So you’ve been DJing for a while, the next obvious step is to move into music production. But where do you start? It can be a very confusing and daunting topic when you first look into it. So here’s some info, tips and advice to help make those first steps into the production world a little bit easier.
What is a music producer? - In the old days the music producer was the guy who oversaw the band/artist in the studio. They would take on many roles, from controlling the recording sessions and guiding the band musically, to breaking up fights, keeping the peace and being a shoulder to cry on. But as computers became more powerful, it made music production much more accessible, leading to the birth of dance music and the modern Bedroom Producer.
You have to really want to do it - You need to know from the very outset that this ain't easy!
It's bloody rewarding though. Despite the steep learning curve, there’s nothing like the satisfaction you’ll get when finishing your own music.
The best way to learn ‘production’ is to teach yourself - Just start playing around with everything. It might take a year of messing around before you start figuring stuff out, but you will get there. If you're looking for instant gratification just stop now.
Mac or PC? - Makes no difference, both are very capable and have all the software you’ll ever need.
It does not need to be expensive - You really only need a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to get you started, other stuff can come later if you decide that you want to continue. You don't even need to buy a DAW to start with, there's plenty of free options out there to get you going and see if music production is for you.
Try the following:
Presonus Studio One Free (MAC and PC) - This stripped down version of Studio One comes with it's drawbacks, but includes unlimited audio and instrument tracks, time-stretching and all the other essentials.
Zynewave Podium Free (PC) see above - Designed by Frits Nielson in 2005, Podium is a fully functional 64-bit DAW for $50. Podium Free has some limitations, but it's basically the full program with no time out or nag screens. Podium has some notable features that will give the premium DAW's a run for their more expensive money.
Ardour (MAC and Linux) - Ardour is an open-source DAW originally designed for Linux and available for MAC as well. It uses JACK to make it compatible with outside applications and features video import, scoring, non-destructive editing, support for AU, LV2, LinuxVST and LADSPA formats and elegant signal routing system.
Cockos REAPER (PC and MAC) see above - Designed by Justin Frankel, who was involved with Winamp, Reaper is a fully fledged DAW that rivals the high-end programs with it's features. It's shareware and costs $60, but Cockos encourages users to try the product for free before buying a license. There's no time out or locked features, just download and start making music. If you like it, please buy!
How to start producing your own dance music tips
Pick a DAW and stick with it - The ‘hype’ over which DAW is better, or the ‘you should use X’ is trivial. The most important thing you can do is, LEARN the one you've chosen. Spend time in it, all the major ones can do everything you'd want if you know how to use it. Don't get caught up in the notion that you aren't a ‘real’ musician/producer unless you use X program. It's all marketing ploys and bullshit.
If you spend too much time jumping between DAWs, you'll never have a good workflow in any of them. I'm not saying that down the road you shouldn't investigate a DAW for your own curiosity or the possibility of switching...I'm speaking specifically to those who start out and feel like they need to have Reason, Live, Fruity Loops, Cubase all on their computer and trying to learn them all at once.
Learning an instrument will help - There’s plenty of great producers out there who can’t play an instrument, but getting some piano lessons will be indispensable. Training your ear and learning musical theory will help you hugely. You don’t have to be a virtuoso, just learning the basics will make a difference.
Inspiration and influence are everything - Listen to as much music as possible, and I mean a lot! Soak it all up, that’s the best way to learn song structure. Go to clubs (with a proper sound system) and just listen to the music. Get your head around the different layers in a club track, and how they all work with each other and how they make the crowd react. Be adventurous, seek out as much new music as you can. Expose yourself to different styles of the music the world has to offer.
Listen, then listen again - Then listen for a third time, then listen on the way to work or at the gym and keep listening to your favourite artist’s work. Dissect their music in great detail, it will be worthwhile.
Tackle one thing at a time - And make sure you understand it 100 percent. Music production is a very wide and diverse field and can be very confusing.
Network - Talk to other people who produce, and don't be afraid to ask questions. We all started out the same.
Rules are there to be broken - You'll develop your own ways of doing things. It doesn't matter what you use to achieve what you're after. The only thing that matters is your learning while you're doing it.
RTFM - READ THE F**KING MANUAL
Read some books - As boring as that may sound to some of you, you’ll get so much from reading. The following is a list of books I recommend as your skills and knowledge develop:
Rick Snoman - ‘Dance Music Manual’
Marc Adamo - ‘The Secrets of House Music Production’
Bobby Owsinski - ‘Mix Engineers Handbook
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Mike Senior - ‘Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio’
Michael Stavrou - ‘Mixing with Your Mind’
Michael Hewitt - ‘Music Theory for Computer Musicians’
Mark Mozart - ‘Mixed’
Be a creator of music not a collector of music products - Don’t feel like you have to have the latest plugin or piece of software because so and so producer uses it. You’ll end up with a desktop full of icons, a folder full of apps and no clue how to use them. Keep it simple, learn how to use your DAW’s built in effects and write music!
Try to spend at least an hour everyday in the studio producing - If you don't feel like writing, use the time constructively - check out new music, do some sound design, look for new samples and start building your sample library and putting it in a catalog system that works for you .
Turn off the Internet and write music - Distractions will not help you improve. Try using sites like Cold Turkey if you feel you don’t have the self-control to stay off the Internet when in the studio.
Practice, Practice, Practice - Did I mention practice? Jokes aside, the only way to get better at something is to practice, and music production is no different. There are no short cuts. This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon!!
Featured image by [RUKES]
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