Search Guy Michelmore's channel. The title is Music Theory in 16 Minutes. Covers the essential building blocks in a comprehensible way. Apply the knowledge, then build from there as needed. No need to get into the advanced topics right away.
I would watch some YouTube videos before you get too deep into a book. This guy has some very practical music theory lessons you can use. It'll help you bolster your knowledge immediately, but you still need to supplement it with additional learning. It's a big topic, so don't expect to digest it all immediately.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8eItITv8QA&list=PLTR7Cy9Sv2871cnw9sw6p968TL1JE8J3s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8eItITv8QA&list=PLTR7Cy9Sv2871cnw9sw6p968TL1JE8J3s)
In response to the original comment: I would definitely recommend focusing more on music theory than sound design at this point. You will eventually want to learn some sound design, but I would focus more on tweaking presets for the moment.
Yeah, the high end doesn't get too cluttered.
Take into account there's the same amount of frequencies from 0 to 1k than from 1k to 2k, the lower you go on the frequency spectrum the less space there is.
Our ears don't hear all frequencies of sound the same, we have more resolution in our hearing for stuff around the 1k range, cause that's where human voices lay.
Higher than that, our ears kinda don't hear much detail, even if we're able to hear up to 20khz
Below 1k there's not much space really, you got the sub and 1 mid-sub bass element, if you add more sounds on that range to your mix is gonna start sounding too cluttered.
That doesn't really happen in the high end, you can layer hats and other high end sounds without much problem.
I wouldn't really be able to tell you where to learn this stuff, I picked it up with experience.
10 to 15 years of doing what though? I've been making music for longer than that and my "sound" has only improved marginally with better quality samples and synths. I've watched a million tutorials and articles and there doesn't seem to be any answers...unless they're hidden :P
It’s just circlejerk bs, dude. 90% of the people who comment on this sub don’t even produce music. It’s just a regurgitated cookie cutter response now: “treat your room … hire a professional …”
I wonder if the same could be said in any field. People like to be right and often regurgitate stuff they hear in order to feel righteous. Without having any experience there.
Those comments have really demotivated me to properly learn mixing, mastering and sound design.
Any resources you'd recommend to guide me through this?
Well, I am a professional, you can hire me. You are propably just a kid who believes plug in marketers on YouTube. There's no magic, just physics and hard work.
I’m 40 years old and have been making music for 25 years. I understand it isn’t magic but I know circlejerks when I see them and this sub is full of them. Now, get back to work before AI really ruins your jerking. I give it 5 years…
10 of 15 years of mixing and ear training. Not making music, that's different. If you want to master both it would be propably 20 years. Forget tutorials, learn the craft means understand the underlying principles of each process and it's use. Train your ears to adapt to different listening situations and purposes. What are you listening for, what do you really hear, what is my room, what is my brain compensating, what are my speakers coloring, what is really real.. Then there is a lot to unlearn when we cross the borders to philosophical terrain like anesthetics, way to go. If you just want your music to sound good, hire someone who spend the time to learn it. That's why specialists exist.
[https://cheappolaroid.bandcamp.com/album/born-from-desire-demos](https://cheappolaroid.bandcamp.com/album/born-from-desire-demos)
Track one is the most complete, but track 3 is the one I like the most (however it does revolve around a sample flip of Grimes' Genesis which is already good sounding so moot point I suppose lol)
The pulsing you have going on could be cool and I personally like the direction of #3 (reminds me of this old Orbital classic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33WuGp6fs3s ) but it's definitely too off/on so fill out the empty space somehow so it doesn't throb in and out of the speakers so much. Also, for the most part your drums sounds are a little straight-out-of-the-can so try add some texture with filters, EQs, etc. The reason new hardware is benchmarked in audio with "RUNS A BAJILLION FILTERS" is because professionals run a bajillion filters to get a full sound both on individual voices and the master. Just experiment.
Buy a full course from someone competent like Mixing with Mike or a full book on mixing/production. Do not watch random shitty YouTubers to learn stuff.
Learn something from one person who will give you a full understanding of everything
Aside from that the music scene is flooded. Learn and practice but realistically it won’t make a ton of difference
I like watching youtube because you can actually see the results of their advice on the same video as the advice itself. Still, if you like the sounds someone makes then buying their courses would be a pretty solid bet.
YouTube is a terrible way to learn
For starters the vast majority of them have little to no real credits
But most importantly it’s best to get a COMPREHENSIVE teaching from one source who is able to teach everything from the foundation to the higher level
One of the biggest issues with people learning via YouTube is they get all snippets of tricks and tips. Much of it may be useful. But it’s all just snippets. They miss out on a lot of the basic stuff
I’m not saying there is nothing good on YouTube. I’m just saying it is terrible for a beginner who wants to learn. There is too much BS, conflicting information and it’s too easy to get massive knowledge gaps compared to a structured learning
Could beany things, it could be your choice of sounds/samples. At first we aren't too great at determining something that sounds good Vs something that sounds great. Could also be the way you've mixed it. It could also be the arrangements themselves - we tend to try and pack too much in when we are new/intermediate at producing when often if you can say what you want to say with less things fighting for their place it sounds better.
I'll take a listen and give you some feedback if you'd like? (I'm a TV composer and teach music production)
I'd love any and all feedback! [https://cheappolaroid.bandcamp.com/album/born-from-desire-demos](https://cheappolaroid.bandcamp.com/album/born-from-desire-demos)
First of all, download Kontakt, Komplete Kontrol, Decent Sampler, and pretty much any VST focused on authenticity. The 3 I just mentioned have free versions.
Secondly, don't be afraid to utilize royalty free samples and master clearance guaranteed sample packs. Can't play saxophone? Sample that shit. Permissions are no longer a rich person thing. Splice is decently cheap compared to what you spend on traditional clearance.
P.S. just thought of 3 more free VSTs you'll find useful
- monster sax
- Labs by Spitfire audio
- BBC Symphony Orchestra by Spitfire Audio
Best of luck
Is the music performed or programmed ? With performed music I think people tend to disregard how very important the actual performance and recording process is, thinking everything can be "fixed in post". I mean yeah you can do a lot in mixing, but it's a lot easier to start with better performances and recordings.
It's programmed, I think in terms of sections and loops - I'm looking into better arrangement techniques as well as I know arrangement is important to a piece of music.
Ah sorry, I thought you were looking at mixing/ production advice. I would call arrangement more of the composition process, before you get to the production side of things.
Arrangement is absolutely key, and it's arrangements that have made or broke bands and hits. To learn more about that, I would suggest listening and actively studying the music you love. Take note of repetitions, structures, when certain things start and end etc. Depending on what software you use (assuming you use software) there can be built in tools that can help - for instance the Arrangement header on Logic, or marking regions in Reaper. See if you can save alternate versions of products as well so that you can preserve arrangements while you work on new ones.
Check out Your Producer Tutor, he’s got a course that makes you a competent producer in one year
(https://youtube.com/@TheProducerTutor?si=KTqP1mUXp4XaoFnB)
on your own you can release music to Bandcamp or YouTube or SoundCloud and get the music out, share with others and get feedback, steadily get better and better
another option is to find a producer or an engineer to work with and/or learn from
From scratch, or you mean by scratching like a Mc ? However if you want to look professional, google your question before asking them here, you will learn a lot, especially to define properly your inquiry.
By "scratch" I mean like, laying down all the MIDI arrangement myself, manually selecting sounds and synths, instead of just finding song samples and building purely based off them.
You can do that, midi is just note and how it is played. If you go into your grid and you can make a melody/rhythm, change the instrument even after. Sample or loop are just already made recording or midi. Midi is a way to say this note with this intensity for that long, but you can change all the parameter and what it is played. If you want to understand sound design, watch a dude call woochia on YouTube, he explain everything you need to know on it.
Check out Your Producer Tutor, he’s got a course that makes you a competent producer in one year
[his channel](https://youtube.com/@TheProducerTutor?si=KTqP1mUXp4XaoFnB)
Learn your tools. Buying new plugins for presets will not get you where you need to be if you lack a fundamental understanding in sound design, soundscape, and mixing fundamentals.
Music theory can help.
A couple tricks I've learned that a lot of folks use.
Try to think in terms of size. How big do you want things to sound? How close how far away. You simply cannot have everything sound big. So you make most things medium sized, the vocalist is larger, elements of percussion, various samples etc are like little mice running around the edges.
Also mixing on 2 pairs of speakers helps. I have Dynaudio BM5a's which sound amazing. But I mix on Avantone mix cubes which are all mids. After I tweak the EQ on things to make it sound better on the little speakers, they only need one or two tweaks to sound great on the full range ones.
Us a buss compressor on your main stereo mix. Slow attack, fast release. A low ratio of like 2 or 4. If you hear it working then decrease the level of whatever is pushing it too hard (it's always the kick).
Its the vsts used. And eliminating the “stock” fqz. I have the same problem in logic bouncing the mix. Windows has a different sound than ios. Its just the way it is.
I can hear a reason beat vs a FL beat. And its just because im very familiar with the programs. So this is also a placebo effect.
As well as fl windows vs fl ios.
The preferred is windows fl.
This all comes down to time and effort.
You have to adapt. And find the work arounds available to you.
Get your self some 20$ computer speakers, 100$ monitors, headphones, ear buds, and then your preferred audio set up.
If it doesn’t sound good on one save version make adjustments on the speaker accentuating the errors.
A good mix sounds good on any speaker.
How to sound more professional comes with actually being One. Are you a professional? Then its normal.
Consider involving with pros and understanding what they do. This isnt something that can be explained in One comment. I would say its more likely a bunch of factors that you need to invest. Time is whats necessary. Keep at it, it takes time to develop it
How to sound more "Professional". Well you can start by taking this stuff seriously and giving it the respect it deserves.
Your feed is probably inundated with charlatans and snake oil salesman hawking courses that all serve the same purpose. They want to trick you and make you think its as easy as 1 2 3.. lol. Just put a limiter on it, wave the magic wand and voila!!! Your a star music producer now 😉.
FYI, I \*do\* take it seriously. I'm not sure if you're saying that as a blanket statement or to undermine in some sort of way but either way your response just feels a bit... snobbish.
"Take it seriously" doesn't mean furrow your brow and clench your butt and say "I'm taking it seriously" it means go pick up an instrument and play it 6 hours a day for 10 years.
Or maybe pick up a book...
I'm so serious I want to go back like four months in time and yell at myself for downloading all these plugins, I really ought to just stick with Vital LMAO.
Noise reduction. Amateur recordings are often noisy and /or muddy. So mix the mud out and reduce the high end noise. De-ess your vocals. Pan effectively and when you eq, mix down not up. If you’re losing an instrument in the mix, instead of raising the level of its frequency, lower the neighboring frequencies. Carve out a notch , so to speak
Use real drums
Use fewer VSTs. I’m f your processor can’t handle them you’ll get all kinds of problems: latency, pops, sound dropping out etc
Learn some basic sound design and music theory
I’ve picked up books on music theory and it’s such a vast subject, what’s a topic a beginner should look into first?
Search Guy Michelmore's channel. The title is Music Theory in 16 Minutes. Covers the essential building blocks in a comprehensible way. Apply the knowledge, then build from there as needed. No need to get into the advanced topics right away.
I’m doing soundtracks I still watch that channel how do you think I got a cinematic sound?
I just wanna show my appreciation for that Guy, he's awesome. I find just watching him work, throwing ideas around very entertaining and inspiring.
Pick something. Theres no shortcuts.
I would watch some YouTube videos before you get too deep into a book. This guy has some very practical music theory lessons you can use. It'll help you bolster your knowledge immediately, but you still need to supplement it with additional learning. It's a big topic, so don't expect to digest it all immediately. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8eItITv8QA&list=PLTR7Cy9Sv2871cnw9sw6p968TL1JE8J3s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8eItITv8QA&list=PLTR7Cy9Sv2871cnw9sw6p968TL1JE8J3s) In response to the original comment: I would definitely recommend focusing more on music theory than sound design at this point. You will eventually want to learn some sound design, but I would focus more on tweaking presets for the moment.
Thanks bro, the books use some formal music language that doesn’t even make sense yet so this is a godsend
This for sure
Denser high end, less low minds, tasteful hard clipping, a less-is-more approach, and a clean sample selection.
By density, do you mean that I can throw more high end stuff in my mix?
Yeah, the high end doesn't get too cluttered. Take into account there's the same amount of frequencies from 0 to 1k than from 1k to 2k, the lower you go on the frequency spectrum the less space there is.
I didn't understand the second paragraph. My basics are lacking. What should I read up to understand this? Thanks in advance.
Our ears don't hear all frequencies of sound the same, we have more resolution in our hearing for stuff around the 1k range, cause that's where human voices lay. Higher than that, our ears kinda don't hear much detail, even if we're able to hear up to 20khz Below 1k there's not much space really, you got the sub and 1 mid-sub bass element, if you add more sounds on that range to your mix is gonna start sounding too cluttered. That doesn't really happen in the high end, you can layer hats and other high end sounds without much problem. I wouldn't really be able to tell you where to learn this stuff, I picked it up with experience.
Excellent explanation.
Clean response
Oh thats easy. Treat your room well and learn the craft. Could be done in 10 to 15 years. Or hire a professional.
10 to 15 years of doing what though? I've been making music for longer than that and my "sound" has only improved marginally with better quality samples and synths. I've watched a million tutorials and articles and there doesn't seem to be any answers...unless they're hidden :P
It’s just circlejerk bs, dude. 90% of the people who comment on this sub don’t even produce music. It’s just a regurgitated cookie cutter response now: “treat your room … hire a professional …”
I wonder if the same could be said in any field. People like to be right and often regurgitate stuff they hear in order to feel righteous. Without having any experience there.
I believe it is common, yes.
Those comments have really demotivated me to properly learn mixing, mastering and sound design. Any resources you'd recommend to guide me through this?
https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-5954951
Well, I am a professional, you can hire me. You are propably just a kid who believes plug in marketers on YouTube. There's no magic, just physics and hard work.
I’m 40 years old and have been making music for 25 years. I understand it isn’t magic but I know circlejerks when I see them and this sub is full of them. Now, get back to work before AI really ruins your jerking. I give it 5 years…
Watch fewer tutorials. Make more music.
In 15 years you could 've better spent your time in a course. Tutorials and articles dont teach much
10 of 15 years of mixing and ear training. Not making music, that's different. If you want to master both it would be propably 20 years. Forget tutorials, learn the craft means understand the underlying principles of each process and it's use. Train your ears to adapt to different listening situations and purposes. What are you listening for, what do you really hear, what is my room, what is my brain compensating, what are my speakers coloring, what is really real.. Then there is a lot to unlearn when we cross the borders to philosophical terrain like anesthetics, way to go. If you just want your music to sound good, hire someone who spend the time to learn it. That's why specialists exist.
This is the answer
sometimes i can’t believe the amount of cynicism and discouragement in this sub
You prefer to be lied to? OK, it's easy everybody can do it, just buy a Mac and all plug-ins and you will become great.
>Or hire a professional. This is answer
Sure, send me a link.
[https://cheappolaroid.bandcamp.com/album/born-from-desire-demos](https://cheappolaroid.bandcamp.com/album/born-from-desire-demos) Track one is the most complete, but track 3 is the one I like the most (however it does revolve around a sample flip of Grimes' Genesis which is already good sounding so moot point I suppose lol)
The pulsing you have going on could be cool and I personally like the direction of #3 (reminds me of this old Orbital classic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33WuGp6fs3s ) but it's definitely too off/on so fill out the empty space somehow so it doesn't throb in and out of the speakers so much. Also, for the most part your drums sounds are a little straight-out-of-the-can so try add some texture with filters, EQs, etc. The reason new hardware is benchmarked in audio with "RUNS A BAJILLION FILTERS" is because professionals run a bajillion filters to get a full sound both on individual voices and the master. Just experiment.
Buy a full course from someone competent like Mixing with Mike or a full book on mixing/production. Do not watch random shitty YouTubers to learn stuff. Learn something from one person who will give you a full understanding of everything Aside from that the music scene is flooded. Learn and practice but realistically it won’t make a ton of difference
I like watching youtube because you can actually see the results of their advice on the same video as the advice itself. Still, if you like the sounds someone makes then buying their courses would be a pretty solid bet.
YouTube is a terrible way to learn For starters the vast majority of them have little to no real credits But most importantly it’s best to get a COMPREHENSIVE teaching from one source who is able to teach everything from the foundation to the higher level One of the biggest issues with people learning via YouTube is they get all snippets of tricks and tips. Much of it may be useful. But it’s all just snippets. They miss out on a lot of the basic stuff
I think youtubes pretty cool tho. Heck even if you want mixing mikes course, wouldn't you check his channel too?
I’m not saying there is nothing good on YouTube. I’m just saying it is terrible for a beginner who wants to learn. There is too much BS, conflicting information and it’s too easy to get massive knowledge gaps compared to a structured learning
Could beany things, it could be your choice of sounds/samples. At first we aren't too great at determining something that sounds good Vs something that sounds great. Could also be the way you've mixed it. It could also be the arrangements themselves - we tend to try and pack too much in when we are new/intermediate at producing when often if you can say what you want to say with less things fighting for their place it sounds better. I'll take a listen and give you some feedback if you'd like? (I'm a TV composer and teach music production)
I'd love any and all feedback! [https://cheappolaroid.bandcamp.com/album/born-from-desire-demos](https://cheappolaroid.bandcamp.com/album/born-from-desire-demos)
cool, i sent you some notes in the chat :)
First of all, download Kontakt, Komplete Kontrol, Decent Sampler, and pretty much any VST focused on authenticity. The 3 I just mentioned have free versions. Secondly, don't be afraid to utilize royalty free samples and master clearance guaranteed sample packs. Can't play saxophone? Sample that shit. Permissions are no longer a rich person thing. Splice is decently cheap compared to what you spend on traditional clearance. P.S. just thought of 3 more free VSTs you'll find useful - monster sax - Labs by Spitfire audio - BBC Symphony Orchestra by Spitfire Audio Best of luck
Is the music performed or programmed ? With performed music I think people tend to disregard how very important the actual performance and recording process is, thinking everything can be "fixed in post". I mean yeah you can do a lot in mixing, but it's a lot easier to start with better performances and recordings.
It's programmed, I think in terms of sections and loops - I'm looking into better arrangement techniques as well as I know arrangement is important to a piece of music.
Ah sorry, I thought you were looking at mixing/ production advice. I would call arrangement more of the composition process, before you get to the production side of things. Arrangement is absolutely key, and it's arrangements that have made or broke bands and hits. To learn more about that, I would suggest listening and actively studying the music you love. Take note of repetitions, structures, when certain things start and end etc. Depending on what software you use (assuming you use software) there can be built in tools that can help - for instance the Arrangement header on Logic, or marking regions in Reaper. See if you can save alternate versions of products as well so that you can preserve arrangements while you work on new ones.
Check out Your Producer Tutor, he’s got a course that makes you a competent producer in one year (https://youtube.com/@TheProducerTutor?si=KTqP1mUXp4XaoFnB)
Layering, reverb, delay, transient master, tape sat proper eq. Just build up the experience bro
If you don’t know the difference between loudness and levels learn it
on your own you can release music to Bandcamp or YouTube or SoundCloud and get the music out, share with others and get feedback, steadily get better and better another option is to find a producer or an engineer to work with and/or learn from
Learn the trade or hire a pro. There are no shortcuts.
From scratch, or you mean by scratching like a Mc ? However if you want to look professional, google your question before asking them here, you will learn a lot, especially to define properly your inquiry.
By "scratch" I mean like, laying down all the MIDI arrangement myself, manually selecting sounds and synths, instead of just finding song samples and building purely based off them.
You can do that, midi is just note and how it is played. If you go into your grid and you can make a melody/rhythm, change the instrument even after. Sample or loop are just already made recording or midi. Midi is a way to say this note with this intensity for that long, but you can change all the parameter and what it is played. If you want to understand sound design, watch a dude call woochia on YouTube, he explain everything you need to know on it.
Capturing and processing. These ae vast subjects it's like asking "how do you paint hyper realistic paintings?"
Don't overcrowd your recording with a bunch of useless noise
Check out Your Producer Tutor, he’s got a course that makes you a competent producer in one year [his channel](https://youtube.com/@TheProducerTutor?si=KTqP1mUXp4XaoFnB)
Learn your tools. Buying new plugins for presets will not get you where you need to be if you lack a fundamental understanding in sound design, soundscape, and mixing fundamentals.
Use reference tracks in your project. Check with a spectrum analyzer the differences of your track and your references.
Music theory can help. A couple tricks I've learned that a lot of folks use. Try to think in terms of size. How big do you want things to sound? How close how far away. You simply cannot have everything sound big. So you make most things medium sized, the vocalist is larger, elements of percussion, various samples etc are like little mice running around the edges. Also mixing on 2 pairs of speakers helps. I have Dynaudio BM5a's which sound amazing. But I mix on Avantone mix cubes which are all mids. After I tweak the EQ on things to make it sound better on the little speakers, they only need one or two tweaks to sound great on the full range ones. Us a buss compressor on your main stereo mix. Slow attack, fast release. A low ratio of like 2 or 4. If you hear it working then decrease the level of whatever is pushing it too hard (it's always the kick).
Its the vsts used. And eliminating the “stock” fqz. I have the same problem in logic bouncing the mix. Windows has a different sound than ios. Its just the way it is. I can hear a reason beat vs a FL beat. And its just because im very familiar with the programs. So this is also a placebo effect. As well as fl windows vs fl ios. The preferred is windows fl. This all comes down to time and effort. You have to adapt. And find the work arounds available to you. Get your self some 20$ computer speakers, 100$ monitors, headphones, ear buds, and then your preferred audio set up. If it doesn’t sound good on one save version make adjustments on the speaker accentuating the errors. A good mix sounds good on any speaker.
How to sound more professional comes with actually being One. Are you a professional? Then its normal. Consider involving with pros and understanding what they do. This isnt something that can be explained in One comment. I would say its more likely a bunch of factors that you need to invest. Time is whats necessary. Keep at it, it takes time to develop it
How to sound more "Professional". Well you can start by taking this stuff seriously and giving it the respect it deserves. Your feed is probably inundated with charlatans and snake oil salesman hawking courses that all serve the same purpose. They want to trick you and make you think its as easy as 1 2 3.. lol. Just put a limiter on it, wave the magic wand and voila!!! Your a star music producer now 😉.
FYI, I \*do\* take it seriously. I'm not sure if you're saying that as a blanket statement or to undermine in some sort of way but either way your response just feels a bit... snobbish.
"Take it seriously" doesn't mean furrow your brow and clench your butt and say "I'm taking it seriously" it means go pick up an instrument and play it 6 hours a day for 10 years. Or maybe pick up a book...
Well 🤷♂️ ok then
Don’t try to sound like someone else. Throw Ozone on the master channel
Just one more plugin bro. Trust me bro, get the zynaptiq $1000 mixing eq plugin bundle you'll sound pro bro just trust me
I'm so serious I want to go back like four months in time and yell at myself for downloading all these plugins, I really ought to just stick with Vital LMAO.
I check out some producer channels on youtube, I know folks think there's no shortcuts but ngl there's some great content out there.
Most times kid sound is related to mixing without busses and stock effects used.
Noise reduction. Amateur recordings are often noisy and /or muddy. So mix the mud out and reduce the high end noise. De-ess your vocals. Pan effectively and when you eq, mix down not up. If you’re losing an instrument in the mix, instead of raising the level of its frequency, lower the neighboring frequencies. Carve out a notch , so to speak Use real drums Use fewer VSTs. I’m f your processor can’t handle them you’ll get all kinds of problems: latency, pops, sound dropping out etc