Using audio effects in the master channel, adding syncopation to the arrangement, and sampling your own song are just some of the clever methods you can use to make your music more interesting. More often than not, small details are what separates a decent track from a top-tier song. You've just finished a tune ...
Getting an education in music used to be a lengthy and costly process. Nowadays, you can get access to all the music-production information you need without leaving the house. There's a lot of amazing content online, and the best free online courses for music production are surely worth your time. Below, you can ...
A sound's pitch is determined by the speed at which its soundwaves vibrate. When you pluck a guitar string, for example, it vibrates at a given frequency. The faster the frequency, the higher the pitch. The frequency of a soundwave is measured in hertz (i.e., cycles per second). That's why an 80Hz tone, for ...
The word pad in the term synth pad stems from an old orchestral arrangement concept. Sections of the orchestra would play sustained harmonies behind the main melody lines to add greater depth and to pad out the arrangement. The term persisted to be used in synthesizers. A synth pad is a sustained sound ...
Music production has never been easier. But that doesn't mean that becoming a successful music producer doesn't take time and hard work. While access to music technology and musical knowledge has never been as standardized as today, the music market is more competitive than ever. More people producing music means ...
Working with a digital audio workstation (DAW) is a lot about routing audio through different tracks. To do so, music producers rely on buses, sends, and aux tracks, also known as return tracks. These make for incredibly useful tools for improving workflow, processing multiple files simultaneously, and saving ...
In electronic dance music, a drop describes the moment in which a sudden change in the track takes place. A double drop is an advanced DJing technique in which the drop of two tracks is played simultaneously. Drops are usually highly energetic and introduced by a build-up section. Double drops are most commonly ...
Song arrangement is about taking a musical idea and organizing it to create a song that flows from start to finish. Arrangements should have a cohesive structure, divided by recognizable sections. Choosing the instruments that make up a song (voicing) is also an important part of song arrangement. What is the ...
Producing good-quality remixes is an art form. To take a completed song and give it a new context takes a lot of creativity, know-how, and compositional skill. There are many approaches to remixing, from completely altering the structure of the original song to simply adding a new beat to an acapella vocal track. ...
Ambient music is a type of music that focuses on textures and soundscapes rather than melodies and beats. It's usually characterized for having a soothing, relaxing effect and for its loose structure, lack of identifiable motifs and chord progressions, and high dependence on abstract noises and atmospheres. While ...
The best equalizer setting is one that is turned off or one that is set to "flat", meaning that all dials are set to zero. Equalizers distort the sound of the original master recording. However, they can be useful as a last-resort when compensating for poor speakers or headphones. Please note, we're referring to ...
A metronome is a musical device that emits a beeping or clicking sound to help you play at a consistent tempo. Metronomes are used by musicians to improve their timing. They are also often used during musical performances, using “click tracks” through in-ear monitors. How to Use a Metronome Whether it's ...
