Electronic music has come a long way and is considered today as part of mainstream music. Here’s more on the role of a music producer in Music Production.
What Does a Music Producer Do?
So assuming you end up becoming a professional music producer, what would your day look like? What are the tasks you would mostly be involved in?
A Music Producer’s job basically is to guide through the process of making a song or record. It starts with the pre-production stage where you would discuss with the client as to what exactly he/she is trying to achieve musically and go going through all the materials for your project in great detail.
A Music Producer manages the recording process and works closely with clients (musicians, singers, video producer) to create a product that sounds good. Music producers have great computer skills as they work a lot with computers and recording equipment. They also have to interact a lot with musicians by sharing ideas/information to help make the sound of the product better.
Some of the topics that you’ll try to finalize in pre-production are:
- The Key for the Song
- What sort of Song Arrangement should be used
- who would be the Target Audience
- Review the Lyrics
- What Musicians will be needed
- what sort of studio (with what equipment) will be needed for the recording.
- Last but not the least – Budget
Once, you have a good idea of what needs to be done, a realistic budget is established. Once the budget thing is discussed & sorted out, you just need to focus on the creative aspects of making a record can everyone involved can actually work in a more productive environment.
Can A Producer Be a Musician?
Of-course Yes! Especially those who make the transition from being a musician (with good knowledge about recording).
But then there are some who are more interested in the business aspect, more than actually playing a music instrument or singing.
That is why there are so many successful music producers, who really don’t make their own music. However, they are good at working with recording professionals, industry executives and reliable musicians to complete a recording project.
Even though, most of us think that a music producer means someone who is a songwriter, is a musician, and also knows about music recording & production, its not really true (though that person may have the skills in all these areas).
Because the skills & efforts involved in managing a big recording project are very demanding, usually someone who works on creating the music isn’t typically considered a producer.
A background in music also helps, though its not a prerequisite to become one.
Why Do People Hire a Music Producer?
Because, not every musician, or everyone who is interested in music wants to learn about music production, or are interested in recording, the way they are passionate about music.
They would prefer someone with the relevant experience to take up that job. And that is why most hire a professional Music Producer, in-spite of the fact that it adds to the overall expense in the recording process.
An experienced record producer can save you hundreds (even thousands) of dollars in terms of wastage of studio time. He/she can also help you reach your true potential as an artist.
It’s very easy to get overwhelmed with the actual recording work (if you really don’t enjoy it). Having an experienced producer alongside makes the entire recording less daunting, more creative and much more enjoyable.
When looking to hire a record producer, make sure he/she has experience to backup his/her knowledge, and also has produced in the genre of music that you’re interested in.
The best producers in the business:
- Have good connections within the music industry
- Know how to market music
- Can place your music on a compilation
- Can get Club, Radio DJ’s to play your music
- Get your music distributed by local and international distributors
Types of Producers
I did mention that in big projects, the producers & the musicians are usually separate people/teams. And when you talk about producers, that itself can mean different things in the music industry.
Here are the different types of producers that you would come across in the music industry.
- Executive Producer: Responsible for funding the recording project and making sure the project sis completed within budget. They are the bridge between the record label and the recording artists, and make sure the project makes sense financially from a business perspective.
- Music Producer: This is what we all identify with. He/she spends most of their time creating or arranging music for the recording project. They guys have a strong background in music theory (some have degrees in music theory or music composition from established universities and colleges). On some projects, the music producer may also be given the task of communicating between the artists and the record label executives (which is actually quite a difficult task than what many think).
- Engineering Producer: He is the guy who understands all the technical aspects of the recording studio (compared to the other two types), be it how to work with the recording console, setup the microphones for recording, use the recording software efficiently and effectively, make the music sound great (from an engineer’s perspective), and keep the recording project organized. Most engineering producers usually start their career as mixing engineers or assistant engineers to record label producers.
What’s Bad About Being a Music Producer
Although its never been a better time for music producers, there are also some lows of being in this profession. Here we take a look at some of those.
Everybody talks about how great it feels to create music. The thrill and the creative satisfaction that goes into it is indeed rewarding. Many even dream of a career thinking that nothing can beat the sensation of creating and listening to that piece over and over again. However, there are many aspects to it that are not all fun and games. In fact at times, it can be completely frustrating and soul crushing for some.
Everybody knows of the high’s of music, now let’s look at the low’s, the things you may not often hear about music production:
Where is the money, honey?
Contrary to popular belief, music production is not a money minting profession. You may have worked months on a single, putting in all the effort to make it perfect but the royalties you earn on a single track is a paltry sum. So, if you are dreaming of minting money, you may actually need to release a new song every week.
Bad music sells better than yours
These are times when your work is judged by the number of likes or views you get on a social networking platform and there is all kinds of music out there. Don’t be surprised when the “most cliched” track gets a 1000 more likes than yours. It’s just how it works sometimes.
No one get’s what you do
We are in an era when music is digitized, reworked, edited in a studio etc. Music industry is a huge and a very popular industry, yet, not many people understand the process or even few understand music. Music is like art, most of them just don’t get what you do. The term “Musician” many a times, if not always, invites questions such as “which instrument do you play?” and there is utter confusion when you tell them that you don’t play any instrument. Such socially awkward instances are a part and parcel of the profession.
Your skills can’t be used elsewhere
You may be good at creating bass sounds, or program beats in seconds but out there in the real world, your skills don’t mean anything. Unless you pick up some marketing skills (most freelancers do), if you ever think of changing career, music production cannot compete with the skills of a banker, estate agents or any such professional.
No one cares what you do either
Unfortunately, it is hard to get people to understand the way things work as a music producer. And even if they understand what you do, not everyone will be celebrating your music releases and small successes. After all, thanks to the affordable prices of music production technology, it seems like every tom dick and harry has music releases to their credit. So if you manage to get even 20 likes on your social media page, you should celebrate.
Everything you release stays there
Back in the old days of vinyl, you could come out with a dodgy track and people would soon forget about it but not any more. Getting rid of your old tracks is harder than you think. Today, once you put your music out there, it is available for everyone to hear and judge. Scary thought?
It is depressing to hear your music in a club
Hearing your track in a club is not as pleasant as you may imagine. It is often soul crushing. You may think it’s the best when making it but hearing it in a club is often a reality check for some. To add to it, if you are super critical, it just punctures holes in your confidence, sometimes. You always think you could have done better or wished you had changed something here and there.
Music software can be challenging
Making music requires a lot of software and set up and it comes with a heavy price. You may feel like you are spending more time updating software than making music itself. Additionally there is a challenge with crashing software, copy protection, an outdated operating system etc, can be highly frustrating.
Listen to the same song on repeat mode
Making music is a slow process and perfecting it, is an even more slower process. For one thing, it requires listening to the track over and over again to correct or change certain aspects of it. Even listening to the solitary kick bar repeatedly can drive anyone bonkers.
Get ready to be judged
Even the best in the field get criticized, so get used to all the criticism and negative feedback. There are many who love to give unsolicited advice on anything and everything. You just have to chin up and take all the bad along with the good.
How to Be a Music Producer
How to Be a Music Producer: Easy to follow guide that will help you achieve your dream of becoming a music producer.
Getting Sarted
If you sing well or play a musical instrument, I’m sure the thought of taking up this career would have come across your mind.
But is it easy to make this a full-time profession? How do people go on to become a music producer?
Obviously, it needs hard work, dedication, and even a bit of luck.
Here’s what all the pros seem to agree upon:
- You need to record as much music as a musician
- You need to work hard
- You need to have patience
- You need to take full advantage of each & every opportunity that comes your way
But then there are other things that you can do to take you closer to that goal, and also perhaps make you lucky.
Ground Realities
So even though you may be excited about becoming a music producer, here are some facts that you need to consider.
- You get all the hardware to get started in one easy to use packages nowadays. PC, sound card, control surface, keyboard and monitors, built with all the software you need to run a full studio.
- This is the job almost everyone wants as more & more people can produce their own music at home these days, but the field is competitive and you need to offer something really special in order to stand apart and attract business.
- Without knowing key people in the music industry, it can be difficult to be a music producer.There are probably thousands of producers on YouTube alone. Here’s an interesting read on this topic.
I’m not trying to discourage anybody here, but these are some of the facts that you need to consider before you decide to go into this full time. This is true of most fields nowadays where technology plays a major role, including photography.
There are many who are knowledgeable about creating music, music licensing, and other topics, who have several videos on YouTube. They’ll find it really hard to get noticed and are looking for that elusive chance.
So for those who like to spend all their time in front of the computer, probably its time to go outdoors and catch-up with real people.
Sharpen the Saw
On the other hand of the spectrum are novices who probably have spent a few weeks on software such as FLStudio and think they are ready to be a producer.
I’m not blaming the tool here, but the fact is that you need to spend a lot more time to be able to use the tool well, and create music across a wide genre of music.
It could easily take a few years to master the craft
.
This is true of more than 90 percent of the so called music producers. There’s a lot more to be learnt than just making a few beats in a music software.
There are many who like to blame external factors, even their financial conditions, for their lack of work. But most of the time, the fact is that they are not ready.
Then there are some 15-16 years old who just spend hours making beats / mixing music without increasing their knowledge of music theory. It might be fun and you might be thinking that you’re capable of creating music, however the fact is that you need some knowledge of music theory to work with harmony and create good music.
Once you have the technical/musical skills, you need to worry about looking for work, how to get commercials and other assignments.
With the right skills, you can get noticed (online to begin with) even using a simple studio setup.
Producing Your Own Music
The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether:
Working for others can take care of your bread and butter for some time if you are good at your work; however being independent is what everybody strives for.
In case you want to be independent you need to decide what sort of music you want to produce as that will also help guide you to get the right gear for your studio.
Skills to Acquire
If you think just by buying expensive stuff you’ll be able to create good music, you’re far from the truth. There are many who buy a synthesizer and then have no clue how to make a melody or a beat or tune whatever. You need to put in the time, acquire some skills and put them to use.
Here are some skills that will help you find work and also increase the possibility of becoming a music producer:
Ability to Play an instrument
Keyboards and guitars are used a lot to create song parts such as synth and bass lines, so if you can play these instruments it does give you an advantage.
Learn How to Record Live instruments / Vocals
Most music producers start by using beat making software and most of the stuff they produce are without vocals or live instruments. They usually know how to program synth sounds, use the mixer, and use effects and processors such as compressors and reverb units.
But the live recording part is one area where they are lacking. So you need to get good at recording with microphones.
Learn to Use Multiple DAWs
If possible, try to become an expert with multiple DAW software programs. It will help you increase your assignments. Also, work on improving your knowledge of music theory, especially chord progressions.
Practice & Create More
I am assuming you are already doing this; this is a must-do if you want to make a profession in music production.
You also need to learn the art of finishing the projects that you start; most of us start work on something when you hear something that is inspiring, but then leave it midway. Learn to finish, and you will learn more from it.
Networking
This is what will land you most of your assignments. Unless you go out and meet other musicians, producers, studio owners, you are not going to get a lot of work.
Get active online, make a website, hand out business cards, create posters for local live venues, and you will see people trying to get in touch with you.
Create Promotional Stuff
You will need something that will showcase your talents so that people know what you are capable of doing.
You could try remixing well-known songs, or you could record and produce local bands, either in your own home studio or renting a small professional studio. Make sure the end result sounds good.
That, along with continuous networking, will ensure that the music and production community gets to know about you.
Here are some videos that provides more useful information on this topic:
Will a Audio/Sound Course Help?
It depends! If you do a course from a top college, you might find yourself working on a commercial once your course is over. But then you need to ask if it justifies the high tuition fees.
And not everybody might get a break. There are many who find it hard to get in this industry, even after training from a school (especially if its not a renowned one).
So do some research before enrolling for a course in a music audio/sound recording school.
How Much Can you Earn?
Again, a tricky question. The ones in the top league earn in thousands, with some of them even making million dollars every year.
But when you’re getting started, be prepared to earn for a few dollars an hour. If you’re assisting someone, you may not even get paid. Eventually, you should get paid more.
Most bands get a manager to manage their marketing and promotional activities. And if you’re really good you can expect to get paid a decent amount.
To Conclude
As you can see, there is hard work but it is doable. Some might even get lucky and get great assignments from the beginning; for others it may take time. But if you are looking for ideas on how to become a music producer, these tips should be handy.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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