with ashwagandha, gotu kola, rhodiola rosea and sip a couple of cups of some quality green tea I can be sure of getting the inspiration going.

For me with MJ It's hard to be productive. Just end up tweaking shit up to the point it's un bearable noise.

Most music that I have made are done in theanine high.

There are many great herbs out there that can be used to boost flow. And meditation works well to!