process

everyone has one

Workflow

"building a narrative"

This past summer, I spent a lot of time focusing on workflow changes like adding a patchbay to free up inputs and make using the variety of external inputs on my gear more purposeful, an APC40 to help hide the fact I'm using a computer to record (keep me off the keyboard and mouse), binding CCs to hardware MIDI, building new templates to support new workflows (with a focus on MIDI and not on audio), and other workflow similar changes. I feel as though this was a defense mechanism for not wanting to create anything since these studio activities were readily attainable and achieveable. As I was knocking out these studio todos, I came across a post a friend posted on LinkedIn (the only form of social media I dabble in other than Reddit) the importance of documenting the creative process which really resonated with me and made me want to start making more of an intentional effort in documenting my process.

Document

Through the years, I've kept moleskin notebooks to document my music making process (e.g. keep notes, sketch out midi/audio ins/outs, categorize workflows etc), some giving bread crumbs of my overall workflow/process at the time.

notebook sketch of a computer-free recording setup into a da3000 notebook sketch of the same recording setup with a computer and af8 2014 / 2015 ?

notebook midi setup diagram routing synths through a multiclock and merges connectings the dots

notebook audio wiring diagram of synths into a qu-pac mixer and ar84 and more dots

hand-drawn midi in/out map for a dozen synths, keystep via usb so many dots

handwritten song to-dos, bass vca level notes and a 133.6 bpm tempo bread crumbs

handwritten bank change notes: msb/lsb and program change for nd2, ob6, nf-1m the idiosyncracies of gear

db major chord progressions in roman numerals with synth routing notes chords

crowded 2016 notebook page of album to-dos, scales and compressor settings notes on notes on notes

notebook chart mapping digitakt tracks and knobs to synth midi ccs CCs ftw!

index card of polish and mix to-dos over notebook midi channel notes compression settings and then some

monomachine and digitakt pattern maps assigning midi ccs to each synth CC for you and CC for you and CC for you

Hopefully, this blog will be a stronger vehicle in keeping track of the things I do, or don't do, than the moleskin examples above helping to build a narrative around the things I make, bringing an awareness of what I do and why; giving clues on where/how to improve.

Rinse and Repeat

More than anything, I want my process to be enjoyable. Maybe it's cleaning the garage, interviewing for a job, or painting, we all have a process; whether it's consistent, effective and/or we enjoy it is another question.