One very powerful technique to increase the impact of your drums is to combine live drums and loops. Teaming up the organic performance of a drummer with the sonic possibilities of a loop opens the door to endless possibilities. But it’s not all peaches and cream. Many a producer has slapped a loop on top...
Most DAWs have a lot of stock plug-ins that come included for creative effects and more. Sometimes, though, it’s fun to know how to create those effects from nothing, either if you don’t have the appropriate plug-in or you just want to learn more about how sound works. With some very simple techniques, you can...
Have you ever ditched a take because there was a problem with the audio? Noisy guitar amps? Headphone mix bleed? Barking dogs? Until a couple of years ago, re-recording would be your solution of choice. Audio repair used to be something reserved for forensic audio (a seriously cool topic) or film sound professionals. But things...
Maybe you’re stuck inside. Or maybe you’re an introvert like me. Whatever the case, I’m betting you want to make some money doing what you love from home: producing music. The great thing about music production is that you can do it remotely if needed. But I think working with other musicians in-person is more...
Songs like ‘All My Life’ from the Foo Fighters or ‘Uprising’ from Muse have one thing in common: An in your face vocal sound. How about getting those kick-ass vocals into your next production? Are you up for the ride? Then buckle up… because Kansas is going bye-bye! 1) Record a spot-on performance Mediocre performances...
I recently did something I never thought I’d be able to do. I recorded a baby grand piano for one of my songs. I don’t own one. My friend does, and I got to record him playing some beautiful stuff for my track. And I never would’ve been able to do that if I didn’t...
The more I learn about how comedians operate, the more I realize they’re similar to musicians. Specifically, producing music. It’s a lot like improv in many ways. So in this post, I want to explain the “Yes, And” improv method, why it can be a powerful tool in music production, and how you can practically...
I’m a sucker for cello. Put it in your song, and I’ll most likely love it. I’ve used quite a bit of cello in my music — both live cello and MIDI cello. And I have some insights about which is better for different circumstances. The Pros And Cons Of Real Cello Real cello played...
A great song needs a great vocal Vocal doubles are among the secret ingredients used by producers from Sir George Martin to Roy Thomas Baker, from Butch Vig to Rick Rubin. In this post, I’ll show you how to master this super important production technique. Are you ready to make your vocals sing like Freddy,...
Sometimes it’s nice just to listen. So instead of generating production ideas from my experiences or from deep research, I’d like to present some great audio production advice from a few of the top producers ever. I’ve included a little background on the producer as well as their production advice. And make sure you check...