[Rigsby]

This will be a sort of Music Production course coupled with a Data Sheet. I've spent quite a bit of time on it already as I've mentioned in some other threads. I have about 10,000 words outlining the syllabus I have authored, but I just want to get stuck in and put this out there before I have to break it all down again to 1 post (10,000 words is a lot to format in one go).

The syllabus I have outlined is very thorough, but it needs to be broken down a bit due to Forum restrictions. I will do that in due course. What is a 'syllabus' I hear the non-academics out there asking.

A syllabus (/ˈsɪləbəs/; plural syllabuses[1] or syllabi[2]) is an academic document that communicates course information and defines expectations and responsibilities. It is descriptive (unlike the prescriptive or specific curriculum). A syllabus may be set out by an exam board or prepared by the professor who supervises or controls course quality.

There are seven essential components to an academic syllabus: Instructor information, General course information, Course objectives, Course policies, Grading and evaluation, Learning resources, and the Course Calendar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllabus

Let me quickly cover these 7 points before we go further.

1: Instructor information:

So far I will be your only instructor covering all subject matter. Other instructors are most welcome and encouraged to take part.

2: General course information:

This is a course mainly for total noobs and beginners. But intermediate and even advanced should be able to find some value here.

3: Course objectives:

To provide all the necessary skills and knowledge to become a bona fide Music Producer by the end of the course.

4: Course policies:

All are welcome. This thread is a clean slate. We will try to keep it as 'academic' as possible, but humour and pertinent asides are welcome. There will be NO baggage carried on from any other threads, musical or not!

5: Grading and evaluation:

There is no grading and evaluation with this course. You will judge yourself or be judged by your peers as to its validity and outcome.

6: Learning resources:

There will be many. I've already put together a list. It needs to be an ongoing thing by its nature as there are so many.

7: Course calendar:

I'm going to be optimistic and say that 2 years is a good guideline. Many music tech courses run for just 3 months, or up to a year or even 2 years.


I had a quick look for Music Tech Syllabuses and found this one from Berklee at the top of the search:

https://online.berklee.edu/courses/music-production-101

This is a more advanced breakdown of the course:

https://online.berklee.edu/school/certif...d=12358707

I had a quick look at that and feel confident that this will be comparable to what is on offer there. That course is 3 months and costs $1500. It also has 6 instructors. I am not directly making a comparison here, I just provided that as a very quick reference point. It's also a very thorough course for anyone thinking of getting in to music production. If you read the list of subjects covered, it should give a good outline of what I will endeavor to provide here.

I will provide more details. Of course there will be massive blind spots and glaring omissions. I welcome any corrections or greater insights. Hopefully I will get to learn something as well.


This Data Sheet/Course will not just cover how to become a Music Producer though, because I will touch upon Audio Engineering as well as Songwriting and even try to tackle a bit of the Business end as well with regard to marketing yourself and actually earning money from this.

I'm just one man, so please try to remember that. I don't have any credentials to give out so just assume I'm making it all up and just another bullshitter on the internet. However, the proof will be in the pudding. I will regale the odd anecdote here or there, but really this is about people learning new things. I will provide examples of my own work as we go along and new students will be expected to do the same.

I need to set up a proper system for file sharing of work. One where anonymity is not compromised and convenience and compatibility are king. These are just technical issues and will be worked out in due course. As always, all suggestions welcome.


I feel confident of providing something along the lines of what Berklee is. Berklee is considered one of the best in the world btw if you didn't know. Their course is 12 weeks long so they will have to cut corners with such an in-depth syllabus (it actually looks very good for the money and I would highly recommend it). This is not a criticism. On one hand they will have specialists in another league compared to what I can offer. For example they cover DSP. I aim to do this as well. But I'm absolutely sure that what they teach will be miles ahead of what I can offer.

To be absolutely clear, this is not a criticism at all of Berklee. In the example I gave (DSP) you could spend 10 years and still only scratch the surface of what is possible. I am not directly comparing the Berklee course with what I am trying to do here. I could have given many other examples.

I actually did a Music Tech course myself so have a little experience on the ground. But I didn't know then what I know now. There's always a sense that you are only ever scratching the surface with stuff you really want to know more about. I feel confident in pointing you in the right direction if I can't help you myself (this will happen many times I'm sure). I feel confident of providing the best resources for further research. This is my strength. And your boon. I can't match the world-class tutors of Berklee, but I can provide you more time and attention.

I also want to cover networking and building new business opportunities. As well as the nitty gritty bare bones stuff such as learning how to play an instrument. I will focus on guitar here to quite an advanced level, again all from beginner, and I will also cover basic music theory with keyboards as well. And last but certainly not least, we are going to cover Rhythm, in all its forms. I'm going to cover the whole lot! And oh boy are we gonna cover Rhythm (and beats and grooves).

Who is this Data Sheet/Course really aimed at?

Well, I'll tell you what I would like to see happen. I'd like to get together maybe a dozen or so new lads that are hungry, that show promise, that are prepared to put the work in, that are ambitious and want to build something new for themselves (not just copying others), and most of all people that will have fun and get real value from doing something that maybe they never considered before, or did consider, but never found the right time/place to take it up.

I'd like to see people sharing their original work. Past stuff, new stuff inspired by this thread, whatever. I'd like to see anyone involved at all in music contributing by maybe, say, just chucking us a few OC (original content) copyright free samples of say, ooh, their guitar playing, or their terrible singing. You would be amazed what you can do with terrible singing these days.

All are welcome. Now's your chance. This is a very inclusive course.

I will also provide all this information with a view that no one has to spend a dollar or a cent (or a pound or a penny) to get right up to speed. You won't be asked to buy any special software. You won't even need to buy any special hardware. If you're a flat broke motherfucker that is just looking for a 'no-payment-down' way to get out of the ghetto (I hear Bradford is quite rough this time of year), then you can participate here for shits and giggles. But you must take it seriously.

Nothing is being sold here. Everything I will outline can be done for free (pretty much). But as you get more advanced, if you really wanna play, you gotta pay. That's up to you. I'm just about to spend a few hundred bucks on Melodyne Studio (it's usually 600 bucks or so) coz it's on special offer. But that's because I can, and I also know the extreme power it yields. I've saved up for a long time to get this software.

If you want to chuck down a couple of hundred bucks or so when you think this might become more than a hobby for you, then I'll also provide you with the best links (non-affiliated) for you to get the cheapest hardware and software on the planet. All legit and 100 percent legal.

I'm going to stop for now. I'll post a few more details in another post. But this should give you a very rough idea at least of what I want to achieve.

[Repo]

Well as far as sales go, Native Instruments is having its annual summer sale which ends in 3 days:

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/sp...ound-2018/

I don't think there is a better bang for your buck when it comes to virtual instruments then Komplete. . . though Serum is great too.

[Rigsby]

I'll try to cover as many musical styles as I can, but the reality is no one man can do it all. Think Rick Rubin (no I don't want to be like him) who is as comfortable doing Heavy Rock as he is Country or even Rap.

Everyone has their unique 'talent-stack' to quote Scott Adams. I'm no different.

What you can expect from me (strengths and weaknesses):

I consider myself a Music Producer first and foremost, hence the title of this thread. But I'm also a decent enough Audio Engineer. Maybe not world-class, Grammy awarded worked on that shite album that everyone hates, 'good'. But I can hold my own. I'm not looking to impress anyone. Just trying to get young noobs up to speed with some real information.

I'm also a pretty good Songwriter. I have taste. Even if I say so myself. The songs I write, I really like, but most I hate. So please don't be offended if you ask me to share my work, after I have 'critiqued' yours and found it lacking. Don't work like that. I will however share some stuff, that's only fair. But this is very personal and we need to build up trust relationships that slightly extend what most here have on this fine forum. It can be done.

There's a lot of stuff to be going on with, so if anyone wants to 'sign up' now - go right ahead. It gives me a better clue as to where to start and what to initially cover. If I don't get any feedback, I'll just cover stuff as I have outlined in my notes and take it from there.

It would help me to know what kinds of music you want to produce. Producing Metal is very different to Hip Hop, which is very different to Jazz or Classical.

Perhaps you just want to know how to play guitar to quite a high standard, quite quickly? Perhaps you have a particular question on how to produce a certain type of beat?

This is the music I would like to cover:

Hip Hop.
Drum and Bass.
Dub Electronica (Digi-Dub).
Old School Dub (better have a mixing desk).
R&B.
Acoustic music.
Singer/Songwriter stuff.
Experimental music (anything goes).
Pop music.
Rock music.
Metal.
Jazz.

I'll give it up there. I won't be doing Classical Music. And please don't ask me to really do Jazz.

How well I do these different genres, well, let's just wait and see how the pudding tastes shall we?

For example, I'll say right now I'm not to be taken seriously with Metal or Jazz. However, I still have taste in that arena.

What is a Music Producer?

At the moment, my fire really lies in doing Alternative Hip Hop or Trip Hop (yeah, I know...). That and Acoustic singer songwriter stuff (yeah, I know...).

But perhaps you want to create a new form of music? Something that has never been done before. You are a cocky young chap who just wants to be shown how the gears and levers on the machine works, god dammit, and you will take control from there.

I'm you're man, boss!

I'll show you how the machine works.

What you do with it is up to you from there.


I'm tired of all the major producer forums on the net (of which I am a member). Forums seem to have run their course. No one signs up to new ones these days. Everyone posts (cynically) on the ones they already know too well. Familiarity breeds contempt. I just thought I would try this, as there is obviously a lot of people here on RVF who love music and have deep knowledge of it. I know a lot of you make it as well. I know it's hard to share for persec and anonymity reasons.

I expect to be humbled further. And hopefully learn something new. This isn't a pissing contest. Whoever can bring something new to the table has earned their seat.

But most of all, those that want to start learning, those that know nothing at all, will have pride of place.

The table has been set.

Who will come to break bread with us?

[Rigsby]

(06-28-2018 08:27 PM)Repo Wrote:  

Well as far as sales go, Native Instruments is having its annual summer sale which ends in 3 days:

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/sp...ound-2018/

I don't think there is a better bang for your buck when it comes to virtual instruments then Komplete. . . though Serum is great too.

Yeah, NI does good work. I have Komplete 7, mainly for compatibility with Kore (which is another story in itself). I upgraded to Komplete 10 for like a 150 bucks or so. Silly money.

Have you seen this spreadsheet on all the different versions of Komplete:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...oPxeA/edit

It's an absolutely incredible bit of research.

We could make a whole new thread on Native Instruments.

In fact, you couldn't have picked a better subject. Such a divisive company. Does top end tools. Fan boys and haters warring. But I'm objective, and like to think others will be too (hihi Bungle).

I have lots of good resources for Native Instruments from patches to Reaktor Ensembles, to just good old fashioned shitposting against their business ethos. I remain neutral.

I have Maschine btw. Albeit only Mikro. But what a piece of kit!

I've also got controller scripts for Akai stuff with mappings for Battery. In several different DAWs.

Good call Repo, that's exactly what I was talking about. Anyone that has been considering getting NI stuff (especially Kontakt - their flagship sampler) should jump on that.

Their company is a prime example of great marketing. But I don't want to focus on political stuff here. They do great work, and this is a great deal, so alles klar!

[godfather dust]

Looks like a good course, I define music producer differently than you do however:

A producer is a person who makes the track happen.

They could be ignorant on music but know the right people to hire to make a hot track.

They may not touch a keyboard.

They need good interpersonal skills, to communicate with artists, and be assertive enough to say "that was shit, do it again."

I'm coming from hip-hop though, where making beats is generally not an important skill (beats are a dime a dozen.)

[Rigsby]

(06-28-2018 08:52 PM)godfather dust Wrote:  

Looks like a good course, I define music producer differently than you do however:

A producer is a person who makes the track happen.

They could be ignorant on music but know the right people to hire to make a hot track.

They may not touch a keyboard.

They need good interpersonal skills, to communicate with artists, and be assertive enough to say "that was shit, do it again."

I'm coming from hip-hop though, where making beats is generally not an important skill (beats are a dime a dozen.)

I totally agree with you!

Everything you said a Music Producer is, is how I would define it.

Every single word you said was spot on. Absolutely. And I'd even include that definition for people making Country music in Nashville.

I must have failed in my definition of 'Music Producer' - that's ok.

I have a 1000 word essay on what a 'Music Producer' is.

You summed it up succinctly though, for one of the major definitions.

I'll try to really boil it down. There are old school and new school producers. I'm old school.

And the last point you make about beat producers not being real producers (paraphrasing here) - true. Some kids with FLStudio think they are Producahs (sic).

But don't discount new kids finding new ways to make new rhythms. They have to work hard to achieve that. It's almost impossible. But that is where all the new music came from - from taking the tempo up (drum and bass) or taking it down (hip hop). I know you don't. Not speaking personally. You make a very real point that needs making.


Hip Hop is a really great direction at the moment. It's big. It's flexible. It's open to experimentation. It's got an old guard that needs replacing. It's got lots of young upstarts wanting to unseat the King.

Sorry, I'm distracted as fuck. It's no good trying to hold a serious conversation whilst listening to shit like this:

Fishing in the rivers of life.
Fishing in the rivers of life.

Bring the beat back!


EDIT: I found a louder video of the KLF track.

We will learn about Compression and Limiting in Mastering later on in the course.

[godfather dust]

I agree about production forums being useless (and endlessly repetitive.)

My last Reddit production post was in a thread about producers using sample packs and midi loops and "how dare they it's not creative."

My response was along the lines of "no one gives a shit if you are creative, your job as a producer is to make a hot track, period. Creativity is an asset of course."

Downvote straight to bottom. Fuck Reddit (90%+ are faggots)

[Comte De St. Germain]

As a producer I look forward to the potential of this thread. I would have posted a datasheet but all it would have amounted too was fuck around with the programs and cultivate your ear.


Cheers!

[renotime]

When I think of great producers Rick Rubin obviously comes to mind. He's produced a lot of great material, but I'm not sure how he does it. I don't think he knows how to play an instrument or really anything when it comes to engineering. I think he's just really good at cutting out the fat.

I mean the motherfucker produced Johnny Cash's version of Hurt for fuck's sake.

[godfather dust]

(06-29-2018 02:02 AM)renotime Wrote:  

When I think of great producers Rick Rubin obviously comes to mind. He's produced a lot of great material, but I'm not sure how he does it. I don't think he knows how to play an instrument or really anything when it comes to engineering. I think he's just really good at cutting out the fat.

I mean the motherfucker produced Johnny Cash's version of Hurt for fuck's sake.

Johnny Cash Hurt is one of the most overrated songs of all time, but yeah Rubin is up there top 10 or so. If I had to pick a name out of a hat for greatest it would be Quincy Jones but haven't really thought it through.

edit: I say it's overrated because it was hyped due to Johnny Cash singing a NIN song, but I don't give a rats ass about Johnny Cash (only country artist I like is David Allen Coe) and I thought Reznor's version was better.

[musicalprodigy1]

I'm also interested, always ready.

[renotime]

(06-29-2018 02:07 AM)godfather dust Wrote:  

(06-29-2018 02:02 AM)renotime Wrote:  

When I think of great producers Rick Rubin obviously comes to mind. He's produced a lot of great material, but I'm not sure how he does it. I don't think he knows how to play an instrument or really anything when it comes to engineering. I think he's just really good at cutting out the fat.

I mean the motherfucker produced Johnny Cash's version of Hurt for fuck's sake.

Johnny Cash Hurt is one of the most overrated songs of all time, but yeah Rubin is up there top 10 or so. If I had to pick a name out of a hat for greatest it would be Quincy Jones but haven't really thought it through.

edit: I say it's overrated because it was hyped due to Johnny Cash singing a NIN song, but I don't give a rats ass about Johnny Cash (only country artist I like is David Allen Coe) and I thought Reznor's version was better.

[aeroektar]

If this was in the private forum I'd share some electronic music I've produced.

Currently have no hardware, I sold all of my gear last year, but I'm in the process of buying things back now.

I'm inspired by producers like Andy Stott, Alessandro Cortini, Legowelt, Clams Casino.

I'll definitely follow this thread.

[godfather dust]

(06-29-2018 05:52 PM)aeroektar Wrote:  

If this was in the private forum I'd share some electronic music I've produced.

Currently have no hardware, I sold all of my gear last year, but I'm in the process of buying things back now.

I'm inspired by producers like Andy Stott, Alessandro Cortini, Legowelt, Clams Casino.

I'll definitely follow this thread.

Hey man great taste in music/influences, I can't say I've heard Alessandro Cortini but Legowelt, Clams, Stott all got a real surreal way of doing things.

[Zoso]

Subscribed.

I just bought some weeks ago an old macbook and paid for FL Studio PE license. I think it's time to start to make music in a serious way, haven't used any DAW from high school (only Guitar Pro in Metalhead's days to learn guitar) almost 9 years ago.

I really enjoy many genres from salsa to thrash passing through goa, bossa or many slows; but I decided to focus in R&B, and maybe some metal. Mainly, a huge fan of 90s R&B. Seeking to continue/innovate that music I like beginning from this specific era.

However, I'm very noob using softwares and I find this thread will be useful.

[JackinMelbourne]

Is being a "music producer" a self sustaining career or is this more of a making noise/hobby/posing/creative outlet sort of thing?

[456]

When a producer can nab some writing credits, become the go-to guy for a label (via an A&R) or specific larger artist, there is money to be made.

There's also money to be made getting a hit and leveraging it into an online platform without the record label intermediary, i.e. a paid forum, hawking samples / loops, doing beat feedback seminars, and getting sponsored by software/plugin companies.

For the most part though, the producers I know (including some Grammy winners) had day jobs pretty far into their production career. Once they quit, they were doing quite well with music.

An exception could be selling beats (or "leasing" them) to bottom feeder rappers, hoping one blows up, and perhaps pocketing a few hundo each. Hard to live / save off of that unless doing other things or living at the parents' house.

Sometimes producers become mixing engineers (two separate but somewhat related skills), specialty producers (i.e. vox editors / tuners / coaches), or A&R.