You guys are amazing!

[lunarz]

Okay, so last night in the IRC I was on about quitting, what a silly idea that was! I know I suck but hey, all artists suck when they 1st start out right? But you guys didnt give up! I got two livestreams and like three live tutorials out of you guys! Then using that i made a half decent track, which i then made the bass wayyy too bassy. Anyways, after that, I realsied that i shouldnt give up, i said i was going to stick to it and not give up and i am. Ive only been producing for about 2 weeks now, but i expect myself to be much better. I know i have to learn music theory etc etc. I purchased a book on it because i am actually serious about music. You guys made me happy about music again, you helped me out when i was down. I just want to be good at music thats all, like Icky or Nix_Spark or PPS or WoodenToaster or TheLivingTombstone, but i know that takes a long long time. So thankyou so much guys, your a really great help to a fellow brony, anybody else on the internet would have just ignored it. Everybody needs bronies as friends, best thing ever.

Btw i dont know if this is the right forum to post this in.

[HatBrony]

Where is that Ira Glass copypasta when you need it?

[BronyTuber]

You're actually the one who posted this in the first thread I ever made so I know you already have it but still...

And I know what you mean man, everything I make I'm never happy with it either and when I listen to something by Tombstone or anyone on this board I always wonder how I could ever compete with that. I keep on going though, it sounds like we both started at about the same time so we are both in the same boat. I've listened to some of your stuff (Like Lonely Madness) and still thought to myself how I was ever going to compete with something like that.

[Lavender_Harmony]

I wasn't there, but I am glad ou're determined and that you plan on persevering with your music. I know from years of experience that the learning curve is incredibly steep, sometimes too steep to be possible in any realistic amount of time, the curve entirely depends on the person.

I want you, and everyone else to remember that it isn't all about having your name in lights. Your music is yours, unique and full of your own personal inspiration and talent. No one else will make music like yours. Sure they could copy you, but the point is you did it first. Even if you're copying the styles of your idols, be it Alex S, Skrillex, Pendulum or whoever, your music will still have it's own individuality to it, and thats something everyone should have pride in.

On the other side of things, people often forget that these musicians that they look up to are just like them. People, with feelings, worries and stuff, and since I got involved in the brony music community, I haven't felt shunned or turned away or anything. Everyone here has a story to tell, their own experience, perspective and knowledge to share.

So to the OP and to anyone who reads this, if you feel stuck, down, put out or disheartened, just take a step back, have a breather, come back tomorrow and tell us you're stuck. Even if it's something that seems irrelevant, don't shy away.

[Trixie]

I'll give you one reason to never stop.

It's a one way street; if you don't stop writing with all your soul and passion, then you won't ever stop getting better at it. Just keep going. Look back only to say, "Wow, look at how much better I've gotten - and just wait until a few months from now when I'm even better!"

[GhostXb]

My opinion is, art is more or less the process of expressing yourself, and the medium you choose is your language. It is a language that does not have very strict rules, but it is a language that requires a lot of practice and experience to master. The better your language, the better you'll be able to speak to people.

As such, it should come from your heart, but your heart is socially awkward and needs to get out more.

[North Kozar]

Lavender Harmony's post is very true. I haven't been working on music lately because whatever I did I felt wasn't "good." And it was a never ending stream of frustration, plus I have tons of other things on my mind. While going through all that I considered just drifting away and not really caring. But I came to realize, much like you did, that it's silly to consider that if you're truly passionate about it (which it's quite apparent that you are). Something else I realized is that in my desire to have my music "feel" and sound "good," I kept comparing them to others songs. I think, really, you should listen to it with an open and clear mind. Don't compare it to anything else, try and think of each track as an individual and that way you can shape that track so that it sounds and feels "good" by itself. Hopefully in doing this, too, you won't become frustrated by it not being as good as Artist X. Although, while I say that, I don't think there'd be anything wrong with comparing it to other songs of your own, since as Lavender Harmony said, you have your own unique "feel" to your music. These are just my new ideas I've formed over the past few days as I come back around to things, so we'll see how they go.

In short, I understand where you're coming from and I'm glad you're sticking with us!

[lunarz]

Lavender Harmony's post is very true. I haven't been working on music lately because whatever I did I felt wasn't "good." And it was a never ending stream of frustration, plus I have tons of other things on my mind. While going through all that I considered just drifting away and not really caring. But I came to realize, much like you did, that it's silly to consider that if you're truly passionate about it (which it's quite apparent that you are). Something else I realized is that in my desire to have my music "feel" and sound "good," I kept comparing them to others songs. I think, really, you should listen to it with an open and clear mind. Don't compare it to anything else, try and think of each track as an individual and that way you can shape that track so that it sounds and feels "good" by itself. Hopefully in doing this, too, you won't become frustrated by it not being as good as Artist X. Although, while I say that, I don't think there'd be anything wrong with comparing it to other songs of your own, since as Lavender Harmony said, you have your own unique "feel" to your music. These are just my new ideas I've formed over the past few days as I come back around to things, so we'll see how they go.

In short, I understand where you're coming from and I'm glad you're sticking with us!

Couldnt have put it any better

[Pickslide1992]

Man, am I glad I'm not the only guy here who feels the same way. I like to think of myself as a unique breed, as nopony else I know of is doing a vintage pop/rock/new wave sound. It's just the matter of if I'm doing the genre justice. I'm improving with every song, having more complex drum and bass lines, but again it's just a matter of if I'll ever get anywhere with this. I know there are other rockers on this site (Namely Acoustic Brony, Dethonator, ISMBO, etc) and sometimes I wonder if I'll ever reach their level (All of them have a lot of Soundcloud/YouTube subs, while I only have 22 SC followers).

Still, that's the reason I'm pushing myself into contests and collaborations (The Equestria Music contest and Balloon Party, respectively) so I can get my name out there and get a little notoriety. Surely that isn't my main motivation, of course, as I already have one motivation fulfilled, getting to know other musicians in the Brony community, whether they share my musical tastes or not. I like getting advice on how to make my stuff better, be it better mixing, more intricate drums, etc. And most people don't realize I do everything myself. I record the guitars myself, I program the drums and synths myself, I mix everything myself, I'm effectively a one man band, which isn't saying much as every other musician I know around here probably does the same thing.

It might also be because I don't have a lot of expensive equipment. My guitar is probably the most expensive part of my arsenal, as I use a lot of free VSTs and drum samples on FL Studio while other guys may use bigger and better programs like Reason or Pro Tools and as such, get a better sound just by pushing a button. That and the industry is tough on newcomers. You could work hard on a track and promote it to hell and back and unless someone approaches you with an open mind, they'll overlook you for the newest thing Living Tombstone/Wooden Toaster/Omnipony/Alex S. came out with. I'm not saying tuck tail and run away, but get your face out there, make an awesome introduction. The key here is if you feel like you're in a creative slump, just walk away and take a break instead of smashing your head against the desk while crimson flows from the hemorrhage the Roland gave you.

Do what I do: listen to some of your favorite artists for inspiration. For me, it's guys like Iron Maiden, Poison, Motley Crue, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, new wave groups like A Flock of Seagulls, The Psychedelic Furs, Romeo Void, DEVO technically counts, namely stuff like that. And don't worry about ripping them off. One FL Studio tutorial actually encouraged copying a beat from a song you like to get a hang of the program or encourage you to make the beat your own, be it adding some claps or a different tom pattern, adding some reverb or delay to your snare, etc.

TL;DR: I was once in your shoes, but I'm glad you're not throwing in the towel. Oh and here's some advice.

[Discordingly]

I can't say anything more than: knowthatfeelbro.jpg

I've just recently started exploring the world of producing music. In my head I can come up with some (imo) epic beats, but I'm just not able to transform those thoughts into something physical. It's very frustrating sometimes indeed. I can spend 4, 5 hours one something in FL Studio and then go: "Meh, this kinda sucks." and delete everything >_>

But you guys just don't give up I like that! It motivates me. I just keep trying and eventually, maybe, I might come up with something that is enjoyable to both you and me.

**EDIT: Just checked out your Soundcloud. You already have some decent stuff out there in my opinion ^^

[North Kozar]

"Meh, this kinda sucks." and delete everything >_>

Mehhsgfdbjhslogfspp! Don't delete stuff! That's bad! Seriously, you never know when you might draw future inspiration off of some silly thing you threw together. I have tons of stuff that isn't anything more than a loop that I just couldn't go anywhere with, but if I get stuck on ideas I have all those old things to listen to, which could either give me new ideas or I could finally work more on them. But really, don't delete things. It's bad jujus.

And I totally understand what you mean by coming up with cool sounding stuff in your head and not being able to translate it over. That's the biggest problem/road block I've had. All I can say is just keep working out ideas out as best you can, you'll begin to learn your own sort of flow and it'll become easier.

[Pickslide1992]

I completely agree. I have several bits and pieces from songs I never finished and even though I look at my older stuff with contempt, I build off of that.

[Discordingly]

"Meh, this kinda sucks." and delete everything >_>

Mehhsgfdbjhslogfspp! Don't delete stuff! That's bad! Seriously, you never know when you might draw future inspiration off of some silly thing you threw together. I have tons of stuff that isn't anything more than a loop that I just couldn't go anywhere with, but if I get stuck on ideas I have all those old things to listen to, which could either give me new ideas or I could finally work more on them. But really, don't delete things. It's bad jujus.

And I totally understand what you mean by coming up with cool sounding stuff in your head and not being able to translate it over. That's the biggest problem/road block I've had. All I can say is just keep working out ideas out as best you can, you'll begin to learn your own sort of flow and it'll become easier.

Ok! I won't be doing that anymore then :p

And yeah, I think one of the main problems is that I don't know my software (FL Studio) that well yet. But I just keep pressing all the buttons to see what they do and how it affects the sound xD I've already learned quite a lot by doing that :p

[Pickslide1992]

"Meh, this kinda sucks." and delete everything >_>

Mehhsgfdbjhslogfspp! Don't delete stuff! That's bad! Seriously, you never know when you might draw future inspiration off of some silly thing you threw together. I have tons of stuff that isn't anything more than a loop that I just couldn't go anywhere with, but if I get stuck on ideas I have all those old things to listen to, which could either give me new ideas or I could finally work more on them. But really, don't delete things. It's bad jujus.

And I totally understand what you mean by coming up with cool sounding stuff in your head and not being able to translate it over. That's the biggest problem/road block I've had. All I can say is just keep working out ideas out as best you can, you'll begin to learn your own sort of flow and it'll become easier.

Ok! I won't be doing that anymore then :p

And yeah, I think one of the main problems is that I don't know my software (FL Studio) that well yet. But I just keep pressing all the buttons to see what they do and how it affects the sound xD I've already learned quite a lot by doing that :p

That's the best thing you can do. Like I mentioned before, try emulating the beat from one of your favorite songs to start, preferably one that has a simple beat (Like some old skool rap songs), then if you;re feeling froggy, add a spin on it. Don't be afraid to get some VSTs or samples to play around with if the stock stuff doesn't cut the mustard.

[Discordingly]

That's the best thing you can do. Like I mentioned before, try emulating the beat from one of your favorite songs to start, preferably one that has a simple beat (Like some old skool rap songs), then if you;re feeling froggy, add a spin on it. Don't be afraid to get some VSTs or samples to play around with if the stock stuff doesn't cut the mustard.

Will do, thx ^^