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Want to be a music producer? Essential tips

By W. A. Production® | | Music Production

Being a music producer can be very challenging. You must be familiar with the industry trends, have musical skills, know which gear is needed for certain cases and much more. Furthermore, in order to be truly successful, you should be able to find your own path and establish yourself as an innovator.

At first glance, it might seem that already established producers are coping with all these issues effortlessly. This is not true. That’s why we wanted to share some essential tips on how to become successful in the complex world of music production.

Tip #1: Embrace all music genres

One very important, or perhaps even crucial element on your way to becoming a music producer, is to respect all kinds of music, no matter the genre. You should commit yourself to know as much as possible about both EDM and jazz, R’n’B and country music. The best producers are those who have a passion for great sound, regardless of genres.

If you are only familiar with one type of music you probably won’t be able to incorporate different styles of music into your song - and that’s how great producers make their signature sounds.

Learn and research various forms of music. Stay open-minded and it will enhance your creativity!

Tip #2: Don’t underestimate (free) tutorials

Even if you are sure that you’ve mastered all the necessary skills of becoming a producer - think twice. There are many tutorials on Youtube (and most of them are free of charge) that will be a great complement to your skills and creative process.

For example, you can find tips on how to interact with your chosen DAW or many other useful guides. You may even find some guides inspiring and helpful to determine your production style.

Tip #3: Make sure you have decent mixing and engineering skills

Any additional skill that will help you to get a better understanding of how musical elements work together will make you a better music producer. Of course, it is not necessary to know how to mix a track like a seasoned pro, yet a background in mixing or engineering is a huge advantage.

Tip #4: Master one tool at a time

One thing many new music producers have in common is that they are eager to learn as much as possible. They often buy a bunch of plugins, expensive tools, etc. The second thing they have in common is that they often regret that they’ve started to learn to use various tools at a time.

Having many tools you don’t know how to use properly certainly won’t make you a better producer. It is much better to stick to plugins that are already built in your DAW and master one by one. Here’s where the tutorials from Tip #2 come in handy.

For example, you can start with EQ, Reverb, Compression and then move forward to Channel Strips and Busses. You need to be sure that you feel comfortable using these fundamental tools before you start to expand your skillset.

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Tip #5: Create your own lane

How to stand out among competitors? Be different, create a signature sound.

In order to create your own lane, all the above-mentioned tips can be very helpful. The more skills you have, the easier it will get.

Producers like Phil Spector or Rick Rubin are just some examples of those who managed to get noticed because of their creativity. Of course, it is not that easy as it sounds, but if you keep improving yourself, eventually the effort will pay off. After all, there are so many famous producers who sounded terrible when they first started out.

Tip #6: Leverage the reference system

When it comes to references in the world of music production, we’re not referring to getting references from your clients or employers - we’re talking about comparing your mixes to a “reference track”.

Let’s explain a bit more what a reference system is: “A reference system is any speaker set or headphones that can reproduce your track with sufficient clarity and impartiality to give you a clear idea of how your music will sound when the public gets to hear it.” - mixedinkey.com

Testing your sound on high-quality equipment is important, however, it is recommended to hear your work on a laptop or phone speakers as well since this is how the majority of your audience will listen to it.

Using a reference track will help you to compare your mix and a professionally mastered one. Of course, the goal is to make your track sound as similar as possible to the one you are comparing it to.

Tip #7: Networking, networking...

Like in many other professions, a big network can be very helpful for your music career. If you work on creating new relationships you will improve your chances to connect to various indie artists, or perhaps to some big names, that are eager to work with new producers.

Make sure you are well informed (and seen) on events happening around you, get some business cards and start networking!

Final thoughts

Focus on learning and improving yourself and remember that success doesn’t come overnight. Stay motivated. Many famous producers spent years struggling before they got their shot at greatness. We hope that our tips will be useful on your path to becoming an established, successful music producer.

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Author bio:

Anna Grant is a music aficionado and content writer at Supreme Tracks - an online recording studio. She plays keys and guitar and has many years of experience writing for the music industry.

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