How to Produce a Song

What is record production?  Surely, there are many 
thoughts on this concept.  There are many recordOnce you have a grasp on the creative process and
producers, some more famous than others. understand current trends in recording technology and
However, this article will attempt to address some ofthere applicability to our project, you can now attempt
the basic elements of record production and how toto produce a song. a. Describe the artist’s
effectively approach the overall task of producing aidentity. b. Identify the song’s style and intended
record. audience. Is it similar to other records?c. Describe the
 budget constraints?d. Describe the record's purpose, in
First let’s take a look at the 5 Steps of the creativeterms of an artist’s career. Is it a catchy first single
process:to establish the artist? To get a deal? A demo to get
 a gig as a cover band? A different direction, used to
STEP 1:  THE IDEAlearn something new?
Think about the song you’re going to write. It can 
be just some lyrics written down on a piece of paper,Knowing about the artist’s qualities and motivations
a melody recorded on your cell phone voice memo orcreates a context and shapesan overview for how to
mini recorder, or a home demo. Ultimately, it will need toapproach a production. It will help you answer the
be produced into a full song.mainquestion, “Why take this particular production
 approach for this particular artist andthis particular
During pre-production (which we will discuss later), thesong?”
producer creates the arrangement – vocal or 
instrumental, decides how it will be recorded, and whoDecide what the song is saying.  In other words, how
will be the players. This process includes songwriting,does the song itself influence the approach to the
song selection, song adjustment (key and tempo), styleproduction?  Knowing the identity of the song is as
determination, instrumentation decisions, creating aimportant as knowing the identity of the artist. Indeed, 
working demo, and rehearsing.“production” is the melding of song and artist
 onto record.
STEP 2:  RECORDING a. What is the lyric’s story, and what individual
During this step, the performances are recorded tosections, phrases, or even words direct or affect the
any one of the many recording hardware or softwareproduction at all scales?b. How does the melody
on separate tracks or direct-to-stereo which is used tointeract with the lyric?c. Does the melody emphasize
record some jazz ensembles and many livelyrics or direct the flow of the song, or just create a
performances. When you record direct-to-stereo, themusical element and draw attention in its own right?d.
recording becomes the final version and you areHow do these invite production elements?e. How do
unable to change any of the characteristics of theharmonic elements affect all of this, and again, invite
instruments.  Most professional recording is done usingproduction attention?f. How does the overall structure
multi-track recording, where individual musicalof the song dictate the production approach and/or
performances and vocal performances areflow of the record?
recorded  on separate tracks. This gives us the 
flexibility to edit and process the tracks, and to mixThese may seem like “songwriting elements,”
them into a final stereo version well after the originalbecause they are!  The first job of the producer is
performance. It also allows for us to add to an originalA&R (“artist & repertoire”). Choose the best
recording, as well. This process is called overdubbing.song and then oversee touching up or rewriting and
 restructuring the song, if necessary, until it is the best it
STEP 3:  EDITINGcan be.
In post-production, the song is ready to be editedThat is what much of pre-production is, and it is often
changing individual performances or the entirethe most important element of the entire production
arrangement. In midi editing, you can change singleprocess. A great song for a great artist makes the
notes or even the specific instrument that plays thoseproducer’s job easier, and the song often points
notes. You can also change the completethe way to approach the production.
arrangement of the song by copying and pasting entire 
sections of the song.Another characteristic of a good producer is one who
 is cable of identifying what specific elements are being
STEP 4:  MIXINGheard sonically and musically and adjusting those
It is during the mixing stage that the individual trackselements so that the song is audibly appealing the
that make up our multi-track recording are combinedlistener?a. Name each element you are hearing
blended and processed using effects to create a final(instrument, voice, sound, combination).b. What are
stereo recording. We have the ability to control eacheach element’s sonic qualities, and what is its part in
track separately. In this stage we want to documentthe arrangement?
and organize the various elements for the intended 
mix. We are able to control such elements as volume,For example, “I might describe a part I’m hearing
panning, equalization, and effects.as a 12-stringelectric guitar (the type of instrument)
 with a clear butidiosyncratic sound (color/timbre)
STEP 5:  MASTERINGplaying a IV chord (the music)with the third on the top,
Mastering is the preparation of our final stereo mix foropen voicing(arrangement), with a slowbut aggressive,
distribution making final adjustments to the overallanticipated strum (performance)”.
sound – (incl. editing out unwanted sound, EQ overall c. At what point does an element appear in the
song, compression, if needed, for final format). production/song? I find it best to analyze a production
The Master Tapeby going section-by-section, and then bar by bar, down
 to the beat. It helps to define the general, overall
1. What is the Master Tape?the completed mix withproduction feel of each song section.d. Where does a
added equalization and the signal processing effects.specific musical element appear?
Some times called the "mix master". 
 As producers or engineers, we often think in technical
2. How is it Done?terms—panning, reverb, delay, volume, etc. The
Utilizing high-end mastering equipment, the producer orlisteners, however, just hear things located in
and the engineer are involved in the final mastering,3-dimensional space. So, define spatial placement as
creating balances in volume, time between songs andthey do. Then you can figure out the possibletechnical
equalization issues.ways to achieve that.
  
3. What you Do With It…For example, “a muted trumpet drenched in reverb,
For CD duplication the master is sent to a duplicationpanned off to the right, with a lot of a reverb and low
plant and CDs are creating in accordance within the mix, is heard by the listener as a soft trumpet off
prescribe technical specifications.in the distance, perhaps on a misty night”.
  
Even if the ultimate format for the use of the recordingHow is it played? What is the emotional approach,
is other than a CD, the mastering process isattitude?
implemented to insure a professional consistency withThis overlaps with much of the above. “How”
regards to the recorded music.  Once mastering ismay include equipment, effects, and so forth. A
complete, the song is ready for its final format (ie. AIFF,specific instrument through a specific processor helps
MP3, Wave, Liquid Audio, Real Audio, Web Streaming,define the sound and is used to support the attitude.
CD, etc.).  The producer has now done his job. 
 Know what the purpose of each musical element is?
The Impact of Technology in Producing RecordedAbove all, this is the most important question for good
Music:production. For each and every element in a record, a
 choice was made to have it.a. Why was it included?b.
An integral part of record production is understandingWhy that specific instrument at that specific location in
the technology that supports the science.this specific song, located in that specific space, played
Technological advances in recording equipment andwith that specific approach?
computer platforms have dramatically changed the 
landscape of record production.There is a purpose for each choice, even if it’s just
 to “keeps the groove,” or some other simple
In desktop production, the self-produced artist oftenmusical purpose.
wears more than one hat, in many cases taking on the 
roles of composer, arranger, and performer. When weRecord production is akin to directing a movie.  Like a
use multi-track recording techniques, composition anddirector is responsible for managing all of the elements
arranging can be part of an interactive process whereof making a movie so is the record producer of a
one musical idea suggests another.great record.  Record production takes thought, skill,
 knowledge, and wherewithal.  There’s no better
Just as composers have traditionally used the piano toway to understand it that to go through the process if
work out fully formed compositions from fragments ofyou’re interested in record production.  It’s a
musical ideas, desktop producers can start with agreat experience to hear a finished project for which
skeletal idea for a song – perhaps just a drumyou were primarily responsible.  There’s nothing
pattern and bass line -- and develop it into a completebetter than your first time because now you know
musical arrangement. The most powerful capability ofhow to do it, and how to make it better the next time
computer-based desktopproduction is the ability toaround.  Like anything, you will get better with
rearrange and edit both audio and MIDI performancesexperience.  Read this article.  Reread this article. 
after they've been recorded.Then read it one more time and take the
 leap…produce a record or if nothing else get involved
How to Produce a Song/Understanding the songin a record production!