Top 5 Music Production Myths All Beatmakers Should Know
There are many myths that have been lingering on for years within the music industry. Many I don’t care for however, I wanted to break down my top 5 music production myths. You may have heard some of these but never really took the time to think about it. Keep in mind that the definition of a myth is basically the fact that its something untrue or misleading. Having said that, let’s talk about the top 5 music production myths that every beatmaker should know or at least be aware of.
Equipment Matters
I can’t even express the falseness level of those two words. One huge reason why folks get caught up in the latest gear is because they feel it will improve their beats. This is NOT necessarily the case. Some have dope studios with the most awful productions. You may be able to speed up your work flow or have more sounds, but to say you will definitely have better beats….think again. I’ve said time and time again that the drum machine doesn’t make the beat, you do! Same thing goes for DAW’s (Digital Audio Workstation). They all essentially do the same thing and that is record and edit music. It doesn’t matter what you use, as long as it has at least the basics (eq, compression, reverb, panning) to allow you to produce music. Nothing comes out if you don’t turn the equipment on to create in the first place right! I’m sorry but I had to list this first as my top 5 music production myths.
Analog is better than Digital
No it ain’t and I will tell you why. This is all a matter of preference which is totally different from defining quality. Yes, many of us love the warm sound of analog tape recordings and vinyl. But think about this for a second. The remasters of classic albums that are released in the form of mp3’s are selling like crazy. Why is that? Because unless you are a full time audio engineer, most consumers don’t care or even notice the difference. Most of today’s music is recorded via software and it sounds great. Some guys prefer to use real instruments while others like to use plug ins and VST’s. If you are like me, you use both. So don’t get sucked into number 2 of my top 5 music production myths. They are both great, but it’s all about preference. If you have neither, I recommend starting here.
Old Beats Are Useless
This is the third member of my top 5 music production myths. No beat is useless, it’s all about how you look at it. We all have to start somewhere. Im willing to bet that 99% of us started out with our first beat being subpar. If you have been making beats for 2 years or more, it’s a good chance that your newer beats sound much better than your older beats. That doesn’t mean that your older beats are useless. That just means that you gained in skill and that you needed those older beats to teach you what not to do. Embrace your old beats and go back to them to reflect on your growth. You could even go back and even revitalize them to create something new.
Throwaway Beats
I must relate this myth to the previous one. A throwaway beat is a beat that you may not care for at all. Seriously, they are treated like unwanted stepkids (not trying to offend anybody). I know this because I myself am guilty of this. I have beats that I just wanna toss and never be heard. But slow your role my friend! Do you know that there is someone out there that thinks the beat you feel is trash is actually treasure! There should be no such thing as a throwaway beat. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean that no one will. Keep them joints available!
You Must Get Major Placements
Last but not least on my top 5 music production myths is this lie right here. For some odd reason there are too many beatmakers and producers that feel like this is the only way to make it. The conversation goes like this: “I’m going after the major artists so that I can get paid, I ain’t got time to be messin’ around with these local cats who just want free beats”. Please understand that as a creator of music, the opportunities for compensation go far beyond selling beats. Even if you just want to sell beats, I know guys making a good living off selling to local artists just trying to make it because they know how to market. I would advise creating multiple streams of income so you don’t feel you have to have a major placement. Try doing recording sessions for those who need a place to record, create a consulting service to teach what you know, or get into music licensing. The opportunities are endless.
Let me encourage you to just obliterate these top 5 music production myths from your thought process. In the end, it will only help you grow further along your journey to greatness. Thanks for taking the time to read this and PEACE!