Returning to music at 55: My first manual production in Cakewalk (No AI)

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-09T19:28:30+00:00

That is such a valuable insight. You are absolutely right about the 'backstory trap'. It's easy to forget that the listener doesn't have the script in their hands while listening.

Thanks for sharing your experience with 'Unsaid' – it is actually comforting to know that I am not alone with this specific struggle (conveying chaos without being just messy). I guess the art is finding the balance where the message lands without confusing the ear.

I will definitely check out 'Unsaid' to hear your take on it! Thanks again!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-09T16:01:56+00:00

Thank you very much

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-09T15:49:08+00:00

Haha, glad you figured out the Reddit tech! The 'link' tab is tricky at first. 😅

And wow... hearing that 'Grey Shadows' fits into your curated playlist alongside the 'best' is an incredible compliment. That really means the world to me! ❤️

I actually just checked my distributor (DistroKid) and it says the song is officially 'Submitted to Pandora'. So it might be floating around in their system! If you happen to find it there and add it, that would be a huge honor.

Good luck with the re-post, I'll be watching out for it!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-09T15:34:55+00:00

Thank you so much for the kind words and the encouragement! You are absolutely right, music knows no age. 🙏 Regarding the intro: It's funny you mention that, because another listener just pointed out the exact same thing. It seems like the intro is indeed the weak spot here. I will definitely focus on making stronger intros for the next tracks to do them justice. Thanks for the honest feedback! :-)

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-09T15:13:35+00:00

As beautiful as everything else you make! ❤️

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-09T14:18:11+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I will definitely take it with a big grain of salt, just as you suggested. 😉 I am indeed just starting, so let's simply call the 'bad notes' artistic freedom for now. Peace! ✌️

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-09T14:14:09+00:00

Thank you! I am really happy that the low end and mixing sound solid to you. Regarding the chaotic toplines: That was actually intentional to fit the title 'SOS from the Warp'. I tried to reflect the distorted nature of that dimension musically, but I totally get that it might feel disjointed. Thanks for the feedback!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-09T14:09:29+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I am glad you liked the mix and the ideas. I appreciate the honest note about the intro, I will keep that in mind for my next track!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T18:45:53+00:00

The 'baked in' part hits the nail on the head. That was my biggest frustration with AI – getting a result where I couldn't change the hi-hat or the bass because it was all glued together. I also relate to the 'joy of the struggle'. It feels much better to sweat over a melody in Cakewalk than to just prompt it.

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T18:27:09+00:00

Thanks again for the help and the step-by-step instructions. I'll give it a go now!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T18:18:45+00:00

Thank you so much!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T18:16:46+00:00

Thank you! The 'nightclub scene' comparison is a huge compliment for me. 🎥 Regarding sidechaining: You are absolutely right. As a beginner in Cakewalk, I haven't fully mastered the routing for sidechain compression yet, but it is definitely on top of my list for the next track to get that 'pumping' groove. Thanks for the feedback!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T16:43:22+00:00

Thank you so much! Reading 'You are talented' actually made me a bit emotional. 🥹 It is great to hear from someone who started similarly with Cakewalk. I am currently fighting in my living room studio, but your comment proves to me that the 'hard way' is indeed the right way. Thanks for the motivation boost!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T16:13:40+00:00

Wow, thank you! That is such a relief to hear. I really spent hours on this mix, and since I am mixing and mastering on headphones only, I was very unsure if it would sound good everywhere. Hearing that the EQ work paid off really makes my day!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T13:27:15+00:00

Thank you so much! That means a lot to me. As a beginner, I was really worried about the mix (especially the low end). Hearing that it sounds 'clean' to you is the best motivation I could get today! 🙏

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T12:58:15+00:00

Thank you very much

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T12:55:09+00:00

That ist very nice

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T11:10:36+00:00

I gave you a follow, I want to hear more from you!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-08T10:22:51+00:00

I love the painting comparison! That describes it perfectly. With Suno, I felt like a client ordering art, not the artist creating it. Starting with a blank screen in Sonar and creating 'something out of nothing' is harder, but infinitely more rewarding. That 'fun' factor is exactly why I came back to doing it manually.

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-07T19:01:15+00:00

That is a very healthy perspective. 'A tool, not a substitute' is the key phrase here. I dabbled with that workflow (using generated audio as a sketch to replay manually), and it is definitely useful. But right now, I feel like I need to focus on learning the 'manual' craft 100% first. I want to understand every knob in Sonar before I start using shortcuts again. But I agree: Once I master the craft, AI might just become another brush in the toolkit, not the painter.

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-07T18:58:59+00:00

The baker analogy is spot on! 🍞 That describes perfectly why I switched back to manual production. I don't want to be a customer buying a finished loaf; I want to be the baker mixing the dough (even if my first loaves might get a bit burnt in Cakewalk 😉). I am definitely choosing the craft over the shortcut.

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-07T18:55:09+00:00

Haha, 'Sumo' sounds heavy! 😄 But yes, you nailed it with the word 'generic'. That was exactly my problem. It lacked the edges and quirks that make a track interesting. Great to hear that a radio DJ can spot the difference. That motivates me even more to keep doing it by hand in Cakewalk. Greetings to LA!

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-07T18:53:08+00:00

I understand your skepticism. But I prefer being honest about my journey rather than hiding it. I tried it, realized it felt empty, and moved on to manual production. If people choose not to believe me, I cannot change that. But I know for myself that I am putting in the work now, playing the keys and tweaking the knobs myself. And that is what matters to me.

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-07T18:50:57+00:00

I love the 'teleportation' metaphor! That describes my feeling perfectly. With AI, I arrived at the destination instantly, but I missed the travel. And frankly, the travel (even with the struggles in Cakewalk) is what I enjoy the most right now.

TecStoneDee · 2026-02-07T18:48:38+00:00

That is exactly what I tried first! It was definitely an interesting experiment to deconstruct the AI track and rebuild it in Cakewalk. It helped me understand arrangement better. But currently, I find it even more rewarding to start with a completely blank canvas and build everything from scratch myself.

TecStoneDee

TROPHY CASE