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Music Information Articles
The Main Ingredient!
Brent Bodrug
So how do you make a great recording?
Great songs? Yep, that's essential.
Great band? Yeah, that helps.
Great studio? Sure.
That's it, right? Well, no. You forgot the main ingredient. A great producer.
Why do you need a producer?
Imagine for a moment...you've got twenty killer tunes. Your drummer likes the groovin' one. Your bass player likes to rock. Your boyfriend/ girlfriend likes the funky tune. And of course, your mom loves the slow songs. How do you choose?
Producers are in the business of making songs sound good. A good producer stays in tune with what's happening in the record business, but it always starts with a great song. The producer will be able to help you find your best songs. Better yet, he/she may be able to help you make your songs even better by suggesting subtle lyric, melody, chord, or form alterations. If your song is already great, a good producer won't touch it. Even better still, he/she won't be influenced by your mom or the bass player!
Pre-production
O.K., so we've picked the best tunes. What next? Pre-production. Sometimes this means rehearsing the band like crazy. For electronic artists, this may mean gathering sounds and samples. For great live acts, this could mean refining the arrangements. It may mean finding the right session players for a vocalist without a band. Or it could mean going straight into the studio and freaking out with the tape machine running. Whatever is important for your particular situation, the producer will steer you in the right direction. Why is pre-production crucial? It helps you work more efficiently in the studio. As we all know, time equals money. Solve potential problems in a $15/hour rehearsal space, not a $100/hour studio.
Let's record
We're ready. Let's record. Book some time in the studio! Not just yet. This is where it gets tricky. Picking the right studio can be very difficult. The large, expensive rooms lure you with amazing acoustics, expensive gear, hot tubs and a client list containing all of your childhood idols. The cool, smaller rooms offer you good rates, great vibe and, hey, your favourite local band recorded there. What to do? You want to sound like your childhood idol but you want to pay what the local band paid. Enter the producer. Good producers have usually worked in a number of studios. They will have a pretty good idea of what each studio offers. The producer may even have his/her own studio. Let the producer aid you in making this decision. The big studio may be just the ticket for your project. But it may not. The smaller room may actually be better for what it is you're trying to do. Or maybe it's a combination of studios that will do your project justice. Let's face it. You've got a Strat and a Les Paul, right? Producers work in studios all the time. Most producers have good relationships with a few studio owners and may be able to negotiate a better rate for you.
Who's at the controls?
Alright, we're in. But who's at the controls? Studios typically provide a house engineer (we're talking "in-house" here, not "house" music). Sometimes these engineers are great. Sometimes they are not. A producer can help here as well. Often, the producer will have worked with, or at least "know of" these house engineers, and can evaluate whether this is the right person for your recording. If not, the producer can usually suggest another good engineer. Some producers even engineer their own recordings. But regardless of who is engineering, the producer is there to make sure that the sounds and parts get to tape (or hard disk, as the case may be) properly. Remember that the producer has been a part of the project since the beginning, so he/she is going to have a pretty good idea of how you want things to sound. And a great producer will ensure that it sounds great whether you're using a Neve or a Mackie.
Getting the most out of the gear
This raises another topic. The gear and how to get the most out of it. There's more to getting a great sound than cranking up an amp and sticking a mic in front of it. Producers are familiar with the sound of different microphones, pre-amps, compressors, equalizers, mixers, tape machines, amps, guitars, drums, keyboards, and speakers. He/she will know what combination of equipment will get that wicked sound you're after. Oh yeah, and then there's the computer. Whether you like it or not, desktop computer recording has arrived. Even if you choose to record to a more traditional tape medium, it's pretty likely you'll have to peer into that computer screen for some digital editing (or at the very least, mix automation). These days, everybody edits. Digital editing is difficult. Done poorly, your recording is toast. But editing can also produce some magical results. The producer will make sure that it is done properly.
The Art of Mixing
So what's left? Mixing. And believe me, mixing is an art. Some engineers and producers specialize in mixing. The producer will make sure that the mixes sound great. If he/she can't get it done properly, then he/she will know somebody that can. I've heard more than a few great recordings ruined by bad mixes. And while we're on the subject, do you know what else can ruin a great recording? Bad mastering. Mastering is a special skill. Good producers always have a good relationship with a pro mastering studio and will oversee that this very important process is done well.
What's next?
Finally! The record's done. Anything else? Yep. Many producers can help you find the right design people to make your album look as good as it sounds. A good producer can connect you with a quality manufacturing company. And most importantly, a good producer will have connections that will help to get your recording heard.
Wow! So the producer is really important. How much does he/she cost? That depends on a lot of factors. Some producers charge by the hour. Some will calculate a flat rate for the entire project (which may include the use of his/her project studio if he/she has one). Most will ask for a percentage of your royalties. Is it worth it? Every penny. Recording with a good producer is "high percentage play." Recording without a producer? Well, you can do the math. Even if your budget is small, find a producer. A good one will save you money in the end.
So how do you make a great recording? ...
Hire a great producer. When you're cooking up a hit record, don't forget the main ingredient.
Brent Bodrug has produced, arranged and written for artists such as Alanis Morissette, Oscar Peterson, Jacksoul, Son, Aquanaut, Paul Manchin, and Warm. Contact Brent c/o The B-Group Music 1-800-416-9995 or visit The B-Group Music website at http://www.interlog.com/~bgroup
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