How do I become a producer

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:45 pm

G’day All

This is a sincere question so please don’t spit on me for asking it.

How do I become a producer?

I want to record for my band only, quality recordings that sound professional.

I will always have the mix mastered by someone like Lorenz at XARC mastering.

There are courses on how to use Pro-tools at $1000 for 2 days and there are 6 of the courses, I’ve read through the manual that had all the course headings and very clearly understand how to use Pro-tools (I’ve been in the software industry, as a programmer for 15years) – these really don’t teach you how to be a producer.

Any advice or reference material greatly appreciated

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:51 pm

It almost sounds like you mean engineer ... if not, most producers become big from word of mouth and have a great ear for melody and composition ...I'm not sure that can be taught.

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:27 pm

You become a (good) producer when you learn what you doing recording audio to a degree that other people are willing to pay for your expertise.
Of course if you are recording your band and you are making sonic decisions, you are in fact the producer. Whether or not you are a 'good' producer, that depends on what kind of results you get-

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:43 pm

Well, not that I can really say, beeing an amateur myself. But I think there are really two different roles to look at. They might be combined in the same person, what do I know.

The technician makes sure the recording and the mixing sounds good. It is very much about techniques and technology. Best way to start this is probably by simply recording a lot.

The producer is more about the totality of the end product and the commercial success of the record. A perfect recording that does not sell is a failure. So you have to know a bit about what the market wants now and how to go there. It might be about knowing the right session musicians to pull into a recording, or it might even be about knowing when to stop changing. It could have a bit of techniques and technology, but in the focus should probably be elsewhere. I think the way to start is to listen to a lot of music and to start working on the people skills. Getting the artist to outperform himself in the artificial environment of the studio is what it is about at one end.

But to me, the start of everything is to learn from own mistakes. So make many small mistakes, but never twice. Find a good studio or whatever and ask to come there to sweep the floor or serve coffe or whatever -- best of course if you could get someone to be a mentor. Learning from others experience is the quick start.

On the other hand, the very few people that has really made a change might have come from totally different angles, what do I know.

Good luck

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:19 pm

I agree with you, ghellquist. I started serving cofee, and asking lots of questions. Listen to lots of music, of all kinds and learn from how do they sound like and try to find a way to experiment yourself. Do you have any means of recording your own?
How old are you?
If you can, record a lot! That would be my advice.

Good luck!

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 6:44 pm

Have a lot of money, Have LOTS of knollege of music/timing/people skills. Plan your production well ahead of time, DO NOT WASTE MONEY BY WRIGHTING SONGS IN THE STUDIO, have a practice space to make the songs, perfect them, critique them, do some yelling, get the songs down well, make sure that you have on at least a couple of songs I nice HOOK to get some one iterested in listening to the music. Buy or rent the best possible instruments for the actual recording process and get the best studio in your price range. Don't forget to buget in MASTERING, DO IT and don't skimp on it.

This is a business, think of it that way. Ask people in the age bracket you are trying to sell to and see if they are liking what they hear. If no then change it, if yes then maybe you'll make some money. Know the market at the time, garage bands where really hot there a while back and then started to drissle down and then went back up, so keep that in mind.

Just remember you are making a product to sell. Would you want to buy it?

And also there is a difference between a producer and an engineer, the engineer runs the board, sets up the mics, compresses and eqs, etc and the producer tells the engineer what kind of sound he want to get from a particular instrument. Then the engineer will get that sound as best he can. HAVING PROTOOLS DOESN'T MAKE YOU A PRODUCER AT ALL.

Bob

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:58 pm

Great advice all, thanks very much.

Is there recommended books for engineering ? or is that a practiced thing, as well ?

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:49 am

There's a book call I think modern recording or something like that to give you some knolege on recording but the actual learning how to record is hands on trying this and that, and maybe watching an engineer in a studio. Or maybe even going to some classes, I don't know where you live But I've seen a bunch of studios that on some weekends or whenever will have some what of a training on the basics of signal flow and get you hands on expirience on real recording gear, not just a laptop with protools and a 4 channel a/d converter and a cheap ass couple of mics.

If I were you, I would have an expirienced engineer work on your project and give yourself a couple of years training on recording, even watching the engineer when you record will help, you could even ask him some questions,(if he wants to be asked) to help you out.

Thats just my opinion though.

Bob

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:24 am

To become a producer.....that's tough question!!!!!

I know a guy that is trying to become a "producer" but I'd call him more of a talent development manager....whats the difference? I have no clue to be honest, but I don't like calling him a producer for some reason (I've know him for years and he is a little bit of a screwball). Anyhoo, he gets a band that he likes....take them in to record a rough version of how they wrote their songs...a cheap rush job. Then he listens to the recording, re-writes parts, and creates a vision for a cohesive end result. He makes lots of notes on different things like guitar tunings, where he wants things to sit, blah blah blah. The band rehearse the new version then he takes the bands back in to record what what they've come up with after hours of working on the songs.

I have yet to work with one of his bands....and I've never actually heard any of them....I'm going by what he tells me.

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:49 am

I think skills and good taste and ears , and then the capacity to make people do what they have to while everybody stays confordable and to a minimum relaxed.
Im on a project where I cocompose arrange and direct the musicians in the groupe and mix in the studio.
My philosofy is to take alot of responsability and to do it so good that people realise they need me.

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:39 pm

Experience, learning from your mistakes, experience, exposure to good equipment and brilliant producers, experience, naturally good ears and experience.

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