Dance music once needed days in the studio and thousands of dollars of equipment. It can now be made by just one person, on a laptop in a matter of hours. And that accessibility has meant more people have become a music producer.
The digital revolution has helped dance music and all its various genres, become one of the biggest music industries.
From trap and hip hop and RnB to house and techno and 140 via drum and bass and dubstep and indie music, being a dance music producer has never been easier.
But that means there’s increased competition which can make it harder to stand out in a crowded field. Head to Beatport, one of the largest dance music sales platforms, and each week and you’ll find thousands of new releases on top of the hundreds of thousands of tracks (maybe even millions) already in their database.
We’re here with 19 easy, foolproof music producer tips and tricks to get you one step ahead of the competition and one step closer to becoming the next Tiesto, Fatboy Slim or Timbaland.
So let’s get started.
Tip 1. Keep it simple stupid
The KISS acronym is a truism throughout life. Keep It Simple Stupid. And when it comes to dance music, simple is often best – especially when you’re starting out. Sure, an intricate, bossa-nova rhythm and syncopated melodies might sound great, but get it wrong and it’ll sound like elephants falling down a piano.
Keep it simple and master the basics and build from there.
Pretty cool hey ?
Which leads us to tip 2…
Tip 2. Learn how to EQ
The basics don’t get much more basic than learning how to EQ.
And yet, for some, it’s an overlooked skill. EQs let you sculpt and filter the bass, mids and trebles in your track, they let you boost and cut to let your track boom and breathe.
It is absolutely vital, and the easiest way to make your mix or your track get that clarity. Books have been written (literally) on the power of EQ.
Check out this handy guide from Audio Issues on the EQ basics and how important they are.
Tip 3. Master EQ
Seriously. It’s that important.
Tip 4. Be a plugin jedi
Whatever Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) you’re using, it’s easy to get carried away by buying or downloading loads of plugins and third party apps to help filter and affect your sound.
Yet whether you’re using Logic or Ableton or Fruity Loops, they’re packed with in-house effects and plugins.
Master those by tracking down Youtube tutorials, asking friends or just playing around before spending a fortune on extra plugins.
Tip 5. Know your hardware
As with the plug in addiction, it’s easy to get into the habit of buying hardware after hardware (ooh, shiny new micro-Korg!). Buying keyboards and synths can be addictive as you scour eBay and online sales to get new synths and drum machines and pedals.
If you are going to get involved in hardware, buy one and get to know it inside out. Master it, use it and abuse it and really know what it can deliver before even thinking about another one.
Sensible is boring, we know. But it’ll save you a fortune.
Keep your hardware simple and build up slowly.
Tip 6. Trust your own ears
But know when to ask for advice from friends and other dance music producers and know when to take criticism. This is especially important if you produce music on your own:
A second pair of ears to bounce ideas off can be invaluable.
Tip 7. Don’t rush your releases
Why does this matter?
The urge to share your music can be overwhelming, especially when you know it’s good. But wait on your track, EP or album – if you can come back in a week’s time with a fresh set of ears. You’ll pick up new details, you’ll hear new things that you can change.
And never, ever – EVER – release a track online and tell people it’s a demo, or it’s half finished. If you’re going to share your music for feedback, use a private link either on Soundcloud or We Transfer.
[bctt tweet=”Be prepared to accept criticism, especially when it’s constructive.” username=”maanamena”]
Tip 8. Aim high
Constantly compare your music to your peers. A good trick is to add a track similar to the one you’re making in one of your channels on your DAW.
Constantly refer back to it so you can improve your bass, kick and clarity.
You can also compare a track’s structure using this trick, knowing where and when to build in your breakdown, intro and outro.
But equally, be realistic – it’s taken them, or their ghost producer, years to reach that level. Build your career slowly, one step at a time.
Tip 9. Always look to learn
Even the biggest Ableton or Logic expert will keep learning new tricks, new ways to manipulate music, new ways to make their sound stand out.
There are thousands of music producer Youtube tutorials out there, online guides and online courses. Be inquisitive and keep learning.
Tip 10. Use your ears
This might sound obvious, but with so many music producer DAWs having a strong visual element, it can be easy to rely on what the screen is showing you. But the more you train your ears, the stronger they’ll be.
Close your eyes when you’re in a tricky section and let your ears guide you (we know that sounds a bit Jedi-like, but trust us).
Tip 11. Test your music on a variety of speakers
If you have an expensive pair of Rokits or Mackies, use them to create your music. But test the results on your cheap Bluetooth speaker, your car stereo, on your headphones.
Even better, use them to in the creative process, so you’re tweaking the sound on various speakers throughout the process and not just at the end. That way you’ll create music that sounds good on all speakers from the start.
And if you can’t afford speakers, invest in a set of good headphones – we like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 range as they’re reasonably affordable, long-lasting and have clear detail, but shop around for deals and styles.
Tip 12. Keep the volume low
If you pump the volume early in the process, your ears will quickly burn out.
By keeping the volume as low as possible, you’ll protect your ears in the long term and allow you to keep working for longer periods. And when you do turn the volume up to test the bass and kick combo, you’ll really be able to pick out the frequencies.
Tip 13. Take breaks
While keeping your ears fresh with low volumes is important, taking regular breaks is arguably even more so.
By coming back with fresh ears, you’ll hear new elements in your mix that you might have missed before, your ears will have a fresh sensitivity.
That’s not all.
Tip 14. Get organised
Keep your tracks ordered and co-ordinated.
Create a system for your tracks and stick to it. Label everything clearly throughout the process and keep everything backed up on a second hard drive. Save your tracks regularly as you go along.
There is nothing as cruel as losing a track that you know is a winner.
Tip 15. Be persistent
And consistent.
You might have one good hit, but you need to back that up with two, three more. Create an EP that you’re proud of or an album’s worth of songs. Hone them, perfect them and create a release strategy.
Tip 16. Do your homework
When it comes to releasing music do your research. Your initial thought can be to get your music out as quickly as possible.
But having worked so hard on it, take stock and give your music the time and release it deserves. Look for labels that fit your music and ethos, and look for brands that actively push their artists via social media, via banners on download stores, via email blasts etc.
You want a label to love your music as much as you do. It might take a few stepping stones, jumping up bigger and bigger labels, until you get there, but set your sights high and work your way there.
Tip 17. Push boundaries
Do weird things with your music. Experiment. 90% might be unlistenable, but the rest could be that magic that makes you stand out.
Try weird settings, off-kilter filters and play around with melodies to create something unique.
Tip 18. Use what works for you
Some have musical training and can hit a keyboard straight away with melodies and bass sequences. Others get started using royalty-free loops, while others might start with edits of other tracks.
However you start, be happy and comfortable with what you’re doing – don’t react to the pressure of having to ‘make’ all your music yourself. People have different skills, so embrace yours.
Tip 19. Dont leave mastering till last
Mix and try to master your music as you go along. It might take longer, but they’re important skills for a music producer to learn and will make the final master even tighter.
Credit for image to Musician on a Mission
Get your levels right at the start, use the EQ to create space in your track, add reverb to lift parts and echo to give depth. But try and find the sweet spot as early as possible so that the rest of the track can flow and emerge smoother and faster.
Conclusion
To all you wanting to be the next global superstar music producer. Be humble, be gentle, be consistent, be ambitious, pay your dues, do your homework, plan ahead, listen to a wide range of music, champion other talents and grow your career organically.
Build up a network of friends and music producers, test your music with them and vice versa and even test-run your music at gigs – the ultimate litmus test. But do your own thing, do your own music.
Follow trends if you want to make one hit, but follow your own musical path if you want to have a career. If you believe in it, it makes it a lot easier for others to join in.
If you wish to know more then please check out these other helpful blogs.
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