Have you ever spent hours trying to create a unique synth patch? No matter how long you tweaked the controls – you didn’t get to the sound you wanted? I was in the same boat… Until a simple routine skyrocketed my learning curve of synthesizer programming! The best thing: This routine works even if you’re...
Heyo! I wanted to share a bunch of random tips that have helped me over the years! Sometimes it just takes one little trick or insight to spawn your next creative breakthrough. If I were able to tell my 18-year-old self music production tips, they would be: 1. Choose your samples and instruments wisely. Source...
Audio and mixing can many times seem overwhelming and confusing. That’s because it is. To see things more clearly and get a better overview of different concepts and how sound works, it can help to break it down to the basics. All you do in audio and mixing is based on four relatively simple concepts,...
It’s easy to get lost, lose focus, and start hearing voices while mixing. Sometimes you find yourself turning knobs at random and getting lost at sonic sea. This can be a disheartening descent into madness, but thankfully it doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve found that following a simple framework has helped keep me...
Have you ever compared yourself to musicians at the very top of the industry? I’m talking about the Grammy Award-winning artists that make music look effortless. Well, if you have made those comparisons, I don’t blame you. There’s so much content available to consume right now that it’s only natural. Our brains automatically connect the...
Recording, production, and sound design is a delicate and time-consuming process. Oftentimes, you’re on the clock in the studio or you’re dealing with deadlines for your next release. To make the most of your time and to improve the quality of your productions, there are a number of different strategies to implement when you’re creating...
If you produce your own songs, you probably do most of the work in your home studio. All you need is a computer, a 2-channel interface, a microphone, and headphones and you’re ready to lay down any instrument. Almost any that is… live drums are the big exception. Drums can annoy your neighbors pretty fast...
After countless nights finding the right lyrics, recording numerous voice memos on your phone, and testing different melodies for verses, you finally have a finished song and you’re ready to begin the recording process. Odds are you have an Apple computer and maybe you’ve dabbled with Logic Pro X or its little brother, Garage Band....
C7(b9)(b13)!!!! What’s this and why are you screaming jazz at me? The answer to that question, my friend, is simple. Advanced harmony and complex chords are not as mystifying as you might think and we producers and audio engineers who are getting a little stuck writing music have the tools to understand what’s going on....
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...