Music Production, Songwriting & Audio Engineering, 2022+ Edition: The Professional Guide for Music Producers, Songwriters & Audio Engineers in Music Studios

By Tommy Swindali

Techniques, Tricks & Pro Tips to Make Your Sound The Very Best it Can Be!

Do you want to make better music? How about achieving a professional sound? Or even being able to work in professional studios?

If you're serious about improving your music production, songwriting & audio engineering skills to a professional level then keep on reading…

Most musicians dream of making professional sounding music. But in order to create great music they need to understand the steps and tools involved. With proper skill development, creativity and knowledge anyone can reach that professional level.

This book will show you how. Whether you want to build a studio, work in one, start a label or just make better music. Inside you will find up to date, practical and well explained techniques in a no-bs professional guide.

 

Save yourself months of going through low quality YouTube tutorials and get all the information you need in one place.

Here is just a tiny fraction of what you will discover:

• Everything you need to know about advanced audio, recording and music production in 2022 and beyond
• Studio Setup - Achieve Pro Studio Quality - at Home or on a Budget
• The Hit Songwriting Formula - Songwriting, Lyrics, Melody & Construction
• Easy Tips for Recording Vocals & Instruments Like A Pro
• Motivation & Mental Hacks (get your mental game together and your production skills will go through the roof!)
• Careers in Music + How to Make Money From Your Music + Music Business Tips
• Record Labels VS Indie Production & How to Get Signed
• Step by Step Guide To Mix + Master Your Music - Even If Your Not a Technical Person
• Finding Your "Big Break": Tips for Making a Name for Yourself

And much, much more…

Become the music producer you've always wanted to be and start making your best music.

Get started now with This Book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tommy Swindali
• Release date: Jul 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201809300

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

April 9, 1860, marks the planting of the seed that would blossom into the music industry; the very first recording of sound. Predating the first phone call and phonograph by sixteen and seventeen years respectively, the very first recording of sound came in the form of an eerie, spine-chilling recording of Au Claire de la Lune on Parisien inventor, Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville’s creation, the phonautograph. The recordings were never intended to be listened to in the same way we do in the modern day. Instead, they were meant to help us understand exactly how we hear. The machine recorded the vibrations of sound, those tracings meant to help us read sound, rather than listen to it. It was not until the phonograph was introduced that listening to those recordings was considered by anyone. Since that point, music production has grown and developed beyond Scott de Martinville’s wildest dreams and expectations.

Today, our technology has evolved to be far more accessible. Anyone who can get their hands on some basic equipment can start their journey into music production. With some practical skill development, proper marketing, and some tech, such as microphones, a computer, and some research, anyone can build themselves a studio to begin their musical journey. Today’s advancements can be overwhelming to a new producer or musical artist; different software, pedals, soundboards, and so much more have allowed us to create music like never before and it has given us the freedom of creativity that is so untapped, it is a little overwhelming. New genres pop up all over the place, new artists are sampling sounds from decades before, and old trends are finding themselves revamped in all kinds of ways.

Because of this incredible flexibility within the musical tools we have today, it is impossible to tell anyone the tools they need to master to produce their ideal sound. We still see artists who make music via traditional instruments, just like we have music producers who have never touched an instrument in their lives, instead of creating their music using their technology, such as phones and laptops. Music producers and artists are gathering their preferred equipment, developing their methods, and fine-tuning their sounds in ways that define them and set them apart in a world where anyone can create a track on an app from their phone. What truly sets these people apart isn’t just their technical skills and their ability to create a musical masterpiece, but it is also the way they sell themselves.

Career Goals in the Music Industry

Exactly where do you see yourself wanting to be in the music industry? Chances are, if you’re holding this book, you might hope to see yourself become the next Max Martin or Dr. Dre. Maybe you are hoping to make waves as a self-produced vocalist or band. Perhaps you want to be involved in the production process, but with a special focus, such as one of the following:

Arranger

An arranger examines the whole of the composed piece and gives each element of the track new life. They adjust everything from vocals to tempo to instrumentation to revitalize a track and bring it all together.

Composer

A composer writes and directs a piece of music. Consider artists such as Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman, who create powerful soundtracks for movies and more.

Lyricist

A lyricist’s job is to create engaging hooks and to fill in the story of the song with creative, catchy, and unique lyrics.

Mixing Engineer

A mixing engineer gathers all of the components of the recording, making sure they blend seamlessly, and masters the track into its final product,

Music Producer

A music producer is hands-on in helping the artist create their vision. They may help the artist work on an area of the work the artist is not happy with, or they can help clean up the track in a way that bumps it up to the next level. A music producer may employ a team of people, but generally, they tend to be a jack-of-all-trades in producing the overall product.

Orchestrator

If a composer writes a piece of music, an orchestrator is the one who brings the writing to life in performance.

Songwriter

Being a songwriter can be a multipurpose job. While a lyricist focuses on providing lyrics to the track, a songwriter can be hands-on in both developing and writing the music for the track, as well as the lyrics that will be going over the music.

Sound Designer

A sound designer is the one who will search for the sounds to be used on the track. This could mean pulling samples from other tracks. It could also mean using clips of speech or sounds from popular media. Some sound designers go as far as to create a new sound if there is a copyright on the sound the artist was hoping to use. They also utilize commercial audio libraries to provide unique sounds for the artist’s track.

Welcome to the Music Industry

Finding success in the industry in the modern age is an absolute paradox; on one hand, we still reach for the traditional methods of finding success through labels and production companies. On the other hand, we can see multitudes of people creating success through clever and continuing work online, whether it’s on YouTube, Tiktok, SoundCloud, or any other social platform. The path to music industry success has continued to develop and splinter off, and it means that anyone willing to put in the work, passion, and time can potentially create a career for themselves.

New artists, full of enthusiasm and determination, can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that, as long as they are producing what they consider to be a masterpiece, success will fall into their lap. Some producers or executives will be surfing social media, hear the magical hook they have created, and demand that they sign a deal with them immediately. However, that is not how it works. These days, producers aren’t hanging out in clubs and SoundCloud pages hoping to find fresh talent and someone that can take from a nobody to the top. Instead, it’s crucial that new artists distinguish themselves, build an audience, and then work their way through the pack to make a name for themselves.

Raw talent is not everything. If you are putting time into developing your music, you need to be putting that same amount of time into developing your presence, audience, and reach in the music industry. When we see successful artists in the music industry, we see the party, the energy, the fire in their live performances, and the wildlife they portray on their social media and in their music videos. What we don’t see are the hours spent in the studio fine-tuning their tracks, slamming their head into the wall while trying to find the lyrics that represent what they want to say. We do not see the marketing meetings, the time spent awake until four in the morning as they write, finesse, and develop their music. Nor do we see the blisters from repeatedly playing the same chords or the time they need to care for and maintain their voice after days or weeks in front of the microphone. We do not see the hours and hours required to develop the content of their music videos, the planning logistics of tours and concerts. Raw talent will give you something to work with, but that’s only the seed that provides you your start; there is a lot more work to be done to get that seed to grow.

With all of this in mind, where does that leave a budding producer? Well, it leads you right here, in the hands of someone with over twenty years of experience, knowledge, and insight. This is the book that teaches more than just how to plug in your microphone and tack on some reverb; this is where you learn to adjust your mindset, develop the drive behind your music, and take your music up a notch (or ten.) No matter where you are starting from, this is where you figure out the next step on the road ahead. Welcome to Music Production. Let’s see who you can become.

CHAPTER 1

BASIC ELEMENTS OF MUSIC

If you are looking to make a career for yourself in music, it is a good idea to know the fundamentals of sound and music. This chapter will provide a brief overview of these fundamentals for quick reference.

Beat

The beat is what helps to regulate the pattern of rhythm. Typically, the beat is set by percussion.

Dynamic

Dynamics provide the volume, both in general and in providing emphasis in the