The 6 Stages of Music Production

‍Music production is a challenging, relentless process. Even if you’re naturally gifted, it takes a great deal of trial and error to produce an end result that meets your standards. 

It’s not like snapping your fingers and making magic happen—it’s a slow, steady climb toward a final product. This blog post covers the common roadblocks that most music producers face in their journey toward mastering the art of audio creation. 

Whether you are just beginning as an aspiring producer or looking to grow from where you are now, these tips will assist you along the way.

1. Decide What You Want to Produce

When you start producing music, it’s important to determine what you want to get out of the experience. What do you want to produce? Why do you want to produce that particular style? Why music production? You want to be able to answer these questions without any hesitation. 

Otherwise, you may find yourself getting lost in the process without an end goal in mind. This could end up wasting both time and energy.

2. Find Inspiration Everywhere

Music production is both art and science, but inspiration is what sparks the creative process. When you’re producing, you may find that you are stuck on a certain track or sound. 

When you find yourself in this scenario, it’s important to draw inspiration from other artists and sounds. Inspiration can come in many different forms, such as visual art, audio, live events, or even conversations with others. 

Remember that inspiration can come from anything and everything, so never hesitate to seek it out. Be sure to keep a notepad or journal nearby if you’re trying to get creative at home. This can be a helpful tool for jotting down ideas that come to you throughout the day or when you’re trying to fall asleep at night.

3. Define Your Artistic Vision

As you begin to produce music, you will undoubtedly draw inspiration from many different sounds and styles. It’s important to take the time to define your artistic vision so that you don’t end up creating something that doesn’t reflect who you are as an artist. What emotions and feelings do you want to convey with your music? What is your artistic vision? What’s the story behind your music?

You can find all these inspirations by checking social media videos. Social platforms are great for discovering hot trends that people are talking about at the moment. Understanding what people love will make it easier for you to craft your artistic vision.

4. Produce the Vocals

The vocals are the backbone of any song. Producing vocals is no easy feat—especially if you’re working with a singer who is new to recording. First and foremost, the singer needs to be comfortable. If they are not comfortable in the studio, they will not perform at their best. 

You also need to make sure that there is adequate sound insulation within the recording space. This will help minimize any unwanted background noise that could disrupt the recording process. 

Most of all, singers need time to warm up before recording. This could be anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on the individual. By warming up, singers are able to get their voices in a healthy and optimal range. This will ultimately lead to better performance and a more natural-sounding track.

5. Produce the Instrumental Track

The instrumental track is the backbone of the song. You need to make sure that your track is high-quality and well-produced. When you’re producing the instrumental, it’s important to capture the emotion behind the track. You want the track to tell a story and sound genuine. 

This can be done by experimenting with different sounds, tones, and frequencies to get the right sound for your track. Experimenting with different sounds can help you discover which sounds work best for the instrumental. It’s important to make sure the sounds you use in the instrumental track are consistent with the overall sound of the song.

6. Mixing and Mastering

Audio mixing and mastering are the final steps in the production process. This is where you take all of the different audio tracks (vocal, instrumental, and sound effects) and combine them into a final product. 

Mixing and mastering are where you can make adjustments to the track to make it sound more balanced and polished. The most important thing to remember when mixing and mastering a track is to not overdo it. 

Overusing processing and effects can cause the track to sound artificial or tinny. Finding the right balance is key.

10 Popular Music Genre that Everyone Loves

When making music, you should know your target audience. This will help you determine which genre is the best fit for your song. Here are five popular music genres that everyone loves:

1. Hip Hop

Hip Hop is a genre that is full of energy and rhythm. The beats are often catchy and easy to dance to. If you’re looking to create a song that will get people moving, then hip-hop is the perfect genre for you.

2. Pop

Pop music is all about catchy hooks and sing-along melodies. This genre is perfect for those who want to create feel-good songs that will put a smile on people’s faces. Moreover, Pop music is ear-catchy, everyone can love this genre within minutes.

3. Rock

Rock music is perfect for those who want to create anthems with a message. This genre is all about rebellion and standing up for what you believe in. Therefore, many youngsters like listening to Rock music, even the old ones like Queen because this genre transcends time. 

4. Country

Country music is the perfect genre for those who want to create songs with heart and soul. This genre often tells stories about real-life experiences and offers a unique perspective.

5. EDM

EDM stands for electronic dance music. This genre is perfect for those who want to create high-energy tracks that will get people moving. EDM is all about creating a party atmosphere and getting people to let loose.

6. R&B

This genre is popular for its sultry and smooth sound. R&B is perfect for those who want to create songs that are full of emotion. This genre often tells stories about love and relationships.

7. Jazz

Jazz is a genre that is characterized by its improvisational nature. If you’re looking to create songs that are unique and unpredictable, then jazz is the perfect genre for you.

8. Classical

Classical music is characterized by its timeless sound. This genre is perfect for those who want to create songs that will stand the test of time.

9. Folk

Folk music is the perfect genre for those who want to create songs with a personal touch. This genre often tells stories about real-life experiences and offers a unique perspective.

10. Metal

Metal music is perfect for those who want to create anthems with a message. This genre is all about rebellion and standing up for what you believe in.

Wrapping Up

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the 6 Stages of Music Production. This is a huge accomplishment! If you’re just starting out, don’t be discouraged if it takes you longer than you expect to reach this and compose your own music. 

Everyone progresses at their own pace. If you’re already producing music, use this as a guide to help you grow. This article should help you find useful tips and advice about music production. There will be ups and downs, but with these tips, you will make it through just fine!

Author

Natasha Rei is the Digital Marketing Manager of Explainerd, a motion graphic company. She ensures strategic goals are met by directing online and social media campaigns.

LinkedIn: Natasha Rei