Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
By Earnest Magilakutti Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:30 am
I have some serious beat block right know.Really for the last month...I bought an MPC 1000 about a month ago( before that i had not made beats in almost a year) and I have yet to make anything I deem good music.I am not new at making music or MPC's by any means.It seems that I just never really want to sit in front of the darn thing and use it and when I do I get frustrated looking at it.I was thinking that it was the MPC 1000's fault for being so small in size but after thinking about it rationally I realized that the MPC 1000 is way more machine than my MPC 60 ever was at least feature wise and the MPC 1000 can do as much if not more than my 2000xl.I don't want to sell the thing I want to make some fire music but it's wearing on my patience.I think I am on the verge of greatness if I can just get past this small setback. I keep telling myself that sample based music is more about the records than it is about the machine but it's not working.I think I may have to sign off from the forums for a long while and stop buying music tech mags like Scratch and Remix and start listening to records and stuff.I think more about buying equipment and ways to get equipment than I do about making music.All said I am just ranting but I wonder if anyone else is going through this.

By elmacaco Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:48 am
If you never felt this way until you got the 1000, it's because you sold your 60. :evil:

By simcity Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:10 am
A beat block could be the best thing for you. Do lots of outside reading, like some science and shit, listen to music as a fan again and just dont stress it. Buy lots of records, listen to them and just feel them, start thinking about how you can change some things. And then it will click again. Dont worry.
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By Humblestar1 Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:35 am
elmacaco wrote:If you never felt this way until you got the 1000, it's because you sold your 60. :evil:


Man earnesto.....you asked for it......selling up yo' 60 like that...shyt!!!!LOL

Nah, seriously, when i had it last...i found that what helped me was just Sampling.....get ur house(Files etc) in order!!!

All prep is good for when the spark comes back!!!

Good luck!!!!

PS..find another 60....SOON!!!!!!! :wink:

By Earnest Magilakutti Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:32 pm
I won't be getting another MPC anytime soon and if I do it would be the MPC4000.I wanted one when I got my 1000 but the spot where I get my music gear never has any new ones for sale.I think I may just start listening to music in general more and worry less about making beats.I used to listen to music anytime I was not sleeping and I have gotten away from that for some reason.Now when I do listen to music it's always some sort of hip-hop which can't be helping the situation any because listening to all this Madlib is putting made pressure on my creative vein.
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By elliz Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:43 pm
Earnest,
i've been experiencing the same problem for a while now. i have a hectic schedule plus me and my wife are expecting our 2nd child so i know where you're coming from. Boogie Man was right about listening to music you'd normally wouldn't listen to, it's been helping me to get inspired. don't sell any more of your gear and don't put more pressure on yourself, listening to Madlib, he's just doing his thing. every track we make isn't going to shake the hip hop industry. don't let that bother you, just keep in mind why you do what you do, cuz you love it.

By cyklops Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:01 pm
dont worry dude i can realate "writers block"

What i do when i feel like that is not even listin to music

so i go into theory and stuff with books on anything related to what im doing and spend time learing my gear even more so and re-develop my apprach to my gear and process of working and look for new inspiration

Also i strip away gear to just the bear nessesities just enough to get beats down and evaluate gear i need as oposed to gear i think i need or want

i suppose it varies to person to person but FIND YOUR INSIRATION is the key to me getting going as i get bord of tracks quick

And yes when you get around to listining to music like someone mentioned and listin so stuff you would normally not listin to

thats my 2 cents worth

By VanFanel Thu Jun 09, 2005 4:14 pm
just go and dig, did, did, did...next what I do is record the the vinyl to my computer, then burn to a CD, so that anytime I'm in the car, at work, at school, anywhere, I can still have that with me, just to keep me inspired...

By The Beat Conductor Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:14 pm
I'm going through that beat block BS 2............ :cry: .....................It sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By spectre Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:45 pm
I'm not kidding about this. When I changed from my XL to a 60 I got so much more inspired. I've been making more beats on my 60 then I did on my XL. And in my opinion better ones. Just working on the 60 does something for me.
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By Lampdog Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:56 pm
Boogie Man wrote:Listen to music that you normally wouldn't....


Classical opera stuff workd for me most of the time, also, searching for samples, experimenting with processing and effects.
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By eagle_eye Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:46 pm
The Way I Overcome It Is By Reading Books Or Articles On Audio (Shit Thats Gonna Help U) And Also Kickin Bak And Watchin Some Beat Makin Videos, Theres Nuthin More Inspiring Then Watchin Others Do It, Cos It Gets You In Such An Ugly Mood I Start Getting Straight Back Into It Once Ive Seen Cats Like Dub J Do Some Shit At Like 4 In The Morning, Truly Inspirational Shit
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By Daath7 Fri Jun 10, 2005 12:24 am
Sometimes u just gotta leave that Ish alone for awhile. Check out some movies,take a walk, just try not to worry about Beats, music Euipt. etc. Just chill & clear ur mind. I'm thinkin the nu Mpc is givin u a block, so maybe u can casually look thru the manual every now and then but with no pressure though! Back in the day all I could think about was doin my on music, I stopped listening to other music, now that I'm Diggin I Find myself Listening again not looking for beats and ish just listening.