The songs I write tend to be happy songs, so I go for fun bouncy sounding melodies. Of course when it's called for, I'll go more sad or aggressive depending if the song calls for it.

Good idea, Kinesthetics! I'll definitely try that and see if it makes a difference! I usually use a volume enhancement because the built-in speakers are booty and I always forget that they are still on when I switch to headphones

i am a firm believer that the less you know about music theory the more you are creating from the heart. that doesn't necessarily mean you are getting things out in key though. it takes a lot of errors and the more you make the quicker you figure out how to get what you need out. i have known one too many people that were classically trained in one instrument or another who could play the shit out of something, but couldn't "play" the shit out of something. that doesn't apply to all though.. everyone is different

While I see what you're getting at, I don't agree with that first statement. Anyone that's classically trained isn't trained to be creative; they are trained to play to the best of their ability. I have also seen classically trained musicians that just don't have the same soul as musicians of other disciplines (jazz, self-taught, other, etc) do, so I see what you're saying there; but don't confuse that with simply knowing music theory. I've taken lessons for various instruments (not classically trained) and have taken theory classes over the years. I'd say that music theory helps me translate what I feel into sound, not diminished my ability to create anything with feeling.

But then again, it was never really with me, that is, until I reached rock bottom. That's when I dedicated my life to it.

"When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change."

@ manducator: In a DAW you can change whether the output comes through the laptop/computer's internal sound card or through an ASIO driver.

I'm not sure how you currently master, but I find that it's better to use a lot of subtle compression at different points throughout your mix, rather than taking a track with lots of dynamic range and slamming it into one compressor/limiter. find out which tracks and busses in your mix can get away with 2-3dB gain reduction, and make sure that none of the tracks have any stray huge peaks. that way, when you finally get to the mastering stage, the compressor and limiter don't have to do as much work, which makes it just a tiny bit more transparent. (although at the end of the day, the louder you want it, the more you have to compromise with some squashing)

So you basically automate the compression? And I'll have to give the gain reduction a try. Thank you!

I play piano primarily, though I can also play drums, guitar, and flute. I've been a musician since 2008, and I haven't looked back since.

I tend to have a habit of judging those who say the phrase, 'if it sounds good to you, then that's all it matters.'

Those who like music: If it sounds good, that's all that matters.
Those who love music: If it sounds good and makes you feel something, that's all that matters.

The average music listener doesn't care for deep interpretation or why a chord progression sounds pleasant. That's probably why they love Pop. They don't care for what's behind it. It's not about the art. Same thing about the Gangsta/Hardcore Rap genre (I would distance this from Hip Hop a bit, as the culture rose up out of a need for unity and peace, not as a means of promoting shitty themes such as hypermasculinity, oversexualing women, etc). It's not about the camaraderie amongst your fellow brothers and sisters, its just a bunch of noise screaming "Fuck bitches, get money, I'm the best, I'll kill you if I see you on the street, etc". The words crafted to spew this nonsense take away from the actual beat that are in some cases really good. Any potential artistry is lost due to the violent, fucked up nature of the genre.

However, I find a lot of the offspring from most genres are where the artistry and musicianship can. Because they aren't consumed by the masses, there's more room to be you, tell your story, and let people feel who you are.