Ableton Forum

Would like some advice on the best ways to go about getting involved in producing/engineering others; bands, solo artists etc

Start... making... music?

Snarky answer aside... Pick up some kit, get a daw, start making stuff till it sounds good.

Give or take 5 years.

And post questions and stuff on the forum... "How do make___ sound more____"

Hey OP, don't worry ... I actually read your question even if he didn't.

how to start producing others. There have been quite a few articles on this in Sound on Sound.

First my own opinion: most 'electronic' types are self-producing and those who aren't self-produced tend to be belligerent coke dealers who pretend to make music and don't actually know what they want until they hear you doing it, they will not actually pay you and make off with a prized piece of your equipment.

However guitar and acoustic acts are more likely to be valid targets for your intentions. Unless you have a whole shedload of microphones and preamps (and saintly patience) I think you won't want to actually record a full band. So I recommend finding a band who already has an 'album recording', but it's all a bit lifeless. Local gigs, local festivals, rehearsal rooms are all full of people who have a lifeless sounding 'album' of their songs which all sound much better live.

find those people and trick them into doing you a copy of their (most likely) Logic files. Now persuade them to let you 'remix' them.
Now start wishing for .OMF support in Live.

Mint Invader wrote:And post questions and stuff on the forum... "How do make___ sound more____"

Don't listen to this guy, he produces dubstep

Try to mimic a simple track that you like. Don't know how to make XYZ synth? Just use another sound. Wish it had bells included? Put in some bells then!

Bam. You'll end up with a totally unique sound. Just use some creativity. There's a bazillion presets. Shuffle through until you find dat synth.

For anyone else who can't read a single sentence

Sage wrote:Producing/engineering others; bands, solo artists etc

Producing others

Engineering others

Engineering bands

How to produce somebody else's band

How to start producing another person, eg bands


Get it?
Man. This modern bullshit definition of "producer" as a lone buffoon making weak beats on a softsynth in his basement has broken 100 years of recording terminology..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_producer

Angstrom wrote:For anyone else who can't read a single sentence

Sage wrote:Producing/engineering others; bands, solo artists etc

Producing others

Engineering others

Engineering bands

How to produce somebody else's band

How to start producing another person, eg bands


Get it?
Man. This modern bullshit definition of "producer" as a lone buffoon making weak beats on a softsynth in his basement has broken 100 years of recording terminology..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_producer

The examples and perspective in this article may not include all significant viewpoints. Please improve the article or discuss the issue. (January 2011)

Yeah, that was the term in January 2011.

Now we is all producers init.
(Sorry i meant in I.T, i work in I.T. i make music at weekends in my basement, on my 2nd hand Macbook. with garageband. . . . . and an ipad. . . . . sigh)

Angstrom wrote:Hey OP, don't worry ... I actually read your question even if he didn't.

how to start producing others. There have been quite a few articles on this in Sound on Sound.

First my own opinion: most 'electronic' types are self-producing and those who aren't self-produced tend to be belligerent coke dealers who pretend to make music and don't actually know what they want until they hear you doing it, they will not actually pay you and make off with a prized piece of your equipment.

However guitar and acoustic acts are more likely to be valid targets for your intentions. Unless you have a whole shedload of microphones and preamps (and saintly patience) I think you won't want to actually record a full band. So I recommend finding a band who already has an 'album recording', but it's all a bit lifeless. Local gigs, local festivals, rehearsal rooms are all full of people who have a lifeless sounding 'album' of their songs which all sound much better live.

find those people and trick them into doing you a copy of their (most likely) Logic files. Now persuade them to let you 'remix' them.
Now start wishing for .OMF support in Live.

Cheers!

So really just a case of getting out there and networking with people then?

But yeah, not so bothered about electronic music production, I do that all the time anyway and I also have Logic.

Do you have the place and equipment to record others/a band?
Soundcard, cables, mics. They should already have amps and what they need to play...
Mainly the question being is the engineering aspect already taken care of?
Then with producing, what's the range between honing in on a certain overall sound vs the songwriting/arrangement process?

shadx312 wrote:Do you have the place and equipment to record others/a band?
Soundcard, cables, mics. They should already have amps and what they need to play...
Mainly the question being is the engineering aspect already taken care of?
Then with producing, what's the range between honing in on a certain overall sound vs the songwriting/arrangement process?

I would try and avoid actually recording people, firstly because it's very hard work which has many pitfalls, secondly because you get all the respect of a roadie once you start laying cables at a session. Thirdly because even if you manage to do it well you are only on the road to engineering ... and that's not actually producing. A producer is equivalent to a Movie Director, or a football manager, if you get your hands too dirty the fuckers will take you down.

I still say that the polite 'remix' of existing material is a better route into production. Production does also have a man-management component to it, but it's easier to herd those cats once you actually have a few production credits in place. So focus on nice malleable files rather than the bands themselves.

I guess most people here are familiar with the sound of over-production(because techno guys tend to produce the fuck out of a single kick and bass sound). However, on the other side of the coin there are acts who have singers, a trombonist, a mandolin / harp player, banjo, conga & toys, drummer, bassist, etc. etc.
but their recording sound exactly like a mic on everything and an illadvised hall reverb on the singer.

These are the people to target. Go find them, find the 'leader' of the band or the holder of their files, and prise a copy out of their hands. Do not wait for the band to agree on this happening .. because bands will never agree. Do not let various band members come and visit during your production sessions because they will use it as part of a power play (within their band), simply send them a few 'in progress' mp3s. Take comments on those and possibly act upon them. Benevolent dictator style.

My only artistic advice : don't over-produce, don't technoize a band that sounds like the Stooges, or Dubstep the Proclaimers. Instead I suggest try and make each band sound like the very best they could possibly be as themselves. As if they could all actually play their instruments at the right time and they knew how to arrange for space!

know your gear
watch out for remix contests.. jam with material if you dont have enough ideas
watch like everything is mixed together get a feeling for that.
know your gear
watch tutorials how you get more out of your daw
get in touch with your gear
make a remix, make another one
start from beginning..
if youre getting mad by doing remixes and you good in your gear try making your own stuff

shadx312 wrote:Do you have the place and equipment to record others/a band?
Soundcard, cables, mics. They should already have amps and what they need to play...
Mainly the question being is the engineering aspect already taken care of?
Then with producing, what's the range between honing in on a certain overall sound vs the songwriting/arrangement process?

If I had the equipment and place to record an entire band, I might as well start a studio.

I've recorded bands, solo acts etc before, done mixing, live sound etc (Even doing some film work next month), but never regularly and generally been more focused on my own stuff. Just at bit of a loss on how to make it a more serious thing.