3rdegreebeats
#Producers The Time It Takes To Complete A Track
Oct 21, 2015
How long does it take to complete a track??? Well, I actually just was asked this question a few days ago by one of my friends who also makes beats/produces. When I told him that it takes me about a minimum of 5 to 6 hours to complete a track he kinda laughed and said "Kayotic it takes you that long"?? After we talked more about it, and how important is it I figured that I would write a blog post about this topic. This is a question that as a producer you always hear gets tossed around. Of course to me there is no defined answer to how long it should take a producer to complete a track. As long as you are comfortable & progressing in your production is all that counts, but just to explain more about "Why it takes me 6 hours or so" to complete a track I'll go more into it. When I answered the question I broke it down like this. At this point in my production I want my tracks to sound as best as possible. I use to make tracks in 15 or 30 minutes, and I'm not knocking any producer who still works that fast, but I have a hard time believing that you are completing anything that quick. The key word in that last statement was "complete". I don't doubt that a lot of producers are coming up with ideas, skeletons or loops in that amount of time. I still can come up with ideas that fast too, but I focus more now on sound selection, transitions, drums, mixing and arrangement. So when I say that it takes me 6 hours on one track that means everything above I just mentioned goes into the process. If I am working on a full song, meaning lyrics are involved, it can take a few days. If I was working on a industry level meaning working in writing camps for placements on a constant basis , I figure you would probably have to work within at least a 20 hour time span in completing a full song for a artist. So these are the things that I consider when working on a track, I complete it to the fullest, which also means the beat will be tracked out and available to play at full length if someone asks to hear it. I use to work fast, constantly switching ideas, creating "skeletons" but not completing the track. Now I'd rather create less tracks but have more finished product to show. Again I stress that you should work at your own pace as long as you are progressing. If thats fast thats fine, if its a little slower thats fine as well. Just don't feel like you should be creating beats faster because a producer you might know works quickly. Its best to work at your won pace and create the best possible music you can. Twenty hits is better than 50 filer/uncompleted tracks any given day. Keep that in mind if you are ever asked "why does it take you so long" or someone says "you are too slow". Build that catalog, keep learning and don't be discouraged!
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Independent Producers
Feb 25, 2012
TO MY ALL OF MY INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS OUT HERE, WORD OF ADVICE, GRIND AS HARD AS POSSIBLE WITH YOUR BEATS AS IF YOU WERE A ARTIST. NEVER WAIT OR LET ARTISTS DICTATE YOUR WORK PACE OR WILLINGNESS TO GET YOUR BEATS OUT HERE. I CANT COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT I'VE WAITED ON ARTISTS TO COMPLETE SONGS OVER MY TRACKS JUST FOR THEM TO CHANGE THEIR MIND OR BECOME UNDECIDED. I DEFINITELY SALUTE THOSE ARTISTS THAT CORRESPOND BACK IN A TIMELY MANNER BECAUSE I'VE FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY THAT THIS IS NOT THE NORM AS INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS WE ARE OUR OWN COMPANY SO WE DICTATE OUR OWN SUCCESS NO MATTER HOW GREAT OR SMALL. JUST REMEMBER THAT AS YOU CREATE BEATS THAT ITS UP TO YOU TO GET YOURSELF WHERE YOU WANT TO BE, NOT THE ARTIST.
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