Juggling Studio Roles, How to stay focused when doing it all? Options

[Bonzo3]

I've been wondering why it takes me so long to get from start to finish when making music – and in many ways the answer is obvious: when you're acting as writer, musician, producer and sound technician for the same song, of course it takes time.

However, I feel that one problem with performing all these roles is the difficulty in staying focused. I'm sure I can't be the only one who writes a song with a certain production or instrumentation in mind, and then gets bogged down mid-song by worrying about how I'm going to achieve that sound, rather than leaving this problem to someone else. I think this is particularly a problem when you use programming software as your composition tool, rather than just a production tool.

I'm sure that all of these roles get a little easier through pracitice and experience, but I'd love to hear from anyone how has tips on how to juggle these roles and take things a step at a time, rather than chasing your tail.

All the best,

Bonzo

[coldharbour]

Very good points mentioned above. I think the #1 thing is to get the structure of the song finished as fast as possible, never mind the sounds too much. Then forget about the track for a while, get back to it and listen carefully - and change everything you find is not working. Repeat this until the arrange is good and ready. Bit by bit refine the sounds and then finally have a mixdown session.

On the other hand I love to work with an engineer / programmer or even "outside" producer who I trust - someone to call it a quit when the track is finished, because I tend to refine and tweak everything untill the track is totally dead. If I "have to do" everything by myself I at least like to have someone with me at the mixdown. There was a time when I trusted only myself (foolish..) but as time has gone by I've started to focus more on the creative side and leave the bassdrum EQ tweaks and plugging the cables under the mixing desk to someone who really enjoys doing it (or gets paid to do it..)

Rickenbacker wrote : "Forget chasing the myth of the "perfect mix", that's a true wisdom, too bad it takes many people years to understand it and they end up creating nothing, just looking for a "perfect mix".