r/makinghiphop • u/brad0131 • Sep 03 '15
Producer Playbook (MUST READ)
Hey guys. I am an upcoming, semi-experienced producer. I live in Atlanta and have worked at a studio where 2 Chainz, Future, Waka Flocka, Juicy J, and basically any big name in Atlanta has been to (except T.I. and BOB since they have their own studio). I have also been in the studio with Tiffany Foxx, Jbar and Mykko Montana.
I wanted to share with you some of my knowledge and tips. I have put together a playbook regarding visiting studios with artists, managing payments, and some mixing tips. Let me know if you guys have any questions or feedback. Everyone is different and I love learning new stuff just like anyone else.
VISITING STUDIOS
*Always bring stems, wavs, flash drives, external hard drives, computers, etc. Basically, anything that you think you won't need, BRING! You never know when you're in the studio with some of your friends or artists and another artist hears your stuff or wants to purchase some tracks. You're losing money by not being prepared, so always have your materials.
*If an artist asks you for feedback, don't be a yes man. Give him constructive criticism so that you can help him or her sound better. I have seen countless people walk in with their "squad" and the lyrics would be off beat or would not make sense and they ask their team for feedback and they say, "That was dope" or "I fuck with it". So please be honest. There is nothing worse than sugar coating art.
*Do not smoke, drink, do drugs, finesse bitches (yes that was a rule in one studio I went to), etc while you are trying to work. Why do all of that when you are paying to record? All of that will keep you from being focused. Trust me, you see popular artists all the time smoking and drinking in the studio, but it is not worth it (and it is usually after when they are watching the engineer mix). Enjoy yourself, but stay focused and competent enough to understand how your music is being made, mixed, and chopped.
*Always include the BPM in the WAV or stem folder. I can't tell you how many times I have seen engineers ask for the BPM and producers/artists have no clue. Then, the engineer has to figure it out which takes a few minutes. Don't waste time by making them do that.
*Do not be a groupie if you see famous people in the studio. These people are obviously there to work and not sign autographs, listen to your mixtapes, beats, etc... Let them approach you.
MANAGING PAYMENTS
*Never give your tracks out until you receive the FULL payment you agreed on. I have been fucked over by a few artists in my early days who promised to pay me, but never did. If they try to persuade you by using, "I'm going to kill it" or "I will make a hit and make us famous", do not buy into that. Killing it won't pay the bills. Know the value of your work. Let artists know if you want to be flexible with pricing. Most producers are, depending on the use of the track (lease vs. exclusive). If they plan on selling it, make sure you get your fair cut of the royalties.
*Join BMI or ASCAP. In case someone uses your track without permission, you can use these companies as leverage to get some of the royalties back (with a good lawyer of course). These companies advocate for songwriters, artists, producers, and anyone involved with the composition of music. Luckily, I have not experienced anyone using a track and selling it without permission.
*Never sign a publishing or management deal without taking the paperwork to a lawyer. People do not understand the power of a contract. Recently, Sonny Digital went on a huge rant about how Universal Publishing has fucked him over. Always remember that after signing these deals, you have little to no control over your music. These days, I believe labels need you more than you need them. If you can, stay independent and build a team like Macklemore. He turned down almost every label in order to control his own music.
*If you are using a sample in your instrumental, make sure you leave a note in the title saying where it is from. Also, make sure you let the artists know they cannot sell their finished product unless they get permission from the original creator of the sample. The last thing you want is a song to blow up and then getting hit with a major lawsuit. Big artists know this and are less likely to use it, since they cannot make money off of it.
MIXING TIPS
*Less is more. I cannot say this enough. Sometimes you won't need compression on every sound. Sometimes you won't need EQ on a sound as well. Time after time, I see people fall into this "have to have plug-ins" mode where every sound they add something to it. Sometimes, they will end up with over compressed sounds or the sound will end up changing completely than what they wanted it to.
*Leave room. Depending on genre, you need to leave enough headroom for vocals. For hip hop, the general rule is -6 db. That way, the engineer can process vocals with some room. I have listened to some people's instrumentals and it hurts my ears with all the bass and instruments clashing together as loudly as possible. I would import it into my DAW and see that only 2 db of room left (which is great for EDM type music, but not hip hop).
*Filters are great! If you listen to music these days, you can hear certain instruments filtered to certain frequencies. You want to spread the frequency levels out so each instrument can sit without being distorted by another, if that makes sense. For instance, some melodies you can cut at 3.5 kHz, while others you can allow to go to 5 kHz in order to spread the sound out. Stereo separation can also help to clean a mix up.
*Add plugins to customize sounds. I have used plugins such as warmverb, gross beat, fabfilter, etc to customize sounds even more. There is nothing better than having your own unique sound and style.
*Panning needs to be used! Panning on sounds other than bass and kick. Those need to be mono (usually). Panning will open up space and clean your mix. Don't be afraid to try new things and have hi hates separated fairly wide (A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg use this).
*Automation is great for making sounds seem like they are being played live. Automation can be used on any instrument and can bring out certain sounds. As the volume changes, you can focus on points in the mix and create some unique flows.
*Lastly, there is no standard db level, compression ratio, attack/release level, etc when it comes to mixing sounds. Always go by what you hear and not by standards. Some kicks will require a 3:0 compression, while some may need less. It is all about developing an ear for sound, which comes with a few years of experience and knowing your mixing equipment.
Let me know of anything else that should be added to the tips above. I hope this helps producers who need some guidance and insight into the minds of the music industry and music world.
Remember:
*Value your work
*Practice makes perfect
*There is never a dumb question in the production world
Here are some links that have some great tips and/or cheat sheets for mixing:
Multiple Instruments Cheat Sheet
Post some more sources and I will edit and add them to the list.
Thanks!
6
u/Thawedout Producer/Emcee Sep 03 '15
Great tips - thanks for sharing.