Music Production

Music production is a wide topic. It is the process of creating, refining, and fixing recorded music for distribution, whether digitally or physically. 

It involves various stages, including songwriting, composition, sound design, recording, mixing, and mastering audio

If you are an aspiring music producer, here is everything you need to know about music production.

What Does a Music Producer Do?

music producer in the studio

A music producer, also less-commonly known as (in modern day music, for obvious reasons) a record producer, is responsible for overseeing the entire creative process of recording a song or album. 

Producers work with artists to bring their vision to life and guide their sound along the way. 

The role of a music producer can vary in depth and scope, but typically involves making the beat, hands-on oversight of recording sessions, ensuring artists deliver acceptable performances, supervising the technical engineering of the recording, and coordinating the production team and process. 

Here are some of the key responsibilities of a music producer today:

  • Producing The Beat/Instrumental: The most common identity and what people think of when they hear the term “music producer”, is the indie person who made and tweaks the beat.
  • Assisting with the recording project: A music producer assists an artist with their recording project, bringing their vision to fruition and guiding their sound along the way.
  • Providing creative and technical leadership: Although the producer is not ALWAYS the engineer, but if they are on the buttons, they will also be the overall supervisor throughout the recording process.
  • Capturing the artist’s idea: Producers provide stability throughout the recording process, making necessary adaptations for the good of the track. It isn’t all just about making a flat beat and sending it to a singer or rapper. At the top level, it is a symbiotic relationship between music producer and vocal artist.
  • Providing expert critique and coaching: The vocal producer or vocal arranger aids vocal performance via expert critique and coaching of vocal technique.
  • Directing the overall creative process: The record producer or music producer directs the overall creative process of recording the song in its final mix.

How Is Music Produced?

  • Songwriting and composition: The process of creating the melody, lyrics, and chord progression of a song.
  • Sound design: Choosing the sounds and instruments that will be used in the song.
  • Recording: Capturing the music using via a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or recording studio.
  • Mixing: The process of combining all the individual tracks of a song into a final stereo mix.
  • Mastering: This is the final step in the music production process, this is seeing the track through to completion, where the final mix is polished and prepared for distribution.

Music production requires a combination of creative and technical skills, including well-developed listening skills, a good handle on recording technology, a deep musical knowledge, and effective project management and leadership skills. 

Thanks to technology, music production is more accessible than ever before, and any musician or artist can set up a home studio and get started producing music.


Modern Buttons

Our Best Resources On Music Production

How to Make a Lyric Video Using AI Image to Video Tools

How to Make a Lyric Video Using AI Image-to-Video Tools

Gone are the days when creating a lyric video was a simple as slapping some text on a static background … Read More…
Best AI Music Tools

108 Best AI Music Tools: Gain the Competitive Edge in 2023!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock these past couple years, you would know that AI is taking the digital … Read More…
Will Ai Replace Musicians

Will Ai Replace Musicians? The Year Of Auto-generated Music

The music world has been buzzing with a trend that’s totally out of this world. Yes, you guessed it – … Read More…
Best Drum Samples for Ableton Top 10 Picks

Best Drum Samples for Ableton: Top 10 Picks

As an Ableton enthusiast, you’re already aware of the game-changing impact of having a plethora of drum samples at your … Read More…
Best Free Drum Kits for Music Producers In year

Best Free Drum Kits for Music Producers In 2023

I tend to download most of my samples here. But if you want some more range in the freebie department, … Read More…
Best Free Drum Kits for Music Producers In year 1 1

270+ Best Free Drum Samples for Music Producers in 2023

If you’re ready to elevate your music production game, you’re in the right place. I’ve scoured the web to bring … Read More…

10 Game-Changing Songwriting Apps Every Budding Musician Needs in Their Arsenal

TL;DR: Top 10 Songwriting Apps: 1. GarageBand2. Hum Beatz3. Chordbot4. Hookpad5. IO-8086. RhymeZone7. Songcraft8. Guitar Pro9. Tully10. Lyric Pad These … Read More…
Does Focusrite Work With Pro Tools

Does Focusrite Work With Pro Tools? Exploring Compatibility and Integration

So you’re in the market for a solid audio interface to upgrade your music production game? Well, my friend, Focusrite … Read More…

Does Novation Launchkey Work with Pro Tools? Get the Facts Straight Here!

MIDI controller is an essential piece of gear that can help you create the ultimate soundtrack for your next big … Read More…

Does Native Instruments Work with Pro Tools? Exploring Seamless Integration

A wise man once said, “Great music happens when two giants of the industry decide to work together.” Okay, maybe … Read More…

Music Producer Plugins & Samples

Plugins and samples are the bread and butter for music producers.

Here is a breakdown of what they do:

Plugins (VSTs):

  • A plugin is a small software program that runs inside of a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) such as Logic, Cubase, Ableton Live, Pro Tools or FL Studio.
  • Plugins can be effects (compressor, EQ, etc.), MIDI effects, sample player engines, or synthesizers.
  • Plugins can be used to create unique sounds and effects that are not available in the DAW’s built-in plugins.
  • There are many different plugin formats, but the most common is VST (Virtual Studio Technology) .

Samples:

  • A sample is a snippet of audio that can be used in music production.
  • Samples can be individual drum hits, short instrumental melodies, entire tracks, or rhythmic loops.
  • Samples can be used to create new music by repurposing existing audio.
  • Samples can be found in sample packs, soundsets, and sample libraries.
  • Royalty-free samples can be used in music production without legal issues.
  • Organizing samples is critical to optimizing workflow as a music producer.
Best Free Orchestral VSTs

Best Free Orchestral VSTs: Unleash Your Inner Composer with These Top Picks

As an aspiring music producer or engineer, you’ve probably already spent countless hours debating whether to spend your hard-earned cash … Read More…
7 Best Free Instrument VSTs 1

7 Best Free Instrument VSTs: Unlock Your Creative Potential with These Must-Have Plugins for 2023

Welcome to my little corner of the internet where I talk about my on-going journey to create amazing music – … Read More…
Best Free Reverb VSTs

Best Free Reverb VSTs: Top 10 Plugins to Transform Your Sound in 2023

There’s no need to break the bank when searching for high-quality reverb plugins. Many free reverb VSTs can be as … Read More…
Best Free Drum VSTs

Best Free Drum VSTs: Discover Top Virtual Instruments for Killer Beats!

I remember when I first started out in music production, my drums sounded like they came straight out of a … Read More…
Best Free Guitar VSTs

Best Free Guitar VSTs: Unleash Your Inner Rockstar Without Breaking the Bank

Did you know that you could achieve killer guitar sounds in your music productions without spending a dime? Welcome to … Read More…
Best Free Piano VSTs Resources

20 Best Free Piano VSTs & Resources: Unleash Your Inner Virtuoso with These Top Picks

Ah, the quest to find the best free piano VSTs – it’s a journey that has consumed many an hour … Read More…
13 Best Free Synth VSTs

13 Best Free Synth VSTs: Elevate Your Music Production with These Top Picks

When it comes to making music, having the right tools at your disposal can make all the difference. Enter the … Read More…
Best Free Vocal VSTs

Best Free Vocal VSTs: Unleash Your Inner Vocalist with These Top Picks

It seems like finding  *good* free vocal VSTs has been an uphill battle. It’s like trying to find a needle … Read More…
Best Free Bass VSTs Free Guitar Amp VSTs

Best Free Bass VSTs: Top 10 Plugins to Elevate Your Low-End Game in 2023

Picture this: a bright-eyed, eager music producer (yours truly) with big dreams, an even bigger passion for those low-end frequencies, … Read More…
Best Free Guitar Amp VSTs

Best Free Guitar Amp VSTs: Discover the Top Virtual Amplifiers for Unbeatable Tone on a Budget

Hey there, fellow guitar enthusiasts! So, I must admit, when I first dove into the world of home recording and … Read More…