Music production is a process of learning and practice that never ends . There are always new tricks to try, innovative tools to discover, and new ways to approach the art of making music. While a common reaction is frustration, if you dig a little deeper you will discover an exciting world of possibilities , where there is no one way to do things - all doors are open to you.
Despite the vast amount of learning aids available - such as online tutorials, including those on this Mode Audio channel - it seems that an exploration of other producers' ways of working can have a direct impact on how you make your music . And it is precisely for this reason that we love rewatching interviews with our favorite producers, where we always find some advice, trick or idea that had never crossed our minds. And let's not say when we are the ones who do those "you to you" ...
Today, we'd like to share with you these ten pearls of music production wisdom , drawn from a series of video interviews with some of the best music producers from across the electronic music spectrum. The advice shared ranges from the practical and straightforward to the philosophical , areas that we find incredibly important in fostering the development of personal music production techniques.
So, whether you're carving your niche within the dance music universe , or wanting to realize your full potential in Hip Hop , we hope you'll find plenty of inspiration below… Dive into the content and enjoy!
1 → Four Tet: Equalize with love
In the above-linked Pro Tools resource on two tracks taken from their There Is Love In You album , Four Tet explains how he puts his personal stamp on a warm, organic sound. Defying the convention that plugins and analog hardware are the way to go to achieve that sound, Four Tet calmly reveals that he makes sure not to over-EQ his individual tracks .
Of course, it will depend on the sounds and samples you're working with and the frequencies you want to boost or cut in them, but being careful what you remove from your sounds is well worth the advice!
2 → RJD2: Wealth for your batteries doing «Copy and Paste»
Hip Hop producer RJD2 shares his top tip for creating a punchy kick in the linked video. His technique goes something like this: find a sample you want to use as your main kick, copy it, tone it down, apply a low-pass filter, squeeze the resonance, and mix it back to the original sound… The simplicity! personified!
The RJD2 trick works wonders by adding richness and thickness to your sound in minutes . Be sure to try it on other drum sounds too, from snares and claps to cymbals and toms.
3 → Kirk Degiorgio: Subtle processing for a big impact
Kirk Degiorgio , a UK dance music legend , is a heavyweight in the world of music production. In the linked video, Kirk shows us with one of his tracks how effective the application of subtle processing can be . In this case, him compressing a drum track.
An easy mistake as a beginning producer is to assume that a processing chain with many plugins will automatically lead to better sounding. Kirk Degiorgio shows us in the video that applying just 1 or 2dB of gain reduction can have a huge impact on the feel and energy that a track transmits . What a genius!
4 → Kode9: Start with something simple
Often, embarking on a new subject can become the most frustrating moment of that journey that is music production. In this talk from Ableton, the owner and master of the Hyperdub label and experienced producer Kode9 reveals his favorite trick when faced with the terrible initial block of a "blank sheet"...
His advice is to start with a sample and build our theme around it . We have never received such simple and effective advice!
5 → Carl Craig: Pay attention to your sub-bass
Making sure that your kick sound has a good punch around 100-120Hz seems essential when creating a satisfying drum track. However, Techno Detroit legend Carl Craig reminds us in the linked video interview that sub-bass is often what really matters , both in your productions and in clubs .
Grab an equalizer and apply a slight boost to your bass drum (or 'foot' -pie-, as Carl calls it) anywhere from 60 to 100Hz , in order to highlight that boom that will do wonders for your song -be careful, make sure you boosting the correct frequency is vital here. Check out our tutorial on how to find the fundamental frequency on a kick drum to dive deeper into this technique.
6 → J Dilla: Produce when you're inspired
To many critics and fans, J Dilla remains the king of Hip Hop production, and his music continues to inspire and educate for years since the producer's untimely death. In this rare video interview, he explores a wide range of topics with infectious enthusiasm, as well as his motivations for making music.
The interview is peppered with inspiring words for producers, but our favorites are, once again, surprisingly simple – don't force your creations and produce when inspired . Long live the influence of J Dilla !
7 → Robert Henke: Your limitations will set you free
If you ever find yourself in the hopeless situation of not being happy with a song and start piling layers and layers of sounds into the mix, hoping things will get better, then this tip is for you! Start with a small number of elements and add more only if necessary. Remember it, because it is priceless!
8 → Madlib: All music is a source of inspiration
You can spend all day looking at practical production, sound design and mixing tricks and never come close to the level of knowledge imparted by Madlib in the interview we linked to. His much-loved From Him Hip Hop sound from Him is an unapologetic, eclectic mix of all sorts of musical "flavors," borrowing samples and ideas from just about every musical genre under the sun.
Talking about the types of music he is capable of developing in a live show, Madlib shares something that all creative people could draw on for inspiration. He pulls your influences from everywhere . While the Heavy Metal and Jazz genres may seem totally incompatible at first listen, giving their combination the right treatment, distorted guitars come to coexist happily with brush drums . Madlib's music shows us that his production philosophy can be deeply fruitful.
9 → Gold Panda: Do not complicate yourself in your arrangements
An excellent piece of advice for those who struggle with the finishing of their tracks (we're with you folks!): English producer Gold Panda talks about a refreshingly energetic approach to arranging our musical arrangements. Instead of spending hours tweaking every node of every automation curve, Gold Panda suggests you follow your instincts and bet on trying known arrangements and structures that you're absolutely sure work .
While we believe there is a time and a moment to tweak to perfection, you can consider your track as a succession of loops and sequences that, most of the time, will lead to a nearly finished production. Suddenly, you'll have more time for your next track – thanks Gold Panda!
10 → Flying Lotus: Embrace chaos!
The final pick is a tip from one of our favorite producers of all time, Flying Lotus . This producer's prolific work has taken cues from Hip Hop , Jazz , Chiptune, Beats and even Progressive Rock , so I'm sure he knows a thing or two about getting a job done.
In the linked interview, FlyLo reveals that his Ableton sessions are often chaotic and that his goal is to finish the song and not to create neat and tidy projects. Finding the right way of working for you is what matters above all else .
If you find that you spend more time coloring regions of clips than making music, then we hope the words of Flying Lotus open your mind quickly. So there you have it at last, permission to be chaotic (just don't tell your parents!).
