Which one do you guys think is easier?

Usually when I try to copy my favorite artists I fail miserably.

I don't have the same samples.
I don't have the same synthesizers.
I don't have the same synth patches.
I don't have the same plugins.
I don't have the same daw.
I don't have the same sample packs.

Most importantly...

I don't have the same ears, knowledge, and experience.

When I get stuck on a section in a song for example... I'll look to other artists tracks for inspiration or advice on what to do next. (Pretty normal right?) The thing is that when I try to copy other artists I just end up with cheesy knock off versions of their songs because I don't understand what they're doing in a first place. For example maybe I hear a fill in a track and tell myself "I want to learn how to recreate that fill". I'd say the majority of the time I can never recreate that fill perfectly. Therefore it just ends up as a knock off because mixing wise and sound design wise it is just so hard to create something 100% accurately. When you stop trying to copy other peoples tracks you don't have to deal with that frustration of coming off as a knockoff.

I think being original is easier because you can be 100% you vs 80% someone else if that makes any sense.

What do you guys think? I used to think it was easier to copy others but at this stage in my journey as a producer I'm starting to change my mind. Is it easier at times to just be you?

Easiest is to copy and let your imperfections seep into the result. Then scrap the result and remember what you learned, of course.

Originality is just undetected plagiarism. The human ear doesn't want true originality, because true originality would sound like a random mess of sounds. We follow structures and rules that are set by others or set by ourselves, and even if we aren't directly copying someone we are relying on ideas that have come as a result of what we think sounds good. What we think sounds good is based on what we listened to growing up, so what we creative will inevitably become derivative of some work that affected us in the past.

Worry less about being original and more about being yourself. If you don't have the experience to know how to be yourself, then keep trying to be someone else each time you start a new track - inevitably you'll stumble across yourself by process of elimination.

Me personally I think of what elements musically do I like from the artists I listen to. When working on something I just keep those elements in mind. It could be the overall vibe of a track such as making something aggressive or melodic, or a specific sound that I want to put my twist on. I'd say copying isn't acceptable, but all of us have influences that we'd like to put our own spin on and work into our own work and I feel there's nothing wrong with that.

Great question!
Welp, I feel THE SAME way to you. When I really strip myself from the notion of "well, deadmau5 does it like this or that Tangerine Dream pad was like that" I make MY BEST music, because I don't have a goal or template. I just work with the tools I have pursuing a feeling that I have lived or imagine.

I think it is VERY important to have inspiration from plenty of places (and I mean ALL kinds of music, not only electronic), but not necessarily copy them. However, I find fantastic to take some of the ideas of my favorite musicians and give them my own twist.

For example, if I really like a supersaw that Tangerine Dream (I love that band) or some chords (no pun intended) that deadmau5 made on a modular synth, I try to reacreate them using my tools and stacking on effects, detuning them playing 7th major chords (iconic from jazz) listening to pianists like  Carl Perkings, before adding a brutal growl that I heard from Kill The Noise and some off grid drums from old Zedd.

There will come a time where you listen to your work and say "well shit. This is MY sound." I think the key is to surround yourself with all kinds of music that you like (and that's important, listen to stuff you dig) and slowly but surely, you will unconciously store all this ideas and influences to one day drop in a song. "Hey, I could try this".

And with the samples/plugins/knowledge issue, I really like the notion of "wotk with what you've got". If you want more, you can always save money for a new plugin, or pay extra music classes. Or browse deeply online.

I think it is far better to experiment with a lot of stuff (from your DAW and outside) instead of going into kickasstorrents (RIP btw) and torrenting the nexus and sylenth just because EVERYONE uses it. As of now, my only two tools are harmless and the 3xosc which came with my copy of Fl, tools that guys that torrented the software would never discover. I'm sure Cubase, Logic, Reaper, Reason...all have hidden perks that few people use because few people experiment. You don't have to purchase the "ULTIMATE FAT BEATZ SAMPLES VOL.3". I find in page like 33 of google an insanely large zip of free old synth drum samples and some very clean acoustic samples. The combination of both is something weird but unique, while a lot of dudes prefer to layer overcompressed 808's. Which is not bad but a lot of people have done it already, so...meh

Just because that sausage fattener and the izotope makes the beats very very way more thumpier doesn't mean you can't make a great mix with a stock compressor and proper EQ. But we do need practice.

Good luck

To be honest, I think its okay to use the same sort of techniques your inspirations use (BUT TO SOME EXTENT). At the end of the day, no label is going to sign you if you're trying to be the next Martin Garrix or Porter Robinson or deadmau5. If I were an A&R, I'd be looking for someone unique.

When I first started making music, I tried to recreate random deadmau5 synths and basses and whatnot and I'd write my own riffs, find drum samples myself and make tracks from that. Its been 8 years since, and I've gotten quite used to virtual instruments sound design is quite easy for me and I don't feel the need to go back to my favourite artists and make similar sounds.

So yeah I think its quite helpful to someone who is just starting out with the whole making music thing. But you're gunna have to let go of that, gradually.