how did you get started

[djburnone]

whats up im 24 years old and have been into music for while now, but only on the lyrical tip. now i really want to get into prodution but how? been saving up for some good equipment, so far though all i have is a korg m3, pair of mr8 monitors and a korg recorder. the recorder i probably want use scence i going computer base. but anyway next month i going to purchase a logic studio setup, which will include logic studio, apogee ensemble interface, shur condenser mic, apple imac computer, glyph hardrive, and maybe a pair of dynaudio moniters, not sure about the moniters though might just use what i got till i learn my set up then later but a good pair. but how did you get started in this buisness, is music production engineering school a must to be successful in this. please explain to me how to get staterd

[Straight]

though I'm not a pro, but I'd suggest learn music theory (if you haven't done that)

that's something I thought it wasn't neccessary but once I got into that I realized how much better music I can make, and how much faster. It's not that long time to learn the basics of harmonies, chords and all that. And it's worth!

the other thing I realized that how good advices I been given back in the day and how stupid I was because I didn't believe that.

This was because when I asked something (on forums too) I always wanted a SECRET tip, a SECRET answer which'd give me the sound immediately. But people gave me advices I didn't like, but they're great.

If I'd start now, I'd pay a lot more attention to people's advices.


hope it helps

[aziatik78]

In this field no you don't have to go to college but it would definitely will help when you learn what, how, and why you use certain "tools" of production. I am currently attending IADT for my degree simply for those reasons and it never hurts to be "official" according to a piece of paper. Especially nowadays with any and everyone trying to get in. Again this is just what has helped me, some folks may not agree. Good luck Bruh.

Experience= knowledge

[terrytee]

Sounds like your getting a solid set up
I only advice is try to master the basics of the equipment & recording. Am not going to recommend learning music theory to you just yet as its sounds like most your music isn't gonna be live instruments so a little persistence should help you to correct any obvious mistakes. Later down the line if you feel its necessary pick up a basic theory book.

But i would say focus on developing your own sound and try not to follow the latest style of production. On quite a simple business level if you have a good sound of your own the market will be wide open to you plus producers & artist/acts who simply base there thing on what's hot right now rarely have longevity.

P.S.
Do you intend to only track down vocals to your setup? 8 input sound card maybe a little extravagant. if so a good alternative would be a 2 channel apogee and spend the money you saved on ether sound treating your recording room, an outboard compressor & or pre amp.

good luck

[Ash Holmz]

I would say find your focus. The main thing i see with alot of cats is that they try to do to much shit at once. If u produce then produce, if u engineer than engineer. Dont be the rapper,producer,engineer,mixer, and masterer, and promo street team. Its good to learn a lil bit of evrything, but dont try to be some one man label and spread urself too thin. Find some talented cats who are strong in the areas your are weak and grind togther. Other than that the best advice i could give is to thouroughly learn ur equipment inside and out. With that setup u got there is hardly anything you wont be able to do.

[lpuma]

when I was 16 I used to spend all my cash on jamaican tunes, I started writin some verses and spittin over the instrumentals, I had no producer so I started making beats at 17, in my hood everybody was hip hop and the folks wanted hip hop beats, I stoped spittin and focused on makin beats but I know how to rap. So I try to find hooks/samples that make me wanna rap (even if I dont do it anymore). You have the luck to be a lyricist so use it for your beats, if you work motivate you on spittin some rhymes it's good, look about what alchemist said about that. Good luck.

[Krumbz]

Originally Posted by djburnone

whats up im 24 years old and have been into music for while now, but only on the lyrical tip. now i really want to get into prodution but how? been saving up for some good equipment, so far though all i have is a korg m3, pair of mr8 monitors and a korg recorder. the recorder i probably want use scence i going computer base. but anyway next month i going to purchase a logic studio setup, which will include logic studio, apogee ensemble interface, shur condenser mic, apple imac computer, glyph hardrive, and maybe a pair of dynaudio moniters, not sure about the moniters though might just use what i got till i learn my set up then later but a good pair. but how did you get started in this buisness, is music production engineering school a must to be successful in this. please explain to me how to get staterd

As an emcee for nearly 15 years I can relate.

Honestly... if you are looking to do straight up Hip Hop production... do yourself an IMMENSE favor and pick up two programs.

1. Recycle
2. Reason 4

That's great that you are getting Logic and you should definitely learn that - but you simply cannot beat the workflow and ease of use of Reason 4. I put Recycle too so that you can learn how to chop up samples, breakbeats etc and learn how to apply them to the foundation of your own drum programming - inside of Reason.

Even though this goes against everything that I stand for... I'd suggest waiting on the monitor purchase - if you already have monitors that is. Down the line you can upgrade - AND SHOULD - but you will have a better understanding of what you may be looking for by then.

Also... and I can't recommend this enough - check out Berkleemusic - Online Courses in Guitar, Music Business, Songwriting, Music Production, Music Theory

See if there are any music programs there that might interest you. They offer online courses... which are VERY GOOD... yet allow you to proceed at your own pace. I'm currently enrolled in a Masters Certificate in Music Production with Pro Tools.

I love it and would recommend it to anyone... anytime!

Goodluck fam and feel free to hit me up at Krumbz2003@aol.com if you have any more specific questions.

Goodluck!

[dan p]

Lyrics are 50% of any song.IF you are good at that,work that with learning some music stuff along the way.Dont quit your day job until.
Meanwhile fake it tillyou make it.

[illynoise]

My advice: quit while your ahead,

this is only heading to a lifetime of misery and heartache, failure, rejection, gunshot wounds, ambien, drug addiction, failed marriage's, messed up kids.....
















Just joking, good luck as a producer...

[terrytee]

Originally Posted by illynoise

My advice: quit while your ahead,

this is only heading to a lifetime of misery and heartache, failure, rejection, gunshot wounds, ambien, drug addiction, failed marriage's, messed up kids.....
















Just joking, good luck as a producer...

[Krumbz]

Originally Posted by illynoise

My advice: quit while your ahead,

this is only heading to a lifetime of misery and heartache, failure, rejection, gunshot wounds, ambien, drug addiction, failed marriage's, messed up kids.....
















Just joking, good luck as a producer...

The first brutally HONEST reply on this forum!

Congrats!

-you're supposed to LIE to him mannnn... remember the producers creed? chapter 1 page 6 - third paragraph down - of audio production 101-

[tonymission]

i was lucky enough to share a wall with the legendary photek when i was younger in southern california... one day we both met outside and he asked me what all that racket was he could always hear late at night... he didnt live there fulltime, but when he was around, i was blessed to learn many of his tricks of the trade.

from there, and later learning exactly who he was, i just felt i was destined to ignore all good advice in my life and blindly follow music. it's paid off but im not sure how good of a bet it would have been to take back then ...

[Silver Sonya]

You sound like you are on the right track! Don't be afraid to experiment and don't feel bad when you fail. Failure is the only way to learn and get better.

Also, my advice:

Keep listening to hip hop but also listen to a lot of music that is not hip hop.

The broader your listening experience is, the better your own music will sound.

Good luck!!

- c

[lb9000j]

Originally Posted by djburnone

whats up im 24 years old and have been into music for while now, but only on the lyrical tip. now i really want to get into prodution but how? been saving up for some good equipment, so far though all i have is a korg m3, pair of mr8 monitors and a korg recorder. the recorder i probably want use scence i going computer base. but anyway next month i going to purchase a logic studio setup, which will include logic studio, apogee ensemble interface, shur condenser mic, apple imac computer, glyph hardrive, and maybe a pair of dynaudio moniters, not sure about the moniters though might just use what i got till i learn my set up then later but a good pair. but how did you get started in this buisness, is music production engineering school a must to be successful in this. please explain to me how to get staterd

get started how? (industry or getting started musically, or getting ur home studio up and running)

[P3anut]

get a mic , interface , preamp , monitors, and a good computer
and use cubase or what ever that's how i started off.
it all together its a good grand , (look on ebay for cheap prices)

[phantomas]

i had no musical training and no one to teach me.. i build my skills all on my own. I didn't even know what hardware it takes, nor i had any money. I heard the music and i wanted to do it. So i just tried out alot of stuff.. being creative with what i had until it sounded good to me and friends.

Since i was broke for the last couple years all i did was using FruityLoops, Samples and a Keyboard... I was happy with it and still think it's a very good tool for HipHop production, givin that you know the tricks to get the sound right .. but that's where the motivation matters.. i had nothing and so this is what i needed to do.

Today there are more options to learn from others, online.. check out youtube and watch people in their lab and how they go down. Maybe you like the "pad"-thing.. Maybe you enjoy "keys" or both .. Then choose from what you think could work for you.

See..I am spoiled, doing computerstyles for 10 years.. so to me it was very hard to go full on hardware all of sudden. But now i can afford it and buy the gear i dreamed off for so long.

So my advice to you is:
Choose a really complete synth/workstation and play it like theres no tommorow. Then you are on the real deal right from the start. I myself wished i had that option when i began.

Check out Fantom or Motif

peace, and good luck!

[frank lyon]

I started playing Sax when I was 11, then picked up the gtr at 13.


Taught myself gtr out of a Sears and Roebucks manual from the 1950's.

[bwaudio]

I'm still "starting" and I think I will be for a long time yet. It's not as easy as it seems.

Studio usually don't think that schools teach you much, but at the same time they take all their interns/new hires directly from the schools. SO if you want to work at a studio, you might want to go to a recording school.

[phizix]

Originally Posted by djburnone

please explain to me how to get staterd

I read a life changing thread on here by johnny juliano the saviour of modern music production. he so talanted, so humble, so insightful. What a guy

[kingchong]

Originally Posted by Ash Holmz

I would say find your focus. The main thing i see with alot of cats is that they try to do to much shit at once. If u produce then produce, if u engineer than engineer. Dont be the rapper,producer,engineer,mixer, and masterer, and promo street team. Its good to learn a lil bit of evrything, but dont try to be some one man label and spread urself too thin. Find some talented cats who are strong in the areas your are weak and grind togther. Other than that the best advice i could give is to thouroughly learn ur equipment inside and out. With that setup u got there is hardly anything you wont be able to do.

i couldnt agree more. i was stuck in the do everything rut for years.. definitely NOT the way to go. i learned the hard way

[g22]

I'm 27 and have been playing keyboard since about 6-7 and bass guitar/guitar since about 13. I took bass lessons for only about a year at 13 but now I see how helpful it was. also my dads a blues keyboardist, not famous or anything, but just a great musician, imo, so there has always been an organ/keyboard in my house my whole life. I got a drum machine/sequencer when I was about 20 and started putting it all together and learning about production. I think the reason i've stuck w/ music so long is that i've never had any pressure of when to play, just whenever in the mood. so just play around whenever you feel like it and you'll get better over time. don't do it for money its too much pressure and your music will suffer..

the best thing for you would be to take some lessons, whether piano, guitar, whatever. your teacher will answer every question that you have and you will understand music better. a producer who can play an instrument is like a coach who used to play ball, you just know it better. If you cant afford lessons or dont want to, just have fun creating, and figure it out as you go along through trial and error, and you'll get better as you go.

good luck

[g22]

also, keep your focus on the music ie songwriting, don't worry so much about the technical engineer stuff, just get your songs as good as you know how, then you can go to a studio and have a professional engineer do the other stuff. trying to get a 'certain' sound that came from a studio from a small home setup will probably never happen. make use of what you do have which is musical instruments. most ppl listen to music for the notes/chords/harmonies/melodies, etc. and aren't so much concerned with the sonic aspect, except gearslutz like us lol, the average listener doesn't know the difference or probably care much. thats how a great musician can make crappy equipment sound great.

[PettyCash]

Be prepared for at least 2-3 years or more of hardwork, sweat, tears, lost relationships, broken friendships, missed time with family, and all the fustration that comes along with that before you even get to the point of using all that equipment profeciently to the point where you can call yourself a decent composer. Straight up...

Know how much money you are spending and how long it will take you before you can start earning all that money back through making music. This is the reason why cats on other threads you have started keep telling you from time to start out small and begin that long road of learning already. Dont go all flow blown yet until you get a real taste for how things are going to change when you are in the middle of your pursuit to making great music. If you are just doing it as a hobby, and you have money to burn anyway, then proceed, but if this is something that you wish to take more seriously, start making some damn beats with your M3, and put in work before you decide to drop anymore money.