You might think you only have two options: DIY music production OR search "find music producers near me"?
There's also other considerations like: What should you pay your music producer? How much does it cost to produce a song? There's a lot to consider. We can help. Keep reading...
Before digital recording, the mark of a professional studio was often that they offered 24-track recording capability. Now, most digital audio workstations offer more tracks than you could ever use as a standard feature.
It is not unusual for a song to have 77 tracks.
How can there be so many tracks?
We hear an acoustic guitar as one instrument. But in many professional productions what you hear could be deceiving. It's not uncommon to record the same acoustic guitar part twice and pan one track in the left and the other one in the right. Other times, you might use 2 or 3 mics on the same guitar in different locations to give it a fuller sound. The acoustic guitar may be further enhanced with a very subtle synth pad on another track so that the sound is nice and full.
There may be 8 different tracks to make up the lead vocal sound. Perhaps the vocal is doubled on the left and right, and on the chorus another track way to the left and way to the right. It gives a very cool sound --- and, yet, we perceive it as one voice.
It’s standard practice to use 8 or more mics on a drum kit: the kick drum (sometimes with one mic inside and one out), 2 rack toms, a floor tom, top and bottom of the snare drum, high hat, left and right overheads, and one or two room mics. In many genres, the mixing engineer will overlay samples - especially on the snare and kick drums to make the sound thicker or snapier.
Adding more tracks -- without know-how -- can become a muddled mess if the tracks are not balanced correctly. It takes time, years, for a mixing engineer to “train their ears.” It’s not just learning how to operate the production software. There is a significant “feel” component to music production. A little bit art. A little bit science.
Mixing engineers and producers know how to balance each track in relation to the others - carving out competing frequencies, giving each part a sense of space and depth, and adjusting volumes so that nothing overloads but also so that the mix sounds dynamic and natural.
Music Producer and ItyDity co-founder, Jonah Brockman, says, “It's not uncommon for professional mixing engineers to spend a day or even two to mix a song. There's a lot to be done to make a professional mix."
We asked producers, “Can you tell the difference between an amateur and a professional production?” The answer was a resounding YES.
Amateurs tend to overuse reverb, have poor use of EQ, and often utilize compression incorrectly.
Almost anyone can hang out a shingle that says: "I am a Music Producer"
There are many amateurs in the industry right now. Music production software and directory websites make it so almost anyone can hang out a shingle that says: I am a Music Producer.
This does not serve songwriters -- or professional producers who must compete with these amateurs -- well.
One option to avoid “amateur level producers” is ItyDity.
ItyDity’s Songwriter-Producer Matching Platform is a first-of-its-kind technology and service that matches songwriters with vetted producers around the globe.
It’s not a static directory. It’s not trial and error. Instead, It is a fully engaged, interactive process to meet the producer who is right for you and your songs.
Jonah Brockman say, “ THE BIGGEST difference between an amateur and a professional mix is the editing. I spend a huge chunk of the mixing time editing.
Most of that is pitch correction and timing issues especially on vocals (even if they're really well done).
People think you just put "auto-tune" on it and it's done. But with a typical lead vocal, I'll
Spend tons of time getting it right.
Go through it syllable-by-syllable to correct the pitch and still sound natural - this takes really good ears.
Adjust timing where words are rushed or don't quite fit.
Adjust the volume of each syllable so that nothing drops out.
Automate the effects so that there's more reverb in certain parts or more delay in others.
Automate different EQ adjustments because a human vocal is constantly changing.
The key to all of this is that, when you're done and have spent hours on it, no one will notice. It will just sound like an amazing performance.”
With this level of professionalism in the marketplace, songwriters need to ask themselves if they can or should try to do it all themselves. Should songwriters write the song... AND record it, hire and direct musicians for the production, PLUS mix and master their own songs?
In our experience, it is incredibly valuable to work with a professional producer --- even if you do some of the recording yourself.
Bottom line, if you want music that can compete in the marketplace, a professional production is essential.
Find out how to meet professional music producers around the world. Click here.
Resources:
Read: Find Producers Near Me