What is the most useful information you've ever been given?

[nOk]

I asked this in another forum and the feedback was GREATLY helpful! What musical advice/ techniques/ anything else have you been told, that has proved incredibly useful to you? Useful information is always a good thing!

For instance, I recently learned how to push out different instruments in a multi (like Kontakt) to different stereo channels so you could use your DAW's sends/effects. I was opening like 6 versions of Kontakt in a single project if I wanted to add distortion or something. Turns out you can do it in 1, and just route each intrument to another mixing channel!

[Ocular]

Read the fucking manuals.

[GumsOfGabby]

I think there's already one of these but anyway...

You don't have to do things the way people say in forums all the time. They're not looking over your shoulder as you work, so try out shit your way.

[itroitnyah]

I don't remember anything I've been told, I just remember it, but I can't remember what I remember. Or something like that. Uuuh... I got nothin' ._.

[nOk]

Read the fucking manuals.

This. So much this. You'll find out SOOOO much more than you'll realize.

[JSynth]

Probably the the time I was told that the mix for one of my songs sucked. (it was said in a nicer way.)
Still, it got me off my high horse and made me pay moe attenion to mixing and mastering.

[HMage]

Most famous musicians that do real work and make music themselves — aren't rich and it's common for a person to win Grammy while having no more than 300$ on bank balance.

[TheMalenEst]

Close Your Eyes To Open Your Ears.

i usually do that to make my ears the primary source when listening

[Motivfs]

Use all 12 keys. Don't restrict yourself.

[Makkon]

The hardest part is getting started. If you can do that, great things follow.

[CDPP]

Don't work hard, work smart.

[PrincessAddictia]

If you're not in it with your heart and your soul, get lost!

[bartekko]

Do Something New

[TranquilHooves]

Less is More

[vladnuke]

Take a risk, which might even be just picking up your equipment and making something new.

Also, keep organized.

[Nine Volt]

General advice - don't be a dick. I know it was recently added to the rules, but I'm pretty sure I originally heard it from SCP.

Musical advice - you can't polish a turd, but in the same vein an uncut diamond is still rough. Meaning, a good mix probably won't save a bad song, but a perfect song will be ruined by a shitty mix. Basically, learn to mix.

[the4thImpulse]

Musical advice - you can't polish a turd, but in the same vein an uncut diamond is still rough. Meaning, a good mix probably won't save a bad song, but a perfect song will be ruined by a shitty mix. Basically, learn to mix.

When it comes to music you can get pretty far with polishing a turd, a perfect mix on a bad arrangement/sound can result in a better track than an ok mix of a perfect arrangement/sound. But I absolutely agree with the point, learn to mix, seriously spend weeks learning about mixing.


Most important thing I was told was "finish the stupid song a move on". Even if you hate the song you're currently working on, instead of just leaving it in the dust you should finish it, completely, and then leave it in the dust.

[Nine Volt]

Mixing is seriously probably the single most important aspect of music production. Seriously, if you're just starting out and don't know where to start, learn to mix. It'll help you far more than you might realize. Focus on mixing and when you feel you've gotten it down pat go to some more experienced people and ask them. If multiple people approve (like, "this is good", not "this is decent" or "this is alright") then go on and focus on sound design and arrangement and the like. But don't disregard one in favor of the other; you need to find a balance while you're still really learning.

[Stars In Autumn]

Regarding synths/plugins: If you don't know whether or not you need it, you don't need it.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I wasn't given much information.
But the most valuable advice I can give is to disregard fame.
it corrupts your work.

[itroitnyah]

always right down ideas you might find useful

I prefer to left down ideas, it just works better for me huehuehue

Anyways, practice makes perfect.

[JSynth]

always right down ideas you might find useful

I prefer to left down ideas, it just works better for me

You might want to try keeping your ideas in the middle.

[colortwelve]

Don't start a track in any case where you could easily get distracted. Good songs come together in a matter of hours if you're focused.

[Stu Beef]

"Nobody gives a shit"

alternatively

"kill yourself"

The first is a kind of general thing cause I mean really...nobody is really inclined to care about you or what you do.
The second was a (not completely serious...hopefully) comment I received when I did something exceedingly shitty.

Being shat on can be quite discouraging, unless you can really learn to roll with it and take the useful information that it can come with. Some people really don't fuck around when it comes to what they think of you and your music, and, despite a lot of these people just plain being dicks, you gotta learn where standards are and make sure that yours are the highest. Never let yourself half ass anything; every track you make should be your best track whether you did it yesterday, 10 years ago, or 10 years from now.



e. if you're just having a good time...whatever cuz

[nOk]

Musical advice - you can't polish a turd, but in the same vein an uncut diamond is still rough. Meaning, a good mix probably won't save a bad song, but a perfect song will be ruined by a shitty mix. Basically, learn to mix.

When it comes to music you can get pretty far with polishing a turd, a perfect mix on a bad arrangement/sound can result in a better track than an ok mix of a perfect arrangement/sound. But I absolutely agree with the point, learn to mix, seriously spend weeks learning about mixing.

Most important thing I was told was "finish the stupid song a move on". Even if you hate the song you're currently working on, instead of just leaving it in the dust you should finish it, completely, and then leave it in the dust.

I'm terrible about that. I work on something then I never finish it. This is good advice though. It gets you away from that mentality of having a project go stale if it's not touched for a couple days. Mixing is probably the best thing you can learn though, yeah.