Music Production Tutorials

A lot of what's out there is solid technical advice. Some is terrible and based on poor logic and magical thinking. Sometimes bad information even comes from successful names in the industry. And then there's the middle ground where its value to you is subjective.

Sometimes what I say in this production tips tutorial series may come off as definitive or emphatic. It's because the topic is important to me. Often, I learned these lessons the hard way. But I'm not here to tell you what you should do with these tutorial videos. I will do my best to provide a reasoned opinion and offer many options. I will also link to white papers and supporting data whenever possible. You shouldn't take the advice I or anyone else provides as a given. Follow up by researching and trying things for yourself.

What Kind Of Music Production Tutorials Do You Provide?

Now and then, I will speak on technical issues where there is a lot of confusion or where disinformation is rampant. But generally, I want to create video tutorial content that inspires. There are different approaches to making music. Music engineering has a ton of technical aspects, for sure. But the whole point is to create. To push boundaries. To put a new spin on old ideas. To come out of left field. I want to provide music production tutorials that get you moving forward.

So, sharing how I approach different ways of making music seems like a better use of our time. There are thousands of free tutorials on how to use a compressor or EQ. There are better people to teach you about music theory. I'd rather show you how to start, finish, and release a song. If some technical tips slip in here or there, fine. It's more important that you feel energized to make music. If I can also help you remove some of the insecurity you have about making music, that would be fantastic.

Musical Taste and Frame of Reference

There are universal truths in audio production. These production skills can transfer to all music. But a lot of sound design is subjective. Often, it comes down to specialization in production. Understand where a music producer is coming from when considering their advice.

I've worked in indie and underground rock for 30 years. Particularly, styles derived from punk and metal. A lot of heavy, noisy guitar music. But I'm also a huge fan of hip hop. I'm more into boom bap/backpack and underground hip hop. I'm also a jazz aficionado. I take a lot of mix cues from classic jazz recordings to achieve natural sounds. Even when the source is heavily processed and unnatural. I love R&B. I've also worked on a good bit of acoustic-based singer-songwriter stuff.

I'm not well-versed in EDM, but I'm not averse to it. Sound is sound. I only bring it up because I do find myself unintentionally bumping heads with EDM producers from time to time. There is mainstream pop I appreciate. But I'm more inclined toward outsider and more experimental music. I'm not impressed by perceived successes around sales, awards, and popularity metrics. These are marketing topics, not production ones. I only care if the music is interesting.

So, that's where I'm coming from. It doesn't mean I can't relate to and work with other styles.

Digital Audio Workstation Agnostic Music Production Tutorials

The music production tutorials I provide will be mostly DAW-agnostic. Pretty much all digital audio workstations can do the same things these days. That said, I have my favorite tools and others that I'm admittedly not familiar with. I worked with Pro Tools for years, but abandoned it over a decade ago. I tend to work in Reaper and Universal Audio's Luna. I may provide some Luna workflow tutorials from time to time. It's a newer workstation that doesn't get the attention it deserves. I will also work with Native Instruments Maschine from time to time. And I will use Traktor Scratch with Technics turntables to manipulate sounds. But you can transfer these production lessons to FL Studio, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, or whatever you prefer.