Does anyone else compose this way?

[trentoliphant]

When I am composing instrumentals (or even music to lyrics) I do it at the piano (or midi keyboard). If I am doing a new part, I play around with ideas and then find one I want to develop and try to work out some stuff - anywhere from 4 - 16 measures at a time. If I am doing an accompaniment part, I play the section in question and play along trying different ideas. The problem comes is that I end up playing something that I absolutely love and then I can't seem to play it again - I can only get close.Does anyone else have a similar situation? What solution do you use to avoid "losing" that perfect take? I am considering getting on of the portable recorders that are available now (looking at the Zoom H2) for the things I work out away from the computer. Has anyone tried this?I use Pro Tools to do my recording and maybe I just don't know how to use the loop recording feature very well to capture all of my takes and then pick the one that I really liked. Any thoughts on this?If you don't compose this way - what is your methodology?Trent

[avillaronga]

If we're talking about audio, I do it in ProTools using the loop feature, I do a bunch of takes and pick the best. That seems to work pretty well for me since I compose mostly with a guitar and use the keyboard to add parts later. You have to make sure your session is set to non-destructive recording so that each take does not overwrite the previous one. I do that when recording vocals as well, I find it takes me about 10-12 takes to really get in the groove so I loop a verse-chorus section and do it over and over. If you are trying to record MIDI in this way then I don't know, I think MIDI recording in ProTools is always destructive or maybe I don't know how to make it not be. But if you're doing scratch takes then why not record them in an audio track with the output from your keyboard and once you've found the best part, play it with the MIDI controller. When I am away from the computer I use my cell phone, it has a voice notepad feature where I can record short messages. HTHAntonio

[ciskokidd]

Hi Trent,If you are that computer. I would use your sequencing software in multiple take mode. All the big ones allow you to do this. That way you can pick and choose different pieces from different takes.If you are away from the computer, I would use some sort of a portable digital recorder that you can then transfer to your computer.Cisco

[jewelwing]

Lots of my instrumental-writing is driven by melody and/or rhythm riff. And I often have musical ideas when I'm not near a recorder or computer. So I have my own musical shorthand for quickly writing down the melody/lead line or rhythm pattern where ever I am (playing an instrument, singing to myself in the car, walking down the isle of the grocery store...). When I'm next at my computer, I use a musical notation program to write a lead sheet. When I'm working on the accompaniment, I either work with a digital recorder or use the musical notation program on my computer. Which one I use depends on what instruments I'll use in the accompaniment. If I'm going to accompany on a chordal instrument like piano or guitar, for example, I'll use the digital recorder to keep track of my improvisations. If I'm going to use lead instruments that play one note at a time (violin, flute, etc.), it's faster for me to create those parts in the music notation program and play them back individually and together to check the overall composition. (I may tweak the final parts a little when I'm recording, because of how the instruments are sounding.) I also keep notes on effects I want to put in at certain places (I seem to have a lot of these ideas when I'm not near recording or mixing equipment, so I have a file and note system for compositions in development). I suspect I use music notation a lot because I'm both visually and sound oriented. If I was less visually oriented, this system probably wouldn't work so well for me. Hope these comments help...

[southernhoosier]

Hey Trent. I often write the same way -- composing melodies and accompaniments on the keyboard. If I compose on another instrument -- guitar, flute or vocals -- I quickly move my new compositions to the keyboard as well. Here's why:One of our studio keyboards has a built-in record feature; if nothing else, I hit the record on that keyboard to at least capture a rough, working version of a new melody or accompaniment. Keeps me from losing it, and gives me a copy that my music partner can hear -- and also develop -- when he sits down at the keys later. Or vice versa.I know there are other small recording devices out there that would serve the same purpose, however, since the keys already have a simple recorder, I find I am more inclined to just hit the "record" button when I sit down at the keyboard rather than immediately set up a recording track on the computer.This simple recording also helps me develop a secondary melody and/or accompaniment. I can hit playback on the keyboard, then play along on the keys with it. Once I'm into it that far, I replay the first recorded part and save it as a midi file, then I continue work on the other parts.If the impromptu recording happens to be clean enough to use as a real track or partial track -- and sometimes it is -- we can play it back on the keyboard and capture it in midi, then move it to the computer for additional work.I hope this helps.

[hummingbird]

I compose in a variety of ways- sitting at the keyboard trying out riffs.... usually make some kind of notation so I can remember what I like- playing the guitar trying out progressions... again, making a note of what I like- improvising vocally, trying out different ideas - I tend to record this as I'll get to the point where I think... oh, what was that cool thing I did 5 minutes ago- open my recording software and play with an industrial sound & once I've got it playing, improvise vocally something that seems to go along with it in my mind.... and then choose an instrument to play that riff and do the midi for it.- start designing a groove... choose some drum sounds and industrial sounding clips and keep adding rythmatic elements til I have something I like... then I'll start designing/recording other tracks as the inspiration flows... I try to trust the muse- write lyrics until I'm satisfied with them, and keep them by the computer or on my keyboard, looking at them and thinking about them until melody starts to come into my mind, and I sing what I have over and over until the next part comes... start finding the guitar chords... note them down as I figure them outOften I just start by playing with an idea... or a title... or a sound.... or a groove... or a snippet of melody... and see where it takes me.Hummin'bird

[davewalton]

Quote:I compose in a variety of waysMe too. With clothes, without clothes... it all depends.

[liamkelly]

Quote:Quote:I compose in a variety of waysMe too. With clothes, without clothes... it all depends. Porn listings... clothes off....Are you OK, Dave

[davewalton]

Quote:Quote:Me too. With clothes, without clothes... it all depends. Porn listings... clothes off....Are you OK, Dave I KNEW that was going to come up.

[sgs4u]

I once did a session for fun with a bunch of friends. We decided spontaneously to get naked, and sport transparent underwear, made from the plastic bags that drum heads are shipped in. Yes, there was a little alcohol involved. Too much information? Quote:Quote:Porn listings... clothes off....Are you OK, Dave I KNEW that was going to come up.