starting production

hey people,

Just wondering how long you guys have been producing, did you find you had a knack for it or did you have to work at it.

Just wondering cause im finding it hard, I think my expectations are too high really and I need to enjoy were im at and the learning process, but thought it might help to know how you guys started and some of your experiences if your willing to share.

Thanks guys and gals

Agreed badbib, I just make music for me, I love music and I think thats what frustrates me, is when I know its not up too par. Sounds like you started a good way, you had time to find your way into it before you knew exactly what you wanted to do and it got more serious. Agreed also forums are a great place to learn, Iv learnt alot already from here.

Thanks man

Ye can tell you v been at it awhile lol, your drums do my head in, maybe in 10 yrs i'l be able to do drums like you, there actually part of my frustration and part of my motivation. I just have to take a chill pill and enjoy the journey.

Cheers sean for the reply

Wow interesting stuff, no wonder your stuff is that good, you have a masters in music, and a man of many talents, guess you learned quite a lot working in bands aswel before you set your studio up.

Would you have any suggestions for a noob who is just starting out.

hahaha true

During the late 80's i got a bank loan and went on a spending spree: multitrack tape deck, mixer, patch bay, various effects units,  drum machines, atari stfm computer with master tracks sequencer software and a guitar or two.  I ended up producing nothing of any note for around five years (actually it was all crap) and each bit of equipment got sold off untill i had none of it left.
 
I thought my music making days were over and began to accept the fact that i was just no bloody good at it, so i did nothing untill 2004 when i had some spare cash and bought p5. To this day i'll never know why i bought it as a pretty pesimistic precedent had already been set.  I bought a cheap keyboard and joined the forum hust to ask a couple of tech questions about p5.  After about three weeks i had'nt produced anything i was happy with and was about to give it all up again when i listened to some tracks by other members and read the comments.
 
I was impressed and that sort of spurred me on to give it one more try and about a week later i posted my first ever track on the net and i was **** scared.  Fortunately, some thought it was'nt too bad and i'm still doing it, which amazes me more than anything else.  If i had'nt joined the forum i can definitely say i would have given up so it was fortunate i did in the end.  End of waffle.

Would you have any suggestions for a noob who is just starting out.

You need to figure out your own best way of doing things.  Some people can compose on a computer, others need to have a song written first.

Take as much wisdom from the forums as you can, but don't spend too much time there.

If you are composing, don't spend too much time looking for a perfect sound.  Pull up a sound quickly and go with it.  You can always find a better sound after you have the part down.

Someone once said that you have to write 1000 songs before you write your first really good one.  And that you should be warned that the first 995 will probably suck.