My New Track

[insonico]

Starting projects is so easy. Finish them, however...

Well, here's the new track: https://soundcloud.com/insonico/cascade

I probably spent way too much time on this track because I have a really hard time deeming things done. I could tinker with them forever, never fully satisfied. But, developing the skill of finishing a track is important.
In any case, I want to finally move away from this track and work on other things, continue learning and experimenting, hoping it doesn't take as long as a month for me to post again.

What about you? How hard is it for you guys to finish projects and move on? How do you know something is done?

[D.Ipsum]

Big waterfall, it carries a lot of things, good tormente dude, its wake enthusiasm.

Starting projects is so easy. Finish them, however...

What about you? How hard is it for you guys to finish projects and move on? How do you know something is done?

I absolutely agree, especially on big projects. On large projects, I find that the interface of LMMS does not make things easier, at least, for my way of working.

And I know that something is done when I'm tired of it, so, I never know ...

[Mo Stitchi]

Yop,

What about you? How hard is it for you guys to finish projects and move on? How do you know something is done?

Each major change is a new version. After 10 versions, the track is done. If I'm happy with it, the track will be published, otherwise it will end its life in the "spare parts" directory, and maybe I will re-use a part of it in another project (typically, drum fills)

IMO, working on several projects in the same time makes the process easier: when you get stuck with a track, you can work on another one. Some days, you are in the mood for creating new melodies, some other days, when you missed the appointment with inspiration, you will fix little problems in other tracks, or you will just lurk here.

[insonico]

I absolutely agree, especially on big projects. On large projects, I find that the interface of LMMS does not make things easier, at least, for my way of working.

Yeah I agree that the interface can sometimes hinder the flow of work.

And I know that something is done when I'm tired of it, so, I never know ...

Do you usually focus on one project at a time? Or do you bounce around projects?

Each major change is a new version. After 10 versions, the track is done. If I'm happy with it, the track will be published, otherwise it will end its life in the "spare parts" directory, and maybe I will re-use a part of it in another project (typically, drum fills)

That's interesting. So, how did you decide on ten? Did you find that trying to work the project past that is pointless?

IMO, working on several projects in the same time makes the process easier: when you get stuck with a track, you can work on another one. Some days, you are in the mood for creating new melodies, some other days, when you missed the appointment with inspiration, you will fix little problems in other tracks, or you will just lurk here.

That's very true. I try to keep working on different things so as not to burn out on a project. But whenever I feel a track is nearly done, I kind of push myself to finish it. Ant that's when I sometimes lose myself in endless tinkering.

Thanks for the reply guys. This topic has been in my mind lately and it's nice being able to vent my frustrations.

[D.Ipsum]

Do you usually focus on one project at a time? Or do you bounce around projects?

As Mo Stitchi and you,I have several projects in progress.

I work one, and when I saturate, either I work an older one, or I make a new one.

The only problem is that, now, I have 223 projects in progress ...

Some are almost finished, some are not, and some projects are just short sequences (like this one https://soundcloud.com/dipsum/0188-00-2-wip). I even noticed that I had two or three empty projects

So be careful when working on several projects

However, no regret. This Friday I was in a trance and I did something interesting that reminded me why I make music.

[insonico]

As Mo Stitchi and you,I have several projects in progress.

I work one, and when I saturate, either I work an older one, or I make a new one.

The only problem is that, now, I have 223 projects in progress ...

Some are almost finished, some are not, and some projects are just short sequences (like this one https://soundcloud.com/dipsum/0188-00-2-wip). I even noticed that I had two or three empty projects

So be careful when working on several projects

However, no regret. This Friday I was in a trance and I did something interesting that reminded me why I make music.

That's a whole lotta projects.
But I understand. The initial stages of a project can flow quite easily and, at least for me, simply playing around with a new plugin or synth sound, for example, might be inspiring and bring about lots of new ideas.

[Gps]

I used to work on one project until it was finished.

That usual gave me allot of frustration, so these days, I work on more then one project.
If I get stuck or annoyed, I continue on another project.

I learned the hardway, that the harder I try, the more I fail. ( at least when making music )

[D.Ipsum]

The initial stages of a project can flow quite easily and, at least for me, simply playing around with a new plugin or synth sound, for example, might be inspiring and bring about lots of new ideas.

Same for me.

I have identified a psychological brake on the progress of a project: habituation and attachment.

If I am used to listening to a project in the state in which I left it, I attach myself to this version of the project, I attach myself to everything that constitutes this version of the project (the sound of the kicks, the depth of a reverb, the entry of the bass into the second minute, etc.). Therefore, when I decide to continue this project, everything will be done in such a way as to preserve what I am accustomed to (if I modify the sound of the kick, it is a catastrophe because I had attached to the sound of the kick as I have become accustomed to it). That's pretty strange.

I have some difficulties to describe and translate that in English ... (even with Google Translation).

So, the short version
:
- it is easy for me to start a project because it is empty, the page is white, tabula rasa, there is nothing, no landmark, nothing to which I am attached.
- it becomes more difficult to continue a project when I attach to a given version (I do not want to change what I'm used to, what I like).
- I must therefore recover that initial state of non-attachment which allowed me to begin a project, and to move forward, to transform something into something else.
- I simply have to agree to participate in the transformation of a beautiful seed into a massive oak. In the state of seed, the massive oak is only potentiality, I must not attach myself to the seed. I must continue to advance towards the unknown, towards what will be a massive oak, or maybe a weeping willow, or maybe a cactus from Mexico.
- So if this bass line is suitable in version 1, maybe that is no longer the case in version 2, so I have to mourn this bass line : RIP

I should try to be more synthetic with what goes through my head

[insonico]

I work on more then one project.
If I get stuck or annoyed, I continue on another project.

I learned the hardway, that the harder I try, the more I fail. ( at least when making music )

Yeah and sometimes a little distance and perspective is all it takes for you to find a solution if you're ever stuck on something.

[insonico]

I have identified a psychological brake on the progress of a project: habituation and attachment.

I must say I've experienced something similar. You get used to something and then if you change it, it feels like whatever made that thing special is gone. Even if it's something that's almost always bad like clicking.
And it can be really hard to put yourself in a more objective mindset in order to change things up and possibly make it better (or not haha). But I find that if I take a break from a project (a few weeks or more), I come back with a more objective perspective.