This is just a tip for those songwriters whom, like myself, may have found as their collection of vst's grew? So did the amount of time spent clicking through sounds and instruments, until slowly but surely personal projects started becoming never fully completed.
Simply pick a limited amount of sounds, for example: 3 guitar sounds, 1 bass sound, 1 acoustic drum kit, 1 electronic kit and maybe 10 synth sounds (be they synths, pianos, strings etc.) and commit to using
only these sounds for the song.
Once you've made your choice hit 'b' and hide the browser with your plugin lists. Pretend that your (vast?) collection of alternate instruments and sounds do not exist! Thusly, begin writing/playing the song until
all the musical parts are completed.
Do not put on the editors cap until this is achieved! The temptation to tweak dials (any dials) often leads to hours of nothing but that. I realise that everyone has their own way of working. Some people might find that scrolling through sounds and testing every sonic possibility as they go? Is all a part of their process and they still finish tracks. If so? That's awesome and I wish you ever more scrolling and tweaking success!
But if you are like me and have amassed a rather ridiculous pile of partially finished tune tidbits (albeit cool tidbits,) that you keep meaning to come back to but never do? You may find that limiting the changeable/clickable options, keeps you focused on the creation process! As a bonus, forcing yourself to work/stick with an instrument can often lead to coming up with a sweet musical played part, instead of relying on effects workarounds or other presets that do most of the job for you.
Of course adjusting volume levels are permitted as obviously it's no good if you can't hear some of the instruments. But leave all that processing/editing until after all the bits are done. As a DIY recording muso, it's all too easy to complete a couple of bars of an instrument part and then start editing it, making it sound more polished from the get-go! But remember, bands go into studios to write and play what they wrote. Not to tweak dials. That is what the producer is for. Keeping the roles of songwriter and editor completely separate, will curb the desire to scroll through the myriad of options.
Inevitably the time will come where you've finished song parts, started editing and then realised that it needs that extra "something" of a new musical part? Cross that "bridge" when you come to it... Or that chorus... Or verse... You get the point!
Using this strategy has lead me to complete more songs in 10 months, than I had in the previous 4 years combined.
And after all, when using virtual instruments? Once the music parts are completed, you can always chuck on that editors cap and change all of the sounds until the cows come home; and or RSI renders your mouse/controller hand, a gnarled, hoof-like extremity.
Good DAWing!!!