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Music production is the creative process of composing, recording, arranging, editing, mixing, and mastering audio to create a final piece of music. Music production can be done in a professional studio setting or at home with digital audio workstations (DAWs) and virtual instruments.
- What Is Music Production?
- Essential Gear You Need to Begin Recording Music
- Specialist Gear You May Need to Produce Music
- What Are The Stages in Music Production?
- Recording Virtual Instruments
- Recording External Sounds
- The Basics of Audio Editing: Mixing and Mastering
Music production is an umbrella term. Whether it’s songwriting, arranging, recording, mixing, mastering or anything in between, it can probably be described as music production. Put simply, it’s the entire process, from start to finish, of making recorded music. The different elements of music production rely not only on skills and knowledge but on...
Computer
First and foremost you’re going to need some sort of computer. Laptops, tablets and – especially today – smartphones are all viable options for music-making. A desktop computer will still give you the most processing power and screen real estate for your money, but phones are increasingly becoming more workable as music production devices thanks to the emergence of sophisticated and powerful apps.
Digital Audio Workstation
Next up is a DAW, or a Digital Audio Workstation. This is the software that sits at the heart of modern music production, letting you record, arrange, edit, mix and master your music. There are many powerful DAWs to choose from, either paid (Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio) or free-to-use (BandLab, GarageBand). In general, all DAWs feature the same core capabilities – but there are some important differences to be aware of. Some excel at audio recording, some are great for making beats and...
Monitoring equipment: speakers or headphones
Monitoring speakers are often described as the single most important item in your studio, and for good reason. No matter how good your musical ideas, if you’re creating and mixing on sub-standard speakers then the result is almost certain to be uninspiring. Monitor speakers are different from hi-fi speakers because they tend to have a more transparent sound, rather than a flattering one. While monitors are undoubtedly the gold standard for playback, good-quality headphones are an excellent pl...
While it’s legitimately possible to make a track with nothing more than a computer, a DAW, and a pair of headphones, sooner or later you’re going to want to expand your setup. Exactly what other gear you might need depends largely on the type of music you plan to make.
Writing
The work you do on music production will tend to be in service of a song. The song is the most essential element in any production and can help guide the sound of a track. Songwriting is too big a topic to delve into, so you should learn the core principles of songwritingseparately. You can write and produce at the same time or produce a song that’s already written.
Session setup
The first thing you’ll want to do is create a new ‘session’ in your DAW. A new session is like a blank document; it’s where you’ll sketch out ideas, record, arrange and so on.
Tempo and key
Before you can get to the fun stuff, you’ll need to take care of some admin regarding your session. Start by setting the tempo or BPM (beats per minute). This is how fast or slowly the underlying pulse of your track will be. It’s vital to set this at the start if you want to record acoustic instruments; recording at a consistent tempo will keep everyone on the same beat and avoid any awkward timing issues down the road. Next is setting the key signature of your song. If you’re in an early wri...
Virtual instruments exist solely within the computer. All sound comes from the software, and you don’t need a microphone or even an audio interface to use them. Their versatility, portability, and generally high sound quality make them an essential resource in music production. Virtual instruments generally fall into two categories. The first is sy...
External sounds such as vocals, acoustic instruments and hardware synthesizers can add authenticity and personality to a track. Even a small-scale recording setup can expand your production process and open up new musical possibilities.
Audio editing is commonly used to tighten up timing or as a creative method of structuring a song. There are two main methods: the first involves cutting up your recordings in your DAW and rearranging them. This is commonly called ‘split-and-slip’ editing, which refers to splitting the audio file and then slipping it into the correct place. The sec...
Apr 27, 2023 · 11 min read. •. by. IndieFlow Staff. Music production is a broad term, covering everything from that initial spark of an idea, right through the entire writing, recording, and post-production process. Even if you've experimented with recording and mixing techniques before, music production for beginners can prove overwhelming.
May 9, 2024 · What is music production? Music production is the process of developing, creating and refining recorded music for public presentation. Music production can refer to the entire lifecycle of a piece of music—from songwriting and composition to recording and sound design to mixing and mastering.
May 12, 2022 · Last updated: May 12, 2022 • 7 min read. Music production is an exciting field that touches on every aspect of song creation. Find out everything you need to know about music production and the steps you can take to become a music producer.
Begin to assess and establish your identity, vision, and intention as an artist and producer. Write and develop a compelling piece of music by utilizing various tools. Establish the sonic signature of your production by utilizing specific production techniques.
Jan 12, 2022 · On this site you’ll find a completely free library of guides to VST instruments, royalty free sample packs + learning music production/beatmaking. Whether you’re a complete beginner to music production, or an intermediate/advanced level producer looking to sharpen your toolbox, we are here to help.
