BEAT BIBLE BLOG
COMMANDMENT 1
Commandment 1 - Thou Shalt Get Familiar with Music Production
Written by Kamil Cejmer - August 10th 2023
Commandment 1 - Thou Shalt Get Familiar with Music Production
(An introduction to music production)
Welcome aboard the first commandment! Here, we’re diving deep into the vibrant world of music production. We’ll begin with a broad overview, touching upon the essential components of music creation and the rich history that shapes it.
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Next, we'll delve into the typical music production process. We'll highlight how things are done in professional studios, providing a blueprint that you can adapt and learn from.
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After setting the stage with a good grasp of theory, the chapters that follow will be your roadmap, pointing out what you need to embark on your own production journey.
Table of Contents
1.0 - Overview of Music Production
1.1 - Understanding the Music Production Process
1.2 - What's Needed to Start Producing
Get the Book to Unlock:
1.3 - Gear Budget Guide
1.4 - Producer Slang Dictionary
1.5 - Commandment 1: Test Your Knowledge
1.6 - Useful Sources
1.0 - Overview of Music Production
Before we dive into the juicy details, let's lay down a foundation with an overview of music production. We'll cover what it truly is, explore its rich history, and delve into more insights to ensure you grasp the full spectrum of what music production entails.
What is Music Production?
Music production is a term tossed around by many. But what truly distinguishes a music producer from, say, someone who just makes beats?
Consider these two individuals:
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Person 1: (Bobby)
Bobby crafts beats occasionally and shares them on his YouTube and Instagram. He often immerses himself in the creation process, relying on his ears and intuition more than formal training. Without a background in music theory, he leans on his natural sense of harmony. Bobby hasn't ventured into chord progressions, instrumentals, or overseeing studio work.
Would you classify Bobby as a music producer?
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Person 2: (Nick)
Since the age of ten, Nick's life has been musically charged. Beginning with the piano, he soon grasped the basics of music theory. Over the years, he composed various pieces, becoming fluent in chord progressions, scale applications, and chord voicings. When jamming with his band, Nick takes the lead in the production process – from guiding the sound to collaborating closely with mixing engineers.
Is Nick, in your eyes, a music producer?
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The Reveal
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If you've tuned in, the distinction might already be clear. A genuine music producer isn’t just about crafting beats from a bedroom setup. It’s about being a maestro in the truest sense. They collaborate with diverse artists, traverse various genres, and are perpetual learners.
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Ask yourself: Do you aspire to be a producer, or lean more towards being a "beatmaker"?
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Recognize the difference. If your passion lies in churning out beats for artists, you're more of a "beatmaker". But if you’re inclined towards broadening your musical horizons and guiding artists to their zenith, then the title of "music producer" awaits.
The History of Music Production
The distinction of inventing the first device capable of both recording and playing back music goes to Thomas Edison. In 1877, he introduced the phonograph—a contraption featuring two cylinders wrapped in tinfoil. It employed two needles: one for recording and another for playback.
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Soon after Edison's invention, a wave of related innovations emerged. In 1887, the gramophone was introduced. While often confused with Edison's phonograph, the gramophone utilized a disc similar to the vinyl disc and boasted a horn-like object on top. This horn captured sound, and its vibrations were transferred to the needle, etching the recording onto the disc.
To play back the sound, a different needle would trace the grooves made by the recording needle.
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This mechanism is an early precursor to the "Long-playing" (LP) disc or what we commonly recognize as the vinyl record player. Until the 1920s, this method dominated studio recordings.
However, the era of electrical recording dawned shortly after, solidifying the use of microphones as the industry standard.
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Thanks to the microphone, music underwent a transformation. This groundbreaking invention enabled artists to reach larger audiences, paving the way for concerts and performances on a grander scale.
A picture of a vintage phonograph.
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As you can see, the gramophone employs a rotating cylinder for its media. This was eventually succeeded by the vinyl disc (LP).
The first-ever microphone invented.
Developed by Emile Berliner and Thomas Edison in 1876, this microphone came about roughly a year following Bell's introduction of the inaugural telephone device.
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This microphone has been developed by Emile Berliner and Thomas Edison in 1876, about a year after Bell's invention of the first telephone device.
Until the 90s and occasionally into the 00s, many artists recorded their tracks using tape recorders. This method was often painstaking, as it required hands-on effort to organize compositions. If a segment didn't meet expectations, it meant physically cutting out that piece of tape and repeatedly recording until achieving the desired performance.
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With the advent of digital recording and streaming, DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations like FL Studio and Ableton) offered a significantly streamlined approach. Initially, their features were rudimentary, but they rapidly became the industry standard in studios globally.
Why is it Important to Learn About the History of Music Production?
Reason 1: Understanding the historical context and evolution of production provides clarity on the transition from analog to digital, shedding light on the distinct characteristics of each method. A deep dive into this history will elucidate the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches.
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Reason 2: Recognizing the challenges faced by pioneers can foster a deeper appreciation for contemporary technology, eliminating any barriers to diving deeper into this art. Moreover, honoring these trailblazers might spark innovative approaches to music production, bringing a fresh perspective to the craft.
Reason 3: History offers lessons from past triumphs and missteps. By absorbing these lessons, you can potentially fast-track your musical journey, gaining an edge over those who overlook the importance of musical history.
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Reason 4: Exploring the societal and cultural impacts of music throughout history can illuminate why certain tunes resonate deeply with us. Harnessing this understanding can empower you to create music that genuinely connects with listeners.
1.1 - Understanding the Music Production Process
Now, if you're starting out, it is not as important to understand the music production process in a professional setting, but it is certainly interesting to learn about. (Hint: you can still use some of those processes in a non-professional setting).
Roles in Music Production Studios
Before we move on to the processes, it's essential to recognize each key role within a typical music studio environment.
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Music Producer
The overseer of the entire production process, often seen as the "project leader." They determine the roles and tasks for each project, outline their vision to the team, guide artists on their performance, and much more. Their responsibilities can vary based on numerous factors within the production process.
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Artist
Whether they're vocalists, rappers, or instrumentalists, artists typically release the song under their name.
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Recording Engineer
Tasked with overseeing the recording process, they provide guidance to artists on aspects like volume and delivery. A skilled recording engineer can pinpoint errors in a performance, promptly stopping and restarting the recording to maintain efficiency.
Mixing Engineer
After the creation of the initial beat or instrumental and the recording of vocals, the mixing engineer steps in. Their role involves applying equalization, compression, and innovative effects to ensure the mix is clean, distinctive, and up to industry standards.
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Songwriter/Lyricist
Either working solo or collaboratively, these professionals ensure the song conveys the intended emotional message through its lyrics. They can craft a song independently or collaborate with the artist and producer, offering their expertise to enhance the song's quality.
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Sound Designer
Experts in creating unique audio elements, sound designers specialize in synthesis and innovative effects. They enhance a track by adding transitions, effects, and other elements, elevating its dynamism and interest. While their primary role may be more prominent in industries like film or advertising, in music, they're the artists adding finishing touches to a piece, making it truly memorable.
Additional Studio Roles:
Beyond the primary roles, studios often feature Arrangers who orchestrate the musical direction, ensuring each instrumental section complements the others. Session Musicians are hired on a per-project basis to provide expertise on specific instruments. Vocal Coaches fine-tune an artist's vocal performance, emphasizing technique and delivery. Studio Technicians or Assistants ensure equipment is set up correctly and functions seamlessly. Studio Managers oversee the logistical side of studio operations, while A&R Representatives, especially in bigger studios or label-affiliated ones, offer feedback and ensure recordings align with the label's vision. Lastly, the Mastering Engineer polishes the final mix, ensuring it's balanced and ready for distribution across various platforms.
Mix engineers are widely underrated and underappreciated. Be appreciative of your mix engineer whenever you work with one, as they put hours into your song to ensure a good mix quality.
The Music Production Process
The music production process comprises several crucial steps that have been honed and standardized over the decades. Below is a breakdown of this typical sequence:
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Note: Remember, each musical project is a unique embodiment of creativity. While this standardized method can guide and even enhance your output, it serves primarily as a reference. Adaptation based on your vision is always key.
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Pre-production
Pre-production is the foundational phase. Here, producers and artists collaborate to set the project's objectives, encompassing creative direction, the song's message, and possibly even producing a demo track for later guidance. Often, the instrumental or beat is generated before the vocals. However, occasionally, vocals are crafted prior to finalizing the beat.
Recording
During this phase, all the instruments and vocals that constitute the song are captured. The recording engineer takes the lead, ensuring optimal takes and guiding the artists throughout their performances.
Editing
Once recording wraps up, the meticulous process of editing commences. Every noise, artifact, or extraneous segment is surgically removed. It's pivotal to review all recordings for quality. If any fall short, it's back to the recording booth. Progressing sequentially through the production stages can facilitate a more efficient process, retaining the track's original essence.
Mixing
The mixing phase is initiated once every component – be it the beat, instrumental, or vocals – is in place. Before delving into the nitty-gritty of mixing, the individual tracks (typically in their "dry" form without effects) are handed to the mixing engineer.
The mixing procedure is multi-layered:
1 - Gain-staging: The journey starts by adjusting track volumes from zero, focusing on primary tracks and subsequently integrating secondary elements.
2 - Leveling: This involves a thorough evaluation of volume relationships between tracks. Here, both the stereo-image and panning of each track are determined, enhancing the mix's depth and breadth.
Tip: Continually monitor the levels after each mixing stage, as the addition or alteration of effects can impact track dynamics and levels. This vigilance ensures tracks remain balanced
and free from distortion.
3 - Equalization (EQ): This step ensures frequencies complement each other without clashing, and unwanted frequencies are filtered out.
4 - Dynamic processing: Here, compression is harnessed to ensure the track's consistency.
5 - Applying Creative FX: Space and personality are injected into the mix using tools like reverb, delay, and chorus.
6 - Automation: Automated parameter changes, such as fade-ins, are set up.
7 - Reference and fine-tuning: Listening to the mix on a variety of sound systems guarantees it appeals across platforms. Any inconsistencies identified pave the way for the ultimate fine-tuning phase.
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By adhering to this structured approach, artists and producers can effectively traverse the complex world of music production, marrying technical precision with artistic vision.
Active listening is a term used in music production. It involves listening to the track and assessing what needs to be done with it.
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You can also actively listen to songs. Producers do this to get inspired or to understand a certain aspect of a track.
1.2 - What's Needed to Start Producing
Generally, you don't need much to start producing music. As long as you have access to the internet, have a half-decent computer/laptop, and are motivated to start producing, you are all set.
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You don't even need to spend money to do this. There are DAWs and plugins available for free, which is a great start. If you feel like you want to learn a more advanced DAW, which mostly are costly, then that's okay too, unless you are on the fence about producing and don't want to risk spending too much money from the get-go.
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You can even produce on your phone. The popular app BandLab allows you to do just that, along with recording vocals. The app is great if you want to give basic beatmaking a try, and it's really easy to get into.
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If you want to solely produce on your mobile for now or if you want to use BandLab through your PC browser, you can go ahead and skip the following part of this subchapter.
Note: BandLab is also available on web browsers. Great if you don't want to download anything yet!
DAWs and Their Requirements
Now, if you do want to use a DAW, it is crucial to know that some requirements have to be met in terms of hardware.
For instance, FL Studio is known for it's single-core performance, meaning that you will need a processor that has that. This means that you will need a processor (other words CPU) that doesn't necessary have a lot of Gigahertz, but rather a processor which has the best possible threads per core.
You don't need a "crazy" computer either, just know that it is highly advisable to go for an i3 minimally, if the CPU is made by Intel, or a Ryzen 3 if it's an AMD. You can definitely use professional DAWs with processors that offer lower performances, but I recommend to go for a computer that has at least one of those.
RAM is another thing to consider, as some DAWs may perform better if you have more memory available, especially if you want to link a lot of channels together, and do complicated stuff that will be explained later on in the book.
Generally, I recommend to have at least 8GB of RAM installed in your computer, and 16GB if you don't want to run into any memory issues. Consider upgrading to 16GB once you start working with more advanced plugins and tools.
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