Cannabis when mixing metal?

[arv_foh]

You know, I guess I do wanna ask about this - you really mean to tell me you've never gone a little stir-crazy and scraped out some resin hits Mike? While I would never call it an addiction, I know that whenever I ran out of weed after smoking/vaping it daily I would just feel a bit antsy during my downtime for maybe a week before I got used to not having the regularity of what is fundamentally an altered mental state.

FTR, as I mentioned above, I agree that there are tons of people (myself included) who can accomplish tons of stuff whilst high, but again, while there's no physical withdrawal per se, because I'm totally able to function, I think simply because of the comparatively powerful effect of weed it's inevitable that a person will feel a bit off when they've been regularly blazing for at least, oh, a month, and then suddenly they run out. But if that's truly not the case for you, then, well, hats off to you

I smoked daily for almost 2 years and when I stopped, I just stopped, I just didn't have a desire to do it any more

 

[Trevoire520]

I smoke everyday

Smoking since 15

not a "stoner" at all

If you're an every day smoker and rely on it for sleep then you are better off smoking as you mix. Smoke enough weed for long enough and you need it to feel normal.

If you smoke every day and need weed to feel normal then tbh you've got a problem. Infact surely taking a substance to "feel normal" is a bit of a contradiction?

 

[SocialNumb]

^That is funny, but really, you wouldn't know unless I told you or I really smoked out. I keep it in very small bits nowadays. Good one!

On my part, about feeling "normal", well I've had social anxiety/general anxiety for a very long time. (I must have said this too many times already) A beer and a toke or two (literally, on the weed part) gets me relaxed enough to ignore my anxiety for some time. For a guy like me dealing with my issues, it really helps. Never before 4 in the afternoon though.

Apart from that, I'm living and I'm happy. Lucky enough, I'm in no need of anything but information. Love me some reading.

 

[Old_Gregg]

Haha this thread is gold...a simple question has turned into a massive debate on addiction. I used to smoke weed more or less daily for a few years till I got to the point where I questioned myself as to whether I was addicted or not, so I thought I'd give not smoking a go, and hey presto, turns out I'm not. Since then I don't really smoke much anymore but thats not because I'm afraid I will get addicted or anything, its just because I would rather spend my money on other things atm. Rest assured when I start having enough money I will probs get back into it but its not really that much of a concern to me whether I do or not. Anyways to answer the main question I tried mixing for the first and only time whilst high the other day and it was pretty groovy I must say. I listened back the next day and of course there were a few things I didn't like but I'm like that whenever I mix songs, high or not. That being said I don't consider myself good at mixing at all, still at a very early stage in the grand scheme of things but I reckon I'll give mixing whilst high a few more goes because as far as I'm concerned it was the best mix I've done (still terrible though lol).

Now to address the people complaining about those who do smoke and mix. People are unique, its quite amazing really. Different genes, personalities, tastes in music, the list goes on. Is it considered professional to mix music whilst high? Maybe not to you but who are you to say what is 'professional' and not. The social taboos of today are completely different to what they were 50 years ago. Just because YOU consider it to be unprofessional or a dirty habit or a sin that will inevitably cause the eternal reign of satan doesn't mean it is. If you don't like it thats fine, just continue not liking it and let others go about their business. If you think its going to hinder their abilities then let them go ahead and hinder them, if what you say is true then they are the ones who will suffer for it, not you. I can't stand people who think that just because they think this or that about a particular subject that everyone else should think the same. It's fine to voice your opinion, infact I encourage it, but its when you start telling people what is right and wrong that annoys me.

In summary, weed affects people differently and people can choose to do what they like with said effects. Deal with it

 

[mmmatthew]

Even if I wasn't a smoker like I am, I still can't imagine coming at this from a "DARE" perspective like some of you guys are. Funky Animal, its cool that you are happy living your life how you are. But when you start using words like "need" and "addict" in the context prior when referring to weed, no one is going to take you seriously. Ignorant is a word that comes to mind. Pot is not cocaine or heroin. If you were to do some research, you would find that it poses no real dangers whatsoever, that anyone who is "addicted" to pot is likely to have some serious underlying psychological or "life in peril" type issues...AKA the homeless people you mention. Also, if you were inclined to seriously research its consumption from a medical perspective, modern science would inform you that pot is noteworthy in that its effects vary greatly from person to person depending on a number of factors. Thus, any conclusion that not being stoned is automatically better, that you have the edge over a non smoker etc, is false. Because it isn't written in black and white. It just isn't an "all or nothing" type situation. Different person, different environments = a slew of different outcomes. Perhaps as widely varied as the mixes you hear on this forum.

Did you ever consider that, when working in a creative business, since we live and die by our ability to be creative, that stepping out of the box every once in a while could actually be helpful, given a reasonable amount of restraint? Imagine if you felt that not only was it helpful in that sense, but you realized over time that occasionally being stoned when mixing actually enhanced your appreciation of sounds in a way that aided you when doing your life's calling? Thats me. Sure weed affects everyone differently and it might not be for you. But it is for me sometimes, and evidently is for some other guys around here. Im not saying that I am putting out the best mixes ever and my work is twenty times sexier than yours...oh and look! my secret weapon is a bong loaded to the fucking sky with purple kush! However, this thread was intended to seriously see what other people think about cannabis as legitimate aid when working with sound. No one would judge you for saying that you don't like it, that it isn't for you etc, because everyone is different. But when a discussion about some casual cannabis consumption as a possible way for enhancing musical creativity (i consider mixing extremely musical) takes your mind immediately into "you are addict" land, something is wrong with you, not me.

I firmly believe it comes down to the end product, and I'm fairly certain most other reasonable people in this business look at it in a similar way. All is either validated or discredited in this department depending on how others interpret your mix. If it blows, the band and label are unhappy, and you were stoned the whole time and thought it was awesome then, but listen to it now and are in awe of the sheer shitstorm you created, you need to reevaluate. However, this is just not me! Im personally really thankful for what smoking does to my perception of sound.

Lets try to get past this and look at it like this: We work in the entertainment business...at the end of the day, we are just helping people create a product that will hopefully stimulate some sort of enjoyment to the listener, and that is ultimately the bottom line. Ergo, it really doesnt matter what your personal stance is on all of this is...The punctual, easy to work with guy putting out the best sounding stuff is going to be the guy that gets the job. Whatever gets you there, within reason of course. Given that cannabis has largely negligent side effects, I wouldn't see anything wrong with smoking an ounce a day if it turned me into Colin Richardson or Fredrik Nordstrom (sadly not the case).

For me it is a bad idea to be stoned when dealing with people and tracking etc. But when mixing alone I am certain I actually do a better job when high. Organization becomes more important and sonic details become more evident. Just me though. :Smokin:

 

[mmmatthew]

If I was to experiment with mixing stoned, I'd go about it like this:

- do all the work you usually do on a mix (sober)
- after you finalize mix, save as "Final mix 1"
- let it sit for a day, listen, tweak, save as "Final mix 2"
- let it sit for a day, smoke weed, listen, tweak "Final mix 3"
- let it sit for whatever time I have for the project
- choose best mix / post comparison thread on sneap forum

This is a great idea!

 

[Terminus]

I smoked daily for almost 2 years and when I stopped, I just stopped, I just didn't have a desire to do it any more

Same thing but for 15 years, when I stopped last year it wasnt even close to difficult. I did get alot of crazy dreams and some general anxious boredom feeling for a couple of weeks, but not really any urge to smoke because of it. Just wanted something to pass the time.

I could function just fine high all day, even gave a couple of presentations at my old job stoned as shit, it just got old and I watned to spend my money on more concrete things such as GAS purchases, and not spending 50-75 bucks a week (plus a 9 dollar six pack of beer every day) REALLY helps a guy's wallet out.

 

[SocialNumb]

If I was to experiment with mixing stoned, I'd go about it like this:

- do all the work you usually do on a mix (sober)
- after you finalize mix, save as "Final mix 1"
- let it sit for a day, listen, tweak, save as "Final mix 2"
- let it sit for a day, smoke weed, listen, tweak "Final mix 3"
- let it sit for whatever time I have for the project
- choose best mix / post comparison thread on sneap forum

Would work, but you have to have a dude that does not get nutty on weed.

Another control, if you will.

A seasoned mixing engineer that does smoke and can do his job. Any takers?

interesting . . .

 

[Star Ark]

If you smoke every day and need weed to feel normal then tbh you've got a problem. Infact surely taking a substance to "feel normal" is a bit of a contradiction?

I did have a problem and I think anyone smoking weed is doing the wrong thing. Same as alcohol, drinking makes you feel like shit the next day, it is bad for your body and mind, so is weed. Aside from having a good time there is no benefit to either

 

[GarethSE]

Way to speak in absolutes there man. "THIS IS THE TRUTH." No, there are many truths, totally dependant on the person.

Most of society needs a cup of coffee or two (or three..) to get themselves going in the morning, without it they get all antsy, tetchy, nervy, stressy, horrible shit. Caffeine addiction is, guess what, a "drug addiction" if you wish to put it in such terms, and the majority are knee deep in it.
A few guys here happen to simply prefer a different "poison" and THEY'RE the addicts? Please..

 

[MarcusGHedwig]

Aside from having a good time there is no benefit to either

In my case at least, I have to agree - and Gareth, the comparison to caffeine is ridiculous, simply because caffeine has nowhere near the psychoactive effect weed does, which is what's relevant (not the fact that it's so addictive)

 

[Moonlight_Seeker]

I personally don't really care, everyone is high differently. Some become paranoid, some become chill and happy, some are more awake, some just stay in the couch for hours, some people it makes them more concentrated some more distracted.

I used to smoke but not anymore since last summer or so. I think the only down point is the feeling of when the buzz goes away. Made me feel like a boiled potato... and boiled potatoes don't work very quickly. But to each their own.

I think the comparison to caffeine is not so bad in the sense that everyone reacts differently to different substances.

The idea of making a mix sober and one puffed up is not bad. Maybe take 2 songs, one start sober and the other start high?
Final mix 01 for song 01 = sober
Final mix 02 for song 01 = high
Final mix 01 for song 02 = high
Final mix 02 for song 02 = sober

But I'm not participating.

 

[Zombietakeover]

Take someone that's "addicted" to weed and a person that needs there Coffee, or there Moutain DEW or there Cigarettes ESPECIALLY CIGARETTES...these ppl can't even go an hour without lighting one up....But anyways Take all those people and lock them in a room and see who breaks first...

 

[pitoga]

(sorry it's in German I could translate it but I'm pretty sleepy right now, if anyone could do it, would be great)

I want to share with you this table referring to effects and stuff some drugs can generate (it isn't really showing that but something related to it) I can't really speak much about it cause my Sister who studies psychology in Germany "Justus Liebig University Giessen" send it to me some time ago. I can't really add much to this discussion because a don't smoke weed nor cigarettes or drink alcohol or coffee( maybe I'm missing out don't know). I just wanted to say that some years ago i was pretty radical about not consuming drugs. But then almost all of my friends if not all began to do it, and actually it didn't make any difference to them (to some it did) Two of them are actually finishing berklee this year as the top students with scholarships and everything. So I guess it's : whatever works for you.

 

[Fragle]

Take someone that's "addicted" to weed and a person that needs there Coffee, or there Moutain DEW or there Cigarettes ESPECIALLY CIGARETTES...these ppl can't even go an hour without lighting one up....But anyways Take all those people and lock them in a room and see who breaks first...

cigarette addict, DEFINITELY.
with alcohol it depends largely on the type of addict you are...alcoholism isn't just *needing it* every day. you can just as well be an alcoholic if you can go without for weeks and months, but once you get started there's no limit, it's outta control.
coffee fwiw doesn't have any real phsical withdraw effects imho...personally, i drink a lot of coffee, but every once in a while i just stop it completely and drink tea instead. i could as well drink nothing, but i just love hot drinks, especially in the morning.
weed....once again, everyone's different.

 

[Josh Burgess]

Depends on a bunch of factors. As mentioned, the kind of weed definitely makes a big difference. Pure sativa and sativa dominant strains tend to give a very energetic, social, creative, psychedelic kind of high... (also paranoia and heart racing when overdoing it lol, but I digress), whereas pure indicas and indica dominant strains have a heavy, deep, narcotic effect with a strong body high. With some sour diesel or any type of haze, I could see someone mixing happily and creatively.... but some kush could put some people right to sleep.

I think it's probably better to not smoke/vape in front of clients, unless they bring up the idea first and you think there's enough time for a break. When you're mixing on your own time after the band has left, I say there's nothing wrong with doing whatever you do. If you can smoke/vape and pump out awesome mixes, then there's no problem. You're being payed for the work you did... so, as long as the quality is up to standard and all deadlines are met, it shouldn't matter how you made the mix or what state of mind you were in while mixing. If being high causes your mixes to not live up to your standard of quality or slows you down too much to meet deadlines, then you shouldn't be high while mixing.

As far as whether it helps or hurts... for an experienced smoker, I don't think it would make too much of a difference either way. It's still the same person mixing... their skills and preferences are still going to be the same. A sativa strain might kick up the creativity a little bit, but for the most part I don't think being high would really help or hurt while mixing.

 

[mva801]

Now I never really smoke, and I think it would be tough for me to mix if I was high, since all I ever want to do is lay down and listen to ISIS. But I can say this: I engineer at a well known studio, and I've seen a couple multi-platinum, multi grammy winning engineers come through who mix while stoned as fuck. Works for them I guess. FWIW, they seem to be just as productive when sober.

 

[Charles J]

I'm not going to give my personal opinion on this because really, it IS A FUCKING PERSONAL DECISION.

If you're the type of person who is lazy, disorganized and an all around lax engineer, you're going to be these same things whether you're high or not.

As far as smoking, drinking, etc in front of clients. NEVER. Unless they bring it up first, as mentioned.

I don't really drink but if I WERE a person who HAD to smoke just for relief of anxiety, depression, WHATEVER; I'd do it in private...!

 

[MarcusGHedwig]

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/...l-ship-europe-free-step-down-transformer.html

Just FYI