Hi all
Hope you are well.
 
I've got a song that I've been working on and for once I'm quite happy with it. Which is actually unusual for me as I usually get half way through and think to myself "well that's complete rubbish isn't it!" .... or "haven't I heard that somewhere before?" .... and realise I've just covered a Floyd song without realising it! 
 
Anyway, I've been tinkering and tinkering with the mix but I went to it with fresh ears tonight and I think I've tinkered it to death!
 
So, just curious, would you:
 
a) keep tinkering until you get it back to where it was or where it is supposed to be
or
b) remove all eq and effects and start again from scratch.
 
I'm curious to see how old hands would go about this.
 
Thanks folks 

Well this is more of a techniques issue than a SONAR one, but because I use SONAR, it has helped form my attitude about handling this type of scenario.
 
I'm going to assume this is a song that is a product of the studio, not playing live. I come from a background of performing songs for months before they got recorded. The object back in those days was to capture the magic of a live performance in the studio, not reproduce something crafted in the studio on stage.
 
Nowadays, when I write a song in the studio, after recording and mixing it I'll often start over because I now know the song's direction. It's not the same thing as playing six nights a week for six weeks in front of an audience, but it's better than nothing. I have yet to encounter a time when the re-cut version wasn't better - less tentative, more streamlined. It also gets recorded in much, much less time. Even if I don't start a new project from scratch, I'll re-record many, if not all, of the parts. Often the first or second take of these parts is "the one." 
 
This also can make the song "fresh" again. And, you don't really have anything to lose because hopefully, you still have the original version backed up.
 
Of course this is a very subjective viewpoint so take it with a grain of salt...or curry, if you like it spicier.
 
 
 
 

I say move on to something else. If you think you've "tinkered it to death!," then you have.
 
Don't do anything destructive and make sure you organize and label everything properly so you can jump right back in should the urge strike. This also makes it easier to go back to the project and pull out selected bits if needed.

Thanks Craig
 
Sorry I've posted in the wrong forum, I usually only visit the Sonar forum, can you move the post please?
 
Yes it is a studio written song. The problem I have at the moment, I think, is that I am writing as I record instead of doing as you say writing, rehearsing and honing a song well before tracking it.
I'm looking at my music in a "sectional" way rather than the whole, if that makes sense.
 
The problem, I think, this time is that I have over processed and over eq'd the song, so much so that I've strangled the life out of it.
At the start it actually put the hairs up on the back of my neck .... and those that have listened to it ... but now it's sounding lifeless to me.
Or ... is that perhaps because I've been "stuck inside" the song for too long?
 
I'm thinking of leaving it alone for days or even weeks and then returning to it but really interested to hear how you all manage this situation.
 
Thanks, and sorry again if I have posted in the wrong forum.
 
Cheers.

Thanks telecharge,
 
Sorry I was typing a response before I saw your post.
 
I'm thinking the same as you 
 
Cheers
 

My pleasure.
 
There might be something here to give you some ideas or inspire you.
http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/tech/9-ways-to-get-better-at-finishing-tracks-640305
 

Take all the FX off and start over, if it's a killer song. You might find that there are so many elements that got "lost in translation".

I too am too often writing as I mix as I write as I record....etc....lol....its a bloody bad habit.....but keeps it all fresh I guess.   That said....I will leave projects alone awhile(weeks) and come back with fresh perspective....this is all my own material of course.   ;o)

Nifty9993
Hi all
Hope you are well.
 
I've got a song that I've been working on and for once I'm quite happy with it. Which is actually unusual for me as I usually get half way through and think to myself "well that's complete rubbish isn't it!" .... or "haven't I heard that somewhere before?" .... and realise I've just covered a Floyd song without realising it! 
 
Anyway, I've been tinkering and tinkering with the mix but I went to it with fresh ears tonight and I think I've tinkered it to death!
 
So, just curious, would you:
 
a) keep tinkering until you get it back to where it was or where it is supposed to be
or
b) remove all eq and effects and start again from scratch.
 
I'm curious to see how old hands would go about this.
 
Thanks folks 

B) remove all eq and effects and start again from scratch.

Sound on Sound does a mix rescue column where they go to a studio and help with a mix. Often the first thing they do is take off all the processors to find out what's going on with the tracks. If they do this while the person is out of the room and then comes back and hears the tracks, they'll often say "Wow, that sounds so much better, what did you do?" 
 
OTOH with my songs, if you hit "E" they sound pretty bad...