What’s Your System For Getting Things Done?

[vermeer]

Hi cabbies,Haven’t been here for a while but I have a good excuse. As some of you know I’ve been busy writing my new songwriting software. Because this new app focuses on songwriting, it is critical that I’m aware of all the ways other songwriters are currently getting things done. This will help me cover all the bases.Please let me know in a few concise points how you currently manage your digital files in order to be productive.I’ll start with my current workflow (without the new app):* Note Taking -- I record most of my ideas using an 3D iPod with a Griffin iTalk accessory.* Sorting -- I use iTune on a Mac to sort through the ideas recorded with the iPod and group them into logical songs. Kind of dodgy but it works.* Lyrics -- I keep all my song lyrics in a master MSWord document with an index for quick navigation. For rhyming, I use Webster rhyming dictionary.* MIDI -- When I come out with a keyboard riff, I will record it into Reason and save the Midi file.* Chord Dictionary -- I use a little Planet Wave gadget to get guitar chord voicings. For keyboard voicings, I have a couple of reference books.* DAW -- Once I feel I’ve got all the hooks down (verse, chorus, bridge), I use ProTools LE on a Mac to lay down a MIDI bed track and record instruments and vocals over that. I play all the parts.So, what about you?Vermeer

[vermeer]

Thanx CK! I didn't know about Curio. This looks a lot like a more graphical version of Scrivener (http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.html), which is used by writers of all sorts. I wonder who of the two came out with the virtual cork board first That's a really creative use of this software. Do you use it for music too or concentrate mostly on lyrics? This is very visual too. Can you paste pictures and use this as inspiration?- Vermeer -

[ckbarlow]

Quote: This is very visual too. Can you paste pictures and use this as inspiration?- Vermeer -Absolutely. In fact, on the page(s) where I'm working on the down and dirty lyric-writing work, I paste pictures from the internet that help evoke the mood I'm going for.I've used it also to diagram the cabling I use in different bands because sometimes it's a little complex (I play in a couple of experimental groups, one of which involves me live-sampling the other 10 players; and in another we're all using electronics and sampling each other plus lining out to a separate mixer for monitoring and recording...). So say I have the manufacturer's photo of the rear panel of my mixer and the rear of my audio interface, and I use Curio's "sticky" lines to document what I connect to what for performance vs. rehearsal vs. recording etc etc....For theater, everything from character relationships to to-do lists and cue lists, to PDFs of receipts that I need to be reimbursed for....I could go on and on!

[vermeer]

OK, we're getting somewhere So, your toolchain is:[Curio]+--> [Finale] | +--> [Ableton Live]So basically:* Note Taking -- Curio* Lyrics -- Curio* Music/Chords -- Finale* Audio/Mixing -- Ableton Live Yeah, please send any PDF diagrams to valerianmusic AT hotmal DOT com or E.M. me on this forum. This is exactly the type of innovative workflow I've been wondering about . Million thanks,- Vermeer -

[vermeer]

Quote:Curio is only for Macs. Any similar things for PC?Well that's what I'm working on . Seriously, let me give you a programmer's insight as to why this type of product will never be on PC. Macs come loaded with free multimedia objects for doing things like graphics, PDFs, photo effects, audio, plus the best user interface ever Thins kind of stuff would take years to do on Windows. The Curio team is only two guys and look at what they've done. Plus they get Creative users like CK pushing them in new directions all the time. Pretty neat.PS: I guess you could get some of the same diagram features from Visio (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/default.aspx), but not the whole thing.- Vermeer -

[vermeer]

CK,Thanks for the PDF. Man, that's pretty sweet. This makes songwriting into an intuitive graphical thing, which I dig. Check your email, I've sent you a screenshot of my super secret app. Vermeer

[vermeer]

Weapon (great name),What do you use for quick note taking? I cannot imagine that there's always a DAW nearby whenever you have a great idea Also, what do you use to plan the structure of your song and the chord progression? Which DAW are you using? Mac or Windows?Thanks,Vermeer

[dryan]

I have not written with lyrics in some time so 99% of the tracks I currently write have none. I'd like to think that makes it easier to finish a track but I don't find it any easier. This is my process...Day 1: Design a chord progression and struggle which chords I like better. Decide. Set it up in Sonar. Decide I like the other chords instead. Change my mind yet again because now the direction of the track is too dark. I just go with it. Day 2-7: Design a drum track to support the progression, change my mind six times on something simple. Suddenly I find that all I've done the last 3 hours is tweak the kick & snare to get them just right. Change my mind again.Day 8-12: Design a bass line to fit the track 'perfectly'. Add more elements to fill the track, pad, percussion, etc. Next is the tricky part... I get sidetracked by a new idea that the last four hours of work have given me! I then begin writing the 'new' track starting over again with day 1. Repeat.

[byllsong]

Hi, I seem to get my best ideas at the most inconvenient time. When I'm shaving, doing the dishes, driving; things that have my hands tied up or wet. Anyway, I usually get an idea and look for chords to match that melody/first line that is ready to slip out of my mind. I then record the piano/guitar with a basic drum and bass accompaniment and transfer to CD. On my way to and from work I listen to it over and over. When I get home, if time allows, I adjust and revise as necessary. Soon the melody and word grows and begin to form a relationship. This process could yield a completed song in about a week if I'm lucky, or it could take months. I have a lot out that have to find their way off of that long lost highway. Songwriting is a passion. We do it 'cause we love it. We do it the best way we can with what we have to make it work Remember, the destination is the goal, but lets enjoy the journey. Billy

[vermeer]

@billy,This is exacly how I proceed: get the melody first, then find the chord that fits best. So what do you use to find that elusive chord? From memory or you actually spell out the melody notes and fit the chords? I do both and with this new software I'm writing, I have a function to suggest interesting progressions that match a melody. This helps me break away from the 4 or 5 chord shapes I tend to use all the time. A little inversion never hurts @weapon,Interesting. I used to do the same: I had the DAW ready all the time and would record every single idea I had. While it did wondrs for my ProTools skills, I found that the quality of my songs went up a notch when I wrote away from a DAW because I didn't end up fidling with plu-ins and interesting production techniques. Try it: use a little tape recorder and hum ideas for great melodies. You'll find that your melodies will become more "singable" even as instrumentals. The other problem I had was that at 44khz/24-bits, my 'scratch" sessions were taking too much space on disk and it was too hard to find what I wanted. With the tape recorder, the quality is low (8-Bits), so it takes less place and being so lo-fi, I know I'm not gonna use that for a final recording Keep it comin' guys Vermeer