5 tips for new computer musicians

Considering the amount of feedback I get from people who are new to the music producing world, I thought it would be helpful to share some basic tips I have picked up over the years. Most of these tips have helped me a great deal. In this post I will explore the benefits of having a good pair of headphones, how to be patient when learning music, why you should be adventurous, why you shouldn’t just follow trends, and the principal of K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple, stupid!)

Get a pair of good headphones

As a music producer, you need a proper sounding system to work with. Computer speakers are generally not adequate for creating music, even though they may have impressive bass and loudness. I’d suggest to anyone who is getting into music production to look for a good pair of headphones to use. While a pair of professional studio monitor speakers is definitely an item to consider in the future, it might be too much of investment at the start.

While you are learning to create music, the privacy of headphones may also help you feel less self-conscious if you live with others. You can get a good pair of headphones for about 150$, and even if music production doesn’t work out for you in the end, you will still have a nice pair of headphones to listen to music with. Some companies that make good headphones include AKG, Sennheiser, and Sony (and there are many others). Go to a music equipment store with a CD you enjoy and check out all the models they have there. If you are planning on doing recording with a microphone, I would suggest looking into models which are closed (they are generally tighter headphones which prevent sound from leaking out). As always, be careful with the volume levels!

Be patient

The process of learning to create music, especially if you do not have a background in music theory, can take some time. It took me at least a couple of years before I was really happy with the quality of my music. Some will learn more quickly than others, but what is really essential is to be patient. I’d suggest starting off with an easier program, such as fruityloops, reason, or garageband if you are using a Mac, because the large software studio programs such as Cubase and Logic Audio can be quite unforgiving at first. There are many elements to deal with in music production; the more technical aspects can take quite some time to master. Eventually you will have a breakthrough and it will all seem quite easy, in my case it took a couple of years.

Be adventurous

You won’t get anywhere hiding in your basement or bedroom and keeping all your art to yourself. If you want to gain some sort of a fan base you mustn’t be afraid to release your music, even if you think it sucks! When I first started producing I released almost every song I finished, and some of the ones which had the best reception where the ones that I thought were the worst! Hearing even one encouraging compliment on your music can really encourage you to produce more. You also should consider that some people will not like your music, don’t worry too much about them. Some people only like music that involves bamboo sticks for drums and melodies involving screeching hyenas; they might not like your trip-hop (unless it involves the former aspects). However, constructive criticism is always a good thing, especially from someone who is knowledgeable in the field of music you are into. As always, don’t make music to please others, make music to please you. The fans will come later.

Don’t just follow trends

If you are producing music, especially electronic music, it is important to be original. If you jump on a bandwagon you may risk becoming typecast later. When a trend dies, so does your audience. I remember when electronic music was a trend in itself, and people would like anything I made regardless of whether it was good or not. Most of them have now given up on the rave scene and now listen to emo rock and have bad tattoos. Ouch.

Don’t spend all your time trying to sound like your favorite artist, it is an impossible endeavor! On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with incorporating elements from artists you respect and using them to inspire original music. If you like a certain style of drumbeat, incorporate it in your music! Learning to imitate certain elements of music is a good way to really push yourself to learn the most you can about the programs and technology available. For instance, programming synthesizers is sometimes easier if you have a certain sound in mind that you want. As you modify all the parameters, you will begin to learn more about the synth you are using and its features. It is possible you may end up creating the kind of sound you want, or something new and original.

K.I.S.S.

K.I.S.S. stands for “Keep It Simple, Stupid!”. I learnt about this principal when I was taking high school math classes, but I find it can apply to art as well. In math it means using the simplest method to solve a problem, in music it is about keeping your production simple but efficient. You do not want to swamp yourself with too many details when you first begin creating music. This is one reason I suggest using a simple setup at first (a computer, midi controller, and software) instead of taking out a second mortgage on your home and building a studio before you know how to create a drumbeat. You should start off with a simple program and a few software synthesizers, but try and master them the best you can. If you are a guitarist, I suggest purchasing one of those small soundcards with a guitar input which are available from companies such as m-audio. Don’t buy a new piece of equipment until you really need it. This will also help you save money in the long run.

I hope these tips were useful, stay tuned for more.