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Top 10 Mixing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

October 18, 2024

Mixing is an art form that requires not only technical skill but also a keen ear and attention to detail. Many producers and engineers fall into common traps...

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Choosing the Best CPU for Music Production

October 18, 2024

When upgrading your CPU for music production, whether you're composing orchestral scores, producing electronic music, or working with intricate multi-track projects, selecting the right processor...

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How to Create Epic Risers and Transition Effects for Electronic Music

October 11, 2024

Creating epic risers and transition effects is essential for electronic music producers to build tension and anticipation before a drop or shift in their tracks. Here’s how you can do it...

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Automating a Drum Bus in Reaper to Create Dynamic Room Effects

October 6, 2024

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EQ in Practice: How to Use Subtractive EQ to Clean Up Muddy Mixes

October 6, 2024

ixing music is an art, and one of the most essential tools for achieving clarity in a mix is the equalizer (EQ). One technique, in particular, known as subtractive EQ, can work wonders for cleaning...

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How to Manage Static Noise in High Frequencies When Compressing Vocals

October 6, 2024

One common frustration in vocal production, especially for home studio and bedroom producers, is encountering static noise in the high frequencies after compressing and brightening vocals...

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Sampling Like a Pro: How to Flip Samples and Avoid Legal Issues

October 6, 2024

Sampling has been a cornerstone of modern music production, allowing producers to reimagine and breathe new life into old tracks. Whether you're producing hip-hop, EDM, or any genre, knowing how to...

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What Makes an EQ or Compressor VST High-Quality: Insights and Examples from Pros

October 6, 2024

When selecting EQ and compressor plugins, musicians and producers look for more than just a shiny interface or brand recognition. It's all about how these tools perform in real-world scenarios...

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Sound Design 101: Crafting Killer Drum Sounds Using Synthesizers

October 6, 2024

Drum sounds form the backbone of many music genres, and while sample packs are popular, designing your own drum sounds from scratch can elevate your production to a whole new level. Crafting custom...

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Mastering Multiband Compression Sidechaining: A Solution to Clashing Frequencies

October 6, 2024

In modern music production, one of the most common challenges is the clash of frequencies between instruments. For example, bass guitars and drum kits often compete for space in the lower end of...

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Studio One Workflow Tips for Faster Music Production

October 1, 2024

Studio One by PreSonus is an incredibly powerful DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) that offers a variety of tools to streamline your music production workflow. However, like many DAWs, getting the...

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Solving the Issue of Buried Crash Cymbals in the Mix

October 1, 2024

Crash cymbals often get buried in the mix, especially when using complex miking techniques like Glyn Johns, which balances close mics with overheads. While re-recording with higher cymbals may be a...

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Writer's Block is Real, Even for J.Cole: Here are 8 Tips to Overcome

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NME

Rapper J. Cole has recently announced that he had been struggling with writer's block, but found a way to break free from it by using a type beat from Youtube music producer BVTMAN's YouTube channel.  As a result, the song ‘Procrastination’ was made and released exclusively on BVTMAN’s Youtube channel.

A type beat is an instrumental track that has a specific sound or style associated with a particular artist.  Usually the type beats are tagged with a famous artists name ie. Drake Type Beat, Kendrick Lamar Type Beat, or J.Cole Type Beat etc.  

Producers often make type beats, because it allows listeners to imagine what it would sound like if the artist they are referencing rapped or sang on that track.  It is very rare that the actual artist they are referencing would search for their own type beat and use it.  But this is exactly what happened when J.Cole was searching for inspiration and out of curiosity typed ‘J.Cole Type Beats’ on Youtube.  The first beat that came up was BVTMAN’s, and J.Cole focussed in and wrote a song.

Linchpinmusic

J.Cole was so thankful for this, he allowed BVTMAN to post the completed song entitled ‘Procrastination’ on his Youtube channel, and wrote a  heartfelt message on his Instagram:

"This song should live on your channel and serve as a thank you to you and every producer out there cooking up and sharing their work with the world," the message from Cole reads. "It’s a million artists out there right now just like me, hungry and searching every day for something to spark a word, a melody, a hook, a verse, a punchline, a way to vent, or a way to cut through...On a day when I couldn’t find much motivation, I was looking for anything to inspire me. Out of curiosity, I typed in J. Cole type beat into YouTube. Yours was the first I saw. I pressed play, focused, and wrote this."

Link: J. Cole type beat

8 Tips to Help Overcome Writer's Block

Writing Music can be a challenging task, and writer's block can make it even more difficult. Writer's block is a common experience for many writers, and it can be caused by a variety of factors such as lack of inspiration, fear of failure, or even physical and emotional exhaustion. However, there are several strategies that you can use to overcome writer's block and get back to writing.

  1. Take a break: Sometimes, the best way to overcome writer's block is to simply step away from your writing for a little while. Go for a walk, read a book, or do something else that you enjoy. This can help to refresh your mind and recharge your batteries, making it easier to return to your writing with renewed energy and inspiration.
  2. Change your environment: Sometimes, a change of scenery can help to break the monotony and stimulate your creativity. Try working in a different room or location, or even a coffee shop or library. The change of environment can help to stimulate your senses and get your creative juices flowing.
  3. Free-write: Free-writing is a technique where you write whatever comes to mind, without worrying about grammar, spelling, or structure. This can help to get your thoughts flowing and release any pent-up ideas or emotions that may be contributing to your writer's block.
  4. Try brainstorming: Sometimes, writer's block is caused by a lack of ideas. Try brainstorming as a way to generate new ideas for your writing. Write down any thoughts, ideas, or phrases that come to mind, no matter how seemingly insignificant. This can help to spark new ideas and jump-start your writing.
  5. Read: reading can help to expand your vocabulary and expose you to different writing styles. It can also help to stimulate your imagination and give you new ideas for your own writing.
  6. Get feedback: Sometimes, writer's block is caused by a lack of confidence in your writing. Getting feedback from others can help to boost your confidence and give you a fresh perspective on your work.
  7. Set yourself a goal: Having a goal to reach or a deadline to meet can help to motivate you and keep you on track. Set yourself a goal or a deadline to meet, and make a plan to achieve it.
  8. Reward yourself: Finally, remember to reward yourself for your progress. Give yourself a treat or a reward for meeting your goals or for making progress on your writing. This can help to keep you motivated and make the process of overcoming writer's block more enjoyable.