There are a few professions that cannot be defined well. They encompass a lot of different abilities and are constantly evolving. The job of a music producer is an excellent example of this. It is a very interesting and intriguing profession, and today we will try to unravel it as best as we can.
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What Does A Music Producer Do?
When you listen to a song that connects with you in such a way that your soul can literally dance to each note in the song, it is often the singer or the musicians who get all your credit. However, the different parts of the song have to flow together harmoniously without one part getting overpowered by another. The song also should sound good on everything from the cheapest pair of earphones to the most exquisite audiophile music system. Then there is the whole process of getting the best out of the various artists during the recording process.
All of this does not happen on its own and requires many hours of dedicated work, and all of this is done by the music producer. Without a music producer managing almost every aspect of the creation of a song, most songs would sound dull and lifeless regardless of how talented the musicians and songwriters are.
Why Is A Music Producer Necessary?
To answer this question, it is important to understand how a song or a piece of music is produced professionally. While it can be quite common to assume that songwriting and composing are the most important elements of music production, it isn’t completely true. They are absolutely essential, and while it is true that without a songwriter and a composer, there would be no song, the music production is an equally important part as well.
The lyrics, music, and the artists are like the ingredients of an exquisite dish. The music producer is the chef who brings it all together to create a true work of art.
Once the song has been composed, the next step is to decide how the music will be recorded. All the musicians and singers can perform together. Still, it has become the norm for all the individual parts to be recorded separately. There is no one right way of producing a song, but this is a general workflow of how it is done.
Songwriting
This is the part of the process where the music producer is usually not involved. However, sometimes the producer can suggest changes to make the song better.
Recording
This is one of the most underrated job roles of a music producer. During this stage, they have to do the work of a coach. They have to coordinate with the singer or singers and the other musicians and come up with a workflow to record the different parts efficiently and effectively.
This generally entails getting the correct beats and rhythm sections as the base and then adding the various layers of other instruments and vocals on top of it. The music producer has to make sure that every single artist and music creator involved does their job as close to perfect as possible. As you can imagine, this entails a lot of planning and attention to not only detail but also great people management skills. Artists tend to have a huge but fragile ego, and getting them to work towards a collective goal can be tedious.
Mixing
Once the song’s different parts are recorded, they have to be stitched together. This again cannot be done willy-nilly. A fine compromise has to be achieved in which all the various parts gel together in such a manner that each of them is distinct while ensuring that one part does not overpower another. There are exceptions, such as those parts of the song, that do need to stand out on occasion. All this takes a lot of painstaking work, especially when there are multiple layers to tackle. It is so more nuanced than turning a few knobs. Oftentimes making a small adjustment in one track can throw the whole mix out of whack and the music producer has to start from scratch, especially if they are on the inexperienced side.
Mastering
Once everything gets mixed down, we get to what is perhaps the most crucial step. As alluded to earlier, the music should have a universal quality to it. It should sound good on a wide range of audio devices for people with different tastes in music. That is where mastering comes in. This is the step that tidies up the rough edges and polishes everything to create the finished product. Mastering is something that cannot be quantified, and it often takes years to develop the necessary hearing skills and the various techniques involved in mastering.
Marketing And Release
The music industry is highly competitive, with a large number of highly talented artists trying to make a name for themselves simultaneously. In such cases, it is often the marketing that makes all the difference. While music producers won’t actively take care of this, they will have coordinate everything and make sure that the music gets enough of the appropriate exposure it needs.
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What Are The Skills A Music Producer Needs To Have?
A music producer needs to possess a large arsenal of abilities that has to be updated and expanded upon all the time. Here is a list of the fundamental qualities a music producer must have
- A good understanding of how music works
- Ability to work with DAWs
- Mixing and mastering
- Great people skills
- Ability to get the best out of people
- Leadership skills
- Managing time and expectations
Can Someone From A Non-Musical Background Become A Music Producer?
While nothing is impossible, and a person from a non-musical background can embark on the path of becoming a music producer, there will come a point where knowing at least the basic fundamentals of music will become indispensable. You don’t necessarily have to become an expert musician or singer but knowing all the basics of music is important in being able to bring a musical artist’s vision to life.
Can Music Be Produced Without A Music Producer?
With a few basic equipments like a microphone, a computer, and an audio interface, you can record a piece of music or even an entire song that isn’t too complicated. However, you will soon find out that the song doesn’t sound as good as a professionally produced song would. For projects that have many complicated layers with multiple musicians and vocalists, a music producer essentially becomes a vital part of the process – the glue that holds everything together.
Do You Need Expensive Equipment To Become A Music Producer?
On visiting the studio of an established music producer, you will see loads of highly expensive equipment. Is this necessary? That is debatable but what can be said for sure is that when you are starting out, you really don’t need a lot of stuff. In fact, most of the tools you will need are available in the form of software either for free or at very nominal prices. A decent computer and a couple of other hardware like mics, interfaces, and monitoring headphones or speakers are all that you will need to learn the craft. You should only ever invest in anything beyond these once you have started making some money from music production.
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Pros Of Being A Music Producer
- Can be a lucrative career
- Interesting journey
- The joy of being able to create something out of just an idea
- Being able to associate and engage with some of the most creative people on earth
Cons Of Being A Music Producer
- It can be a stressful job, especially when you have to meet deadlines
- Not all artists are great to work with, and some can act like real divas
- Becoming a successful music producer takes a lot of time, dedication, and a bit of luck
- You need to keep yourself updated with all the latest techniques and practices
- It is a cut-throat industry
What Do Music Producers Do? – Final Thoughts
Music producers can sometimes be portrayed as leeches who make money by exploiting musicians. This is absolutely not true. They are a vital cog in the process of an idea becoming a hit song. In many ways, music producers are a shadow of music itself. Not clearly defined but extremely important. So, if you are looking for a highly dynamic and engaging career option and are willing to face all the challenges associated with music production, especially when starting out, becoming a music producer might just be the right career path for you.
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