I hope this video helped you and if you are wanting to take advantage of our holiday sale for Producer Accelerator you can do so right here 👉 www.produceracceleratorcourse.com/black-friday-sale
As someone who has worked with some big names and seen the top of the top at work, you hit the nail on the head. Another thing new producers don’t realize is, to be a producer you don’t usually start there, but you end up there. Years of rehearsals, gigs, and tours, and only then you get the intuition to make greatness.
I absolutely love that last sentence - I never "set out to be a producer" - I fell into it because I was writing songs and ultimately wanted to be a writer/composer and found out that being able to produce my stuff made a lot of sense. I just got really lucky and started very young.
I guess in this respect I am one of the lucky ones. I started recording (as a musician, not an engineer) in the late 70's when things were committed to tape, live. You HAD to get your performance right, tone, expression, volume(ish), etc. Over the years I have taken the time to learn the rest, but will also be the first to admit that in my own productions I still have a LONG way to go....
im only 16 and i started making music over 4 years ago, the best advice i have is to jus make shit yes it will be bad but it takes time just enjoy it in the end u will naturally gain an ear for music, anything u listen to wont just be a song it will be a production, you will hear the bass, drums, fx, secret melody most people wouldnt even know about, after a while u will naturally begin to hear things broken down
First part makes sense with a performative genre. There is some music that I wouldn’t say mixing, but sound design with certain tools have to be done to create the resulting sound you might want. Personally to avoid this mess I’ve started just using only synth presets that logic comes with, and doing small tweaks from there. This has helped SAVE my mixes and workflow on the songs I’ve been working on this month. Already a huge difference from the track I worked on in October. Using less plugins and really focusing on the sound before mixing is 🙏🙌 truly huge. Just a bit harder to do in EDM I think
This is soooo true. As someone who went to school for all this stuff, I feel like I spent most of my time practicing. So when I record I have a good basis for starting.
Great advice Mr Professor. Anyone Who has been in production for over 8 years Will understand Your words and take it as a great advice. But new producers Will take it as you being arrogant. Myself i testify that this teachings are pure Gold. Keep the teachings !
I am not a pro, yet. But I know what I need to be working on to get there. This list is dead on correct. In the meantime, not being a pro allows me the extra time to learn, while exploring and experimenting.
If you think that is the definition of pro that is just ignorant. There are millions of professional producers who are not on the top 100. For example: I make music that has been on television... soooo just cause I choose not to work with artists that are "major" doesn't mean I'm not a professional. I worked for artist clients in the past and to be frank - it's not my cup of tea. But this is what I do full-time.
Thank you for this video! Good source material is so underrated by many upcoming artists and producers. They all think, there is a magic plugin or something that is gonna make everything magical. But in fact, a mix, a production or even a master is always just as good as the source material. Bad performances, bad clippy recordings, bad recording environment, these aspects are crucial to have a solid fundament to build a good production from.
Thanks. I use Obsidian to create a knowledge graph of sounds, the VST synth and preset, sample, use, FX and preset, and what it works on best. All linked together with audio clips, easy to find, and saves trying to remember when I find the good stuff.
Literally no one will get from amateur to pro over night. Your video is a reminder that only work, learning and experience will make us better. But there are no reason to bash us as an amateurs and passionate musicians while we learning ;) We need only guidance from others, more experienced. But there's a little catch: not all of us want to be pros ;) We want to be better at what we do for fun without paying tones of money for pro synths and plug-ins ;)
I'm not bashing at all - and if that's your takeaway I definitely apologize for that. And by "pro" that can mean a few different things - obviously professionals who make money, yes, but many amateurs want to still create professional quality music. That's really who it's for. Not so much "how to make money" but how to make professional quality. Hope that makes sense.
@@NathanJamesLarsen I thank You for an answer. I didn't expected it and i appreciate that You took time to write it. I don't feel "bashed" but the notorious comparison to pros sometimes might be overwhelming. I'm a fresh "producer" with some experience from 90's with MIDI and trackers that recently came back to this passion. I want to thank You for your efforts to educate greenhorns like me :)
Interesting video and I agree, that in-depth knowledge about dealing with equipment is the key to a great sounding production. But 4 out of your 5 points are about are about that, nothing but the skills of a professional sound engineer. A *producer* needs outstanding knowledge about point 4., music theory etc., dealing with artists to get the most out of them as musicians and so on. Totally different ballpark, so I have to ask myself if I am wrong or most people just call the man at the desk the producer...
Most of the stuff I've done lately is not published (for television, licensing) but I am releasing music under the name NJL starting next Friday - so kinda interesting timing asking about that :) We'll be publishing all that music on this new youtube channel here: ruclips.net/channel/UChxlQTI8skc-SxNzkPVdM8Q
Thank you for the insightful, honest and hard hitting explanations. If I had aspirations to become a professional producer I would definitely take your course. Right now I am having a great time of my life as an amateur and concentrating on explorations and innovations instead of getting what I do to sound professional. My hope is that you continue to offer your courses. Some time in the future I may decide to try to become more professional. Thanks again.
Absolutely - glad you liked it and it was valuable to you! And I totally get it about the course - try my best to not be pushy - if down the road it makes sense we'd love to have ya but no worries if not.
Hi Nathan love your videos!! However I think you are generalizing a little bit in this one… for example Fred Again is super talented and he is using vocals from phone audios and social media without being in good quality…
I’ve spent so many countless hours trying to make chicken salad out of, well, you know. I spend so much more time now concentrating on capturing a great performance. Once I feel like I got that, the other four come easier. At least for me.
I've been workin on FL Studio 20 Pro, but since when I checked Studio One 5,5 my opinion about FL studio has changed. Studio One 5,5 sound is fully professional in plugins and in low latency, FL Studio is an amateur toy.... Your Friend Forest Whitehead is using Studio One and his productions sound amazing (not taking into conc.) the sound is full with wider panorama....great program for mastering.... If you listen to fl studio the mixed tracks seem to be glued with not so great dynamics... I use UAD Apollo interface I know what I am talking about...
This guy is só good, such a pro... 🤔😳 "The pro's know - we know..." You, a pro?!! A pro at making little lists!🤣Take a better listen to your own work, mate...
I've watched this in the start I think ohh yes am a pro....after a while ooh sh** am an amateur as I keep on am a pro yeah......at the end am back to amateur......😔😔😔 🚶🏿♂️🚶🏿♂️🚶🏿♂️🚶🏿♂️
"Listen to this mix that I've done, it sounds amazing" - Even if he does say so himself. In my opinion, it didn't sound that great dude. As a professional producer of some 25 years, I often look through these kinds of videos and the majority of them are utterly useless with absolutely no context, there's way more than five ways, I can assure you (what about monitoring? A huge factor that you just completely skipped). Training your ear comes with experience and arrangement is king, you've got those two right. As for your "$1500 microphone", well I wouldn't get too excited about that either, I own a 2 xTelefunken U47 ($25,000 per microphone) which sounds absolutely shit on certain singers (yes our studios are fully treated) and a 2 xTelefunken ELA M 251 ($15,000 per microphone) which sounds equally shit on other singers, therefore it's how you partner them with with different preamps to suit the right singer and not the price of the unit, it makes no difference, and sorry to piss on your chips here, but £1500 is a budget microphone in my world. If anyone reading this wants my advice then I would suggest to stop watching these types of videos and read a book, try The Mixing Engineers Handbook by Bob Owsinski to start with as it's excellent, it will give you an clear insight into the basics of professional audio engineering, as well as a host of interviews with many of my colleagues too. No offence Nathan, I've never heard of you (you would have heard of me) so the valuation of your course seems a bit excessive to say the least.
I never said this was an exhaustive list at all. These are five pretty straight forward aspects. Also - the irony of your "take down" of my track is that I have many colleagues who have heard that exact track (one who is multi-Grammy nominated) who love it... so this is absolutely subjective on your part (which I would also expect any professional to be aware that many other professionals probably do not like what you're making either)... just a part of the game. That's art and that's the creative field - you might not like it and that's fine... I might not really like what you make either - Lord knows there are LOTS of professionals who I do not like what they create. You may not like the decisions / choices I made and that is totally fine but to use that to almost imply that I don't know what I'm doing is a bit low, and it'd be kinda weird if I didn't actually like what I create. So me being happy with my work and saying I think it sounds great shouldn't really come as a surprise. And good for you for owning really expensive mics - my point is literally the exact point you are making. That the mic and the price tag really doesn't mean a whole lot - it's how it is used and in what context (again- as you mentioned). Obviously you don't know me (as you mention in your comment - nor do I know you) but if you did you would know that my channel is focused on home studio producers- not those who have $25k to shell on a mic. The book you mention is a great book - read it probably 12-13 years ago and definitely recommend it as well. And even though my channel has literally reached millions I would never just assume someone knows who I am because honestly that comes across as pretty self-absorbed. Thankfully I don't put the stock in my course based on a youtube comment but instead what the people who are actually in it (the almost 1,000 people we get to help). Wish you the best.
İ’m a 22 year old hip hop artist and i went to the studio today and i was really motivated i did my thing put 100 energy in my track but the production was not good it was pretty shit and i seriously regret going to him, First of all he doesn’t know what can help my music production wise and he was on his phone the whole time
I hope this video helped you and if you are wanting to take advantage of our holiday sale for Producer Accelerator you can do so right here 👉 www.produceracceleratorcourse.com/black-friday-sale
Definitely it’s like learning to paint before even put a good foundation for a building
As someone who has worked with some big names and seen the top of the top at work, you hit the nail on the head.
Another thing new producers don’t realize is, to be a producer you don’t usually start there, but you end up there. Years of rehearsals, gigs, and tours, and only then you get the intuition to make greatness.
I absolutely love that last sentence - I never "set out to be a producer" - I fell into it because I was writing songs and ultimately wanted to be a writer/composer and found out that being able to produce my stuff made a lot of sense. I just got really lucky and started very young.
I guess in this respect I am one of the lucky ones. I started recording (as a musician, not an engineer) in the late 70's when things were committed to tape, live. You HAD to get your performance right, tone, expression, volume(ish), etc. Over the years I have taken the time to learn the rest, but will also be the first to admit that in my own productions I still have a LONG way to go....
For me, it’s about being patient with myself to develop my ears, get better arrangement, sound selection etc.
im only 16 and i started making music over 4 years ago, the best advice i have is to jus make shit yes it will be bad but it takes time just enjoy it in the end u will naturally gain an ear for music, anything u listen to wont just be a song it will be a production, you will hear the bass, drums, fx, secret melody most people wouldnt even know about, after a while u will naturally begin to hear things broken down
First part makes sense with a performative genre. There is some music that I wouldn’t say mixing, but sound design with certain tools have to be done to create the resulting sound you might want. Personally to avoid this mess I’ve started just using only synth presets that logic comes with, and doing small tweaks from there. This has helped SAVE my mixes and workflow on the songs I’ve been working on this month. Already a huge difference from the track I worked on in October. Using less plugins and really focusing on the sound before mixing is 🙏🙌 truly huge. Just a bit harder to do in EDM I think
This is soooo true. As someone who went to school for all this stuff, I feel like I spent most of my time practicing. So when I record I have a good basis for starting.
Great advice Mr Professor. Anyone Who has been in production for over 8 years Will understand Your words and take it as a great advice. But new producers Will take it as you being arrogant. Myself i testify that this teachings are pure Gold. Keep the teachings !
Professional or amateur, this is amazing content. Great reminder for the pros, great info for beginners.
Every statement here is Gold. Thanks, Nathan👍🏾🙏
I am not a pro, yet. But I know what I need to be working on to get there. This list is dead on correct. In the meantime, not being a pro allows me the extra time to learn, while exploring and experimenting.
That is a great attitude!
Superb video ! THANK YOU Nathan
Yes, discover ..thats the way to go
pro producers has songs on billboard top 100
If you think that is the definition of pro that is just ignorant. There are millions of professional producers who are not on the top 100.
For example: I make music that has been on television... soooo just cause I choose not to work with artists that are "major" doesn't mean I'm not a professional.
I worked for artist clients in the past and to be frank - it's not my cup of tea. But this is what I do full-time.
I love your straight forward fact spitting
Thank you for this video! Good source material is so underrated by many upcoming artists and producers. They all think, there is a magic plugin or something that is gonna make everything magical. But in fact, a mix, a production or even a master is always just as good as the source material. Bad performances, bad clippy recordings, bad recording environment, these aspects are crucial to have a solid fundament to build a good production from.
...one of the best tutorials ever!! respect
I dig the new Hat
Thanks. I use Obsidian to create a knowledge graph of sounds, the VST synth and preset, sample, use, FX and preset, and what it works on best. All linked together with audio clips, easy to find, and saves trying to remember when I find the good stuff.
Very good tips bro
Literally no one will get from amateur to pro over night. Your video is a reminder that only work, learning and experience will make us better. But there are no reason to bash us as an amateurs and passionate musicians while we learning ;) We need only guidance from others, more experienced. But there's a little catch: not all of us want to be pros ;) We want to be better at what we do for fun without paying tones of money for pro synths and plug-ins ;)
I'm not bashing at all - and if that's your takeaway I definitely apologize for that.
And by "pro" that can mean a few different things - obviously professionals who make money, yes, but many amateurs want to still create professional quality music. That's really who it's for. Not so much "how to make money" but how to make professional quality. Hope that makes sense.
@@NathanJamesLarsen I thank You for an answer. I didn't expected it and i appreciate that You took time to write it. I don't feel "bashed" but the notorious comparison to pros sometimes might be overwhelming. I'm a fresh "producer" with some experience from 90's with MIDI and trackers that recently came back to this passion. I want to thank You for your efforts to educate greenhorns like me :)
And then I've found Your material about bass from 2 months ago 😂
big thanks for the vids
Thanks!!!!!!!! I was mixing at 100volume my mistake and i noticed it juked up my ears
So good. Thanks so much for these videos!
Interesting video and I agree, that in-depth knowledge about dealing with equipment is the key to a great sounding production. But 4 out of your 5 points are about are about that, nothing but the skills of a professional sound engineer. A *producer* needs outstanding knowledge about point 4., music theory etc., dealing with artists to get the most out of them as musicians and so on. Totally different ballpark, so I have to ask myself if I am wrong or most people just call the man at the desk the producer...
Where can I listen to music you produced? because some of your music sounds so incredible but I don't know where to find it
Most of the stuff I've done lately is not published (for television, licensing) but I am releasing music under the name NJL starting next Friday - so kinda interesting timing asking about that :)
We'll be publishing all that music on this new youtube channel here: ruclips.net/channel/UChxlQTI8skc-SxNzkPVdM8Q
@@NathanJamesLarsen thanks I immediately subscribed to that channel!
Thank you for the insightful, honest and hard hitting explanations. If I had aspirations to become a professional producer I would definitely take your course. Right now I am having a great time of my life as an amateur and concentrating on explorations and innovations instead of getting what I do to sound professional. My hope is that you continue to offer your courses. Some time in the future I may decide to try to become more professional. Thanks again.
Absolutely - glad you liked it and it was valuable to you! And I totally get it about the course - try my best to not be pushy - if down the road it makes sense we'd love to have ya but no worries if not.
i mean
if im a rock/metal producer and there is not so much going on my tracks but people still get blown away by them? what does it mean?
Hi Nathan love your videos!! However I think you are generalizing a little bit in this one… for example Fred Again is super talented and he is using vocals from phone audios and social media without being in good quality…
🤔...lots to think about. Thx.
Hey Nathan, I just purchased the Producer accelerator course. Looks like the site is down?
Is it????
I literally just googled this and found this vid :)
🔥🔥
You need to be good at all of them indeed
I'm good at some and not good at some
I’ve spent so many countless hours trying to make chicken salad out of, well, you know. I spend so much more time now concentrating on capturing a great performance. Once I feel like I got that, the other four come easier. At least for me.
Absolutely - if you are starting with great performances then you are already getting ahead. That alone can be such a big deal.
I've been workin on FL Studio 20 Pro, but since when I checked Studio One 5,5 my opinion about FL studio has changed. Studio One 5,5 sound is fully professional in plugins and in low latency, FL Studio is an amateur toy.... Your Friend Forest Whitehead is using Studio One and his productions sound amazing (not taking into conc.) the sound is full with wider panorama....great program for mastering.... If you listen to fl studio the mixed tracks seem to be glued with not so great dynamics... I use UAD Apollo interface I know what I am talking about...
In your first example, we’re those real drums?
Yes - tracked live drums but also had sample layering happening as well.
Ik ben weg gehouden bij spinnin records
Sounds like live instruments.
Combo of live and MIDI - live guitars/bass and live drums - everything else is programmed
@@NathanJamesLarsen Can using live instruments prior to mixing change how a track sounds?
Hi Nathan. The added sound effects and background music are very distracting and make your great content sound like it was edited by an amateur.
Ik ben achter dat ik oplicht ben weg gehouden
wil je meer video maken graag helpt wat doet begrijpen wat doe
Cocaine is a hell of a drug..
This guy is só good, such a pro... 🤔😳 "The pro's know - we know..." You, a pro?!! A pro at making little lists!🤣Take a better listen to your own work, mate...
I've watched this in the start I think ohh yes am a pro....after a while ooh sh** am an amateur as I keep on am a pro yeah......at the end am back to amateur......😔😔😔 🚶🏿♂️🚶🏿♂️🚶🏿♂️🚶🏿♂️
"Listen to this mix that I've done, it sounds amazing" - Even if he does say so himself. In my opinion, it didn't sound that great dude.
As a professional producer of some 25 years, I often look through these kinds of videos and the majority of them are utterly useless with absolutely no context, there's way more than five ways, I can assure you (what about monitoring? A huge factor that you just completely skipped). Training your ear comes with experience and arrangement is king, you've got those two right. As for your "$1500 microphone", well I wouldn't get too excited about that either, I own a 2 xTelefunken U47 ($25,000 per microphone) which sounds absolutely shit on certain singers (yes our studios are fully treated) and a 2 xTelefunken ELA M 251 ($15,000 per microphone) which sounds equally shit on other singers, therefore it's how you partner them with with different preamps to suit the right singer and not the price of the unit, it makes no difference, and sorry to piss on your chips here, but £1500 is a budget microphone in my world.
If anyone reading this wants my advice then I would suggest to stop watching these types of videos and read a book, try The Mixing Engineers Handbook by Bob Owsinski to start with as it's excellent, it will give you an clear insight into the basics of professional audio engineering, as well as a host of interviews with many of my colleagues too.
No offence Nathan, I've never heard of you (you would have heard of me) so the valuation of your course seems a bit excessive to say the least.
I never said this was an exhaustive list at all. These are five pretty straight forward aspects.
Also - the irony of your "take down" of my track is that I have many colleagues who have heard that exact track (one who is multi-Grammy nominated) who love it... so this is absolutely subjective on your part (which I would also expect any professional to be aware that many other professionals probably do not like what you're making either)... just a part of the game. That's art and that's the creative field - you might not like it and that's fine... I might not really like what you make either - Lord knows there are LOTS of professionals who I do not like what they create.
You may not like the decisions / choices I made and that is totally fine but to use that to almost imply that I don't know what I'm doing is a bit low, and it'd be kinda weird if I didn't actually like what I create. So me being happy with my work and saying I think it sounds great shouldn't really come as a surprise.
And good for you for owning really expensive mics - my point is literally the exact point you are making. That the mic and the price tag really doesn't mean a whole lot - it's how it is used and in what context (again- as you mentioned).
Obviously you don't know me (as you mention in your comment - nor do I know you) but if you did you would know that my channel is focused on home studio producers- not those who have $25k to shell on a mic.
The book you mention is a great book - read it probably 12-13 years ago and definitely recommend it as well.
And even though my channel has literally reached millions I would never just assume someone knows who I am because honestly that comes across as pretty self-absorbed.
Thankfully I don't put the stock in my course based on a youtube comment but instead what the people who are actually in it (the almost 1,000 people we get to help).
Wish you the best.
An amateur wears a cap in their home studio ? Ok ok I'm out
This might be the most stupid comment I've ever seen. Well done!
@@NathanJamesLarsen Thank you I did my best troll, and you are the first to jump in, quite promissing
pro means arrogant i hate you gatekeepers
That's pretty ridiculous to say considering I have over 200 free videos on this channel that give a ton of value.
İ’m a 22 year old hip hop artist and i went to the studio today and i was really motivated i did my thing put 100 energy in my track but the production was not good it was pretty shit and i seriously regret going to him, First of all he doesn’t know what can help my music production wise and he was on his phone the whole time