General Music Chat

So if you can record and master your own album without help from a studio. Perhaps you have your own equipment and your own sound engineer or you are proficient with the technology to do it all by your lonesome. Would you use a producer for anything at all? For instance for promotion. How does that work? And who pays who in that case?

You use a producer because the more distance from the music someone has, the more objective they are about what really stands out, and what doesn't.

Fresh 'creative' ears.

You use a producer because the more distance from the music someone has, the more objective they are about what really stands out, and what doesn't.

Fresh 'creative' ears.

+1
Most often, a song or work is more successful with an outside producer than without. A good one is always focused on the big picture and doesn't get lost in the little details. Quincy Jones, Clive Davis, Phil Ramone and George Martin are a few well known ones.

Producers make the world go 'round, whether we're talking music or movies.



How many indie films did you watch last year? There were millions made....but you are right about anyone being able to produce their own demo.

And we should until we get to the top of whatever level we're at. Then you need help breaking through to the next one. A great Producer can help you make a quantum leap.


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I understand about another pair or ears, no a band member or a friend but some on from outside. There are several producers in my area. Jeffrey Wood is one of them, just across the bay. (http://jeffreywoodmusic.com).
So how do you approach them especially if your music does no really fit any particular genre?

I understand about another pair or ears, no a band member or a friend but some on from outside. There are several producers in my area. Jeffrey Wood is one of them, just across the bay. (http://jeffreywoodmusic.com).
So how do you approach them especially if your music does no really fit any particular genre?

Any producer worth two cents has a friend of a friend of a friend...

I am not an established artist with albums selling all over the place and videos all over youtube. I am just a computer engineer who likes to play and compose music. Granted I've been having this hobby for about 20 years, playing in bands of different styles ranging from Santana cover bands to heavy metal. I have no experience with producers. Do I just send one an email staying "Hi, I am Mr. Nobody trying to find a sound different from anything that is out on the market, would you mind giving an ear to one or two of my tunes?" I think the email will be just ignored. No? How do you deal with these cats? Any input is greatly appreciated.

My .02 . . . if it's even worth that.

Your looking for someone open to listen to and work with your music.

Send a letter, or better call. If they are not open to talk with you.
They are not what your looking for.

I am not an established artist with albums selling all over the place and videos all over youtube. I am just a computer engineer who likes to play and compose music. Granted I've been having this hobby for about 20 years, playing in bands of different styles ranging from Santana cover bands to heavy metal. I have no experience with producers. Do I just send one an email staying "Hi, I am Mr. Nobody trying to find a sound different from anything that is out on the market, would you mind giving an ear to one or two of my tunes?" I think the email will be just ignored. No? How do you deal with these cats? Any input is greatly appreciated.

Generally it used to be that if you were signed by a record label they would insist that you be produced by a producer of their choosing whom they trusted would make you sound sell-able. After a few successful releases they might trust you to choose your own producer, or, rarely, even produce yourself. Bottom line is they needed to recoup the costs of the studio time, production and promotion process, so they went with someone with a proven, or at least promising, track record.

That is still the case with major label deals. Successful and famous producers for their part also like to work with great artists to add to their resume. Even if you have a lot of cash, they might pass if they did not believe your project could reach their level.

But now that it is economically feasible for individuals to make good quality recordings, there are more individuals defining themselves as "producers". Some just have an impressive set of gear and boast a lot. These are the one usually found advertising themselves on Craigslist. Many better producers still tend deal with labels directly, though if you can write them a good paycheck they would be happy for the work. If they really really believe in you they might even work on spec.

With any producer, regardless of level or cost, it is crucial that there is a working "chemistry" between you, they need to understand what you do best and bring it to the fore. And you should hear their past productions to determine if they have produced good recordings in you genre.

An email or recommendation is a good start.

Yod works with some of the best. Back in June I was just a fly on the wall while he was working with Producer- Wendy Waldman (Linda Ronstadt, Vanessa Williams, Garth Brooks) and recording engineer- Rob Hoffman (Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Christina Aguilera).

My impression is that they are very active in the music business, very good at their craft, and very approachable if you have talent.

I am not an established artist with albums selling all over the place and videos all over youtube. I am just a computer engineer who likes to play and compose music. Granted I've been having this hobby for about 20 years, playing in bands of different styles ranging from Santana cover bands to heavy metal. I have no experience with producers. Do I just send one an email staying "Hi, I am Mr. Nobody trying to find a sound different from anything that is out on the market, would you mind giving an ear to one or two of my tunes?" I think the email will be just ignored. No? How do you deal with these cats? Any input is greatly appreciated.

In your case, I recommend that you simply check out a studio near you and see what their final product sounds like. Work with the engineer and get familiar with the process.

If you were to contact a producer with that paragraph, you would only get an overpaid engineer anyway.

Don't make a decision based on price alone. I've spent too much on cheap studios trying to "fix" what they did, and a studio with the right set up can make everything go sooooo much faster that a double-rate was still cheaper than a cheap studio in the long run.

I think the most important thing you can ask for is the clientele list. Experienced recording artists use good studios, and would know the difference.

Praying for your success!

Thank you for your replies guys!

I did have an unfortunate experience with a mixing and mastering studio here in San Francisco. And frankly, not to sound boastful, but I can mix better then they did. They way they mixed the high resolution raw files in to final mix was awful. So I took the matter in my own hands and started to read advanced tutorials on how to do that.

Not sure why I would need fancy equipment in this digital day and age especially if I record exclusively electronic music. Promotion and direction is a different story, but I refuse to pay some fat cat large money for promoting music I write in hopes that I might make some of it back from royalties if there are any. And I do not need their equipment or studio time.

Mathematically it does not add up to a good deal. Not interested in playing shows and I have no time to spend in their studio. I also refuse to become another cookie cutter artist. I earn my living programming computers and it pays well. Thus I guess I am not their sort of material. Perhaps it is better for me to just stick to software development rather then spending my life savings to get some fat cat fatter.

Thank you for your replies everyone!

If I were in San Fran, I would be working at the Record Plant Sausalito, if only for the history in those rooms!!



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Another software developer eh? There are quite a few programmer/musicians around here, me included (C# MVC and RoR).

I have always produced all of the recordings I have done (over twenty albums in the last 25 years). I insist on being present for all phases of the process, from tracking to mixing to mastering. The new Farleys CD will be the first produced by the band.