[Paggos]

Okay, well i've been uninspired for the longest damn time because people would put me down, and i actually valued their opinions, still do...but i value people on this forum more because they'll actually motivate me to get going and to stop whining like a girl.

Does my music actually suck? I am starting to branch out and trying to make music that could potentially have vocals with some work, but I'm just not entirely sure yet.

So,

is a prime example of something that's pretty cool...but deep down i feel like it sucks....I'm sorry it doesn't have that complex / annoying bass drive...but i do what i do, lol.

Musically speaking, what should i do ya think? I analyze others songs, but i really don't want to squash the hell out of my music...this will be my first album in the 4 years I've been making music, and I'm nervous as hell to show people because usually all i get is "your music doesn't fit, it's too weird, dissonant, it sucks...it's horrible pop techno music..."

I don't think so, and i know this is my passion...i have to make it work due to personal reasons, It is literally the only thing that makes me happy, but also really frustrated at the same time, oh, and I'm down to work with ANYBODY...i don't care how long you've been making music....i just need to work with others, get things done...and create until i can't create anymore! Ah how i love the digital age

Thanks guys!

[Br/ainfu+ked]

Originally Posted by Paggos

So,

is a prime example of something that's pretty cool...but deep down i feel like it sucks....I'm sorry it doesn't have that complex / annoying bass drive...but i do what i do, lol.

I think it sucks : ), but again that is just my opinion

Originally Posted by Paggos

Musically speaking, what should i do ya think? I analyze others songs, but i really don't want to squash the hell out of my music...this will be my first album in the 4 years I've been making music, and I'm nervous as hell to show people because usually all i get is "your music doesn't fit, it's too weird, dissonant, it sucks...it's horrible pop techno music..."

I don't think so, and i know this is my passion...i have to make it work due to personal reasons, It is literally the only thing that makes me happy, but also really frustrated at the same time, oh, and I'm down to work with ANYBODY...i don't care how long you've been making music....i just need to work with others, get things done...and create until i can't create anymore! Ah how i love the digital age

Thanks guys!

you don't have to squash your music, the better alternative is gain staging, its basically you doing things such as setting the kick and the snare at -10 db, set the bass at -12b, the lead at -11db from what I understand. Everything else is just surgical eq, Also try incorporating space into your music and just keep working on the compostion and then when you've translated your basic idea then proceed with the sound design, keep at it, you'll only go as far as your own personal taste will you allow you to. cheers

[scyn]

I'm 99% sure you've made a thread like this before? Anyway - the thing about your music, for me at least, is this: It's not something I'd listen to purely as music - it's the kind of sound which would work well in a computer game setting. There are some interesting sounds going on in your stuff - but there's not much to latch onto as far as being pulled into the song goes; it lacks flow. It kind of sits on the fence of being abstract but also wanting to be musical, and that borderline position is just too evident for me when listening.

I see no point in candy-coating that opinion, as I've been listening to your stuff for long enough on SC . My advice would be to get involved with the Beat Tapes and other avenues which encourage you to explore new territory, or, like you've said - to partner up with someone and work on a few tracks together. It really sounds like you need a break from your own head-space for a while, whatever that might mean to you.

Anyway - I really wish you well with your music making, and hope you get some constructive advice here to help you move forward and away from all those doubts.

[Paggos]

My problem is i try not to be too repetitive, and i have a hard time creating a 'hook' or something thats constant that isn't a kick, no idea why lol...

[relic]

I don't mind that this is dissonant...but a lot of people who are used to listen to pop music are going to be put off by that.

Sound design wise it's going to sound video game-ish if you only use basic waveforms...which it sounds like you are (except those bell-like tones). If all you do is load up a synth set to a square wave and leave it at that it's going to sound like a video always, no matter what you do. If you want to do something more complex you need to work on sound design. It probably wouldn't be a terrible idea to decide on some sounds you want to recreate and do some tutorials. There are a few good beginning guides to synthesis around here.

Your drum programming is extremely basic and feels really stiff. Just my observation, not saying it's good or bad. Depends on what you are going for.

Arrangement wise I think you do well telling a narrative with your music and changing things up, keeping it interesting using the elements you've created/chosen for this track.

I highly recommend the Beat Tapes as scyn said. Or any of the other production challenges.

Who are some electronic musicians you listen to? What about their music would you like to emulate? Have you considered sampling and shaping found sounds?

[posdit]

When most people are judging whether or not they like some thing the take two things into account.

1) Can I let myself get into the overall groove or vibe or style or mindset or whatever you want to call it. Another way of putting it is, does this music let me be who I want to be or am comfortable with being.

2) How well is it done? Is this the real shit or not? Does this person know what they are doing or talking about? Does it sound inspired?

If you are having a problem with #1 from your opinion on your own music, #2 will always be a problem. No one will ever be feeling it if you aren't. At this stage music making is more of a technical exercise than an art form. This can be a difficult problem to overcome because it a trail and error process of finding your own voice. What do you really want to say?

If you are happy with the #1 aspect of your own music then I guarantee there are other people out there who will appreciate it as well. It might be difficult finding them, depending on how far your music deviates from mainstream, but they are out there.

#2 problems I think are pretty much solved through practice makes perfect. The better you are at conveying your message the more people will be able to absorb it.

I realize that these two aspects of music making are pretty inseparable and any single part of the process will overlap between the two. It might be useful thought to look at your music this way to determine where you are having problems though.

[posdit]

I think that the problem with you are having with people's reactions to your music might be that they are anticipating something else before the listen to it. If you tell people they are going to hear electronic music (duh, where's the drop?) or even IDM for that matter they will be mentally and emotionally in a mindset for some other style and your music will not deliver what they want.

If they were playing some indie flash game though and your song was playing the same people might think its awesome because they are better primed for it.

As far as pure production value goes, my opinion is that it needs some improvement. One step in the right direction here I think, would be to use all the tricks you can learn on forums like these, and start using reference tracks if you aren't already.

[Paggos]

Originally Posted by posdit

When most people are judging whether or not they like some thing the take two things into account.

1) Can I let myself get into the overall groove or vibe or style or mindset or whatever you want to call it. Another way of putting it is, does this music let me be who I want to be or am comfortable with being.

2) How well is it done? Is this the real shit or not? Does this person know what they are doing or talking about? Does it sound inspired?

If you are having a problem with #1 from your opinion on your own music, #2 will always be a problem. No one will ever be feeling it if you aren't. At this stage music making is more of a technical exercise than an art form. This can be a difficult problem to overcome because it a trail and error process of finding your own voice. What do you really want to say?

If you are happy with the #1 aspect of your own music then I guarantee there are other people out there who will appreciate it as well. It might be difficult finding them, depending on how far your music deviates from mainstream, but they are out there.

#2 problems I think are pretty much solved through practice makes perfect. The better you are at conveying your message the more people will be able to absorb it.

I realize that these two aspects of music making are pretty inseparable and any single part of the process will overlap between the two. It might be useful thought to look at your music this way to determine where you are having problems though.

Thank you for your comment.
I think the reason my music is so basic and that I'm never satisfied is because i constantly want change, so i really have a hard time finishing the sound design, or making a good structure, or mastering...i focus on one, then get frustrated and move on to the next thing.
I wish i knew how to organize things and to just do them without freaking out or being overwhelmed, if i were to spend all the time in the world doing what i wanted with each song, i would never get anything done...sound design is what I'm lazy on right now...i KNOW what to do, i just have a hard time spending an hour or two on one damn sound lol.
Percussion, i wish it was more fluid, messing with velocity would be cool...as for sound, what am i trying to go for? Hm, well right now i want something thats 'me' but something that can be like this [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register]
(don't laugh) but a mix of funky, heavy stuff...but keeping a really happy element to the music, I want more than one mood in a song...but maybe that isn't possible.
As for sounds, i would want to possibly just mess with presets that may have characteristics of the sounds i want...but i never find them, so i use one that is so out of tune with everything, and get pissed because everythings out of tune...FL Studio really is amazing, but i feel when im making things i look for the easiest thing, which is my fault...but if i don't get it done within an hour or two, i get so bored and frustrated i want to bash my head against the wall....patience is a virtue, but i don't seem to have it anymore...i used to...
Lol.

I end up browsing forums, obsessing over the fact that I'm not doing anything...that i never do anything...and i feel 'trapped' like i literally get depressed from not doing music, but i can't seem to do music...i know that contradicts itself, but i don't know...it's weird.

[relic]

So you want to do pop? A little simple music theory would go a long way there. Having different moods is totally possible...doing key changes and tempo changes can do that...not the easiest thing to pull off always...

As for funky and heavy that makes me think of DnB...and I think some stuff off Hospital Records probably does funky, poppy and heavy.

Do you want to do stuff that literally sounds like that youtube video...or just has a light hearted pop element to it?

Sounds like a lot of your problem is a lack of knowledge about music theory.

What I used to do when I was just learning was this--I'd always do whole tracks and finish them then try to get feedback. Every track I'd learn one new thing and apply it to that track. Everything else I kept really basic if it didn't sound great. I asked specifically for feedback about the one new thing I learned. After I'd worked enough on that new skill to get the basics down I moved on to another skill.

I don't know what to tell you about your inability to spend time on your music. I usually spend around 40+ hours on tunes I end up liking. If you get frustrated working on a part of a tune...don't just switch what part of the song you are working on...go do something else completely, maybe even another song.

Don't work for too long at once. I used to work in huge 6-8 hour sessions then I'd never go back to the songs again or I would go back and spend another 6-8 hours straight...this didn't work for me. Even if I'm really feeling what I'm working with I make myself stop after an hour or two and I just write down the ideas I haven't executed yet. 3 hours straight is my max for working on a single song. Even then it is less time...I take fifteen minute breaks in silence every hour. I usually go outside and just stair at the sky and think about nothing in particular.

When you are starting out keep things simple, even if your finished songs don't feel "complete". Write a song that feels "funky" and just concentrate on that one thing. Getting the drums and bass moving together in a funky way. Keep everything else simple and finish the song and move on. After a few tunes worth of practice try adding another element. A pop melody.

[Paggos]

Originally Posted by relic

So you want to do pop? A little simple music theory would go a long way there. Having different moods is totally possible...doing key changes and tempo changes can do that...not the easiest thing to pull off always...

As for funky and heavy that makes me think of DnB...and I think some stuff off Hospital Records probably does funky, poppy and heavy.

Do you want to do stuff that literally sounds like that youtube video...or just has a light hearted pop element to it?

Sounds like a lot of your problem is a lack of knowledge about music theory.

What I used to do when I was just learning was this--I'd always do whole tracks and finish them then try to get feedback. Every track I'd learn one new thing and apply it to that track. Everything else I kept really basic if it didn't sound great. I asked specifically for feedback about the one new thing I learned. After I'd worked enough on that new skill to get the basics down I moved on to another skill.

I don't know what to tell you about your inability to spend time on your music. I usually spend around 40+ hours on tunes I end up liking. If you get frustrated working on a part of a tune...don't just switch what part of the song you are working on...go do something else completely, maybe even another song.

Don't work for too long at once. I used to work in huge 6-8 hour sessions then I'd never go back to the songs again or I would go back and spend another 6-8 hours straight...this didn't work for me. Even if I'm really feeling what I'm working with I make myself stop after an hour or two and I just write down the ideas I haven't executed yet. 3 hours straight is my max for working on a single song. Even then it is less time...I take fifteen minute breaks in silence every hour. I usually go outside and just stair at the sky and think about nothing in particular.

When you are starting out keep things simple, even if your finished songs don't feel "complete". Write a song that feels "funky" and just concentrate on that one thing. Getting the drums and bass moving together in a funky way. Keep everything else simple and finish the song and move on. After a few tunes worth of practice try adding another element. A pop melody.

I've spent a lot of time with music theory and progressions, but for some reason i always dwell away from that, i think it has to do with organizational purposes in FL, but i can listen and feel what things are supposed to do, i know what key it's in, but i have a hard time formulating melodies even though i know intervals, i know what sounds good together, and i can make a decent loop with it..it's just the fact i always want to get away from the root note, i want something new, and then the whole song gets messed up because i try weird cadences that just don't fit...

Hm, i spent hours and months on theory, but i guess i just never 'got' it because it didn't matter to me that much, i just felt weird or just a cheat using it...and everytime i have something cool and catchy, i end up listening to it on loop for hours, never formulating a whole song...if i don't like it so much, it's easier to form something...i don't know if that makes any sense to you..but yeah, lack of self confidence..gotta love it.

[relic]

Originally Posted by Paggos

I've spent a lot of time with music theory and progressions, but for some reason i always dwell away from that, i think it has to do with organizational purposes in FL, but i can listen and feel what things are supposed to do, i know what key it's in, but i have a hard time formulating melodies even though i know intervals, i know what sounds good together, and i can make a decent loop with it..it's just the fact i always want to get away from the root note, i want something new, and then the whole song gets messed up because i try weird cadences that just don't fit...

Hm, i spent hours and months on theory, but i guess i just never 'got' it because it didn't matter to me that much, i just felt weird or just a cheat using it...and everytime i have something cool and catchy, i end up listening to it on loop for hours, never formulating a whole song...if i don't like it so much, it's easier to form something...i don't know if that makes any sense to you..but yeah, lack of self confidence..gotta love it.

Sounds like you know more theory than I do.

A short answer to your problem: stop over thinking things; stop trying to make things so complex.

[Paggos]

Originally Posted by relic

Sounds like you know more theory than I do.

A short answer to your problem: stop over thinking things; stop trying to make things so complex.

Yeah, i really wish i could do that....i do this with literally every single thing in my life...lol i overthink, overcomplex...see, if i work with somebody, maybe it'll help me finish things because i won't have time to overthink, i won't have time to spend 4 hours making 1 little melody lol, then having it drift off into some weird progression that doesn't even fit at all...

Overthinking and stressing, it's ruined my passions and my life, i wish it could just stop lol...i try to work towards it, but it haunts me yet again...lol

[relic]

Originally Posted by Paggos

Yeah, i really wish i could do that....i do this with literally every single thing in my life...lol i overthink, overcomplex...see, if i work with somebody, maybe it'll help me finish things because i won't have time to overthink, i won't have time to spend 4 hours making 1 little melody lol, then having it drift off into some weird progression that doesn't even fit at all...

Overthinking and stressing, it's ruined my passions and my life, i wish it could just stop lol...i try to work towards it, but it haunts me yet again...lol

Have you considered bouncing things to audio so you can't change them and thus over think them?

I'd offer to work with you, but I've got three projects going at the moment and am teaching a max course load this semester.

[Paggos]

Originally Posted by relic

Have you considered bouncing things to audio so you can't change them and thus over think them?

I'd offer to work with you, but I've got three projects going at the moment and am teaching a max course load this semester.

I've tried it, then i get stuck again and the whole idea just goes out the window....hm....somethings gotta give lol...

So, heres me simplifying it...ok [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register]

[relic]

eating dinner at my parents...will listen later...reconsidered it...ill do a collab with you if you want...pm me with some info about influences what kinda tune you want to do

[Paggos]

Originally Posted by relic

eating dinner at my parents...will listen later...reconsidered it...ill do a collab with you if you want...pm me with some info about influences what kinda tune you want to do

Okay will do right now!

[RFJ]

Plus three for the beat tapes.

That's all.

[mimicry]

About halfway through, I started really liking that song. A lot of things could be better, yes, but at least you can't say it's boring.

[Arnage]

Paggos your music reminds me a bit of dream theatre, but with an electro influence. Not the actual music, but the phrasing and originality.

I think your music is good, just needs to reach the right audence, instead of these "I'm a critic, I'm part of the scene, so what I say, goes" kinds of people

[Paggos]

Originally Posted by Arnage

Paggos your music reminds me a bit of dream theatre, but with an electro influence. Not the actual music, but the phrasing and originality.

I think your music is good, just needs to reach the right audence, instead of these "I'm a critic, I'm part of the scene, so what I say, goes" kinds of people

Yeah! I honestly feel as if my music had enough room in the mix to actually have vocals, it'd be good...then you have my half-assed remixes, those always have more views than my originals xD goes to show what popularity does...but i mean, I just love vocals now....maybe i can do something to make them fit!