So I'm sure the majority of you here know how to make music whether you're an instrumentalist, singer, producer, rapper, in a band; or maybe you know you want to make music but don't know where to start. In the next few minutes I’m going to go over from when you first come up with a song idea, to the final mixing and mastering process.
So you’re sitting in your room... in the shower... with your friends... anywhere really, and that catchy melody or set of lyrics come to you from the music heavens above. You say to yourself "this is the one, it’s a hit, I need to get this down on paper or a digital notepad asap!" Then you proceed to start writing and/or collaborating with other musicians, artists, or whoever else is involved. When I make music, I always make sure to capture the idea when it's fresh. Get your rough draft down; your outline rather, then revise and edit to your liking as the song evolves. I approach it like a puzzle, you’re just fitting the pieces where they belong as you go. Things like switching words around, switching lines around, taking words out, adlibs in the right spot, etc... You're waiting a picture with sound! What I have found to be spot on over the years is that simple is typically better.
Now that you have your music ready to go, you need to record it. You can either track it yourself in a home recording studio or pay somebody with more experience. If you do want to learn this yourself, which I highly recommend, you can get in the game fairly inexpensively nowadays. All you really need is a laptop, a good set of monitors (speakers), a DAW (pro tools, fruity loops, reaper, logic, etc...), cables, headphones, a microphone, a keyboard if you are going to make beats, 48 volt pre-amp (which is used to connect your microphone, monitors, keyboard to your computer), and maybe some light acoustic room treatment; you can get a solid setup for under $2,000. I have always used Sweetwater to order my audio equipment, they have a huge selection and are always very friendly. I wouldn’t recommend going too cheap, but it is fairly inexpensive to say the least. If you are a little tight on cash, make sure you allocate the majority of your budget to a good mic and computer with at least 8GB of RAM. The other items mentioned above aren't as important if you are only tracking vocals and not going to mix and master yourself. Once you have everything you need, you just have to learn how to perform the basic functions in your chosen DAW. Things like creating new tracks, arming tracks to record, making sure your audio isn’t peaking or too quiet, and rendering out what you recorded so it can be sent for mixing and mastering. There are many tutorials on YouTube and other audio sites where you can probably have a good understanding of all this in less than a week. When it comes to mixing and mastering, this will take much longer to really hone in your sound, and get that broadcast quality you need in todays competitive marketplace.
Which now brings me to the route of hiring someone to do all your recording, mixing, and mastering. But first, let me explain what mixing and mastering is; at least on the surface so you have a better understanding. Mixing is the process of gathering and arranging all the separate tracks to a song and getting them to blend and mesh together in a harmonious way. Things like setting your levels, adjusting panning, adding effects, and making sure it sounds good on all playback devices. Once you are happy with your mix it is then time to be mastered. Mastering is the process of taking the final mix, as one track, and putting the final touches on it. Things like slight eqing, some compression, adding excitement, adjusting stereo width, and limiting (how loud you want it). I should mention it is a great idea to use a reference track for both mixing and mastering; try to use a similar song in your genre that’s mainstream or enjoyed by the masses. You don’t necessarily need the best person around or online to perform this work for you, unless you are at a level where you can afford it or just want to work with some of the best. In most cases finding someone with at least a few years of experience with a solid sample portfolio of songs in your genre will suffice. You can search the web for a recording studio near you, or if you record it yourself and only need mixing and mastering done, you can work with really anyone online that has good reviews. Always key to try and hire engineers who generally work on songs in your genre or a similar style. My company for example, offers online mixing and mastering in the rap, hip-hop, and rnb genre. A lot of companies will have a first song discount or even free sometimes. Don’t be afraid to try a few out until you find that one engineer you really connect with; one that whips up a sound you love. We offer 50% off on your first song here at KP Sound Company; if you have some material that needs a proper mix and master, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
From the creation process to getting that final master you love; it really is several art forms that come together in hopes of a beautiful outcome that can be shared with the world for years to come!
If you want more useful information like this that can help elevate your music career, I encourage you to grab a copy of my new 19 page EBook below!
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