Absolutely spot on video! This should be the first vid that new producers watch. Like "Here's your Sonic Academy sub now watch this video and then have at it!"
I built a new computer last summer so I took the opportunity to really, really cut back on the amount of VSTs that I have installed. I'm trying to use onboard effects as much as possible except for some favorites that I just won't let go of. I've settled on two synths that I know well and really like with 3 others that I'm familiar with or learning.
It really, really helps!
My biggest issue is sorting samples into a system that makes sense! I ended up with a giant mess the last time I tried.
My biggest piece of advice to share is to find a specific time that you can work on music every day and do NOTHING but work on music during that time. Every. Single. Day.
I prefer to work later at night but when I lived in my last apartment I realized that the parking lot was empty in the late mornings and early afternoons. I had hours I could dedicate to nothing but music before I went to work where I wouldn't disturb the neighbors. So every single day I sat down and worked on music during that time slot. I think I learned more in the year and a half I was in that apartment than in the years leading up to it.
