While trial and error represent a foundational way to grow as a music producer, the application of certain practices can significantly boost your learning and capabilities. Given that there are endless technical and creative possibilities in music production, we’ll outline some key practices that can consistently develop your creative ability.
1. Maximize Mixing With Volume Faders and Panning Dials
While the best tools and plugins are often needed to produce the best results, it can be all too easy to skim over two core tools when mixing—volume faders and panning dials.
Volume Faders
It’s simple to adjust the volume faders of all your instruments so that you may hear them; it’s an art form to get the balance just right so your vocals and percussion, for example, pop out in your mix.
It is often the combination of optimal volume levels with plugins, such as compressors and EQs, that creates a defined and clear sound. Before you rush into the next stages of mixing, spend some more time with your volume faders.
It’s a good idea to drop the volume level of all your tracks so your highest Stereo Output level lies around -4 to -10 dB. This provides the headroom necessary for the mastering stage. Apply this practice at the beginning of mixing to avert clipping issues and save you from more time-consuming efforts down the line.
Then, try pushing up the volume of your main instruments to exaggerated levels before dropping them back off. See just how in-your-face you may make them without them sounding harsh. Try to generate a sense of depth with the main instruments at the front, accompanying instruments (like rhythm guitars) in the middle, and softer textures at the back.
Panning Dials
Panning knobs are one of your core tools for generating a sense of width in your mix. It’s easy to pan different instruments to different panning values; this will produce a sense of width. It’s challenging to make informed panning decisions so that high or low frequencies do not accumulate or clash between instruments.
One of the best practices you may apply to improve your use of panning dials (and volume faders) is to remove panning from all your instruments. Now, everything should sound down the center. This will give you a clearer idea of what instruments clash with one another; certain sounds will become almost inaudible.
Perhaps your vocals drown out your guitars, or vice versa. Once you’ve identified these clashes, you can use your panning dials to separate those specific instruments.
However, at times, your bass guitar and kick drum will clash, and you want them to both remain in the center. This is where plugins, like EQs, come to the rescue.
2. Fix Washed-Out Sounds With EQs and Compressors
EQs are a central tool that you will want to use in all of your mixes. There are a few ways you’re able to use them to help fix and avoid washed-out sounds from singular or multiple instruments:
Look intohow to use EQs and filtersfor a more in-depth look at EQs and their capabilities.
Another tool you’ll want to use in all your mixes are compressors. Compression plugins are a great way to further define diverse audio sources, and give them some punch and color. If compressors are an unfamiliar topic, look intothe different types of compressorsas well ashow to use compression plugins.
For vocals, guitars, percussion bus tracks, and other instruments that could use some added cohesion, tightness, and edge, try the following techniques:
3. Use MIDI to Experiment With Variation Quickly
The versatility of MIDI is an aspect of music production that should be made the most of. It’s a tool that can let anyone create an instrumental track in no time without any music theory knowledge. It’s easy to create a musical idea with MIDI and then move on.
One useful practice is to come back to that idea and use MIDI editing tools to quickly experiment and develop it. Use quantization to experiment with different rhythms, such as adding 16th triplets or muting existing notes.
TheMIDI editing tools in Logic Pro(and most DAWs) allow you to select MIDI notes and randomize the velocity values within a specified range. Use this technique to add some vitality to your MIDI parts, so they don’t seem bland and completely digital.
All this can be done without having to re-record your digital instruments over and over, so there’s really nothing to lose by diving into your MIDI editing tools.
4. Use Reference Tracks
A great practice you should apply during your mixing and mastering process is to compare your musical work to reference tracks. A good reference track will meet the highest of production standards and share stylistic traits with your work; such as being in the same genre.
Ideally, you should download a high-quality audio file of your reference track, and place it on an audio track in your DAW. Then, you can compare your work with the reference and learn where your own creation can improve. For example, use EQs on your track and the reference, and you should see a visual representation of where your tracks' frequency content could improve.
While you may use streaming platforms to hear reference tracks, websites such asBandcampallow you to support your favorite artists by purchasing and downloading their tracks. There are also somewebsites you can use to legally download music for free.
Practice and Refine Your Music Production Skills
To produce a great track, you have to start off with solid foundations. Invest time in balancing out the levels of your track to generate a sense of depth. In addition, add some stereo width, and separate competing instruments by using your panning dials.
Use EQ to fix frequency issues that lead to washed-out sounds, and make the most of compressors to tighten up your audio. Then, refine your MIDI ideas with quick experimentation, and find reference tracks to compare and learn from. Do so, and the quality of your productions will improve in leaps and bounds.
