22 Tips To Level Up Your Music Production

Summary

Josh Baker, a Manchester DJ and producer, shares 22 crucial tips for aspiring music producers in this YouTube video, derived from his eBook. He emphasizes patience, the importance of mentors, and the value of practice. Josh advises against over-EQing and over-reliance on sample packs, highlighting the benefits of using loops and plugins. He also discusses technical aspects like referencing, sending returns, and mastering. The video encourages producers to trust their ears, experiment, and invest in hardware and software to improve their music production skills.

Takeaways

• 🎧 Be patient in your music career; it often takes time to achieve success.
• 🧑‍🏫 Find a mentor to guide you and help avoid common mistakes.
• 🎸 Practice consistently; frequent short sessions are more effective than infrequent long ones.
• 🚫 Don't compare yourself negatively to others; use their progress as inspiration.
• 🔊 Check your mixes on different speakers to ensure they sound good in various environments.
• 💽 Classic drum machines are often better than over-processed sample packs.
• 🎶 Using loops is not cheating; they can help fill out grooves and add movement to your tracks.
• 🛠 Invest in quality plugins to enhance your production; they offer better sounds and are easier to use.
• 📐 Trust your ears when mixing; over-EQing can thin out your sound.
• 🎚 Utilize send and return tracks for effects to save CPU and maintain consistency in your mix.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video presented by Josh Baker?

The main purpose of the video is to share 22 insights and lessons that Josh Baker wishes he had known earlier in his career as a DJ and music producer, to help others who want to take their music to the next level.

What does Josh Baker emphasize as the first point in his presentation?

Josh Baker emphasizes the importance of being patient in the music industry, noting that success often comes to those who are not in a rush and enjoy the process.

Why does Josh Baker suggest finding a mentor in the music industry?

Josh suggests finding a mentor to learn from their experiences and mistakes, which can significantly shorten the learning curve and help avoid common pitfalls in the music industry.

What does Josh mean by 'practice makes permanent'?

This phrase means that consistent practice is key to improvement. The more one practices, the more ingrained the skills become, leading to better performance over time.

Why is Josh Baker against the idea of buying numerous sample packs?

Josh believes that having too many sample packs can lead to over-reliance on pre-made sounds and can hinder the development of one's unique sound and creativity.

What is Josh Baker's stance on using loops in music production?

Josh supports the use of loops as a tool to fill out grooves and ideas quickly. He argues that they are not cheating but can be beneficial when used appropriately.

Why does Josh Baker recommend investing in plugins for music production?

Josh recommends investing in plugins because they offer better sound quality and are easier to work with when finding good sounds, which can significantly improve the production process.

What is the significance of 'Kickstart' plugin mentioned by Josh Baker?

The 'Kickstart' plugin is significant because it simplifies the process of side-chaining, allowing producers to make sounds duck under the kick drum, making the kick sound fatter and more prominent in the mix.

What advice does Josh Baker give regarding the use of EQ in music production?

Josh advises against over-EQing, as it can make tracks sound thin and harsh. He suggests using EQ to clean up the mix by addressing resonant frequencies and removing unwanted sounds rather than over-processing.

How does Josh Baker view the role of sending returns in music production?

Josh views sending returns as a powerful tool for applying effects to multiple sounds in a mix, such as reverb and delay. It helps to save CPU usage, keep everything in the same space, and improve the overall sound quality.

What is the importance of trusting one's ears in music production according to Josh Baker?

Trusting one's ears is crucial because it allows producers to make decisions based on how the music sounds rather than solely relying on visual cues from the equipment, leading to a more authentic and pleasing mix.

Why does Josh Baker recommend using hardware in music production?

Josh recommends using hardware because it can make the production process more tangible and enjoyable, and it can also inspire creativity beyond what software alone can offer.

What is the final point that Josh Baker makes in his presentation?

The final point Josh makes is about the importance of investing in one's music production journey, whether it's through software, hardware, or other resources, as it demonstrates commitment and can lead to better results.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 Embracing the Music Journey: Patience and Passion

Josh Baker, the Manchester-based DJ and producer, introduces his video on the 22 things he wishes he knew earlier in his music career. He emphasizes the importance of patience in the music industry, noting that many successful DJs are not young and that it's a gradual process. He shares his personal journey, starting eight years ago, and how he's learned to enjoy the process rather than rushing for success. Josh also stresses the significance of having a genuine passion for music, as it's a driving force that can't be outworked.

05:01

📚 Learning from Experience: Finding a Mentor and the Value of Practice

In this paragraph, Josh discusses the benefits of finding a mentor in the music industry to learn from their experiences and avoid common pitfalls. He also touches on the principle that 'practice makes permanent,' highlighting the necessity of consistent practice to improve skills. Josh suggests that frequent short sessions are more effective for beginners than irregular long sessions and warns against comparing oneself to others, as music is subjective and everyone progresses at their own pace.

10:02

🔊 Technical Tips: Checking Speakers and the Myth of Classic Drum Machines

Josh provides technical advice on the importance of checking music on different speakers to understand how it translates across various listening environments. He also criticizes the oversaturation of 'classic drum machine' sample packs, suggesting that they often lack originality and quality. Instead, he recommends using high-quality samples and processing them personally for a unique sound. Additionally, he advises against over-reliance on sample packs and the misconception that using loops is cheating, arguing that loops can be a valuable tool for creating grooves and filling out tracks.

15:03

🛠️ The Power of Plugins and the Pitfalls of Over-EQing

This paragraph focuses on the advantages of using plugins for improving sound quality and ease of finding good sounds. Josh recommends specific bundles for those starting out and emphasizes the progress he made once he began using plugins. He also warns against the overuse of EQ, explaining how it can lead to thin and harsh mixes, and suggests that corrective EQing should be used to address problematic frequencies rather than stripping away the natural sound of the music.

20:03

🔄 Trusting Your Ears and the Benefits of Sending Returns

Josh encourages producers to trust their ears during the mixing process, rather than solely relying on visual cues from EQ meters. He explains that over-EQing can result in a loss of warmth and character in the mix. Additionally, he extols the virtues of using sending returns for applying effects to multiple tracks, which can save CPU and create a more cohesive soundstage. Josh also mentions his personal preference for Ableton's return tracks and the benefits of watching his tutorials on the subject.

🎵 Melodies and Music Theory: Enhancing Tracks with Depth

In this paragraph, Josh discusses the importance of incorporating melodies into tracks to create depth and stand out in the music scene. He advises against being shy of melodies and suggests using music theory as a tool to understand scales and harmonies. Josh shares a practical tip for using Google to find notes in a scale and even marking them on a MIDI keyboard for ease of use. He emphasizes that understanding and applying music theory can significantly enhance the quality of a track.

💰 Investing in Your Craft: Hardware, Mixing, and Mastering

Josh concludes the video script by advocating for investing in one's music production journey. He talks about his initial hesitation to buy hardware but eventually realizing its simplicity and benefits. He suggests that buying hardware and software can lead to a more professional sound. Additionally, he discusses the importance of mixing and mastering, sharing his experience with professional mixing engineers and the transformative effect it had on his music. Josh also touches on the value of spending money on music production tools as a form of commitment to one's craft.

Keywords

💡Syntho

Syntho is the name of the YouTube channel run by Josh Baker, the speaker in the video. It is a platform where he shares knowledge and experiences related to music production. In the script, Syntho serves as the context for the presentation of the 22 things the creator wishes he knew sooner, aiming to help others in the music production field.

💡Music Production

Music production refers to the process of creating and recording music, which is the central theme of the video. The script discusses various aspects of music production, such as patience, finding a mentor, and the importance of practice. It aims to guide viewers on how to improve their skills and progress in the music industry.

💡Mentor

A mentor is someone who guides and supports another person's development, often sharing their own experiences and lessons learned. In the context of the video, finding a mentor is highlighted as crucial for learning from their mistakes and accelerating one's journey in music production.

💡Practice Makes Permanent

This phrase emphasizes the importance of consistent practice in developing skills in music production. The script suggests that frequent and regular practice helps in improving one's craft, and it also implies that bad habits can become ingrained if practiced repeatedly.

💡Subjective

Subjective refers to something that is based on personal feelings or opinions, rather than facts. In the video, the concept is used to discuss how music is perceived differently by each individual, and it advises against comparing oneself to others in a negative way.

💡Sample Packs

Sample packs are collections of audio recordings that music producers use in their work. The script warns against relying too heavily on sample packs for creativity, suggesting that they can lead to overused and processed sounds, and recommends creating unique sounds instead.

💡Loops

Loops are repeated sequences of audio used in music production to create a groove or rhythm. The video challenges the common misconception that using loops is cheating, arguing that they can be a useful tool for filling out tracks and discovering what might be missing in one's drum groove.

💡Plugins

Plugins are software extensions that add capabilities to digital audio workstations (DAWs), used for sound processing and creation. The script highlights the importance of investing in plugins for better sound quality and ease of finding good sounds in music production.

💡Sidechain

Sidechain compression is a mixing technique where the volume of one track is reduced in response to the volume of another. In the video, Kickstart by Nicky Romero is mentioned as a plugin that simplifies this process, helping to ensure that the kick drum remains prominent in the mix.

💡EQ (Equalization)

Equalization is the process of adjusting the balance of frequencies in an audio signal to achieve a desired sound. The script advises against over-EQing, which can result in a thin and harsh sound, and emphasizes the importance of corrective EQing to clean up mixes.

💡Mastering

Mastering is the final step in music production, where the track is polished and optimized for distribution. The video explains that mastering makes the track louder and more consistent, and it is crucial for sending demos to labels and ensuring they stand out.

💡Music Theory

Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music, including the rules and conventions that govern the composition and performance of music. In the script, it is suggested that understanding music theory, such as scales and notes, can help in writing melodies and harmonies.

💡Hardware

Hardware in music production refers to physical instruments and equipment, such as synthesizers and drum machines. The video encourages investing in hardware, as it can enhance the creative process and the quality of the music produced.

💡Investment

Investment in the context of the video refers to the financial commitment one makes to acquire tools and resources for music production. It is suggested that parting with cash for equipment and software can increase one's dedication and seriousness towards music production.

Highlights

Josh Baker introduces himself as a DJ, producer, and owner of Yumi Records and Hide and Seek.

The importance of being patient in the music industry and understanding that success takes time.

Finding a mentor to learn from others' mistakes and shorten the learning curve.

Practicing consistently to improve skills, with frequent short sessions being more effective than irregular long sessions.

Not comparing oneself to others and using peers' success as inspiration instead.

Checking tracks on different speakers to ensure a good mix.

Using classic drum machine samples for better quality rather than over-processed sample packs.

Using loops is not cheating; they can help quickly fill out grooves and improve tracks.

Investing in quality plugins to significantly improve sound production.

The Kickstart plugin by Nicki Romero for simple and effective sidechaining.

Avoiding over-equalizing to prevent tracks from sounding thin and harsh.

The importance of corrective EQing to clean up mixes by removing resonant frequencies.

Utilizing send and return tracks in Ableton to save CPU and maintain consistency in effects.

Trusting one's ears during mixing rather than relying solely on visual feedback from software.

Experimenting and being ruthless with arrangements to find what works best.

The power of referencing tracks to understand what makes them appealing and improve one's own music.

Getting professional help with mixing if needed to achieve a polished sound.

Ensuring tracks are mastered for better quality when sending demos.

Using music theory by Googling notes in a scale to aid in writing melodies.

Not being shy of incorporating melodies to add depth and stand out in music production.

Buying hardware as soon as possible to enhance music production capabilities.

Investing financially in music production to increase commitment and accountability.

Encouraging feedback and engagement from viewers for future content.

Transcripts

hello guys welcome back to the syntho

YouTube channel today I am sharing with

you 22 things I wish I knew sooner this

is an ebook that I created and then I

decided to turn it into a video and

expand on all the points

everything inside of this will be useful

if you make music and you want to take

it to the next level enjoy the video and

if you've got any questions or any

topics you'd like me to cover just pop

them below don't forget to like comment

subscribe and I will hand you over to

the presentation

hey guys

welcome back to syntho my name is Josh

Baker and today we are going through a

lot of presentation it's 22 things I was

showing you sooner I've had some great

feedback from a lot of these

presentations that I've done people say

they want some more and I'll put some

work in and created this cool ebook

which I think you'll be able to download

after this via a link attach the video

and yeah

let's go so to begin with Let me give a

bit of an intro about myself if you're

new here my name is Josh baker

Manchester DJ producer I own Yumi

records and hide and seek and you now

also know me for syntho I began my

journey eight years ago

I've been producing DJing partying

marketing myself online ever since and

I've learned a lot of skills I've

released onto big labels I've dated all

over the world

um and yeah I launched this platform sit

though in June 2020 and it's been an

amazing experience

and I've been reflecting recently on the

things I wish I knew sooner so let's

talk about them today

the first thing is being patient

there is not a race when it comes to

making music and if you look at DJs who

have made it a lot of them

are not young I'm 25 while recording

this video that is incredibly young in

this scene I don't know many DJs who are

younger than me who have actually

got a breakthrough there are a few

exceptions

um and a lot of them that you think

you're gonna make are actually older

than me as well

um

most of them are like 28 well not the

same most of them same people I know

that young they're still like 28

um no rush I think maybe because you're

being Guided by me you can start to feel

old because I'm young but honestly

it takes a long time and when you start

to think things can happen for you I

kept saying every year next year is my

year next year's me and next year's Mia

now I think my time is starting to come

in terms of DJing but man I thought this

was gonna happen like what's happening

now like three years ago honestly

just be patient and you need to enjoy

the process because if you're not happy

now and you think that when you start

getting gigs every weekend you're going

to be happy

that's not the case nothing really

changes apart from your super tired

after the weekend things like that uh

instead of partying on the other side of

the decks you're not just playing the

tunes and honestly

um the way you live your life in the

week Still Remains the Same so you need

to make sure you enjoy the week

um

but yeah if you don't drink now it's

gonna be very hard to make a career out

of it and if you're generally not

passionate now

about making music and you just do it

because you think this is what you want

to do

again

passion is always like the biggest

Advantage you can have with people

because

you can't really outwork someone who has

got

an incredible passion so

make sure you really want to do this

and next is find a mentor you're in the

right place for that

you don't do it alone and to get good at

anything in life you want to find

someone else who's been on the same

Journey because they will often teach

you their mistakes and I'm doing that

right now I'm kind of explaining

um a lot of the mistakes I made and put

this presentation and you guys are

already watching this so you're already

on that tip of finding a mentor but

doing it yourself

can take a long long time it's taken me

the nine years to get her and so many

mistakes if I'd been told at the start

wouldn't have taken me nearly as long to

do this

practice makes permanent this is

something which is transferable to

everything in life

and it's the key to getting better

really

if you practice over and over again you

will get good

and there is no real quick fix and when

people say how long does it take to go

to making music

there's not really a time scale because

it depends how frequently you do things

and practicing more often

it's going to get you better and I find

that if I take gaps

from producing even if it's just two

weeks say I get caught up in the

business side of things I'm focusing on

other things writing the c book

um

spending time

planning hide and seek things like that

I get a bit sloppy on the old uh music

making things aren't as quick things

like that so you want to keep practicing

especially at the start I think doing

frequent short sessions is better than

doing irregular long sessions I think it

just keeps you in a

better mindset to be honest

and don't compare yourself to others

music is subjective and everyone's at

different pace

Instagram is the devil for everyone I

think because we're looking around we're

seeing what the people are doing and we

think that

oh no we're not making progress quick

enough

but in reality

everyone is at their own pace and there

is no need to rush which comes back to

the very first point

and yeah just be inspired by the pills

progress

my motivation comes from the people

around me all the time when local dub

make a great track Alpha makes a great

track I think

instead of thinking oh no they

doing that and I can't do that or

whatever I think that is a 6-6 tune I

want to make some as good as that let's

go you know and flipping things on its

head

if you see a mate who's got the

promotion got the whatever look at that

and think

that is energy right there

I think people call it Big Dick Energy

in it you know like come on let's get

this

um

and yeah being able to channel that

internet positive is

probably it's a bit of a skill for sure

but it takes practice as well but don't

compare yourself to others in a negative

way just use other people to inspire you

and this is an absolute

belter

checking on different speakers is so

important this is getting a bit more

technical now

we've all been now in export track it

just doesn't sound quite right

and the thing is you just check with the

speakers check it in your car check out

your laptop check on your headphones

check out a Bose speaker

and when you start checking different

places you'll then start to realize

what is working and what isn't working

and things like that and it can be a

great way to learn how to mix properly

because then you'll start to realize

like hmm doesn't sound quite right that

for me I know my klk rocket H really

well I used to always check my tracks on

them and

yeah even when you check out the

speakers you're not guaranteed to get it

perfect

but

it's going to increase your chances

little bows while the speaker is great

to do it

a pair of earpods but if you just do

that all the time you'll get a much more

accurate mix and I'm still guilty of

just doing up my speakers sometimes and

not checking my headphones properly but

when I do the mix is always

significantly better

and here we go you may have seen this on

social media but classic drum machines

are the best

this is another

Tech One

Ensemble packs

there's hundreds of them now artists are

making them everyone's making

them but guess what

they're just getting a 909 or an 808

sample then putting effects on it

usually losing a bit of Sonic quality on

the way and then they just bash all

these sounds together and put a Samo

pack out to make some money I've done

one under a different name trust me you

just bash out really quite quickly and

then the Distributors of the summer

packs are making a fortune we won't go

too far into this one but

I would recommend going for the goal

baby or samples from Mars or Thomas

Penton they are great sample packs and

then process them yourself if they need

processing I wouldn't recommend buying

the beatport number ones latest sample

pack that everyone's probably gonna buy

and you can't really process them

because they're already kind of over

processed and you kind of stuck with a

flat sound

I'd get some nice 998 weights and do

your own thing

and number seven buying more sun packs

isn't the answer if you're stuck in a

rut buying more samples probably isn't

going to get you where you want to be

you probably already have the samples

however if you don't have enough samples

or you've got none then you probably do

want to buy some summer packs

but buying a new summer pack probably

isn't going to make you right

a Club Banger

and here's an interesting one I wish I

knew this sooner using Loops is not

cheating Yes you heard that right Loops

get a bad rap and much of rap that kind

of rap is spelled like rap or wrap we're

spelling it like a food wrap there

yes they're unoriginal but they can help

you fill out grooves quick link ideas

if your drum's quite poor and they're

missing stuff just whack Some Loops in

there you know put some phases put a

filter on it put a flanger you have some

really cool effects and it can give you

some movement and it can get you track

grooving don't get me wrong I wouldn't

use Loops all the time but as a tool to

fill your truck out they can be really

good and I think I think if more people

use them the tracks would get better

quickly and they'd also realize what

they were missing in their drum Groove

and also don't forget you can recycle

different parts of Loops you could use

them as a one shot in a simpler and

recycle them

on plugins exist I spent two three years

with no plugins

I don't want you to start buying every

plug Under the Sun but if you've got no

plugins then you need plugins because

they sound significantly better and they

are easier to find good sounds with I've

linked the cork bundle there on the

right Korg is a really good bundle for

the value for money and it sounds super

organic if you're after this kind of 90s

house sound the cork bundle is ideal for

you

um I was actually making really good

tracks without any plugins but then when

I started to use plugins

it was another ball game and I made so

much more progress if you've got no

plugins now have a look around you can

go Native Instruments

called artoria

d16s tons tons of tons and it's all

about just finding the ones that work

for you and then experimenting but you

need to invest really in these things

and they will pay dividends in the long

run

kickstart

my favorite plugin it's a side chain

and it's used in a wide variety of music

genres where an effect is activated by

an audio track in other words it's using

Alternative Audio source to trigger a

processor yeah it sounds complicated

right

but Nick your mouse

Nicki Romero's Kickstart plugin makes it

super simple and you can manipulate a

sound volume to 4x4 B by turning a knob

so basically it stops sounds getting in

the way of the kick it dips by a

percentage and then your kick drum

sounds nice and fat because you put the

Kickstart on other elements in the track

so your kick can come through nicely

and yeah it's nine euros so go and get

it

don't over EQ everything I did this for

a bit and my track started to sound

really thin and I couldn't quite figure

out why and it was when I started trying

to make these older sounding 90s tracks

I realized that hmm my snares are being

way too thinned out as they say

and things like percussion

and I was finding that my drums were

just sounding really like digitally thin

crap and I was killing the mix

essentially and yes you want to clear up

the mud and the low end but anything

past like 200 Hertz you don't have to be

as clinical with it and even with

hiatals over EQ in them and they sounded

tinny you know and thin and harsh I

think this is quite a giveaway of

bedroom beats when we all know that

you're meant to EQ but then because

bedroom beat producers do it they then

overeq everything really really

aggressively and it just ends up

your track up essentially so bear that

in mind whenever eq'ing and keep a nice

amount of the sound in there obviously

you want to get rid of the mud but yeah

and then finding resonant frequencies is

kind of counter-intuitive to what I've

just said

but correct eqing is what you want to do

let's go back

um

how do we go but there we go so

corrective eqing you want to do is when

there are horrible frequencies in a

certain sounds you see there if we boost

an EQ we can find the horrible frequency

then we dip it the other way

so yeah I've explained it to do this you

can create a bell with your EQ and then

boost the volume on different

frequencies to found the resonate

frequencies lie once you find them you

can dip a few DB to clean up the mix it

may seem a significant one half but if

you'll have horrible frequencies all the

way through your channels accumulate and

make a mess in your Final Mix

I wish I knew this sooner because

even on snares things like that pads

um

it's really nice to just clean them all

up and it'll make you mix sound much

better

the power of sending returns anyone

who's been a member of synth though

since the beginning

will know

that Josh baker loves sending returns

and quite rightly so they are when you

can run multiple sounds for the same

effect in your mix

so you'd like to put Reverb on every

channel basically

and on Ableton you can right click

insert return track and add any effect

onto this if using reverbs and delays

it's really good to use on there because

you only have to load the plugin twice

and you send the audio signal to that

channel and it comes back

you want to uh use these to say CPU as

well and if using Reverb it keeps

everything in the same space and sounds

much better

and in general if you want to know more

about these go and watch some of the

synthetic videos as I'm using them all

the time I think I've got a specific

tutorial on these if not I will maybe do

one as I know I speak about them a lot

but maybe we could do something more

specific

and this is an interesting one that I've

really taken on board myself in the last

two years or so trust your ears

your ears are powerful

for a while I would EQ stuff

and it would sound worse but that's what

I thought was supposed to do this is

about the subtractive EQ and things like

that so it sounds good it sounds good

ripping up the robot can Resort into

amazing things there's been so many

times where I've made a track and it

sounds meant then I've actually released

it and it didn't sound as good because

then I mixed it down and I took out too

many frequencies I made things too thin

turned things up turn things down

because I thought that's what they

should be by looking at the screen and

seeing where the volume was peaking but

then I realized

um yeah trusting Euros is the way to go

uh it's good to reference between the

two but trust your ears if you think

your ears are right just just go with

them

and be ruthless and experiment

arranging in session View

to begin with I was jamming in

Arrangement View

s and yeah Brandon actually arranges an

arrangement view so this is just me but

for me doing it in session view as you

can see on the right is so much better I

can work quicker I write ideas down

quicker and in general I just have much

more fun when producing

and yeah bonus tip drink iron Brew extra

if you're uh

trying to cook calories because there is

only

three calories and iron Brew

it's a diet one probably melts your

brain though

so the one that we all know I love

referencing

this was the biggest thing I think of

everything

and it still makes me laugh it doesn't

make me laugh but people underestimate

the power of it and how it can really

give you insights into your music of

what you're missing and all that kind of

jazz

one implementary referencing to my

production process I made a massive

breakthrough the principle of

referencing his final track you like and

directing the elements from the track

and replicating the bits you like in

your own project not only is it great

for overcoming creative barriers also

makes you understand what it is you

actually like about that truck whether

it be the drums or the synths or even

the arranger and the average I can make

I'll always have a reference track

inside it until you'll see countless

videos and explaining a detail how to do

this

honestly

the videos instant though on referencing

are just gold because

literally you're getting shown every

part of the process

and you can ask for help mixing down

we all not mixed downtime now it's the

final bit of your of the process of

optimizing combining mudshot recording

to a final mix basically just tidying up

your track so then it's ready to play

out

it takes a lot of time practice to

really achieve good mixes but what I

didn't know was it's actually a really

common feat to pay an engineer to mix

your music for you it's especially good

if you've got something better than you

and yeah if professional mixed Engineers

are gonna be better than you it

obviously isn't cheap but you want to do

this when

you're releasing music on good labels

things like that and yeah people just

mix days you can pay for someone's time

and sitting within the studio I did that

in the years gone by

um

but yeah if I can get a mix 90 right and

I know you don't need help so what I do

most I mixes myself but I've got no

shame in getting help with the mixes I

can't quite get how I want to be and if

you're making really good grooves it's

really good to try and maybe get one

trap mix down by some professionally

oops just to see how good it is when the

mix is pro and then you might realize

that actually my tracks aren't that good

or you might realize they're actually

really good I actually

my tracks weren't sounding great then I

got the sort of mixed down and then they

started sound really good and that's

when I signed for straight to Rich next

label got it mixed down by Justin Drake

and that was an absolute game changer

for me

and then I realized how important mixing

was

and make mastering make sure I'm using

much louder when seeing demos out

mastering is another area which you hear

a lot mastering is the final process

taking audio track and pairing for

distribution

base just means louder okay

I was just sending demos out for a long

time without anything on the master

chain and they were dead quiet and I was

like no one's interested in my music it

must be blah blah blah one day I

decided to send it to a Master engineer

paid 20 quid for a master at the time I

was super skinned as well so I couldn't

really afford anything

um

and it came back and I was like

that is an amazing truck and then I

realized it was because I hadn't been

get my trucks mastered they were

designing flat and quiet and when I got

it mastered it sounded amazing and that

was the track explore actually which

came out on

C double Loop because I was able and

yeah you can get your tracks Mastered by

Rob small for 12.50 so I'll advise going

to do that

Googling notes in scale on music theory

is something people get quite fixated

when it comes to writing Melodies it

scares in a way and that from writing

Melodies as they believe they need to

have on Sunday music theory to some

musical like I found was choosing a

scale to work in for example C minor

then he Googled the notes and you can

write the notes down the piece of paper

and if you've got a midi keyboard in

front of you you can Google notes on a

midi keyboard and you can even write

down in a marker on your keyboard the

notes and that way you can start to

figure out which notes you can play in

the scale and then they'll harmonize

it's a real life hack it makes things

much easier and yeah you need to use

musical elements otherwise your tracks

are just going to sound like beats and

bass

and yeah that leads me to don't be shy

of melodies

a lot of people just make beats and bass

if you want to stand out go for some

melodies

I want to make music standard test at a

time so I think it's really important to

have depth in there and Melodies are

important for that

21

buy Hardware ASAP I was put up buying

any hardware for ages I thought it was

rocket science in at my depth I

eventually bought the call of monologue

with a USB connection and I caught a

jack cable into a sound card

which could then be used like a software

instrument I can just send notes to the

Korg it's so easy and I use this to

write the PVP

if you're wondering about Hardware to

get I'll be doing another ebook on that

soon

and the last point is put some skin in

the game parting with your cash is

serious and that's why when you do it

you're more invested in whatever it is I

know people love to crack plug into the

light jazz

but when you actually spend money you

commit yourself to the cause way more I

advise everyone purchasing Ableton

buying a few packs getting a couple vsts

you don't need to spend a fortune but if

you're serious about it I think you

should make sacrifice and be prepared to

invest in your future

a lot of things you can get in opposite

Finance these days which is Handy but

trust me when I say it gives you a

different level of accountability once

you've invested

guys I hope that was useful that is just

a bit of information about 22 things I

wish you sooner if you like this kind of

video let me know because we can do some

more of them I've got some more kind of

ebook style things in the works and I'll

be able to explain them to you

in more detail

any questions as always just hit me up

directly catch you soon thank you very

much for watching guys do not forget to

check out the synthet app all the links

will be below like comment subscribe All

That Jazz peace