Jazzman105 how much did working in a DAW change the creative idea's you had?

It depends...only last year have I regularly started my own recording sessions with a mostly composed idea. But that's a change of approach in how I develop creative idea's - I did a little write-up on creativity that helped me understand how I developed a different approach (I'd say similar to yours?)

Historically - I think of a DAW as a musician (or instrument) more than a tool...but then I do like a lot of electronica and in that context a DAW is definitely a musical instrument instead of a recording tool (if that makes sense). E.g. I make a lot of interesting boo-boo's. Staying on target with a initial idea in this approach, is super tricky (ok, darn-near impossible ?)

Cool thread, gold in here for guys into (or getting into) recording, so little is written over approaching the recording/creative process - keep it coming!

V8 Staying on target with a initial idea in this approach, is super tricky (ok, darn-near impossible ?)

Yes, the many options at your disposal can detract from the original idea and progress on the project - and it takes discipline to stay the course once you start playing around with sounds, effects and other things. For this reason, I initially approach the DAW simply as a recording tool. I don't expect it to add any magic to my tracking / recording process. I record as clean and simple as possible - and then worry about tone, plugins, effects, etc in the editing phase (post-recording).

Having said that, playing around and experimenting is important too. That is how you get to explore your software and find out what it can offer.

Jazzman105 Having said that, playing around and experimenting is important too.

Is how I learn - wish I had more focus to sit and work through stuff, but I tend to bang my head till I have to RTFM (read the mucking fanual) ?

One thing I realllly enjoy about the GT challenges is messing with different genre's - it's helping me develop 'my style' - also useful to have a little bit of experience across genre's, particularly for jams.

That's probably where we differ a bit - I don't really have a style I default to - I'm as likely to play metal as blues as funk as electronica...where I think you tend to default a bit more to them tasty jazzy vibes?

Some good stuff in here.

Is this a general how we approach recording thread.. or is this still the best Christmas thread? Just asking as I dont want to derail Jazz's initial thread.. it is evolving and just wondering if we can all chime in with our approaches?

V8 Is how I learn - wish I had more focus to sit and work through stuff, but I tend to bang my head till I have to RTFM (read the mucking fanual)

I turn to Youtube sooner lately. The time I'm prepared to spend figuring something out is becoming less and less... ?

V8 That's probably where we differ a bit - I don't really have a style I default to - I'm as likely to play metal as blues as funk as electronica...where I think you tend to default a bit more to them tasty jazzy vibes?

I have some different stuff in the bag which I'm hoping to release. I've made a decision to not box myself, so I'm not ignoring the "non-jazzy" song ideas. There are some blues, rock and more commercial pop-ish, radio-friendly tunes in the medium-term pipeline.

But as far as my playing goes, yea I have a flavour.

guidothepimmp I think we are over the original post. Feel free to chime in.

Perhaps Admin can move the recording posts to a new thread - under a new name perhaps? I would like to expand on the topic, AND hear how other guys approach their process. There is so much to learn for all of us and there's no reason for two of us to pay for the same mistake / lesson learnt.

Jazzman105 There is so much to learn for all of us and there's no reason for two of us to pay for the same mistake / lesson learnt.

Like the idea of splitting into a new thread (pinned under recording?), I'll get into it - it IS useful info.

Particularly for a beginner to read through differing approaches (and seeing that they are fairly similar). What's nice is we all have some results to give peeps an idea of what's achievable in today's home studios - it's insane the quality one can get!

Jazzman105 There is so much to learn for all of us and there's no reason for two of us to pay for the same mistake / lesson learnt.

Like the idea of splitting into a new thread (pinned under recording?), I'll get into it - it IS useful info.

Particularly for a beginner to read through differing approaches (and seeing that they are fairly similar). What's nice is we all have some results to give peeps an idea of what's achievable in today's home studios - it's insane the quality one can get!

NorioDS Thanks Norio!