Mastering for Electronic Music

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Tag: productivity

  • Simplifying Studio Setup

    This week I decided to take on a project that I had been putting off for some time. I completely rearranged the analog side of my production setup. In the process I ended up downsizing the setup and making changes to my workflows.

    I already produced the first track with this new setup. I documented that process in two videos for the Patreon crew. 

    They are available to watch via these links: 

    Making of “True Reverie” – Part 1

    Making of “True Reverie” – Part 2

    Very happy with how it’s sounding!

    I thought I’d share a few words about how my outboard setup is looking like now and what benefits I’m seeing from this change.

    I removed my 32 channel Midas Venice 320 console from the setup and went for a smaller, 16 channel Soundcraft 200SR which I had not been using for a while due to its smaller channel count and lack of direct outs.

    While not as versatile, the Soundcraft offers me a more focused workflow. There’s a lot to be said about that in the world of endless possibilities that we live & work in now.

    The SR200 is about 40 years old (late 70’s/early 80’s). It sounds smooth and open. It has a wonderful broad 4 band tone shaping EQ and 4 AUX sends on each channel. It’s in great condition. It feels like new and is a joy to use. It’s obviously been well cared for, but it’s clearly also built to last. 

    I removed more than 10 pieces of gear from my setup, streamlining everything and making it much easier to keep track of things.

    The Soundcraft hosts all my remaining equipment. It also has 3 stereo pairs dedicated for DAW summing (corresponding to the 3 mix groups I normally use in my projects).

    Besides the Prism Sound Titan audio interface, my outboard music production setup now consists of only three instruments and four effects.

    • AKAI Force, which works as a sampler & MIDI sequencer as well as the MIDI hub between the DAW and the outboard. Via a group in the mixing console I can easily send anything into the inputs of the Force for sampling.
    • Elektron Analog Rytm, which I love using for drums but also as a bass synth and for experimenting with samples.
    • Korg Opsix, which has nice hands on controls for playing live with FM and other types of synthesis. I can use the Force or Analog Rytm to sequence it, or sequence from the DAW. The Opsix also doubles as the MIDI keyboard in my setup (update July 2023 – since buying the OPx-4 synth for my Akai Force, I am now selling the Opsix as well).

    Additionally I have four vintage digital effects hooked up on the AUX channels of the  mixer:

    • Two Alesis Midiverb 3’s chained in series. These can create a variety of interesting time based effects and it often produces some very unpredictable but awesome results. These can also be driven into distortion and I do it a lot.
    • An Alesis Microverb 3 which I mainly use for delay and gated reverbs. Due to its single function knob interface it’s super quick to work with and find a sound that works without looking.
    • A Yamaha R1000 reverb from 1983. I actually use this more as a distortion box, just running signal through it dry very hot – sometimes spicing that with a little bit of that grungy reverb. Sounds great.

    That is everything.

    I now have less things to maintain and much fewer cables to deal with making it easy to keep things clean. The ergonomics are also a lot better as everything is within easy reach.

    Additionally, the acoustics have improved because I can stay in the sweet spot more when working and there’s less surface area near the listening position causing reflections.

    Of course, making these changes also meant that I had to make some tough choices about what workflows to exclude. But I’ve learned that pushing myself into the corner and setting some limits is usually a good thing for creativity.

    Overall it’s a much better music making and recording experience for me now. It’s a good feeling to have less to maintain and more space to work in. Plus I have thousands of EUR worth of unused gear to sell now! 

    What could you do to simplify your setup?

  • Mastering the Madness

    I use the new years time to gain clarity.

    Why?

    Entropy. 

    Without our help, systems tend to move towards disorder. If we don’t practice mental hygiene, our lives and minds will inevitably spiral.

    Entropy ensures we cannot simply “coast” and rely on existing momentum. Sooner or later that leads us to feeling overwhelmed and picking up bad habits.

    Some people are naturally good at maintaining order.

    Not me!

    About 6 years ago I realised this. Creating chaos out of order is my forté!

    So I started looking into it and developed a simple system to help me feel better and stay more focused and organized.

    Since then I’ve applied this system with good results.

    I follow a quarterly schedule.

    At the beginning of every new year, I schedule two full days for reflection, thinking, organizing and planning. (One day would suffice, but I prefer two to really break my normal routines and set my mind free.)

    Then on April 1st, I take a half day to review and adjust. On July 1st, I take one full day. And on October 1st, I take a half day.

    That’s it.

    I used to make detailed plans in the past, but they always failed. These days, I focus on the big picture when planning and figure out the details as I go.

     Some things I think about:

    • I go through both personal and work related things. I don’t make a distinction there.
    • I think about my goals and aspirations. Sometimes I notice they have changed.
    • I look at all my projects (I approach a lot of things as a project) and establish what are the most important things to work on right now.
    • I look at my past quarters and plans. What went good, what didn’t, and why?
    • I think about how I need to adjust my ongoing plans or projects. Is there something I can/should drop?
    • I go through the important metrics related to my business. I write them down in a spreadsheet so I can track the progress.
    • I think about what I want to learn. There’s always so much, but what will best support me at that moment?
    • And so on – anything that feels important to note or think about at that moment!

    I write things down succinctly. Not only so I can return to it later. Writing itself helps me think better and creates clarity.

    This system has kept me sane for the past six years.

    It feels so good whenever I create that clarity. I always look forward to it.

    Why not do daily or weekly journaling/review practices, as often recommended? 

    I tried it many times, but I never could stick with it. 

    It probably works better for some people. I do like the idea of being that kind of person, but maybe I’m not? Maybe some day I will be.

    In any case I think it’s critical to know when to stop planning. 

    Don’t let yourself get caught up in activities that make you feel smart, but don’t move you closer to your ambitions.

    I keep it simple by doing daily and weekly planning inside my head as I go (and of course, I use a calendar to keep up with the day-to-day things).

    My quarterly practice is enough to know what’s important and that’s all I need to keep moving. So, less time spent planning and more doing.

    Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I can take a moment to return to my notes and trust that it will put me right back on track.

  • Balancing Creative Expression and Discipline

    I have a bad habit of overworking my music. It causes my perspective to get skewed and makes it difficult to see things objectively. I keep tweaking and eventually lose the good thing I had going.

    Part of the problem is having too many options in the production environment. That’s why I prefer simple tools and raw aesthetics to avoid getting caught up in the details. Clean and technical is boring to listen to and boring to make anyway.

    The sharper my senses, the faster my workflow, the better I know my tools, the more focused I am… The better the chance of noticing important things, making the right connections and honing in on something special.

    I focus on getting the basic structure of a project fleshed out as quickly as possible, and then gradually pay more and more attention to the details.

    Collaborating helps keep me accountable and locked in on the important ideas. If I’m starting to lose perspective, I step away from the project and work on something else for a bit.

    But you know what? Sometimes the initial draft really isn’t great. Sometimes changing it is the right thing to do.

    The real challenge is in being able to see each situation as what it truly is.

    Some of my best work came from ideas that got flipped upside down. It’s just that it is a consuming way to work. Art is not supposed to be easy, but I’d still rather get it right the first time.

    Having situational awareness is key for making the right decisions. Don’t float blindly from one thing to the next; direct the creative process. Have the confidence to stick to your decisions — or not — depending on the situation.

    Sometimes it’s best to let loose and see what happens. Other times it pays off to stay disciplined and keep things under control. Over the years I’ve become better at judging these situations. It just comes down to doing lots of work.

    Still, there are always projects that don’t go the way I was hoping for. That’s life. With consistent work, the ratio of wins vs failures keeps getting better over time.

  • Simple Tools

    When working on music, I often prefer using simple tools. Things that are focused on doing one thing really well.

    This is something I’ve only started to learn and understand better in the past couple of years.

    These days we have a lot of magnificently complex tools. Tools that sounds great and offer endless options and possibilities. They often look very attractive on the surface. Because with all those features they will do so much more for us, right?

    Tools like that are usually not my first choice when making music.

    Why?

    First, because I am easily distracted. Using simple tools helps me stay on track and focus on the task at hand.

    Second, complex tools tend to take more time to handle and manage. If I’m using a lot of tools like that, it adds up.

    I design and develop my music making process with intention — asking myself questions like: What kind of workflow are my choices contributing towards? Am I making things easier or harder? Am I building momentum and consistency?

    I don’t think everything can or should be dumbed down. It’s about choosing the methods and tools that are right for each moment.

    I often draw for more complex tools for things like problem solving or mastering.

    But option overload is real. It’s clearly one of the biggest problems of our time.

    When making music I want to tap into the flow state. That allows me to move forward fast. Maintaining the momentum is very important.

    The more I can simplify my process, the better it gets.

  • Invest In Your Skills

    We are currently in the middle of the end of the year discount craze. A lot of audio companies are promoting new products also.

    I really enjoy checking out new plugins and tools.

    It’s easy to forget that buying new tools is not just a monetary investment. It also prompts us to acquire the skills to use those tools properly.

    What’s the cost of that? Your time and attention. A disruption of your normal workflow.

    Many times, we end up not wanting to spend those costs. And the shiny new thing we bought ends up neglected.

    The money is wasted and we end up with extra mental baggage for having made a useless investment.

    Why not invest directly in our skills and understanding of our existing tools?

    This investment can have a much bigger impact than a new tool ever could.

    Skills — not tools — is what truly helps us get ahead of the curve.

    (By the way — If you’re looking for a free, supportive community to help you grow your skills in music production, you’re welcome to join the Resoundsound Discord — invite link for you here.)

    I have dedicated countless hours to expanding my knowledge of many of my favourite tools. I continue to make time for it by regularly practicing, watching tutorials, and re-reading manuals.

    When considering buying something, I strive to be honest with myself. I make a clear distinction between utility and pleasure. Does it bring genuine value to my work? Usually I want a new purchase to solve a bottleneck situation. Or do I simply crave the novelty and enjoyment it may offer?

    I give myself the permission to buy stuff just to have fun with it, as long as I’m honest about it. I try to strike a balance between work and fun, but I do get distracted more than I would wish.

    Never the less, it’s always a good time to remind ourselves: There is more we can do with what we already have.

  • Mac Running Slow? How to Clean Up a Mac in 2022

    How to clean up my Mac? It’s a question most of us Mac users run into eventually. Without proper maintenance, all computers get clogged up sooner or later. In this guide I’ll show you easy steps you can take to clean up a Mac and make it run better. There is a lot you can do to improve your Mac’s performance.

    (more…)