5 Tips for New Music Producers Just Starting Out

Getting started is always the hardest part for producers, with dozens of questions running through your head. We understand that, so today Muse Inc is sharing 5 really useful tips with you.

1. Have a vision

The first thing you need to do is know what your vision is. Do you want to be a creative producer releasing your own music? Or a beatmaker, crafting catchy beats for singers? It all depends on your vision and direction. It's also the yardstick for measuring your progress as you produce.

2. Pick a DAW and stick with it

A DAW (digital audio workstation) is a type of software that lets you record, mix, edit and process one or more digital audio sources. Choosing and learning the right DAW is both important and difficult: there are lots of options with different prices, features and interfaces. Taking the time to research carefully and choose the DAW that suits you best will save you quite a bit of risk and money. Some pretty good DAWs right now: Cakewalk by BandLab, Tracktion T7, Pro Tools First and more.

3. Learn one tool at a time

A common mistake producers make at the start of their careers is buying too many expensive plugins in the hope of making their music sound better. In fact, your best bet is to stick with the plugins and FX built into your DAW, one at a time. Start with EQ, reverb and compression, then move on to busses/groups and channel strips. Once you've got the basics of these core tools down, you'll have a skill set that lets you create good-quality, well-balanced tracks.

4. “Borrow” selectively

It's true that producers always live by the rule: be original, don't copy anyone. In practice, though, studying the work of professional artists, picking out the “highlights” and applying them to your own tracks is a pretty effective approach too. That doesn't mean copying other people's work – it means using your creativity to make those impressive ideas your own.

5. Listen to more music

Whether you're a producer who loves French, skiffle, electro or techno, listen to as much music as you can – it'll help you a lot. Listening widely also “sharpens” your ear, so you can use instruments, plugins and FX more skilfully. Listen more, understand more, grow more!

And there are loads more really useful tips that Muse Inc will keep sharing with you in upcoming posts – follow Muse Inc so you don't miss out!