It's been a long time since I've posted anything on here but I'm glad to be back. What I have to say is more of an observation about myself, but I'm wondering how often/if it happens to any of you.
I became a member of this forum in early 2005. I've learned a lot on here from a lot of people. I've had helpful answers to many questions and I've even been made to feel stupid at times because of responses to my responses. I've learned to welcome criticisms despite the messenger (whether on 3dB or via clients). I've learned how to simply engineer while the client/artist calls the shots- even though they may have hired me to produce and arrange their music in the first place. It's been a long journey but I've gained so much experience that has impacted many areas of my life other than recording.
I'm burned out, though. Not counting the lack of clients/work, I'm not driven to write or record any more like I used to be. It's been a tough past couple of months while I have come to this realization. I know that part of it has to do with my own personal standards of how music should sound versus what I've accomplished (IMO my mixes are not near the level a lot of 3dB-ers can do). I don't get it - I have decent equipment, a decent room, a good DAW, but what I've found is that regardless of my gear, my talent seems to have hit a brick wall. It's very discouraging.
Do any of you ever feel this way? Do you feel like no matter how hard you try, your stuff always sounds the same? Like there's something missing that divides you from what the pros are doing? I'm not trying to start a technical discussion here, so please don't anyone take it there. Regardless of equipment and client talent and room size and... you get the point... Is there a plateau that we reach as engineers/writers/singers/guitar players/etc?
I don't know what the answer is. Anyone? I feel like I'm stuck and there's something holding me back but I can't find it to know what to fix. Is it time to call it quits and follow another path for my life? Any professional advice or stories would be appreciated... maybe my answer lies with one of you.
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