How to sequence an album for best results
Perfecting your song order when you sequence an album can mean the difference between a great artistic statement and a nice mixtape. Read the post.
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What multiple listens can reveal about a song
When learning a song or diving into ideas for music production, multiple listens to an inspiring track can help you discover arrangement and recording tricks that you can apply to your own music. Read the post.
The art of music arrangement: an interview with Dr. Richard Niles
Music arrangement might be the invisible art, but the results can spell the difference between a smash hit and a “nice” song. Dr. Richard Niles has a storied history as an arranger and shares some thoughts and insights in this interview. Read the post.
5 things to do before recording in a professional studio
Going to a professional studio for the first time can be an exciting and intimidating experience. If you aren’t prepared, it can also be much more expensive than it needs to be. Read the post.
From demo to classic: She Said She Said
Though labeled a Lennon/McCartney song, “She Said She Said” was more truly a Lennon/Harrison song that was a late addition to one of the pivotal albums in the Beatles’ esteemed catalog. Read the post.
Are you ready for a remote musical collaboration?
If you need to collaborate with others to make your project come alive, when do you look locally and when do you search beyond? Here are some guidelines to help you decide when remote musical collaboration is right for your project. Read the post.
Remote music collaboration: How I got a live cello on my recording
When I realized my latest recording project needed live strings to add the energy and timbre the song needed, I ended up collaborating with a cellist from Toronto, with stellar results. Read the post.
Make the most of your studio time (and space)
Excerpted from the 3rd edition of Disc Makers’ revised and expanded Home Studio Handbook, these basic recording tips will help you make the most of your studio time. Read the post.
From demo to hit single: Owner of a Lonely Heart
Here’s the story of how an unlikely collaboration met with a massive riff, memorable chorus, groundbreaking samples, and an in-your-face solo to produce a surprise hit single in 1983. Read the post.
Five tips for hiring musicians online
If you have an instrument and an original idea, you can write a great song. Producing a great song is another thing. Songwriters can connect with a network of collaborators to boost the professionalism of their recordings — here are tips when hiring musicians online. Read the post.
Finding your place in the music industry: The M3 podcast interviews Keith Hatschek
The “Mentoring for the Modern Musician” podcast interviewed Keith Hatschek, author of How to Get a Job in the Music Industry. Hatcheck connects his own career path to how he teaches students, encouraging them to hone a variety of skills as they find their place in the music industry. Read More.
Scott McCormick discusses Brian Wilson’s production and arrangements with the M3 podcast
“Mentoring for the Modern Musician” podcast producers Adam and Michael Scharff caught up with musician/author/Disc Makers Blog contributor Scott McCormick to dig deeper into Scott’s three-part DM Blog series on the inimitable Brian Wilson. Here’s an excerpt from the conversation. Read More.
Commit important choices to audio: Prepping for an audio mix, Part II
There’s plenty you can do to set your mixing engineer up for success. Ken Lewis recommends committing important production choices to audio before sending your tracks off for an audio mix. Read More.
Prepping for an audio mix: Get your session, tracks, and notes in order
Here are some tips for prepping for an audio mix from multi-Grammy Award winner and Audio School Online creator, Ken Lewis. Read More.
“Good Vibrations” and Smile: A complex album built on a song
Not only does “Good Vibrations” provide a structural template for Smile, it also gives the album its tonal language. Nearly every song or song section is written in one of “Good Vibrations” chords. Read More.