THE BASICS
According to Berklee Online, music production is the process by which music is created, captured, manipulated, and preserved so that it can be distributed and enjoyed. All of the recorded music that you know and love exists because it went through the production process, no matter how well-known or underground a recording may be.
Professional music production is creative and technical. It requires well-developed listening skills, a good handle on recording technology, a deep musical knowledge, and effective project management and leadership skills by a music producer, also known as a record producer.
THE ROLE OF THE PRODUCER
When one thinks of a recording producer, the concept of all-around manager comes to mind. In essence, that’s not far from the truth.
The recording producer oversees the entire recording project working directly with the artists and the engineers to achieve the goals set out at the beginning of the process. Many producers are responsible for keeping budgets, scheduling recordings, hiring studios and their engineers, and in many cases, they handle much of the musical arrangements that best suit the artist and the project.
The producer must know how to identify and obtain the best performances from the individual members of the group. The confidence to say, “I like this one,” is at the heart of a producer’s role. They apply the same critical function at virtually every stage of the recording process. From the decision that a particular backing track performance has the right feeling and energy, to the approval of a guitar solo, and the sound of the various instruments coming through the monitors, all come back to the producer, who must make that judgment.
A few producers can take a rough demo recording and create a recording based on what they’re hearing. The artists will only hear the completed project once the producers have completed the song from their end. It comes down to a question of trust. In most cases, the producers’ instincts and experience provide a final product that would be in line with artists’ vision.
MY CONTRIBUTION
As a producer, my job is to ensure all that happens within a specific time frame and to ensure that the artists get the best bang for their buck. Being transparent is also high on my list, especially when communicating with the artists and engineers.
Case in point. An engineer that I worked with shared one of his experiences with me. It seems the band who hired him indicated that they were well-rehearsed, but came to the studio with a bit of an image problem. They honestly believed they were better that they actually were when in fact they weren’t well-rehearsed and expected magic form the producer-engineer. It turns out that they sounded quite horrible even after a few takes. Their response was, “You need to fix that. We sound better than that!” At which point the engineer responded with, ”Honestly, you guys don’t. You need to back to you rehearsal space and practice until you get it right.” And they did. In this case, transparency in communication worked wonders.
In the end, if you decide to hire me as a producer, I will take on the following roles:
- Provide a budget for the project
- Book the studio
- Schedule the recordings
- Hire musicians and vocalists if necessary
- Work with you to ensure that you are given the sound that you are looking for
- Make recommendations about arrangements and sound design
- Work with the engineer om the mix
- Master the finished product or hire an engineer who specializes in mastering.
Assisting you or your band with your recording project, bringing your vision to fruition and guiding your sound along the way summarizes well what I am prepared to do as your producer.
