Learning curve is bringing me down

[ncc1701]

Has anyone else ever experienced this?I just made a big investment (for me, anyway) on a new computer from Sweetwater Audio, an upgrade to EWQLSO Gold with the new PLAY engine, even a new desk and plans to remodel a room in my basement for my studio. So why don't I feel like writing?I'm having trouble with the latency issue on my audio driver - I've been trying to adjust the audio buffer size and speed, but I'm still not getting great results and I can never reach the Sweetwater Tech Support line when they're open. So I'm frustrated that I can't get my tracks to play right.I'm also struggling so much to figure out the nuances of the orchestra samples. I know it's a matter of tweaking and re-tweaking, messing with it until it sounds right, but ... I just don't seem to have the patience I once did. So I'm frustrated that I don't just have beautiful perfect instrument sounds right off the bat.And all this makes me NOT want to go slog through another couple of frustrating hours in the studio.Anyone have suggestions for how I can shift my mental state to embrace the new learning curve and not feel so stymied/impatient/brain-damaged? My husband is totally supportive, thank goodness, but I can't help feeling guilty (on top of all the frustration) that I'm not down there cranking out fantastic music after spending all that money.Kathleen

[crs7string]

Kathleen,What you're feeling is perfectly normal. I can't count the times I've experienced this. I have learned not to "beat myself up" about it. It sounds like you have a somewhat steep learning curve with this new stuff. The time you need to put in is not necessarily creative or productive time. I buy into the idea that once you scale a learning curve, productivity should increase. It's not always easy to see this when you are a the bottom of the hill.The East West libraries are very deep. (I use Gold ) and I think learning all the articulations is more a function of doing a track and discovering what works for the track.Also, I find when I'm feeling this way about a learning curve, I try to at least do something. Learn a new tune on guitar. Organize my library of tracks. Straighten up my studio. Anything that feels like I'm doing something.Also, just getting started works. I have plenty of evenings when I do not feel like getting in my studio, but I'll force the issue and start something and two and half hours I emerge to a quiet house and everyone's in bed.You did not mention what DAW software you are using. Usually, That would be where you adjust the settings.HTHChuck

[hummingbird]

Kathleen, I have so been there (and am still there). Balance is everything. Write a song with guitar/vocal or piano/vocal & record a sketch of it so that you remind yourself you are a writer & the learning curve is just that.Can't help with the latency issue, but.... think simple, and think short. We often see calls for 30 secs instrumentals... so I would aim to write a mimimum of 30 secs and a maximum of 1 minute long. Create one melodic line with one instrument and work with it until you feel it sounds organic, and then do something complimentary to it (counterpoint). Don't think "orchestra", think "hybrid", don't think John Williams, think atmospheric something-or-other. Combine a live track with a sequenced/midi track.I too spent a couple thousand on a new computer and hundreds on new software, and I'd make a big list of listings and flog myself to get to it. And then I'd remind myself... I'm in the second year of my 5 to 7 year plan to become a respected composer for film/tv. I'd let myself create one piece to submit to a listing, instead of pushing for 3. As my maestro used to say to me... 'it takes as long as it takes'. Relax, embrace the kiss principle, and try to enjoy the journey

[ncc1701]

Thanks, guys. Very good advice.Sept 28, 2008, 3:51pm, crs7string wrote:You did not mention what DAW software you are using. Usually, That would be where you adjust the settings.HTHChuckWhat the hey, might as well let you take a shot at it. I'm using Sonar 7 Studio Edition. The best I can get my EW samples to sound is using 2 audio buffers at the fastest setting, 6.0 msec. I'm in WDM/KS driver mode with 256 playback i/o buffer size.I've read where increasing the buffer size should help, and increasing the speed should help. I don't hear any change no matter how large I make the buffer size, and I can't get it any faster than that. Increasing the number of buffers doesn't seem to do anything either.I've tried messing with the ASIO driver and settings instead, but no improvement. Any ideas?Kathleen

[ncc1701]

Sept 28, 2008, 3:56pm, hummingbird wrote: Don't think "orchestra", think "hybrid", don't think John Williams, think atmospheric something-or-other. Ha ha, I just realized how funny that was. I set myself an assignment to get familiar with the EW samples and using them in an orchestral setting. I downloaded an mp3 of an actual orchestral piece, plus found a MIDI file on the Internet someone else had already arranged of the same piece, and was working on duplicating the sounds. The piece? The theme from "Superman" ... by John Williams.

[crs7string]

Kathleen,6ms should work alright for recording midi parts.I use Sonar 7 as well and can track live guitar at 6ms with out feeling the latency.Also, Sonar 8 is about to be released. They apparently have done alot to improve the audio engine and do some things to optimize the engine to use less CPU.I don't know if you get on the Sonar forum but it is a great resource. There are a lot of "power users" that frequent that board an help comes back very quickly when you post a problem or issue.Chuck

[mazz]

Kathleen,Everyone has had great suggestions. Learning to use your new rig and creating something with it are probably going to be 2 different processes for a little while.I'm only about half surprised at Sweetwater's support. IMO, they should have sent you the computer completely loaded with your library and ready to rock and roll with the settings and everything dialed in. They make such a huge deal about their service in their ads and on their website, bummer that you can't take advantage of their expertise on the system that they sold you!!Good luck, listen to Vikki and Chuck!!Mazz

[mojobone]

Kathleen, keep calling your Sweetwater rep, he'll make it his business (cuz you're his business) to get you up and running. There are many stumbling blocks in the path of the computer-based performer, but if you press on, you'll eventually nail it.

[sgs4u]

Sept 28, 2008, 2:51pm, kelysian wrote:...shift my mental state to embrace the new learning curve and not feel so stymied/impatient/brain-damaged? ...I'm not kidding Kathleen, I used one of this guy's videos to quit smoking. Try it out, I dare you!





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[mewman]

HI KathleenA friend of mine has a theory about this that I agree with. Technical stuff stimulates a different side of the brain than the creative stuff. When your mind is occupied with setting up equipment and tweaking settings and dealing with routing issues and articulation choices, the creative juices can dry up. When my original MIDI set up started to get complex, I found that by the time I turned everything on, opened my log books, set all my channel assignments etc, I just wanted to turn it all off and walk away from it all. I then stripped down my whole rig to just a keyboard controller, a Mac running Logic, and an Audio interface. The ease of the new settup has made it easier to just hit the two on buttons , choose a template and go. Less tech....more creativity.Lately, I've been on this acoustic instrument thing. I go through phases of hating electric piano so I'm concentrating on my upright bass and guitar chops. I'm writing my ideas with a pencil and paper and have not recorded much in the last couple of weeks. I know this will pass soon and when it does I'll have a lot of material to play with!It will pass, don't worry. Good luck!Concerning your latency issue.... this may be totally off base, but have you opened a linear phase eq or some other plug in on a summed channel. I did this in the past and it drove me nuts trying to figure out why instruments that behaved fine when initailly recorded had huge latency problems when I went back to edit them. I had to bypass the plug ins in order to eliminate the delays....it's just a thought.Mewman