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...
It can be difficult to choose a digital audio workstation. There are so many, so how do you know which is the best DAW for you? Here’s a tip: choose a DAW based on what type of producer you are. That’s what this post is all about. I’ll share the best DAWs for each type...
You might be stuck at home. Or you may prefer to work in your own space. Whatever the case, you can still work with other musicians. Thanks to the internet and people who make useful internet tools, recording music remotely has never been easier. Here’s how to collaborate with and hire other musicians, regardless of...
I’m guessing you’re a self-starter. You must be — you’re reading a blog post about how to mix music. That’s how I am too. And when I set out to learn mixing techniques in April 2017, I went straight to YouTube. There were some super helpful videos and some not-so-helpful videos. So I want to...
Where Should You Record Each Instrument Over the years, every artist I’ve ever worked with has been critical of their budget to some extent. Before we ever start recording anything, we’ll always have a pre-production meeting. During this get together we’ll discuss numerous things about their album. However, the budget is usually a big conversation...
New to beatmaking? Want to know how to build a beat with free or cheap software? Well, you’ve come to the right place. As a songwriter/producer who’s made plenty of beats and played around with many different beat-making programs, I’d like to help you. So here is the basic 5-step process for creating a kick-butt...
Do you constantly create new ideas but never finish anything? Have you always been attracted to make music, but never made the plunge? Are you constantly confronted with writer’s block? If any of these questions resonate with you, I’d like to show you how combining your music production with the principles of Alchemy can help...