Music Production 101: The Best tips to get you started

Moving your very first steps in the world of music production can be intimidating. However, this article can help you get started and become more familiar with the basics! Keep reading to learn more.

What do you need to start producing?

To get started, you are going to need a few essentials. A computer with headphones is as bare-bones as you can get if you want to start mixing your audio or create new sounds. If you're going to kick it up a notch, a simple set up includes a laptop, an audio interface, speakers, and perhaps a microphone if you need to record something as well. If you are an electronic producer, you probably won’t even need to buy a microphone, since you can use sampled instruments and digital sounds from your computer. This can be very convenient because it also means that you do not need to soundproof your space. Mixing in a nice room can be ideal, but many established artists still make music from their laptops at home. The whole “bedroom pop” aesthetic is based on this approach!

What is a DAW?

Buying the gear you need (excluding your laptop) should set you back a couple of hundred dollars, as there are many good affordable options out there! You are also going to need an application for your computer, known as a DAW, in which you can work with your audio production.

DAW is an acronym that stands for Digital Audio Workstation. It is a software that allows you to organize your composition in tracks, record, mix, and use various effects. In most cases, you can also use your DAW to host third-party effects, known as plugin-ins. There are many DAWs on the market, and there is not a better or worse option. Ultimately, it is down to the personal preferences and the workflow of the user. Some of the most popular DAW examples include Pro Tools and Logic Pro, which are considered industry standards. However, many people also like Reaper, Cubase, Ableton, and others. You can also find some free DAWS, such as Garage Band or Audacity, which might be a bit more limiting, though perfect for beginners. In a DAW, you can cover basic functions, such as setting the volume balance of your tracks, as well as panning - deciding where they are going to be placed in the stereo field. You can also include effects, such as equalizers, compressors, reverbs, and so on. These can be valuable tools if you need to shape your sounds to add more character or even correct issues with your recordings.

What is an EQ?

Equalizers are particularly useful tools. In fact, many professional mixers consider them an absolute staple. An EQ is going to help you tailor the sound of your tracks to your particular needs or preference. Imagine you just recorded a vocal track, but the sound is a bit too boomy and muddy. You could use an EQ to get rid of some of that unwanted low-frequency rumble, and even brighten up the high frequency to get a more present sound. This is only one of the countless examples of how you can use an equalizer.

There are hundreds of EQ models out there, each with its unique quirks. However, the basic principle is that these tools affect the frequency balance of a sound. You can set a specific frequency, such as 500 Hz, and decide whether you want to boost it or cut it. Now, when you do boost or cut, you will also affect some nearby frequencies. For this reason, many EQs also let you decide how broad or precise your cut can be. Humans can hear in a range from about 20 Hz to 20.000 kHz. Most parametric EQs will have a display, showing you a line, representing the frequencies from the lowest to the highest. In general, EQs split this line into different bands - some sections, if you will, that you can use to affect a frequency range. In some EQs, the bands are fixed, meaning that you cannot decide what frequency to affect. In others, you can set your frequency. The best way to get familiar with EQing is to get started! Put up some tracks - anything from full songs to vocal parts, drum beats, and so on. Toy around with EQ settings and start to get a feel for what you can accomplish. Over time, you will feel more confident with your EQ choices, and you will start to hear how you can use this tool to do subtle, but useful changes that will enhance your productions.

What about compression?

Compression is another important tool, and along with EQing, it is one of the most essential skills to master. There are so many different approaches to compression, and the concept of how it works might be quite tricky, even for seasoned engineers! However, let us focus on the end result of compression. A compressor essentially enables you to regulate the dynamic range of your track. Imagine you have a vocal take. The sing did a good job, but sometimes, a few of the words are louder than others, sticking like sore thumbs. You could go and manually lower the volume of every single louder vocal part, so it matches the average level of the vocals, but this can be time consuming and not optimal. A compressor is almost like an automatic volume fader, which automatically lowers the louder sounds and brings up the lower ones, so you get with a more balanced and even track. Some compressors act automatically (like the legendary LA2A tube compressor, which only has two knobs!). Other models have a mind-boggling selection of settings, to determine how and when the level reduction takes place. Using compression subtly can be a good way to balance your tracks, but this effect can also be exaggerated to create pumping sound, distorted effects, and more.

Saturation

Saturation is a form of distortion. It might sound counter-intuitive, but people don’t respond well to music that is too clean and pristine. Many producers intentionally distort their tracks to various degrees, to add some warmth and grit. This is the reason why most people think older records are magic! There are many different types of saturation, often modeled to match the response of analog gear, like tubes, transformers, or transistors. However, there are many exciting digital distortion devices, such as bit-crushers and other cool tools. The possibilities are endless. From blown-out distortion to near-invisible, it is up to you to find the perfect recipe for your songs.

Keep doing it and get creative!

To conclude, these are only some of the staples of producing music. The most significant rule of all is that there are no rules. Practice by working on new music and try out songs in different genres, if possible. The beauty of the digital age is that you can try out so many ideas without the risk of blowing up expensive analog gear! In the world of music production, technical know-how can help you achieve the results you want faster, but at the end of the day, what matters is what sounds good. Get creative and try new things. The more you do, the more you’ll learn, because every new song can be a lesson.