Everyone wants to learn how to produce music these days. Considering how simple it is to download a digital audio workstation (DAW) and start making a track, there’s no wonder that more and more people are starting to get into the production side of things as opposed to just playing an instrument.
Even if you do play a traditional instrument, producing can be a great way to help you become a better musician because you learn about different genres, styles, and instruments. But whether you’re a new producer or someone who is traditionally trained, it can be daunting jumping into the world of digital music creation. So here are a few top tips to help you get used to the workflow and create better music.
Build your own sound library to create a signature style
One of the coolest things about producing music is that you’ll eventually build up a collection of loops, samples, instruments, and sounds that will form your signature style. Whether you download guitar loops, record your own sounds with a mic, or even sample instruments that you own, there are many ways to build a sound library. However, it’s important not to just download or buy sample packs and throw them into your library. Instead, pick out the sounds you like by exploring those packs and just choose the ones you like. Otherwise, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the different choices and you’ll spend more time picking out sounds than actually creating music.
Stick to a single DAW and try not to change too much
People often try out many different DAWs, spending a lot of money in the process and also wasting a lot of time. It’s important to pick a DAW, stick with it, and learn about all of the different features and quirks that it comes with. If you decide to make a swap in the future to a different DAW, then you can do so if you know that there are specific features that you prefer. Just keep in mind that the quality of your music isn’t down to your DAW–it’s your own creativity. If you’re not sure what DAW to use, then Ableton Live and FL Studio are the most popular options available for both Mac and Windows users. However, Apple’s Logic Pro X can also be a great option if you’re using a Mac computer.
Learn your tools and don’t overwhelm yourself
It can be tempting to just jump into a DAW and start using all of the tools at once while browsing your sound library. While this can be a great way to throw ideas around until you get something you like, it’s important to actually learn one tool at a time so you understand what it’s used for, why people use it, and also what it can achieve. Play with all of the different knobs, buttons, and sliders to figure out what effect they have on the sound. Consider reading about the tool too so that you can understand what’s going on underneath the hood and how it’s affecting the sounds.
Joe is a friend and contributing Author to Lifein12keys.com. He lives in Longwood, Florida with his wife Bethanne and sons Patrick and Joe Jr.
