Learn to Produce Music – Approaching Music Production Like the Greats

What is a music producer really? Judging from the typical discussion out there, you would think that he or she is primarily a technical professional. Like a NASA flight engineer or an electrical contractor.

The truth is that great producers don’t dream at night of circuit boards and the latest studio equipment. Great music producers spend their time building and nurturing an intimate relationship with sound and the almost mystical way that different combinations of sound stimulate and play on our emotions in ways that words alone cannot.

That said, the sounds we use as accompaniment for a song, should be chosen to serve the words and meaning of a song. The sounds, instrumentation, tempo, rhythm etc serve as inflection and expression.

Think of it this way: Imagine that someone is telling you something very meaningful. First picture them telling you this important thing in the voice of The Terminator or an automated telephone operator. Then picture them telling you this important thing with a tremble in their voice and a tear on their cheek. You see, it’s the inflection and accompaniment that make the words either profound or empty.

So, to learn to produce music like the great producers, you first have to learn to truly understand the mood, meaning and emotion of a song or piece of music. In other words, make sure you understand what you are going to say before you say it.

When you do understand the meaning and intent of a song that you are going to produce, the actual production of the piece becomes a much simpler, more enjoyable and much more rewarding task. Why?

If you take the time to understand the intent and meaning of a song or piece of music, the choices of instrumentation become obvious. Instead of facing infinite choices of sounds to support the song’s emotional flow and meaning, you instead are able to narrow down the choices to a few logical possibilities.

Learn to Produce Music – A Producer’s Practical Examples

Let’s imagine a hypothetical song. Let’s say this song has a quiet section and the lyric is telling you that a character in the song is about to make a huge and perhaps dramatic decision. Let’s say the main instrumentation is a piano or acoustic guitar during this section.

Instead of facing a thousand instrumentation choices in this scenario, because you understand the drama and importance of the lyric, you might settle on a single low bell sound to support the piano or guitar, as if it is being struck with a felt covered mallet.

Suddenly the drama and profound emotion of this section’s lyric is made apparent to the listener and the all important “emotional response” from him or her is achieved.

Let’s look at an entirely different kind of song. Imagine an upbeat house music style and imagine the lyric is simply about the joy of getting off work to go party the night away. Instead of a wall of sound from start to finish, you want an effective and memorable set of sounds that appear for crucial moments in the groove, to set the song apart from the pack.

So, in this case instead of typical back up vocals for the big chorus, you might decide to have the sound of a chanting soccer crowd to accompany the lead vocal. This drives home the joy and excitement of the moment and sweeps the listener up in the chaos and electricity as the song describes the night that is unfolding.

Imagination first, recording second

You see, as you learn to produce music, it’s important to always keep your creative imagination as your first priority. Anyone can learn to record music effectively and use the tools of the trade, but those who go on to be great producers are the ones who use sound to tell a story.

Learn the language and emotional power of sound and the whole world will listen.

I will continue this series of articles about becoming a music producer. Next time we will look at the actual recording process. We will look at surprisingly simple ways to record audio clearly and beautifully. We’ll find out how to record easily using very little recording equipment, while still capturing the meaning and mood of our songs.

By: Owen Critchley

About the Author:
I invite you to find out more as you learn to produce music. I invite you to take advantage of my free home recording lessons and find out the astonishingly simple Home Recording Blueprint method I use to record songs and music for movies, TV, CD release, licensing etc.

Warner/Chappell, Hi Bias, Audio Socket and LoudThud recording artist, songwriter and producer, Owen Critchley has been writing, recording and releasing music for over 15 years. For more information about Owen and his home recording tips, and how to be successful in the new music business, visit http://recordinghomestudio.com

Renting recording studio time can get very expensive. Most professional studios charge by the hour, which can put a lot of pressure on artists just starting out. Trust me, I’ve been there!

So let’s say you try to re-create a pro studio in your home. Purchasing all the analog equipment that you need to record can cost thousands. Fortunately, there is a better solution. Using recording studio software to record, edit, and produce sound is a great alternative, especially for the aspiring or unsigned musician or producer. The end result will be a first rate track that you can use for a demo or commercial purposes.

The editing features found in recording studio software make it possible to craft top quality songs. Features like composite workflows, 32 channel mixers, and a four band mastering suite help you make your tracks sound polished and smooth.

But the software isn’t just for editing music. It can create unique sounds and even entire tracks from scratch using synthesizers, sequencers, compressors, and other analog effects built into most recording studio software programs. This allows artists of any genre to create the sound they need for their creative projects.

There are some other programs that can do the job of recording studio software. For instance, dj software may have mix and match tools but lacks the true recording, editing, and sound design features found in recording studio software. Suffice it to say, some software will offer a few features, but true home studio software offers the whole package.

One important thing to note is that this kind of software requires a lot of computing power. Having a computer that can run the software properly is vital. If your computer doesn’t meet the basic requirements, the simplest tasks can be impossible or produce unsatisfactory results. Make sure your computer exceeds the basic requirements stated on the software program.

You should also know that these products have a learning curve. As with any task-based software program, users should be prepared to spend a few hours learning all the functions the program offers.

Having said all that, I’m sure you are waiting for a recommendation. Okay, here it is: From my personal experience, Reason 4 from Propellerhead is the best out there for the money. The thing I like best about Reason is the amount of features and tools it offers. Coming from an analog background, I generally experience a lack of control with the digital systems, but not with this program.

By: Mark P Sloan

About the Author:
To learn more about home studio software, including other great programs, check out Mark’s website homerecordingstudiosecrets.com. Mark Sloan is a recording artist who loves helping others get started in this amazing profession.

Not too long ago, creating professional quality music required rooms full of thousands of dollars of equipment. However, in the recent years, it’s become easier than ever to record music from home. With great advances in technology, an artist can produce top-notch songs from a pc recording studio.

Computer: If you are going to be purchasing a computer solely to run your studio, then you should first decide on what type of software you would like to run. The reason for this is that different programs require various levels of computing power. If you already have the computer that you’re going to use, make sure your program will be compatible.

Music Studio Software: When it comes to music studio software, the two main types are midi-sequencing programs and audio-recording programs. Midi-sequencing programs let you edit, record, and manipulate midi signals. Audio-recording programs deal with recording, editing, and mixing of traditional sound inputs (vocals, drums, guitar, etc.).

Don’t worry if you would like to incorporate both, as most software programs offer both audio and midi recording. Here are some of the factors to keep in mind as you decide on a software program:
Does my computer meet the hardware requirements specified by the manufacturer? Does the program have all the features I will need? Is the software user friendly? (If not, is there support available from forums, tech lines, help desk) If I rent out my studio, will others be able to use the program? One final point on recording software is that you must consider your budget. Some of these programs can get very expensive and may have a ton of features you will never use. If this is just a hobby or you are just starting out, consider a basic program that will be easy to use. The goal is to start making music, which is hard to do if you don’t have any cash left for microphones!

Completing your studio: Okay, you’ve got a powerful computer with the perfect software. Your pc will now do the job of a traditional recorder and mixer. However, there’s one key piece you still need.

Any guesses? Here’s a hint: Try plugging your keyboard into your computer! Doesn’t work too well, huh?

What you need is an audio interface. This device allows you to get the sound in and out of your computer. The three types of audio interfaces are USB, FireWire, and PCI. These are named for the location where they connect to your computer.

Once the audio interface is setup, you’re ready to go. Plug-in your sound sources and start recording.

By: Mark P Sloan

About the Author:
For more great pc recording studio info, go to Mark’s site, homerecordingstudiosecrets.com. Mark Sloan is an author and recording artist with years of experience working in home studios. His passion is helping new artists get started on the path to music success.