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 The six main steps of music production and the ones we’ll be discussing in this guide are:

1. Writing the song
2. Sound design
3. Recording
4. Editing
5. Mixing
6. Mastering

What is music production?

Music production is a multi-layered process, starting with a simple melody and ending with a polished track that’s ready to be played across various audio sources, from the speakers at a concert to headphones at home.

The first stage of music production is writing the music. This involves composing the melody, creating the beat, and arranging the different elements of the song. The song then moves on to the mixing stage, where the levels of the different instruments and vocals are balanced to ensure everything blends together harmoniously.

Once the mix is perfect, the song goes through the final stage of production – mastering. This is where the track is fine-tuned to sound as good as possible, regardless of where it’s being played. The aim is to ensure the song feels cohesive and complete, whether it’s being blasted out of a club’s sound system or listened to on a pair of budget earbuds.

You’ll need a range of equipment to produce music, including a digital audio workstation (DAW) to record and edit the music, a high-quality set of monitors to accurately reproduce sound, and an audio interface to connect your instruments and microphones to your computer.

What does a music producer do?

Music producers create a vision for a piece of music and coordinate the musicians to bring that vision to life. They might also handle scheduling and budgeting for the entire production process. It’s a balancing act of keeping the project on track while nurturing the artistic process.

A music producer’s influence on a song can be profound. They shape the music to fit their vision, guiding its development from a raw idea into a polished final product. In some genres, like R&B, hip-hop, and drum & bass, music producers are also the ones creating the beats.

Whilst music producer can be an all-encompassing role, the role of modern-day music producers usually involves creating the music, marketing yourself online, and networking with artists to create buzz around your music.

Equipment you need to produce music – that doesn’t break the bank!

A DAW

A digital audio workstation should be at the heart of your music production setup.

It’s where you’ll record, edit, and mix your tracks, turning raw recordings into polished pieces of music.

This software allows you to layer multiple tracks, apply effects, and adjust volume levels among other things.

It also provides an interface for capturing and manipulating audio from various sources, including microphones and instruments.

If you’re just starting out in music production, the Image-Line FL Studio Producer Edition is a flexible and powerful platform, with a user-friendly interface that’s perfect for beginners.

Alternatively, there’s the Bitwig Studio Producer. This DAW has an intuitive design and in-depth controls, making it another great choice for budding producers.

How to produce music

Write the song

The lines between songwriters and producers are often blurred. Many producers start their journey as songwriters, while many songwriters dabble in production. So, it’s good to have an understanding of both!

As a producer, knowing how to write a song equips you with the ability to shape the musical direction and refine the overall structure of a track.

You’ll also be able to distinguish whether an issue lies in the arrangement or the mix.

Maybe the melody isn’t catchy enough or perhaps the lyrics aren’t compelling. Understanding songwriting helps you identify such issues and address them effectively, and you’ll become part of the creative process.

Finally, the knowledge of songwriting will enable you to better communicate with artists. It allows you to speak their language, understand their vision, and collaborate more effectively to bring that vision to life.

Sound design

By sound design, we mean the art of creating and manipulating audio elements: choosing the right sounds, the right plugins, and knowing how to ensure they blend and complement each other.

Selecting the right sounds can significantly influence the final product. Each sound contributes to the texture, tone, and mood of the track, making it unique and memorable.

Sound design aids in the mixing process as well. By choosing sounds that work well together, you can minimise frequency clashes and other sonic issues, resulting in a smoother, more balanced mix.

It’s these decisions that allow producers to create a distinct sonic identity for their work. From the thumping bass of an EDM track to the ethereal synth pads of an ambient song, the way a producer visualises and puts together a piece of music can become a signature element of their style.

What’s more, in film, television, and gaming, effective sound design can enhance storytelling, creating a more immersive and engaging experience for the audience.

Basically, sound design is all about crafting a sonic landscape that brings the music to life and resonates with the listener. Whether it’s creating a catchy pop hook or an atmospheric film score, this is a fundamental part of the creative process.

Record the song

Once you have the song written and mapped out, it’s time to record your live instruments and vocals (if you have any!). Having a good understanding of the recording process goes beyond simply hitting the record button; it involves an appreciation of how sound interacts with your equipment and how best to capture it.

Firstly, high-grade equipment, such as microphones and audio interfaces, can make a significant difference in capturing the richness and depth of sound. It allows for all those subtle nuances and tonalities of a performance to be picked up and heard in the recording.

However, sometimes there are things you don’t want to be recorded! Knowing about the different polar patterns can help here, so you can choose one that will best suit your recording needs.

A producer who knows how to record can skillfully guide artists, ensuring their performances are captured at their best. This includes adjusting for the right tone and intensity, and ensuring everything is picked up clearly and dynamically.

It also works the other way! Knowing how to record well will better equip you in your songwriting process, as you’ll know how various song elements translate into a recorded track.

Editing the song

Primarily, audio editing can significantly enhance your recordings. It involves a range of techniques and processes, such as adding effects, mixing, and arranging audio files. These elements work together to improve the overall quality of the sound, eliminating unwanted noise, adjusting levels, and ensuring a balanced mix.

The use of effects can add depth and texture to the sound, transforming a simple recording into a rich, immersive sonic experience. Mixing, meanwhile, involves balancing and blending all the individual tracks, creating a harmonious track that is pleasing to the ear.

Experimenting with audio editing can open up a world of different sounds, structures, and effects. Whether it’s chopping and rearranging a beat, applying a unique effect, or layering different sounds, editing can yield surprising results!

Audio editing skills can also help you troubleshoot issues that may arise during the production process. Whether it’s a timing issue, a pitch problem, or an imbalance in the mix, a proficient audio editor can identify and rectify these problems, ensuring the final product is as polished and perfect as possible.

Mixing the song

Understanding the fundamentals of mixing a song is crucial for any aspiring music producer.

One of the primary aspects of mixing is balancing the sounds and adjusting gain levels. A well-mixed track ensures that every element, from the quietest instrument to the most dominant vocal, is heard clearly and contributes meaningfully to the overall sound.

With this in mind, you can create a smooth, balanced mix where no single element overshadows another.

Mixing is also the stage where you can tackle problematic frequencies, resonance, hum, and other sonic issues that can affect the overall quality of a song.

Techniques such as EQ (equalization) are used to boost or cut specific frequencies, making each track sound its best and ensuring that all elements of the mix work well together.

Mixing also offers opportunities for creative expression. Producers can use effects like reverb, delay, and compression to add depth and character to the sound, whilst also shaping its “space”.

Mastering the song

Mastering is the final stage of music production, and it’s the time when you can really sculpt the end result of your track by further balancing your sounds and optimising the volume level. This process is often considered an art form in itself.

Here, you can prepare a song for publication, ensuring it sounds good on various platforms and across different listening environments, whether it’s in the car, through a PA system, or through headphones. A well-mastered track should have a solid level of consistency across all of these sound systems, with a balance of frequencies, an appropriate dynamic range, and a certain loudness level.

You can ensure your track sounds great across various playback systems through several processes such as equalisation, compression, and limiting, which work together to create a polished, professional-sounding result. Mastering can highlight the song’s strengths, address any weaknesses, and bring cohesion and uniformity to an album or EP.

It’s the final touch that transforms a good mix into a great-sounding, broadcast-ready track.

FAQs

Is producing music difficult?

Producing music can be challenging, but it’s not an impossible task. It requires a blend of creativity, technical knowledge, and patience. With the right tools and training, you’ll be able to produce your music to a high level – it just takes practice and knowing how to tune in to all the fine details of a track!

How can I get my music produced?

Getting your music produced involves several steps. You’ll need to write and arrange your song, record it, and then mix and master the track. There are many online resources and software available to assist you in this process. Alternatively, you could hire a professional music producer to do the work for you.

What is the hardest music to make?

Complex forms of music, such as classical or jazz, are considered to be the most difficult music to make. These genres often require extensive musical theory knowledge, sophisticated arrangements, and high-level performance skills.

Final thoughts

If you’re a budding music producer or just interested in how the whole studio process works, we hope this guide to music production has taught you the basics!

We have plenty of in-depth guides on our blog that shine a light on some specific steps. For example, if you have the recording, editing, and mixing down, you might now be looking at how to master a song. Or if you’re after the best tools, check out our round-up of the top audio interfaces.