I watched 300 hours of music production streams, here are my 17 FAVORITE tips (wish I knew sooner)

Summary

This video offers a wealth of production tips from industry professionals like Skrillex, Ian Kirkpatrick, and others. It emphasizes the importance of creating singable and memorable phrases, using counter melodies and accent layers to enhance melodies, and experimenting with octaves for bass lines. The script also covers techniques such as violating space for unique grooves, breaking the DAW for creative hooks, and chasing the right feeling in sound. It advises on the discipline of showing up to work, overcoming writer's block, and the value of taking breaks to avoid reversing progress. Lastly, it touches on mastering, finding the right vocalist, and the benefits of outsourcing tasks to maintain creativity and efficiency.

Takeaways

• 🎵 Singing the Melody: It helps producers feel the music more deeply and ensures the melody is memorable for listeners.
• 🎶 Make Singable Phrases: The entire musical phrase should be memorable and singable to make it resonate with listeners.
• 🔄 Counter Melodies: Adding counter melodies can bring life to a song and enhance the main melody.
• 🎹 Accent Layer: Introducing an accent layer can subtly bring life to an existing melody without changing it.
• 🔨 Layer Different MIDI: Experimenting with different layers playing different elements can create richer textures.
• 🎸 Octaves and Passing Fifths: Using octaves and passing fifths can spice up a bass line and add interest.
• 🚫 Violate Space: Creating unique grooves and melodies by manipulating reverb and space.
• 🔧 Break Your DAW: Forcing creativity by breaking the DAW's norms can lead to unique and interesting sounds.
• 🎶 Chase the Feeling: The ultimate goal in music production is to evoke a feeling, which is more important than technical perfection.
• 🔄 Get into the Zone: Professionals show up and work consistently, learning to get into the creative zone on demand.
• ⏱️ Writer's Block: Overcoming writer's block involves discipline, persistence, and sometimes taking breaks to reset.
• 🔉 The 7k Trick: Cutting synths at around 7kHz can help clear space for other elements like hats in a mix.
• 🥁 Does Your Snare Slap: A big snare sound should be tested at full volume to ensure it has the desired impact.
• 👀 Close Your Eyes Vocal Test: Closing your eyes can help focus on the sound quality without being distracted by visual cues.
• 🚫 Limit and Saturate Your Kick: Saturating the kick drum and limiting its transient can help it stand out in the mix.
• 🎤 Find a Vocalist: Working closely with a vocalist can teach valuable producing skills and energize the creative process.
• 🔚 Outsource Your Mastering: Outsourcing mastering can prevent overworking a track and ensure a fresh perspective on the final product.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of singing the melody in music production according to the transcript?

Singing the melody helps producers to feel the music more deeply and ensures that if they can't sing it, listeners will likely not remember it either.

What does Ian Kirkpatrick suggest about making musical phrases singable?

Ian Kirkpatrick suggests that the whole musical phrase should be singable and memorable, which can help in creating a more impactful song.

Why is it beneficial to have counter melodies in a song according to Skrillex?

Counter melodies can make a song come alive and provide a solution when the main melody isn't engaging enough on its own.

What is an 'accent layer' in music production, and how can it enhance a song?

An accent layer is a musical element that falls between a counter melody and a new melody, used to subtly bring life to the existing melody without changing it.

How can layering different MIDI elements contribute to a richer texture in music production?

Layering different MIDI elements allows for various layers to play different things, creating a more complex and interesting sonic texture.

What is the '7k trick' mentioned by Jaws for achieving a clear high end in music production?

The '7k trick' involves cutting all synths at around 7-7.5 kHz to make room for other elements like hats and white noise, resulting in a cleaner mix.

What technique does Ian Kirkpatrick suggest to create unique grooves and melodies?

Ian Kirkpatrick suggests violating space by establishing a room sound and then cutting off the reverb to create unique grooves and melodies.

How can closing your eyes while mixing help in music production?

Closing your eyes can help you focus on what you're hearing without being distracted by visual elements, allowing for a more accurate assessment of the sound.

What is the importance of finding a vocalist when learning to produce music, as suggested by Cashmere?

Finding a vocalist helps in learning to produce music by involving another person in the creative process, which teaches how to create a song around their vocal and enhances production skills.

Why is outsourcing mastering recommended by Abstract, and how does it benefit the production process?

Outsourcing mastering is recommended to prevent producers from getting sick of their own song and to ensure a fresh perspective on the final product, allowing the producer to move on to new projects.

What is the 'snare slap' test by Zed, and how does it help in music production?

The 'snare slap' test involves playing the snare drum at full volume and determining if it has a slapping impact. This helps in assessing the effectiveness of the snare sound in a mix.

What advice does Morgan Page give regarding overcoming writer's block in music production?

Morgan Page advises taking breaks when experiencing writer's block, as it helps reset the ears and ensures that progress is being made without overworking or undoing previous work.