Songwriting Tips: Get Things Done Faster With Gadgets
If you are a composer, you are probably in favor of getting the job done faster and more efficiently. I also feel the same. The same is true for songwriters and any other business professional.
The sooner you write, record and appear your inspirations in the world, the better. The following are some of my favorite time-saving methods, devices, and gadgets:
1. iPhone (or other smartphone): Whether it’s taking pictures of guitars, recording quick audio ideas for songs, navigating to concerts or meetings, or managing your contacts, iPhone is a super valuable tool that can help you accomplish more tasks. Quick.
2. Skype (or iChat and Google video): This technology is great for making cheap international calls and collaborating with people abroad, very useful when booking international travel. So why waste time with email or “regular mail” when you can close the deal with a face-to-face conversation? It is a great tool to become “big in Europe”.
3. Dropbox – This is a virtual storage where you can store and share with others just about any type of file. The great part is that you can then access your files on any computer at any time; so if you don’t have your laptop, don’t worry. And it’s very easy to use because you just have to drag and drop; It saves you time and you can skip the CD burning and “snail mail” method of receiving your music.
4. Filezilla FTP Client: FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, which translates to “moving large files quickly over the Internet”; in other words, it is a program for uploading and downloading files to and from your fellow composers. Another to try is “cyberduck” – it’s cool and easy to use!
5. Cardioid Condenser Microphone – This is a USB microphone that is plug-n-play so you can quickly connect the microphone to any laptop on the go and express your ideas in decent sound. It is also ideal for podcasting (podcasts are a way of distributing multimedia files over the Internet for playback on mobile devices, often in MP3 format).
If you really want to set your songwriting sessions to warp speed, try using my favorite methods to save time:
1. Have any reference materials on hand, such as a rhyming dictionary or thesaurus.
2. Have a “template” ready on any digital workstation you can use and set it up for a microphone and whatever instrument you can use, or have a portable recorder handy (if it’s a cassette, have a blank cassette available), But make sure the batteries are fresh!
3. If you use a pencil, get the “clicks” that don’t need to be sharpened; There is nothing worse than getting involved in a song and having a breaking point, and then having to find a pencil sharpener.
4. Turn off your cell phone and silence the ringer on any landline – and if there are other people in the house, ask them to act like you’re not home. Make sure all your obligations are taken care of – a clear mind is a creative mind.