Greetings my fellow music makers! Often times in this music industry that is ever changing we tend to lose focus or get complacent in our accomplishments way too often. With the software industry now in full effect in the aspect of making, distributing and recording music, things should be easier right? Well not exactly. You see with all this technology comes a lot of cloudiness in the process of music making nowadays for both the producer and the artist. Newbies struggle with the creation aspect, what software to buy, what other gear they may need while old seasoned veterans of the game often times have their workflow set but fail to adapt completely to the technological aspects being pressed upon them by the industry. Given both of these facts this is why its important to remember the basics of the process no matter how old or young you are. If your desire is to become excellent and skilled in your craft (producer or artist) then below are 7 basic rules you absolutely need to know and continue to revisit as you proceed to succeed in this industry!
I myself practice these on a daily whenever I’m pushing myself to the outer limits and my production to the next level. The feeling of making something that you know is quality and that you know others will appreciate when words are put to it, is one of the most satisfying achievements of a musical professional. In other words you don’t need a music society to give you an award to appreciate the greatness of any work. My philosophy is JUST MAKE GREAT MUSIC!
7 Principles of Modern Music Production
- Know Your Gear: Learn exactly what to look for when buying gear; discover the meaning of equipment specifications; investigate the differences between recording consoles and interfaces, microphones, cabling and pre-amplification etc.
- Producer Mindset & Philosophy: Learn to fuel your creative fire & think like a composer; arm yourself with a rock solid work ethic; adopt the same producer mindset & philosophy owned by the top notch producer for the genre you are in.
- Learn Basic Music Theory: Understand how to apply modal scales to your compositions; learn musical dynamics and instrument emulation via keyboard and more.
- Craft Your Sonic Sound: Grasp the art of high quality recordings, cognizant of all necessary conditions required for solid recording; learn the importance of studio treatments, plus solutions for a less-than-ideal recording environment.
- Utilize Your Sampler Instrument: Learn how to create your own custom producer workstation using samplers and keyboards; investigate the studio secrets and workflows of platinum producers whom you like; learn to slice and dice samples and beats at a moment’s notice – just like the pro’s.
- Music Construction: Apply your knowledge of dynamics and theory to create complex, intelligent musical phrases; learn the basics of sequencing musical phrases into full arrangements.
- Stay Current: Listen to the current sound of music in the genre you are in,utilize tools such as I-Tunes & Satellite radio to preview music; read industry blog post and review sites for the genre you are in. KNOW WHATS GOING ON!
