Here is a sample video of a clip taken from a session with one of my students who was having difficulty mixing her track so that it sounded clean. Online mus…
Audio Mixing Tutorial – Online Music Production Tutoring With Tantric Decks
mixing
Disputing the Hands on Training Myth
If you have heard phrases like ‘You need to be in the studio to learn’, ‘You must have a mixing board and record in a sound proofed studio’, ‘In order to learn, you need someone to show you how the studio works’, then you have crossed paths with the Hands on Training Myth.
These are common misconceptions, however, hands on training is when you are alone in your studio, on a deadline. You do not have time for writer’s block, issues in your studio or time to doubt yourself. It’s very simple, either you get radio ready results in your studio or you don’t.
What Hands on Training IS NOT:
–Hands on training IS NOT when you sit in a studio tweaking knobs and playing with faders.
–Hands on training IS NOT when you look over an instructor or tutors shoulder.
–Hands on training IS NOT when you sit in a classroom with a workstation.
It’s quite possible the hands on training myth is blocking you from achieving your dreams.
Anyone can go to a classroom or listen to an instructor but that doesn’t mean you learn anything.
Here’s how to know if you have been duped by the Hands on Training Myth.
–“How come when I get ‘Hands On’ with my equipment I still have questions?”
–“Why am I in the studio for 8-10 hours and my music is still not finished?”
–“Why have I been doing music for years and getting no where?”
–I can only learn if someone teaches me or if I watch a video tutorial.
–I have to much to do to slow down and read. I don’t like reading.
What Hands on Training IS:
–Hands on training is being alone, in your own studio, using the gear you have.
–Hands on training is when you complete a project to the ‘radio ready’ industry standard on a deadline ALONE.
How the Process Works: The hands on training process consists of 3 simple steps:
1) Learn. You first must learn what to do, where to go, what to listen for, etc.
2) Apply. You must take what you have learned and make it yours. The only way to do this is applying it.
3) Ask Questions. Keep asking questions on a specific subject until you have no more.
When you use these 3 steps, the process of hands on training becomes a simple solution that can be utilized anywhere at any time. This requires that you read, study, grow and stretch yourself. You must educate yourself no matter how you learn. This is the only way you can achieve your dreams in every moment of the day.
–The Computer Music Production School first gives you the knowledge and education to know what to do when you work in any studio with any gear. You have to know what you’re doing before you can get your ‘Hands in it’. When you sit in a studio, where do you start? How do you know your finished?
–Secondly, CMPS gives you 24/7 Hands on Training so your education stays in your long term memory.
–Last of all you have one-on-one student adviser support to help you every step of the way and to answer all your questions.
You can become a music producer and audio engineer in as little as 7 weeks, 7 months or take as long as you need. You can then produce and record as many albums as you like for the rest of your life.
Keeping your Ears Fresh During Recording and Mixing
Your ears are the most valuable and priceless gear you have. Not only will you need to take care of them for the duration of your life but also during day-to-day life and recording sessions. There is a well known music rule in our studio that never gets broken: Above all, protect your ears!
Here are five simple tips to keep your ears fresh while producing, recording and mixing in the studio for long hours:
1) Keep an Eye on Your Levels
Volume levels, that is.. If the bump of your speakers makes your coffee cup vibrate, you’ve got your volume jacked up way too high. It’s recommended to do all mixing in levels so low you could have a conversation without shouting. The reason for this is that over time your ears get tired and this can go unnoticed until it’s too late. The goal is to reference your music at conversation volume levels and only check the low end, high end and how everything fits in the mix at increased volume levels for increments of 2-5 minutes at a time. This method will keep your ears fresh for the rest of the day so you can produce, record and mix for the rest of the night.
2) When Recording your own Vocals
When recording yourself you juggle the roles of artist and recording engineer. It’s inspiring hearing everything come together. However, don’t be a hero and jack up the level in your headphones so that you’re screaming over the top. Typically most vocalists like to have one headphone cup off their ear and one on. If you’re doing vocal stacks it’s best to keep them both on and keep the volume level really low. If your volume is too high, it is easy for your vocal recordings to be sharp or flat. When recording, make sure to allow sufficient time for breaks, not only for your throat but for your ears.
3) Keep ‘em Clean
This may seem obvious but dirty ears are not only nasty but they hinder the sound quality of your listening. In any health food store you can purchase Ear Candles. These little bad boys will clean your ear canals so well that they actually warn you not to listen to music for 3 days after. Make sure you read the directions on the package carefully and follow them. You will be amazed by how much your hearing is improved by these. Try not to be grossed out by all the yucky wax and dirt that comes out of you either. Now I have had a few responses of people who do not agree or think this is a hoax. Maybe this option will help you, maybe it won’t, however, this is from my personal experience.
4) Editing Vocals
When editing double vocals or multiple tracks for long lengths of time, your ears can tire quickly. The way to work around this is to edit one phrase at a time until finding the best take and cut and paste accordingly. Listening to the whole take, take after take can get daunting and annoying. It’s much easier for your ears to pick up the differences in each track if you play it back phrase by phrase, take by take until you find the phrase that jumps out at you. Use the highlighting tool in your audio sequencer to mark which ones you like best and keep moving forward. You can also memorize an easy color system that reminds me which one is Best, Adlib, or 2nd Best, and so forth.
5) Take Breaks
When working on a project, reward yourself by taking fun breaks. After you edit the vocals, go for a short walk around the block. Done with mixing? Have your favorite snack. Make sure you take short breaks often. You’ll come back to your station with fresh ears and a fresh perspective every time.
Tutorial: Keeping your Ears Fresh During Recording and Mixing
1) How do you produce and mix your music (Headphones, Speakers, Both)? During your next session, pay attention to when you increase the volume and how long you listen to loud volumes. How long does it take to complete the project, do you have to redo the mix the next day, what do your clients say about your mixes – do you hear anything consistently?
2) Benchmark your system. In other words, set aside some time when you’re not busy, listen to commercially mastered CDs, reference conversation volume levels and increased volume levels, note the decibel level on your volume knob and then practice with your own material.
3) Let your ears rest. After a long session or when you sleep, put ear plugs in your ears and let them rest.
If you would like more info about volume levels, recording your own vocals and editing vocals,
Warning: Don’t believe the Hype in the Music Industry
This is a broad subject and is so very crucial to everyone on every level in music today. Do not believe the hype, what you hear especially from people “in the industry”. There are many people in the industry who are still unaware that the industry that was.. is no more.
If you watch closely, there are many artists and producers ‘in the industry’ doing exactly what independent artists and producers are doing. Taking care of their business, their own label, marketing, networking, negotiating with labels to enhance what they are doing. They are not giving their music away blindly..
Regarding money, protect your budget. You do not need the ‘latest gear release’. This is just a distraction.
I have seen students jump from PC to MAC or MAC to PC and delay their music career results by 6 months to a year. This is unnecessary. If you started on a mac, stay on one. If you started on a PC, stay on a PC. Think ahead and know exactly what it takes to COMPLETE a music production and recording studio. I have seen other students spend $3,000 on hardware gear to then not have enough money for a computer and inexpensive software to mix and master with. When they enrolled in the music production school they were so upset they didn’t find this info out sooner.
It is very subtle… but every time we see a producer, known artist or anyone in the public eye endorse any type of equipment, business model or new technology, most of the time, it comes off as “You are not adequate with what you have, you can’t do anything until you have this”.
What this subliminally can do is makes your mind wander to this ‘vision/goal’ of reaching something that is so far away from you it seems impossible. Not only that but it gives you the impression that you cannot enjoy the moment and work with the gear you currently have. These thought processes ultimately lead to fear that you will not succeed or you don’t have what you need now to complete your dreams and goals.
See the problem is not us and its not them either… It’s what you do with this information whether you stay stuck or ignore it.. I have seen so many talented students go only so far with what they have learned because this can be the hardest thing to conquer. Throwing money, expenses and fear at your dreams instead of just digging in, getting your hands dirty, trust the process and keep believing no matter what comes your way.. and believe me, everything comes at you to discourage.. (I got robbed of a $6,500 studio equipment, instruments, everything and almost quit everything)
What do you Need?
All you need is a passion and fire to do music; A creative vision and voice that does not try and conform to what the new ‘in’ thing is. These characteristics will last the rest of your life. You’ll be lucky if the last piece of gear you bought lasts another year – especially computers!
Basic Gear List: $2,500 or less
Computer
Audio Interface
Keyboard Controller
Headphones (recommneded)
Studio Speakers (Check Studio Speaker Tips)
Software Sequencer (Cubase, Sonar, Logic, ProTools, etc)
Sound Module Software (Reason, Fruityloops, VST instruments)
Drum Sample Library (Free sounds at www.gotchanoddin.com)
The most expensive piece of equipment I think everyone has invested in last is themselves! Invest in your education, confidence, encouragement – what builds that? Knowledge.
This is why with the little bit of equipment mentioned above The Computer Music Production School guarantees, you can learn to be an artist, producer, engineer, mixing and mastering engineer. Because EVERYONE CAN do it, will they? It’s not a matter if you can be a music producer or artist, its a matter of, do you believe you can? Talent is Never Enough. I will work with someone in a heartbeat with 50% talent and 50% heart rather than someone with 100% talent and no character.
At some point you have to ask yourself “What am I made of?” All education is character building more than anything else. It’s teaching yourself how to learn. This is the focus. The tools are not the focus. Anyone can learn the tools are but forging through personal character is what determines success or failure..
All the time you spend on forums, debates and research should really be spent on writing better songs, learning different chords and scales.. So the next time an ‘industry professional’ or someone at a music store tells you their opinion on what to do with your music, what you need or what the latest fad is… just change the subject…
How can anyone give you direction when they haven’t stopped to listen to what your music dream is?
Focus on something we don’t hear often… Your unique creative voice..
Only then will find what you are truly made of.
When you become a student of the Computer Music Production School, you work one on one with a student advisor to not only mentor you in technical aspects of your music career but also the character aspects. You get artist development according to your personal and business goals. CMPS is the only school around the globe offering training and mentoring with guaranteed results.
If you have been duped by hype or need help with music business networking and partnerships, please take a moment and signup for a free training consultation.