5 (Stupid) Tricks To Be A Better Musician

[@VenusTheory]

This episode powered by Diet Coke 🥤 My first course is out now! ► bit.ly/vtgamemusic

[@JimmyTee73]

Awesome

[@TigburtJones]

Dude every time you say something at the beat that I would cringe at-you just say exactly what I think and feel. I’m very happy that you’re out there; it proves that there are geniuses and inspiring conduits doing the good worK. You are amazing; thukbs up soldier! (Captain America reference from capcom vs street fighter)

[@stizan9185]

Most of what's called techno today has nothing to do with copying motown/disco, completely different sound. There is lots of unique music made throughout history but people always tried to put it in a popular label name

[@mas_milofi]

@@stizan9185 the song thriller imo is the seed of all dope techno, no?

[@kirkweed7268]

I’m a 67 year old guy with a degree in Music Theory/Comp from Cal. St. Fullerton. I learned to write music before there were daws or you tube or sample libraries or internet or personal computers. The only electronic music i had ever heard was “Switched On Bach”. We had to write everything in our heads before we could get it down on paper. The only technology we had that the masters (Bach, Beethoven, etc) didn’t have was a pencil with an eraser. The production was done by someone else (the performers). Our focus was the foundation you talk about. We learned the difference between Creativity (the ability to stare into the dark and hear the music) and Craft (the ability to share it with someone else). Thanks for this great video. You hit the nail on the head.

[@z3ussy970]

Good point. Also why i never undwrstood constant yabbering from the brass section about having to prepare for an exam when we had a live show. Back then, only needed electricity, amps and a venue. When real music was a privedgle to play and experience live. Real musical craft and creativity is Live shows, no matter what. Music theory crap vs jamming anywhere you could plug in. No one talks about this

[@mrratskins]

Hey! I used to take piano lessons as a kid at Cal St. Fullerton in the mid 60s. My teacher was Rita Fuzcek. Maybe you knew her. The campus was only 2 buildings at the time. Switched on Bach blew my mind at the time. First time I really clued into a synthesizer. I record quite a synth Bach pieces now. It's a lot easier now that we have computers and quantize. I restored a Zuckerman clavichord and use that for Bach as well.

[@kirkweed7268]

@@mrratskins Rita Fuzsec, that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. I took a class she taught called Piano Pedagogy. She stands out in my memory as one of the best professors. She was scary but an excellent educator. What a wonderful opportunity you had to study with her.

[@mrratskins]

I'd like to tell you I was a good student. But I was horrible. I took lessons from about age 8 thru 13 or so. I didn't practice. I acted like a brat. But for some reason she thought I had talent and tried to get me to go to Julliard. Ended up running away and being a druggie. I wish she could see me now. I developed a good classical technique and have really upped my game. Played in bands. Had a couple of well reviewed albums and been in a few movies. My final analysis is this: music is most fun when on the amateur level.

[@lemagicbaguette1917]

@@mrratskins as a kid with a dorito guitar and no formal training, I can confirm this.

[@mariorruiz]

Dude, I really don’t say this lightly, you are one of my KZbin faves. I value authenticity and you’re doing a great job here. Keep blessing us with your vids.

[@eDrumsInANutshell]

My words! And I just sticked to this channel because of the voice... I was like... huh .. is it fake ... AI ... ??? No, just an incredible cool dude creating great content and ... a Saturday night radio voice! And I am watching this being just a hobby drummer. But I learned about mixolydian flat 6 here. So ... thank you!

[@Narcissistic_Penguin]

Now, get off KZbin and go and make some of that music you've been working on

[@crizza2000]

Well said!!

[@josefushaze5098]

Agreed. You nailed it with this channel. I normally hate KZbinrs. Kudos!

[@frenzyhat]

Yes! Your authenticity teaches a lot to us.

[@DerekPower]

For the lazy amongst us ;) =] 0:00 (ain't nobody got time for that) INTRO 1:14 STOP MAKING MUSIC 2:22 STEAL IDEAS 3:33 STOP PRACTICING 4:57 PRODUCE LESS 7:40 JUST PLAY THE DAMN SONG 9:35 OUTRO (or "That's all got for today; go away now")

[@Lodit24]

These timestamps are just making the video seem more and more interesting lmao

[@ThomasLoyd]

That OUTRO looks like a "Steal Ideas" step from The Critical Drinker's channel outros....

[@jjptech]

6:38 DON'T MIX!

[@DerekPower]

@@ThomasLoyd 😁

[@compucorder64]

Also 0:23 PURRFECT GRUMPY CAT

[@NJOverclocked]

It’s my lucky day. Lazy habits are the only kind I have!

[@crnkmnky]

✋😫

[@spudmcqueen]

Leaving the faders and mix alone when you're making a new song is such a good tip. It really is all about sound selection and whether all the pieces fit together or not rather than trying to force them together from the get go.

[@At.mos.fEarProduktionz]

I’ve been fortunate enough to make music while I’m working. I work from home and I do customer service. In between calls I start my process of findings sounds and as the day goes on I work on my track little by little. By the end of my shift I have the idea of the track and by the end of the day I have the bulk of the song done. It’s been working for me for about 2 and a half years. 😎👍🏽

[@thebreathalyzer]

If you look at so many of the classic jazz albums, they recorded it live often direct to two tracks with no subsequent mixing. Mistakes happen and if the overall take was good, that's what you heard on the record. Your sound was your sound with minimal effects processing. Recording complete performances live tells you a lot about what does or doesn't sound good, etc. You can still record that way with a DAW.

[@timtsistinas]

What you said about using old school techniques and simpler mixing is so true. I see so much crap on social media with people getting into insane minutia with mixing when I keep saying "if your arranging and songwriting is good, mixing is a breeze".

[@KawaiiSteez]

Stop making music is such a cheat code. The intentionality behind creating is crazy. For "practicing" I think sometimes my "practice" is sitting down with an idea and learning to flesh it out to make it into something real but your so right. the application of your skills is the best. All of these tips are dope and reaffirming for what I like to do! I like the added context as well

[@Xanaduum]

I cycle between modes. There are times when I say now is the time for messing around and seeing what will happen with my instruments. And other times where I'm working generally on tracks and doing file housekeeping in between, then there's the third mode which is have a specific plan, work on it, when it's done, make a plan for next time.

[@KawaiiSteez]

@@Xanaduum Thats dope! I think the fact that you are cycling keeps things fresh atleast subconsciously. I do the same and i really feel like it helps the end goal anyways. Thank you for sharing

[@Xanaduum]

@@KawaiiSteez some times you've just gotta play around like a kid, improvise, twist knobs on synths even if you don't know what they do and just see what heppens. It's the most fun way to learn. And sometimes you've got to be structured as hell.

[@witherschat]

​@@Xanaduum Actually, twisting knobs on synths and seeing what happens is how I discovered my "default" bass instrument (when I can't/don't want to bother finding something better), a great background arpeggio sound, and funny glide synths. Can 100% recommend, it's fun.

[@gagemorgancomposer]

"The rough mix of a song can only be done with faders and panning." This unboxed a mind bending paradigm shift for me, holy shit. Because you are absolutely right, it makes you extremely intentional about what elements are going into your track and not relying on over production to make it sound good. I will absolutely be implementing this in everything I do from now on. Thank you, bro

[@fenexj]

that thumbnail lol

[@CatFish107]

I thought he was holding a pipe wrench at first glance, and had a good giggle.

[@DanLaDue]

Dude abides

[@kozmobluemusic]

I ain’t thirsty… I’m ✨ *_D E H Y D R A T E D_* ✨🥵

[@mikerinehart]

He’s kind of a big deal and his studio smells of rich mahogany.

[@kozmobluemusic]

it is a thirst trap and i am ✨ *_D E H Y D R A T E D_* ✨🥵

[@TripleTSingt]

I find I'm most productive if I have a goal. For example, last year I said to myself "I've got two months of time, let's make an album", thought about a vibe, a theme for the whole thing for a while and then started pumping out tracks. I didn't end up having those 2 months, but I worked on it for almost a year in my free time and got it done this spring. I wrote 2 hours of music I'm really happy with in a year, after having basically nothing for the 3 years before that, where I just sat down to "make some music" 3 times a week.

[@sandy.redding]

As someone that started music very late in life and spending the last decade trying to get better at it, the notion of stopping practice just floored me.

[@williamschumacher9316]

Thank you mustache man. Billy Schu here. 40 plus years of recording, my go to is still to play live to my tracks. allows me to be "in the pocket". My down fall is having unlimited tracks to keep adding parts.

[@stetsonwhitworth3307]

been trying to tell my clients this for 15 years - the source is so much more important than the mastering chain

[@Daneiladams555]

work fast, like prince, this is one of my rules, stay out of the mind and hyper focus, find sounds that work , move forward. find the flow state

[@neuronist]

coincidentally i just recently said i'll do short experiments, which are sometimes just a patch with a sequence, slap some delay and reverb on it and call it a day. so much can be done with so little already! but still think going deep matters, just can't forget to just have fun too :)

[@Comedy4cast]

Gotta agree that it's much better to play the keyboard than push the DAW spreadsheet cells around. I am not a musician, but I play one when I work through a tune by memorizing where my fingers are on the piano keyboard. And while I'm doing that, sometimes my hand slips and my fingers land on much more interesting notes. "Okay. Change of plan." That simply doesn't happen when I go click, click, click on the piano roll window.

[@blu_scuro]

The beginning of video is just describing all of our lives… All the crazy multitasking, video, marketing, leaning, practicing… all that on top of having another regular job that pays the bills - and in the end no rewards haha oh well

[@mrratskins]

Such great wisdom . . . after you carve out the cynicism. The biggest problem for me (and probably everyone else) is wanting to utilize the myriad exotic tools at our disposal. That is how you end up in trouble. So your point about simplifying is well taken. My solution is to make several versions of the same song. Each version has it's own set of plugins, arrangements, and production techniques. That way you get to experiment with many different sounds and have some creative fun.

[@johndav_iD]

7:24 is SUCH a GEM 💯 I try to get peers of mine to understand this when I critique them because they only seem to like something when it's produced to pristine quality when the song itself would not be NEARLY as good without production. The true test of a great song is if it still holds weight without the bells & whistles.

[@witherschat]

Honestly, now that you bring it up, I realise that 100% of the tracks I'm proud of, I already liked before doing fine-tuning on the processing. The extra refining made them better, sure, but only because the base was good.

[@AlexKurilovMusic]

"At least now you'll have something to show for it" is such a relatable motto. It really helps when I feel down and discouraged.

[@dontmindme2402]

This is why I'm still subscribed to this channel. You just accurately portray what its like to make music. Even as a guy who has 5 or so videos on thier musician youtube account and countless unfinished tracks, i still relate to the guy whos doing this for a living. Excellent video, I'm glad I've stuck around.

[@Grump-wm1tp]

Some great insights VT. I enjoy your little rants and home-truths. Here's mine: I remember the absolute thrill when I purchased for an obscene amount of money, my first multitrack cassette tape deck (Tascam 244) - yep, FOUR tracks!! each one individually recordable, and you could "bounce" three tracks into one to get awesome multi-layered things happening. And then, shortly after that, another obscenely priced drum machine (Roland TR707) sent me into nirvana as I learnt the art of programming beat by beat the patterns and fills I desired, and then carefully backing them up to tape. Finally, a couple of years later, the same thrills when I bought my first synth (Ensoniq ESQ1) at an equally obscene price, and the buzz of creating new sounds to complement the massive 40-slot onboard patch library, and carefully backing the new ones up to tape.......(I say obscene, because in my country, you pay up to three times the price than you would in the USA). It's 2024: I choose from any number of absolutely mind-blowing DAW's and synth/drum plugins, but the thrill and buzz is absent: seemingly infinite tracks, infinite effects, infinite patches. The creative urge is still there, but the ratio of tool-tinkering to playing music back in the day in now reversed. What I mean is, once I had my "tools" set up, and figured out how get music out of them, I just switched them on and started making music. Today, half my available "music" time might be filled up with PC problems, updates of software, compatibility issues, authorisation (thanks iLok), insane download/install programs that almost every vendor feels compelled to use, checking out recommendations, trying a different reverb plugin because the last one just went weird for a certain setting, useless hours fine-tuning 100 tracks when I've only got 5 instruments, "housekeeping" all those plugins and unused tracks, backups, etc, etc, etc, not to mention software glitches and crashes. The technology is amazing, but it can also kill productivity, and now, with AI, probably can kill creativity. I used to smirk at seeing some guitar legend on stage who had to change guitars at every song, and thinking "why the photon can't he just use one?" But I realise, given how I do music these days, I do the same.

[@kenkamonn]

When you're scrolling through your phone, you are listening to others. when you are creating things, you are speaking for others. When you let silence or ambience take it's space, you are listening to yourself.

[@fattmarbe3800]

That's so true, sometimes I've tried too hard and it could have been done in a more relaxed way, because in the end you probably won't get millions of whatever out of it. If you do, then you're "kinda" lucky, but if not, at least you haven't beaten yourself up.

[@horizontalblanking]

As a “gentleman of a certain age” …I remember the dawn of the computer based sequencer, and its metamorphosis into today’s DAW. I’m way happier to do my music today because of the ease at which I can do it. Side note: your first time editing TAPE is frightening. But what I do like is that my “old timey” experience has made me better with today’s tools. Yes… all options are open and endless track counts await me. But being able to (mostly) play all my parts live, and get my ideas down efficiently is something I love… and I think is missing for some. Unfortunate. The quote that always stuck in my head was from a person I worked with who worked at a major music equipment company: “If your music takes more than 16 tracks… I don’t know if I want to hear it.” This has stuck with me and helps keep me on track. I’m going to go yell at some clouds now.

[@heronislandstudio8054]

Love your channel and you've made a lot of really great points here. I do disagree with one of them in some circumstances. Your recommendation to stop practicing doesn't work if you are a jazz musician or another genre (like progressive rock) where instrumental playing is where a significant amount of the music is happening. This kind of music requires significant practice on-going, there's just no way around that. I had the privilege to spend a couple of hours with Roger Mayer who hand built some of Jimi Hendrix's famous effects pedals. He said that Jimi lived with the guitar on. He literally made breakfast with a guitar around his neck, he practiced constantly. That's why he was so ground breaking as a guitar player. His instrument became an extension of himself.

[@tonverfall_studio]

The hardest part of making music is the endless options and choices. So, I try to give myself only a few choices at each stage of creating. Not only does it make the process easier, but it also commits me to keep moving forward. I finish pieces because I "burn" most of my "bridges" behind me.

[@geoffwidmier3714]

I am happy that I play in a band, in addition to making beats or whatever. I get to do live performances and release albums, so I don’t feel any pressure to make or release beats. Also, my band has a guy who can write entire songs and play every instrument better than the rest of us, so I don’t have to create and arrange entire songs all by myself. It also removes the pressure of releasing music, because it is not 100% mine and I am therefore not 100% responsible for what I release.

[@seryozha_evil]

You have no idea how much I like this genre of videos you make. Also you have no idea how much I actually needed to hear these tips. Thanks a lot!

[@eddywinter5153]

So true! As someone who has spent DAYS re-recording and mastering a track I really struggled when some Muso-colleagues of mine set me a challenge of writing and recording a song in a week, with the proviso that the recording (which was shared with my peers) was a "One and Done" take. It really forces you to get creative in the moment, and rely less on goldplating/polishing whatever dull-crap you over-engineered. Thanks for this timely reminder - it's better to play/record 'something' rather than angst over what you 'might' do and how you 'could' do it. 🙂

[@yakmartin5429]

Since the video doesn't say it and maybe you are new to being a KZbin consumer: Press that "Like" button. Subscribe and turn on notifications. And then look around and finally come back and notice, "Oh fuck yeah, that guy, how he comes across, what he says, how ridiculously overpolished that production is, yet not gimmicky, but to the point... I found the tops already!" Thanks Cameron and community. 🧸💕

[@ScottCraighead]

As someone who has maybe 30-60 minutes per night to do music, this really resonated with me. I think it's great that you acknowledge the reality of this for so many people. I don't have the luxury of sitting for 18 hours per day in front of my DAW. And I think - given these kind of constraints - it's useful to acknowledge that I don't have to completely reinvent music from scratch to come up with something worthwhile. Teenage Kicks wasn't breathtakingly original but it was still John Peel's favourite song. I struggle with this. After a heavy diet of Aphex Twin's intricate programming in esoterica software, it's dispiritingly easy to think there's no point in making music if any aspect of it has been done before. But I think of it like sitting down to a meal in a restaurant: I don't need this meal to completely reinvent food from the ground up to be incredibly entertained by what I'm eating; it's the tastefulness of the choices that have been made and that kitchen's unique combination of choices that are fun to experience. It doesn't have to be molecular gastronomy to be enjoyable. I'm here now, this is what's on the menu; am I enjoying it? Am I raving about it to my friends? So, by necessity, I've found the most inspiring ideas erupt out out of enagaging with music as a "play" activity. Some things I do that end up being most rewarding for me: - an hour of just noodling on the guitar, piano, or a really limited selection of electronic hardware (grooveboxes, synths, samplers) - without overthinking what I'm doing; take it into the DAW later and see what comes of it; no production, no finessing - on the flipside, sitting at the DAW thinking "I'm going to play with X idea"; like "make a heavy sounding electronic track in 6/8 time because I never do stuff like that" For me, it helps to remember it's not a calling or a job or an ambition, it's something I do for fun, so make sure it IS fun; whenever I do it like this, I come up with FAR more interesting stuff

[@cajuncrackerranch7990]

Good stuff…keep it simple Do not get lost in unlimited boundaries and addition, sometime subtraction and let the soul take the wheel. Produce…keep your vegetables clean! 😃

[@etiennedemers]

I think of music making as discovering more than creating. Because "all music as already been written" and "nothing is new under the sun", turning it to personnal discovery by making the music is the most beautiful way i can think about it. Everybody can write, and discover, just like someone walks or travel somewhere. Nobody denies a trip because "other people have been there"

[@douglasnewman4163]

I really like (and value!) your realistic attitude and advice… obviously, personally well learned. Thanks!

[@AugustoRevelloPanama]

I'm fairly new to music production and your channel as well, and I gotta say you have the best balance of motivation/inspiration and reality checks of the online music production community and you have my ever lasting thanks for that. Due to my 9 to 5 and commute times, I can barely put in one or two hours of work into my music every day. Listening to your videos during working hours at the office has played a huge part on reminding me why I keep pushing to try and create music when I get home, and just wanted to share that with you. Never stop creating, man. You're awesome.

[@Pasta221]

I just love your videos. They are so filled with art, and good information on top of that. Just know your work is loved and respected, and appreciated by a lot of people! ❤

[@grobinson9352]

There are quite a few reasons I luv your content. One-you use Reaper 🙂 and two-your talks are very inspiring. Thank you

[@itbe]

Once again, here comes Venus to tell me exactly what I need to hear at just the right moment. Been learning more and more about mixing, and now I'm kinda caught in that trap.

[@smujohnson]

That’s exactly where I’m at… and I’m a beginner to all of this stuff.

[@Nems271]

This is life advice beyond just music production.

[@SeiZaNex]

I have been implementing a monthly habit of producing something within 1 hour with my DAW. And it can be hot garbage but at least it helped me maintain or create stuff that I've been inspired by during my downtime. Plus it helps me pinpoint things that I need to do research or learn about once I'm done with my exercize. At the end I can also improve and polish whatever I made within that timespan.

[@thebreathalyzer]

Great to hear the Charlie Parker quote in there, love you for that! A huge benefit of not spending a lot of time editing, manipulating, fixing it... (this is just my experience) whatever it is the first or second pass is always the real essence of it. At least if you're trying to capture something "fresh" or spontaneous.

[@newday8545]

Started making beats around 1999 on a MPC. It started with Drum N Bass and underground Hiphop, then experimental Synth, Industrial, and noise etc. After trying to learn multiple genres, I'm at the point where i take gaps of time off listening to other peoples work, and not sticking to a a particular genre when i create, for me that's when my best ideas come out, and new forms grow.

[@michaelhughes6189]

"there is a difference between lazy and efficient, however it's not always that far between them". I've read a similar thing from another musician, Robert Fripp, phrased thus: "Don't aim to do as little as possible, aim to do only as much as is necessary"

[@voskresenie-]

I've recorded both rock-adjacent and classical music myself at home or in friends' small studios, and the difference is night and day in terms of difficulty. Reason being that I learn the classical piece in order to be able to play it, then at some point decide to record it, whereas the rock music I learn in order to record it, and am forced to play it at some point to do that. It'll probably be a while before I get back into writing rock music, but when I do, I'm going to approach it from the same perspective as the classical pieces. More daunting up front, but I think will be easier (and more satisfying) in the long run.

[@TheDaniman888]

Thanks! This video really resonated with me. I think I needed this perspective right now. Intentionality is the name of the game, after attaining a certain amount of knowledge about the craft.

[@progressionspod]

You definitely make some of the most engaging stuff I find on KZbin. Thanks dude!

[@archer851]

I think he makes the most quality and unique music production videos on KZbin ❤❤

[@spiraldrop4897]

The most important thing is to make the first step and to start something..... And at this point music should have such a wide horizon as there are so many options and most musicians should not have any expectations and limitations, especially home recording. In the world when everything can be tuned to perfection, I love to leave the song with several 'mistakes'.....

[@clipsngiggles4983]

this video is incredible man, literally every point you made resonated with me so much, ive been producing for years, never released a song. have had a really rough few years, and have finally picked it up again and am going to give it my all. youve inspired me to just DO IT and not sit around waiting for it to happen. so thank you

[@tyarcmusic]

Your videos never fail to motivate me. Amazing work brother 🫡

[@elibounds9211]

Didn't have to watch more than a minute to know I still love every video you do

[@Cbass836]

You have helped me a lot since I started making music. You were the first KZbinr that I started following, and I learned a lot by watching you. So, thanks, Cameron."🫡

[@ktreier]

Thanks!

[@doctorscoot]

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THANK YOU

[@whippingstar]

I started working DAWless the last few months. I do design my drum sounds and record and trigger a few samples - some vocals, reverse sweeps, maybe a pad, etc - but use no sounds I can't get out of my hardware. I record the main stereo bus only - the mix is whatever I think is good enough at the time. It's been an incredible experience. The music sounds better, feels more alive, I'm more creative. Limitations breed creativity.

[@CaptHiltz]

I've been playing guitar for 45 years and writing songs for 40 years. I practice by writing songs. It always ends up happening. I honestly can't remember scales all the way through anyway. The knowledge is there and manifests itself when I'm working on a song.

[@photonjiagu]

You are so funny. Practicing is more important to me than composing is because it makes creating music easier and more fun. To quote Miles Davis "If you sound good in the practice room, you're not doing it right."

[@mikevanderheiden]

The Parker quote is so true.

[@RapidFlow_Shop]

These are getting better and better. 🎉

[@suryadnb]

Some of the best music I made, was created by me trying to copy a track I loved and completely failing at it. I tried one thing and ended up with something else that inspired me.

[@ipezmusic]

Ennio Morricone made film scores taking here or there. The magic was, he make them sound like a unique, unforgettable thing called geinius... He once made a song based on the french police siren. It was "Se telefonando" by Mina!

[@TOMAvatars]

Participating in Weekly beats helps a lot with all of this

[@willia_music]

Recently I've taken a hyper focused approach to writing music. I come from a house / dubstep background where sound design was the most important part. Now I'm looking to write more thematic melodies and rich chord progressions. I've started challenging myself to just use piano or a sin wave patch to write out catchy songs without the pressure or distraction of synth tweaking or endless presets.

[@christophershively2868]

I love your ability to disrespect while also encouraging us. one love!

[@jjptech]

4:16 40 years old, can't drum anymore so I started to learn piano and music theory from scratch.... hell is hard... I noticed that I need to practice practice and practice until exhaustion, and no real progress is made, then I take a log 1 or even 2 weeks brake from everything. When I come back my brain comes with new skills that I didn't even knew I was able to do. From time to time, take a pause from everything. Your creative part needs time to settle down.

[@Nethanel773]

Thank you for putting this up.

[@tlholohelontsasa106]

I love the colour grading on this vid

[@Gil-sx8xr]

PLAY IT IN LIVE IN ONE GO! YOU SAID IT HERE!!! That's it! Enlightenment! You said it! Own the whole song 🫵 PLAY IT FLAWLESSLY 1 million times, With a drummer & a bass player (Takes like 1 month) per song Then pick up the iphones, get an engineer, get him to record you! BAM! one take 🎬 and go for the next! Butch vig explained it to Rick Beato on his interview 🤘 It works for any 🎼 genre though

[@NotBenCoultry]

5:18 my favorite way to record is using tech only up to the level that still feels like I'm working with the stuff in my heart - tends to land around the mid to late 90s so I record mostly raw audio, just me, a synth or guitar and a pedalboard wherever possible, and come close when I have to exceed that, like using Maschine instead of learning the physical side of drumming and setting up some giant Tama kit. It changes the goal to getting it right on the way in rather than with vsts and the dials on a photoshop image of a mixing board. The tactile experience is too important to my inspiration, and it keeps you honest. My recording style is basically 4-track minus the bullshit problems of a 4 track

[@NotBenCoultry]

YES on the rough mix/faders

[@MrSamthefan]

I'm glad I finished watching this video *AFTER* I finished my beat so that last callout doesn't affect me

[@williamshaneblyth]

awesome stuff... as always. i go back to pre computer days and restrict what i can do. too easy to stare at the screen for every as you say. I like how Springsteen after he had a huge hit he stayed at home with a crappy 4 track tape machine and made his next albumn

[@zacharywoodard2097]

I am Mastering my first track I ever wrote this week. I have hope because the section about "only doing the rough mix with faders and panners" - That's EXACTLY how I did it - mostly because the Multiband Compressor is SCARY :D :D :D

[@ericbellgardt9909]

Thank you for all the videos.

[@elledoesmusic]

This was beautiful. Thank you!

[@JavierPoloBernal]

I'm going to print a poster in my rehearsal/producing room with that Rick Rubin's quote. For real!

[@nick.raptis]

Just stopping by cause that thumbnail is FIRE!!!!

[@undreamed_band]

Oh, thank you! We're always afraid that our mix is too rough and that we should do more mixing 😅 this is a relief!

[@Flightnight1000]

Thank you for helping my confidence.

[@BigZMusic]

Great video man - love this advice

[@fallenleaf24]

Dude you are becoming one of my favourites. you say it like it is.. I have now banned my self from scrolling KZbin during productive hours. because of this exactly. I sendup watching more music making then I get done then I lost interesting go the track as its been to long since it really moved on & then I have hundreds of loops.. so this came at the right time!

[@UFOmusicart]

I can testify for myself that when I started making music, everything was flowing because I was only busy creating and not in anything else. The creative process is a sacred thing and should be given its place Thanks to @Venus Theory for reminding me of this treasure

[@sinwav8404]

You make the most weirdly motivating videos, thank you :)

[@Tonepusher]

I like that part about ''not mixing''. I get lots of comments on my channel like ''show how you mixed this or that'' but the truth is, I almost don't mix at all...I just design/choose well my sounds/samples. Like you said, in the end mixing is just polishing an almost finished product. And if I do use ''lots'' of plugins, it's for a sound design purpose and not mixing. If your EQ looks like a roller coaster, somethings wrong. lol great video as usual man, 👌

[@OperculumAudio]

Love your videos, Venus! Thanks man

[@Lohbado]

brings back memories of an old classic which i read decades ago while backpacking in the mountains of Yukon, Thaddeus Golas, "The Lazy Man's Guide to Enlightenment"

[@patrick4625]

It's all been done before.... Absolutely! 💯

[@TheBeardsShow]

This is a great video, Vibe is king for music, look at Bon Iver, he recorded that record in a cabin with a few mics and it blew everything else at the time out of the water.

[@HygieneHiphop]

Honestly, your videos help me so much to reframe my perspective and refocus on what actually matters and makes music. Thank you

[@mikelwis1]

Great stuff there man, thanks for the big smile on my face.

[@slowpunkforslowpunks2050]

Hehe, I knew I was a lazy, degenerate musician who put out half baked tracks that I nonetheless love. I don't have the internal critic to disagree with you. Thanks for the validation!

[@elefsinger]

I don't really think there is such a thing as laziness. I believe people inherently want to do meaningful stuff. I know I'm only picky with words, plus there's some good advice here and I thank you for it.

[@BNLNRD]

I really came to value a limited sketchpad. Make something with very little, and only dive deep into your treasure chest of plugins and processing once the idea is solid and the song is written. Work with only 8 tracks for as long as possible - ear candy included! It'll force you to prioritze and figure out what is necessary and what is nice-to-have at best. No processing allowed on these tracks except maybe 1 compressor, 1 EQ, 1 instance of distortion. Once the track is done this way, you're allowed to add whatever you want - because by then, you'll have a vision.

[@fr3heart]

There's nothing worth doing that isn't worth doing badly. Let's go make some music! I love learning a song and playing it, but I only play the ukulele, which doesn't translate to being able to play my keyboard live, but it's a good starting point for songwriting. P.S. I'm not good at that either, I do these things for fun.

[@ktreier]

This video speaks to me. Oh, and I always try to play in live. I don’t know, I’m old school, i feel that’s the most kinesthetically satisfying process for me. Sometimes I’ll quantize and sometimes I’ll leave those minor imperfections. I even bought an electronic drum set to get some feel into my rhythm tracks. P.S Love your music.

[@ereiffman]

It's like going onto gearspace to find justification for gear that you already know you like

[@Necropheliac]

Every musician I’ve heard give advice will say that you should just rapidly create new stuff and move on. It’s nice to hear a fresh perspective on producing less. I think it’s probably one of those things where adhering to blanket rules is a bad idea. I think there is wisdom in rapidly churning out new ideas but I also think that there is value in sticking to one of those ideas long enough to really go into great depth of thought and quality with many iterations until it can become something extremely polished and not just another song in the pile of songs. When an artist like Michelangelo started to carve a marble statue, he was inherently making a commitment to devoting months if not years on this one piece of art, and to see it through to the end. The nature of carving a statue of stone is not something you can just churn out rapidly. I think music can be like that too. Once you find that idea that’s worth iterating on, maybe it’s time to make a bigger commitment to it.