DBXXL WEEKLY MUSIC PRODUCTION TIP
This week’s tip is tight but right.
Know your craft.
I will say this again, “KNOW YOUR CRAFT.”
Far too many of today’s established & aspiring music producers do not have a firm hold on their skill set aka craft. Due to sampling, macbooks, and pcs a large amount of the work has been reduced out of the equation which has created a blessing & a curse situation for current music producers. When you increase your craft you are establishing your style that is unique to you, when you do not have a firm hold on your craft you are essentially a copyist. The problem with being a copyist is they may get over for a few tracks but they will hold no longevity in the music industry. Why? Due to so many being involved in the competitive music pool you must have that one unique aspect about your music that stands above the rest. Increasing your craft will give you that edge over the competition. Trust me when I say, the difference in my career is the mere fact that I am proficient in all my instrumentation, all aspects of the writing and recording phase of music. That’s why my client’s can be assured that they will get exactly what they commissioned and then some for their music projects.
This week’s tip is tight but right.
Know your craft.
I will say this again, “KNOW YOUR CRAFT.”
Far too many of today’s established & aspiring music producers do not have a firm hold on their skill set aka craft. Due to sampling, macbooks, and pcs a large amount of the work has been reduced out of the equation which has created a blessing & a curse situation for current music producers. When you increase your craft you are establishing your style that is unique to you, when you do not have a firm hold on your craft you are essentially a copyist. The problem with being a copyist is they may get over for a few tracks but they will hold no longevity in the music industry. Why? Due to so many being involved in the competitive music pool you must have that one unique aspect about your music that stands above the rest. Increasing your craft will give you that edge over the competition. Trust me when I say, the difference in my career is the mere fact that I am proficient in all my instrumentation, all aspects of the writing and recording phase of music. That’s why my client’s can be assured that they will get exactly what they commissioned and then some for their music projects.
One does not have to be Beethoven nor Miles Davis nor Quincy Jones to be proficient in their skill set but you must have a desire to increase your musical ability & be willing to financially invest in your career by learning a musical instrument. Is learning a musical instrument easy? No. it takes time but believe me the time you invest in becoming a more well-rounded musician will be revealed in your tracks. Think about the constant development and evolution of Prince, Brian McKnight, Alicia Keys, or Dr. Dre?? All these musicians’ have ultimately created their unique brand and style of music that many still clamor in high demand to get.
Let’s compare old school music production approaches:
1. Had to be proficient and play a musical instrument (taking lessons, learning by ear the hard way)
2. You had to know how to arrange and write for various instrumentation (lead sheets and charts, again more music education)
3. You had to organize & retain musicians for the upcoming recording session
4. Then you had to book your session time
5. Then you practiced with the musicians to get the right feel & vibe
6. Then recorded the music to a two track or four track recording machine
7. At this point you could either do vocal overdubs through syncing of recording machines or you may had to re-record with the vocalist and the musicians together depending upon recording equipment limitations
New school music production approaches:
1. Depending upon skill set you will decide to either create a wholly original track or a sampled track
2. If you have little or no musical skills you will most likely select sampling
3. Most cases create a drum beat
4. Then chop up sample to create a new sample to be set to drum beat
5. Add other music via sample or keyboard melodic parts
6. Mixdown
7. Bring in artist to sing or rap over the mixed down beat
After comparing the process it is apparent in today’s new school approach you can be far more efficient in the amount of tracks you can create but it does have the drawback of being mediocre, one dimensional, lacking musical interaction/conversation with multiple musicians since most of the music today is created by one person, lack of improvising, lack of solid songwriting craft, too digitized, lacking a warm sound and feel, etc. But even with all those drawbacks the mere action of increasing your skill set aka craft you can knock out those drawbacks one-by-one.
Let me illustrate even further with the following example:
Imagine going to a mechanic and asking them to work on your truck but they have no real skill set, background, or mechanical education? Would you let them work on your truck? Hell to the naw so why do so-called aspiring artists seek out those who have little or no skill set? I am sure some of it has to do with marketing but even marketing won’t save you from your lacking skill set. The proof will be in the product.
At the end of the day, Music is such a tough industry always has been; always will be. You must have that “it” factor that makes you stand above the rest so increase your craft to mark your voice in the musical spectrum and watch as you receive continuous work & achievements in your music career.
DBXXL:
THE HARDEST WORKING MUSIC PRODUCER AND ALL AROUND ENTREPRENEUR IN THE GAME!
FUTURE SHIIII!!!!!!!!!!
1. Had to be proficient and play a musical instrument (taking lessons, learning by ear the hard way)
2. You had to know how to arrange and write for various instrumentation (lead sheets and charts, again more music education)
3. You had to organize & retain musicians for the upcoming recording session
4. Then you had to book your session time
5. Then you practiced with the musicians to get the right feel & vibe
6. Then recorded the music to a two track or four track recording machine
7. At this point you could either do vocal overdubs through syncing of recording machines or you may had to re-record with the vocalist and the musicians together depending upon recording equipment limitations
New school music production approaches:
1. Depending upon skill set you will decide to either create a wholly original track or a sampled track
2. If you have little or no musical skills you will most likely select sampling
3. Most cases create a drum beat
4. Then chop up sample to create a new sample to be set to drum beat
5. Add other music via sample or keyboard melodic parts
6. Mixdown
7. Bring in artist to sing or rap over the mixed down beat
After comparing the process it is apparent in today’s new school approach you can be far more efficient in the amount of tracks you can create but it does have the drawback of being mediocre, one dimensional, lacking musical interaction/conversation with multiple musicians since most of the music today is created by one person, lack of improvising, lack of solid songwriting craft, too digitized, lacking a warm sound and feel, etc. But even with all those drawbacks the mere action of increasing your skill set aka craft you can knock out those drawbacks one-by-one.
Let me illustrate even further with the following example:
Imagine going to a mechanic and asking them to work on your truck but they have no real skill set, background, or mechanical education? Would you let them work on your truck? Hell to the naw so why do so-called aspiring artists seek out those who have little or no skill set? I am sure some of it has to do with marketing but even marketing won’t save you from your lacking skill set. The proof will be in the product.
At the end of the day, Music is such a tough industry always has been; always will be. You must have that “it” factor that makes you stand above the rest so increase your craft to mark your voice in the musical spectrum and watch as you receive continuous work & achievements in your music career.
DBXXL:
THE HARDEST WORKING MUSIC PRODUCER AND ALL AROUND ENTREPRENEUR IN THE GAME!
FUTURE SHIIII!!!!!!!!!!