List 3 things that stop you from being a good/great producer

[Barfunkel]

Well not necessarily stop but let's say seriously hinder your path towards greatness.

For myself I would say:

1) Just toying about with hardware synths for too many years without actually trying to learn anything. I wish I had started to use a computer 10-15 years earlier than I did. It really accelerates learning, as you can try so many things so easily, learn all kinda techniques without having to buy toys for that.

2) Mental health issues, which make me work in waves instead of constantly, make it difficult to be objective (because very often things either sound like the next Berghain mega hit or like complete shit - and I'm talking about the same track here) and also make me unable to have a job so the eternal lack of money means money for things like a treated studio with at least semi-decent monitor speakers.

3) I'm fairly certain the resolution of my hearing isn't exactly superb, especially in the low frequencies. As a result, setting levels (especially the relationship of low and mid frequencies) and EQ'ing is often difficult for me. It's of course partially about training your brains to understand what your ears are telling you, so it's sorta fixable, to an extent.

What about yours, assuming you don't consider yourself good or great producers already?

[buonacc]

1. mental health issues
2. mental health issues
3. mental health issues

[Mono-xID]

My monitoring environment.

Otherwise I'm great already.

[speen]

time
time
time

[rozze]

time
time
time

^^ is exactly what ive thought when ive read the thread title

[jordanneke]

Yep, time. Time and more time.

That's it.

If I spent more time in front of the computer, then the other things in my life would suffer.

[LV426]

1. Arrangement
2. Arrangement again
3. Crippling Perfectionism

Though I will say lately I've just been 'sketching' rather than trying to do anything meaningful and it's leading to me discovering more of a sound for myself

[borg]

Practically all of the above and more... but most of all: the lack of dedication and focussing on your goal!

Time? I've made my best stuff when busy in life. I've done fuck all in the periods in my life I was intentionally unemployed for a few months, periods I thought "wow, lots of time, now I'm gonna do some serious music making!" Fuck that, never happened. Nah, smoking weed and what not, having fun, hanging around... All it should take is flicking on that switch, but that hardly ever happened in those periods with seas of time.

But in all fairness, probably no talent combined with low self esteem... (although, I feel I'm getting better and better and mates keep insisting that my stuff is good enough to get on that stage. but who can trust a mate when evaluating techno production values???)

[Plyphon]

1: Active learning
2: Time
3: Love for the process

[Evert]

1. Dedication/lack of focus: I hate to admit it, but I often rather just have fun playing around (aimlessly) instead of actually reading up on techniques and learning things. It's somethig that's been in the back of my head for a long time now.

2. Time: I almost spend no time on music on weeknights, because I feel like it's not worth it if I only get 30 mins in. This might be more of an excuse than an actual problem.

3. Self doubt: This is a continuous struggle that causes me to abandon a lot of ideas. I often fear the arrangement process, because I feel like I can't translate a loop into a decent track.

[chava]

1. Not listening outside your chosen style. As in: Listen to something other than techno. Can backfire in too broad a focus though

2. Opposite of the above: Listen to all established defintions of techno and thereby expand your range without overwhelming you

3. Invest yourself (in stead of burning money on gear). Especially your less admirable traits. "Use your faults, use your defects" (Grace Jones)

[Lost to the Void]

Perfectionism.
Too many ideas causing lack of focus or finishing.
Imposter syndrome.

[juodas]

1. Drugs well to be honest I realised that any substances for me is bad even a small spliff anf a pint, i’m getting sucked in to it and got easily distracted by it, however time passed and completely free from it during my production hours.
2. Perfectionism
3. Arrangement, i often end up with adding way to much stuff in the track, because i’m thinking my tracks is boring or it doesn’t evolve and most of the time I end up with f.. mud

[between stars]

time
time
time

[Críoch]

List 3 things that stop you from being a good/great producer:

1. Excuses. 2. Excuses. 3. Excuses.

[PERIAL]

1. Overthinking
2. Overcomplicating
3. Perfectionism

[Stace]

1 - crippling self-doubt about anything and everything I do. Total and utter lack of any belief that I'm capable of doing anything good, musically or non-musically.
2 - THE INTERNET. Massive fucking distraction.
3 - The small child who currently resides in the room next door. I can't make anything at any volume after 7pm. Not great in the week when I don't get in from work until half 6.

[Mslwte]

1. Sex
2. Drugs
3. Rock n roll

[Divjak]

1 - no motivation to learn/understand an instrument/music theory in depth
2 - over complicating things in arrangement because of perfectionism, fear of arrangement
3 - doubting my talent, "why would anyone be interested in my music?", thinking that my music is shit

[Críoch]

3 - The small child who currently resides in the room next door. I can't make anything at any volume after 7pm. Not great in the week when I don't get in from work until half 6.

Start making lullabies?

Bad situation. Do you have good headphones though?

Those AKG 701s are really comfortable & sounds 'right'. There's noise spill cos they're open back.. but thankfully no bass. Maybe that's a compromise? G