So, you’re a budding musician who plays gigs and also writes songs. Perhaps you’ve already written songs and would like to write more. Getting more Spotify streams in 2022 can be challenging given the competition on streaming platforms. There are literally tons of songs being released by independents and signed artists worldwide. Being proactive in such a competitive market is likely to be wise or even necessary. In such times, certain extra skills aren’t bad.
There are a few reasons why you should still consider adding the rare skill even if you have only the beginner’s knowledge of music production. We know it is an extensive field that requires dedication of time.
1. You already have the musician’s ears
As a songwriter, you are more likely to develop your ears to the point where you are closer to the level of a producer, or at least to someone who is an intermediate in this area, as your ears evolve as a songwriter. You already know how to recognize the waves in a particular sound. Ear training is an important part of the production journey, and it can take months to understand the audio spectrum in its entirety. You might even be able to identify a balance between the highs and lows. You probably already have the ears to do all of that!
2. Can greatly enhance your own songs
When you delve a bit deeper into production, you’ll notice that every instrument in your song has a distinct space in the audio spectrum and that each instrument gives the song its own vibe. Your mix will sound great right from the start if you choose the right instruments for your song. Start by putting together all of your signature sounds. It’s not necessary to make the entire song start out. Even the choice of instruments can help you convey your message to your producer. You can communicate the same to your producer during composition whether you are using a DAW, recording live instruments, or making beats using digital instruments.
3. More control over the sound of the final output!
A lot of times, if the composer can mix the song well on their own, usually means that the mastering engineer has very little improvement to do. It might seem advisable to have a mastering engineer who can take your song to an industry standard level separate from your own. We recommend hiring a separate mastering engineer if you are just starting out in music production or if you are not a pro. It does help to be a somewhat good mixing engineer as you are able to channel out your instruments and how they blend together. Especially if you lack the right words to explain your desired sound to your mixing engineers, making those decisions on your own can greatly enhance your sound.
4. Go for that Signature Sound in your mixes
When you’ve been a producer for a while, or if you’re an experienced one, you already know that any popular musician or band has its own signature sound that makes their audience instantly recognize the singer or band. There are times when it’s not just the vocalist’s voice texture that makes a difference. Whether it is the guitar patch used, or the starting chords, or the overall vibe of the song, the audience can relate to you and recognize that it is your song.
5. Can be great for collabs
A collaboration is a great way to grow your social media following and your social media presence. It doesn’t matter if you collaborate with someone with more followers or less followers than you, being your producer can help you both produce the song without the need for a third party. Since none of you can actually go into a studio together, it’s especially helpful if you are collaborating remotely. It is also helpful if one of you is skilled at production, recording, mixing, and mixing the song well, as that will speed up the collab process.
6. Basic recording knowledge can help you make your own demos
You can create demos if you have some basic mixing and mastering knowledge, as well as the ability to record instruments. In case you do not wish to take the whole production journey, which might take a while or at least three to six months, then you can learn mixing knowledge, where you can teach yourself how to record a song and what instruments you would like to use. You can develop your ears to that level once you have developed them. It is important to know how much and what kind of instrument you need to fit in with the vibe of the song. Even a snare suggests and provide room for a particular type of vocal texture, as does the vibe you want for every other instrument. Does. As with snare high hats, synths, strings, guitars, guitar patches used in drum kicks, bass also makes sense.
7. Mixing & Blending well is all you need
Production DAWs can be difficult to understand more often than not. There are so many knobs and controls that it might actually seem like rocket science. We know that the full extended learning process for a producer takes years and is no less difficult than what it takes to learn a rocket. Understanding sound to the very spectrum and being able to make analog sounds from scratch is really a scientist’s job, and it takes practice and thinking analytically through your ears, which might take some time. Often, users use GarageBand and similar software on MacBooks like Reaper, but these aren’t a very advanced DAW where they can create full-fledged songs. Here’s another tutorial on how to use Flstudio to create your own demo, from which you can get individual drum loops and drum patterns and guitar recordings that you can mix and blend well to create your own demo.
8. Your own choice of Instruments and Drums can suit your vocals better!
If you choose your own instruments and drums, this might be a continuation of my previous point. Choosing your own drum kit, selecting your own instruments, and then choosing how your sound will be produced is your choice, but be careful with it at the same time. A good ear can really identify with the sounds that will be used. In other words, if you have a producer friend who wants to follow you on your production journey and assist you in making the album, he can help you choose which sounds are cleaner and industry standard that will work well in your mix.
9. Production is rare, and a very monetizable skill!
Producers are rare and very monetizable. When it comes to numbers, musicians and singers, there are a lot of both at the same time. Mixing engineers and composers who produce on software make up a large number of professionals in the music industry. Meanwhile, many producers, such as Z, agree that their songwriting skills could be improved if they had better skills. If you are an experienced song writer looking to go into production, it might be a great idea to dedicate some of your free time to learning that knowledge, even if you take a beginners production course, which will give you a better understanding of songwriting in a more executable manner. You might consider doing product production projects for a change when you’re not gigging. Product production skills are also very monetizable.