What’s up Earworm!

Sta here, this is my first post. I thought a bit about what to write about and I figured I’d write a few posts about getting started in making electronic music. I’m definitely not a music industry guru or anything, but after a couple years making records I’ve come up with a few things I wish I could tell my younger self.

A question I get asked a lot (usually on myspace, weirdly) is “What do you use to produce?” I usually go along with it and say I use this sequencer and that compressor, etc. When I tell them that though I try to preface it by saying that it doesn’t really matter what hardware and software you use, because when it comes down to it it’s all about having a good ear. A lot of great well-known producers use pretty cheap gear, and on the flip-side a lot of really boring producers have great gear.

The cost of equipment has come down so much that you can get almost pro stuff really cheaply. New producers listen to their own tracks and think that they sound thin and unprofessional compared to the artists they like, and there’s a temptation to blame it on the equipment they’re using. “If I had this synth or that plugin it would all be better” they say. Sadly it’s hardly ever true. You’ll end up shelling out for some fancy piece of equipment and it doesn’t make an improvement to your overall sound. Inexpensive gear will often get you 99% of the way if you know how to use it properly, and that other 1% will only be noticeable by some real freaks of nature.

I made my first single “In Living Colour” on some pretty ghetto equipment. I had an old PC, a cracked copy of Cubase with some VST instruments, a pair of headphones and a regular Hi-fi stereo. Even though I made it with such low-tech gear I think it sounds pretty good, and it holds up well in a club. I’ve talked to other producers who made big records in just Garageband or Reason. You really can get a good sound out of almost anything; you just have to be a bit more careful if you have cheap stuff.

So if gear doesn’t matter, how do you get your stuff sounding fat and professional? You need to get a good ear! Pay attention to the details, and train yourself to recognize when your instruments sound good and when they’re corny. It might help to burn demos of your tracks and mix with them if you’re a DJ. Listen to the differences and think about how to fix the problems. Really learn your monitors; figure out what the strengths and weaknesses of your speakers are and adapt to them. Learn the ins and outs of your workstation: If you’re using Cubase for example, figure out how to WORK Cubase. Same for instruments and effects: Knowing the sweet spots on your old gear will always sound better than switching to new gear that you don’t know very well.

I guess the thing I would tell starting producers is not to worry so much about plugins and equipment, just really learn how to use the stuff you’ve already got and chances are you already have the tools to make a great sounding track. Like I said, I’m no production master or anything but I wish someone had told me this when I was getting started (it would have saved me a load of money). That’s it for now, hopefully more of these to come on songwriting, dealing with labels, and who knows what else…

Sta - In Living Colour [Marine Parade] | Buy

Sta - Sex [Marine Parade] | Buy