living in mix HELL...

schust

schust

Member
Oct 24, 2007
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so i've been working on my own project now going on almost 3yrs. i've done everything from recording it to mixing it (where i'm at now). i have no record company or client hanging over my head beating a stick telling me i've got 1 week to finish up or else!

so here's my problem; i just can't seem to let go of it. i'm absolutely sick of it, phyically at times, but just can't let go. everytime i think a song is ready for mastering - a week later - i hear something new i didn't hear before and have to again open it up and work on it. really - it sounds stupid - i know, but i just can't say - "enough is enough". i realize whether anybody else ever listens to this - I WILL - for years to come and even the slightest thing will drive me insane.

for you guys who do your own stuff, how do you "let go"?

i think i know the answer, but wonder how you get yourself there mentally and then never go back.
 
you just have to accept its never going to be perfect dude - the day you hear it and you say "yea that sounds fucking cool" close the project. treat it as if you've just released the track to the world. you can hardly go back and remix it again.

obviously unless there is something simply amazing then go back and change it but for the most part move on in the instant you feel you happy with it. this will allow you to work on something new and better. believe me if you move on your going to produce something better then the current project because the nature of humans is to achieve more which you can only do by moving on. dont get stuck in a cocoon.

thats my advice :-)
 
I'm not experienced in mixing (I am learning), but this sounds like the same kind of stuff that happens when one writes something and keeps focusing on that thing (song) and not do anything else. You get stuck, and you start to dislike parts you liked before. My advice is, go do something else. Record some other stuff or w/e and let some time pass without listening to your main project. Then get back to it with clean ideas and maybe you'll find out it doesn't need to be changed anymore. But seriously, you need to take some time off of your project
 
Dexter: that won't help. He has been working on it for 3 years. I am sure he had enough "away" time by now.

schust: Your problem is that no one gives a shit except you. You have no fanbase that is waiting. No band. No record label. Only you.

Problem is: you are your own worst critic (as every serious musician is). So basically what happens is that you are producing for your own worst critic, who will ALWAYS find faults. Also, because noone is "waiting" for the album, you allow yourself time to make it better - which leads to an unfinished album, 3 years in the making.

Frankly, 3 years for an album is HIDEOUS, if you ask me. I put out 3 albums in 3 years (recorded/produced/mixed by myself), made 3 videos (that I produced and directed) and will have an EP out in October - because I just don't worry. The only time when I obsess is mixtime. But even then: after a while I will say "good enough".

99% of the world population will think it's shit anyway. 90% of all engineers will think it sounds terrible anyway. 50% of press will hate it anyway. Who cares ...

The other scenario is: you are simply scared to finish it because then you will receive the "fruits of your labor", which with very high probability are ZERO. No attention. No hot chicks that wanna suck you. No festival shows in front of thousands of people. No friends that think you are the hot shit. No money. No nothing. I don't even know your music and maybe it's the hottest shit since Machine Head put out Burn My Eyes, BUT I've seen this fear in a lot of self-producing musicians. It's a valid fear, too, but it must still be overcome. And it is much more easily overcome by just putting shit out for shits and giggles all the time.

In your situation right now, you are fucked. Get a producer to finish the album. Or set a mastering date with a mastering house and pay everything in advance with a no-refund policy.

Otherwise you'll still work on it x-mas 2012 ... :)
 
Or set a mastering date with a mastering house and pay everything in advance with a no-refund policy.
Click to expand...

that's what i wanted to suggest, too.
just involve someone that needs a final product on a fixed date.
 
smy1 said:
In your situation right now, you are fucked. Get a producer to finish the album. Or set a mastering date with a mastering house and pay everything in advance with a no-refund policy.

Otherwise you'll still work on it x-mas 2012 ... :)
Click to expand...

shessh smy - i can't find a razor blade fast enough.. :heh:

naw - i get it. and like i said in the first post - i know what has to happen - just wanted to hear how others approach this that might have been in similar situation.

i am getting closer. every new project i do, i learn something new and broaden my recording/mixing/playing abilities. this project as been a big one in that regard. that's what it's all about for us "low lifes" out of the limelight. just need to bite the bullet - have my 15mins of reflective thought - drink something - and MOVE ON!

oh - and as far as chicks waiting to blow me... does my wife count??
 
Haha, Schust! No need for a razorblade. Just saying it like I see it. And I like to exaggerate to drive a point home!

I have never been in your situation because I was either putting out shit just for fun (which then happened to get released) or I had a deadline. My new stuff sounds so much better than my old stuff, so I just went with what I could do back then. Just like today. In the end the people just wanna hear a melody, a beat or a cool riff. Even if you are Dream Theater :)

Hope you didn't take any offense, cause none was intended! :)
 
just remember, we (as muso's/producers/engineers/whatever) arent here to please everyone, so as long as you truly know that somewhere someone will dig it then you've done your job. Im sure that all of us here can name a shitload of albums that production wise arent very good but we still love them, big bands too. For fuck sake, if Moby can sell so can you!
 
3 years is waaaay too fucking long to spend on a record.


Hell, look at "Chinese Democracy." What was that, like 10, 11 years? And for what? A snorefest.
 
smy1 said:
Not a good idea. We'll give him way too many things to ponder ... :D
Click to expand...

LOL.... exactly!!! i'm already insane from this... i really would be searching for a razor blade after a few bad comments. :)

i've already sent a few of the mixes through the "grind-machine" over in the rate_my_tone forum. as usual, mix comments. some liked it, others didn't. can't please everyone. but hey - lolzgreg - thanks for the offer! very kind of you.

i'd be happy to offer anybody on here, that's helped me with it over the last year, a free download once it's done. For that matter, a physical CD if they want one. i'm sure i'll have a few laying around after all is said and done.

i must say - beyond the music - one of the coolest aspects of working on it was having our very own Broodwich do the artwork. my avatar is the cover he whipped up. pretty cool stuff. i'm very happy with it. he did a great job! here's a bigger version of it:

losingfaith.jpg
 
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