Welcome to another issue of Technolite

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Happy New Year!

And what a year it is going to be. What is going to happen this year?

Competitions
Music Articles
Musician Interviews
More Ebooks
More guides
and much much more!

Where did all these ideas come from? The questionnaire (that is still active- the link is at the bottom of this email). I have been going through it, and have started to place ideas and thoughts into some articles for you all. Hope you like them!

If you don't, great! Just tell me- good or "bad".

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First up though, is a new article, from myself. I was wondering, we have lots of software synths, drum machines, $1000s of music equipment and our music still sounds like a potato. What are we doing wrong?

When I go into any room that is a haven to music making- classic machines a plenty, I hear one little thing...usually "I still can not finish this track!"

I then take a good close look at this persons room and computer and usually the key to their predicament usually shows its face within a few minutes.

So I have collected the best 5 ways to get your tracks finished, made on time...and even started...without any musical influences:

None music way #1

Before you even start to make any music, make sure that the Internet is turned off. If it is a computer that everyone uses, make yourself a new user account without internet connection- this was my problem, so I turned off the Internet and saved myself 4 hours per day (surfing adds up)! If everyone is using that one computer, make sure that you have a secure section on it (passworded- so you can back up your section) as you can bet alot of money on something getting deleted. Even have a rota as who can have the computer at what times. You don't want to be interupted in mid-fantastic-never-been-heard-before-number-one-hook making.

None music way #2

Do a mini spring clean and make things user friendly. I have a Temp Store, Downloaded Folder, VST folder (subfoldered into beats, FX etc). This makes my computer work well, quickly and makes my time in music making more efficient. If your computer is not efficient, or you have to have time to find a piece of software that holds the secret to your humming tune, then you will forget that hum before you find the folder. Having things at hand is a practical way of music making. I know of top artists that go around with a tape recorder or writing pad all the time just in case they get "inspiration". The 2006 UK Football World Cup Song came to the artist in the bath.

None music way #3

How about invest in another monitor? This may seem odd, as we all have been brought up with the idea of one monitor leads to one computer. However, leading computer music artists are leading the way in utilising 2 monitors at once. In one monitor you have your sequencer running, in the other monitor you could have your software instruments, or mixing deck or any combination that you want. Making music this way is much easier than having to minimise, maximise all the time- you need the computer music making phase to be as realistic as possible, rather than stop starting every few minutes to maximise a window.

None music way #4

Make sure that you are using what you should be using and that you know how to use it. A hotkey function sometimes is much quicker than if you use the mouse, but if you do not know how to use them properly your work can be deleted within a key stroke. Knowing your software, and how to use it properly will save you a heap of precious time, and will also show you functions that you never thought that you had. I have read somewhere that there are secret functions within the Ableton software that you will only find by experimenting. Take time out once every 6-12 months and read up on your software. Keep it refreshed within your head, don't assume that you know it. Make yourself a practice screen and just mess around, nothing is going to get wiped out. By experimenting you will find some great sounds and work much quicker.

None music way #5

If you have something that sounds very good...save it. I shall repeat...save it! Unfortunately there are many bits of software out there that do not have a "undo" button, so getting back that classic sound is impossible. Repeating the process will give you a sound that sounded 90% close to your long lost original. I tend to store good sounds into a folder called "experimentation", and thats where it stays. If I play the same sound after a day or two later and it doesn't sound the same, then I tweak the sound. In the past I used to write down all the values on how I built up particular sounds. I would even have a "sound day" where I would just make sounds of various types, and this kept me away from tinkering at music making time.

Before you make any type of music, stand back and just think, have you actually done all your none music making tasks?

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If you would like to use this article, or anything that has been used in TechnoLite, please email me.

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The Beginners Guide to Music Making, Marketing and Selling saving yourself $2000 is a great companion to the site, and can be found HERE. Remember there are free music samples, and a chapter from the ebook on the site.

An interview that wasn't included in the ebook can be found now. It is a cut down version of the interview and is from an artist called Sinema(www.soundclick.com/sinima)

Q. What was your strategy and how did you create a buzz?

I believe that when you put enough effort and heart into your music, people will see that and not only will they see but they'll also spread the word. Word of mouth is the best promotion for the least amount of money.

Q. What 5 mistakes do you see often within the music field. Could they be rectified?

I can tell you about a mistake that I see often on Soundclick is that many people are selling their music as Mp3 downloads when there is a whole world of music that can be downloaded for free. That's rough competition. Everyone wants everything for free. It's a sad fact, but someday music in general will probably be free for all. Then labels will have to come up with yet another way to gain maximum profit for minimum artist/ producer payouts. In the mean time, I would suggest that if you're going to charge people for downloads, you should grant them leasing rights for that payment or something else for thier money to get them to actually purchase the music. Otherwise allow the free downloads and know that your music will be getting free promotion in exchange for word of mouth.

Q. What 5 tips would you give to promote your music, especially on Soundclick?

1. Always respond to your emails even if it's a simple, "I love your work."

2. Keep your site updated weekly if possible.

3. Network through message boards every now and then to keep your name on other people's sites.

4. Put your best work at the top of your list to spark people's interest immediately.

5. Stay five steps ahead of your competition whenever possible.

It was really nice of Sinema to give us some of his time, and he comes out with alot of really useful information. The music payment is a personal bug bear of my own, and it is this that many musicians fail.

As I have always said, Why should someone pay $2 for a track when they don't even know the artist, and when they can get commercial music for a few cents now? It is unfortunately that sort of thought process that we are dealing with, and why many musicians give up.

However, we are not quitters, and this newsletter will have nuggets of information present within to help you make, and sell your tracks.

Because it is New Year, one reason to get people to download your track for a price is if you give them alot, for free, to start off with. Be generous with your music. 2 tracks is not going to do anything, but 30 or more is going to seriously wet the appetite, get a buzz going (if they are not being downloaded for free, they are hardy going to get sold), and then sell.