Learn Music Producing

Did you ever stop to think about what is happening when you flip on a light switch? We take for granted that it will turn on every time. We don’t stop to think about the evolution that went into making that light switch possible! But what does this have to do with audio? The answer is, a lot! The ability to record anything has been largely dependent on electricity for a very long time. In this chapter, we will take a very basic look at some of the fundamentals of electricity and how these concepts apply to the audio world.…

Even before the introduction of the Compact Disc, digital audio started to shape the sound of popular music, as digital effects processors, samplers/sequencers, and digital synthesizers started to appear on commercial records as early as the mid 1970s. The evolution of computer-based technology was gaining tremendous momentum, and digital processing began to creep into every aspect of music production. By the 1980s, the digital revolution was taking the music industry by storm. Digital instruments, digital recorders and digital consumer audio formats were taking over the audio world. Over the course of roughly the next two decades, digital audio began replacing…

Let’s think for a moment about the long journey that a single sound recorded in a studio must take in order to travel from the musician’s instrument to the control room monitors. Picture yourself in the studio tracking electric guitar overdubs with your favorite guitar player—Slash, or Jimi, or whoever, is in your live room are you’re sitting at the console running the session. Now, let’s follow the path of the electric guitar signal from beginning to end. In this chapter, we will take a look at not only the path, or signal flow, that your audio signal take, but…

A microphone is a device that changes acoustic energy into an electric current that can be altered and manipulated. Any device that converts one form of energy into another form of energy is called a transducer. Microphones are used in many different applications and are typically the first stop in the signal flow of your recording path. In this chapter, we will look at various types of microphones, explain briefly how they work, and help familiarize you with popular mics you will see in the studio. Objectives History of Microphones Microphone Specifications Microphone Circuit Types Chapter Quiz Blog Entry  …

Microphone choice and placement plays a huge result in the final recording product. Everything we have discussed up to this point plays a role in how our signal is captured. Hopefully, by now you have started to think of the recording process as a lot more then just pointing a microphone at a sound source and pressing play. The many factors that come into play can affect your final product. In this chapter, we will look at the common practices of the recording process with regard to mic choice and set up. Getting to know your microphones, and the microphones…

Tracking is the term that audio engineers use for recording multiple tracks of audio information at the same time. There are many different strategies used for many different situations. No one understands this process better than your mentor! In this chapter, we will take a look at some hypothetical situations and try to give you a general understanding of how to approach these situations. Objectives: Planning Mic Selection Setting Up Getting Tones Professional Behavior Troubleshooting Chapter Quiz Blog Entry   « Previous Choose a Lesson... Lesson One - Sound and Hearing Lesson Two - Basic Electronics Lesson Three - Digital…

Pro Tools™ is an extremely advanced digital audio workstation (DAW). Pro Tools has remained an industry standard for engineers and producers in the professional studio environment, as well as for novice music enthusiasts, for more than 20 years. In this chapter, we will begin to scratch the surface of this very dense DAW and prepare you for the task of installing and using this amazing tool. This chapter will help educate you about Pro Tools and help you troubleshoot potential problems in the future. Objectives History of Pro Tools Pro Tools System Requirements Optimizing your System Pro Tools File Structure…

It's time to start making some music! In this chapter, we will walk you through the installation and the basic functionality of the Pro Tools user interface. Don’t hate on Avid too much for the complexity of the installation. Be forewarned that this is a 48-hour process! Yes…48 hours! We have included step-by-step directions and a tutorial to help. After you get Pro Tools installed, we will look at some of the basic functionality of the user interface and give you your first Pro Tools assignment! Objectives Pro Tools Installation Welcome to Pro Tools Pro Tools Edit Window Pro Tools…

The web defines a software plugin as, “a set of software components that adds specific capabilities to a larger software application.” In the case of digital audio, plugins add functionality to your DAW. From analog compressor emulators to bass wobble synths, plugins can enhance your sound and the way you work. In this chapter, we will look at some of the more popular plugin bundles you will see in the audio world and give you a basic understanding of how plugin formats work. We will also show you the difference between using plugins in real time and rendering audio using…

You’re halfway there! This chapter is dedicated to preparing you for your midterm. We have put a lot information in your hands, and we want to make sure you are retaining it. Testing can send some people into panic attacks! We get it, and we want to make this as low stress as possible. For this section, we have included a ton of review material right at your fingertips, to make your test as painless as possible! Just remember that we use tests to gauge your progress in the program to identify areas where we can help. Objectives Section Reviews…

Mixing is the process by which we audio engineers combine an entire multi-track session into a stereo track. Mixing is the place where technical skill and creativity come together, resulting in the creation of a song. Here we take all the live instrumentation, sequenced MIDI and effects, and seek to create a balance between the elements of the song. There is no one correct way to approach a mix, just as there is no one correct way to finish a mix. This chapter is about educating you on common aspects of mixing process, not about showing you how to mix.…

Equalization is the process that engineers use to alter the frequency response of an audio signal. Frequencies become more pronounced (if boosting) or less pronounced (if cutting), depending on what the engineer is trying to accomplish. Equalization (or EQ) is a crucial tool used in all phases of music production. Whether to enhance or minimize some aspect of the frequency spectrum, EQ is an important part of the workflow for the recording professional. In this chapter, we will take a look at the beginnings of equalization and take a detailed look at the practical applications of EQ in your workflow.…

Dynamic range is the ratio between the largest and smallest possible values of a changeable quantity. In audio engineering, dynamic range generally refers to the distance between the loudest possible sound and the quietest possible sound in an audio recording. In a multi-track recording, each constituent track has a unique dynamic range; there is also a “master” or overall dynamic range, which is the total dynamic range of the tracks mixed together into the master bus. Consequently, dynamic range processing is often applied to tracks at an individual basis as well as on the master channel (the over-all mix). Fundamentally,…

Time-based effects, along with many other tools found in the modern studio, are catalysts for creativity, and they have a wide range of uses in the studio and onstage. When applied to the audio signal, tools such as delay or reverb will alter the space and time of a given sound in the stereo field, depending on certain variables of the device you’re using. The desired effect can take you somewhere far beyond the original sound source, and when used to taste, a subtle shift in the listener’s subconscious occurs, altering the perception of the sound by just the right…

Musical Instrument Digital Interface, or MIDI, is the standard way in which we interact with music in the digital world. Think if it as the DNA of your musical performance. Without it, our ability to compose, produce and perform music in modern times would be remarkably different. In this chapter, we will have a look at what types of messages MIDI contains, that is, how it allows humans to communicate with computers and digital instruments in a universal binary language. Using what we know about MIDI, we will then apply this concept to the Pro Tools environment, and most importantly,…

Automation in Pro Tools is the ability to control a specific parameter automatically by telling Pro Tools what to do, and when to do it in real-time. For example, you might need to adjust the volume of your vocal track at 1 minute and 32 seconds by increasing the volume precisely by 4 decibels. At the same point in time, you might need to shift the pan on your guitar track from the left side to the right. With automation, you can do both of these moves simultaneously, and more importantly…automatically. It’s an incredibly helpful and useful tool! In this…

Acoustics is the study of how sound waves behave in an environment. Since you are nearing the end of this course you should be more than ready to handle some more difficult concepts. The science of acoustics could fill several volumes, so we have included those things which are important to your development as a music industry professional. Understanding these concepts and implementing them into your workflow will help you set yourself apart as a music industry professional. In this chapter, we will take a look at acoustics, and more importantly, how the environment in which you are listening affects…

Mastering is the art of sweetening the mix and preparing the mixdown for duplication. The goal of this chapter is to familiarize you with some of the very basics about the mastering process. Mastering is a very technical process that often involves specific gear that is calibrated to subtly alter a mix in ways that improve the sonic qualities of a specific song, and to alter multiple songs to work together as an album. Mastering often requires ears that possess the sonic precision that takes years to develop. A good mastering engineer is both a good ally to have and…

You’re finally there!!! This chapter is about preparing you for your final. Now is the time to find out how much you’ve learned, and what you want to keep working on as you move forward to your career. To make your final as low-stress as possible, we’ve included plenty of review material here, and your mentor will go over any questions you may have. Objectives: Section Reviews Final Exam Practical Exam