A lot of what I do is produce other people's music. Clients have songs, or parts of songs, a vision, and a desire to get their music out there. I help them bring that vision to life.
Sometimes this means helping them finish incomplete songs. Sometimes it means just recording them and not messing with their songs. Sometimes it means turning an acoustic song into a modern radio ready tune. Often with beginners I try to explain to them they can produce themselves. I encourage them to learn how to do it. You don't need someone like me. All you need is some basic gear and the willingness to put in the elbow grease.
I've been producing music since I was about 15 years old. I would hook up my laptop to a mixing board which was hooked up to two microphones which captured my drumkit. I would memorize my song and then perform it on the drums with no accompaniment. Then I would multitrack bass and guitars using whatever free software programs were available. I would layer each instrument and add vocals. When I was done it would sound like an entire band performed it. This is more less still the way I produce today. Audio pioneer Les Paul was doing this in the 1950s. This ain't new, people.
The first time you attempt to record something on your own, it might sound terrible. It might also sounded pure and raw! One of the biggest challengings beginners have is playing to a click (metronome). But you don't necessarily have to record to a click. Sometimes I'll record an instrumental track without a click and then I'll layer everything to that guide track. There will be an ebb and flow to the music. That may or may not serve the style of your music. Whether you are using a guide or a click, following along is the most important skill when producing yourself. Once you get the hang of that, you can do anything. If that is a real struggle for you, then I'd recommend taking a few lessons on your instrument to help you with basic musicianship.
Having an adequate level of computer know-how is another stumbling block many up-and-coming musicians face. I want to dispel a big myth about technological skill: It's not an age thing. It's a type-of-person thing. I have had students who were in their teens who just were not that tech savvy. And, everybody knows some 75 year old grandpa who is a natural with cellphones and computers. Today, you have to be able to get around your DAW (digital audio workstation like Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton) fluidly to make music. The computer itself becomes the instrument eventually. It's where you fix problems, mix, and create sounds. Basic fluency is necessary - being an expert is ideal.
There is no shortage of cheap, amazing sounding gear available today. The gear is no longer the excuse. Check out this article on exactly what you should buy for the best value if you're just starting out. This will save you a ton of time.
Often overlooked is the most important aspect to producing yourself - Capturing good sounds when you're recording! Great mics are cheap nowadays. But which type of mic do you want to use on your acoustic guitar? Or on your voice or guitar amp? Where do you place that mic? If you're already recording drums with mics, how do you prevent phase issues with kic and snare? This can be daunting and fun all at once. You learn. You get frustrated. You can either get obsessed with it or just get good enough to capture what you need. There is no right and wrong. The quality and value of cheap gear today has gotten so high that you can get amazing sounding results with very little investment. And it gets better all the time. Just like Moore's law.
When do you need a producer? If you have no experience and you want your music polished and you want it fast, then yes, hire a producer
. You have no choice. Someone with years of experience can help you produce a finished product quickly and efficiently. Even someone who's still in school might have years of experience because they've been doing it since they were young. One warning: if you are going to hire a producer, make sure you've heard some samples of their work! I recently worked with a client who had hired a 'producer' with huge credits to help her record some songs. I don't know how this person had such big credits, but they somehow did. When I heard the tracks I was astonished. It was robotic, lifeless, and empty. Credits alone don't matter. It's your actual results and the experience that matter. If the experience is miserable working with a producer, it may also not be worth it.
A producer should help you get the sound you want or show you ideas you didn't think of. A good producer can help you get the attitude from a vocal take that the song needs. Having a music producer means having someone to bounce ideas off of - good ideas. Maybe someone who can reveal a side of you that you may not hear yourself. It means they know how to engineer, mix, and help you make better music.
Hopefully you'll have the time and patience to learn how to record yourself. It may be a longer process but you'll really learn what you like and what you don't like. I have always been propelled forward by an engine driven by my desire to make music that I love. My music. Somebody at the end might hate it, even myself, but while I'm making it, I love it. That's why I do it, because I am compelled to do it. The final message here is be open to experimentation and open to trial and error. Try to produce your own music! See what happens.
““Travis Raab first off is a great guitar player and a guy that I could just listen to play some kick ass lead guitar. Which is why I take lessons from him. He doesn’t get over complicated and will have you playing guitar like we all dream we can. Check out his site and decide for yourself but trust me you won’t go wrong..” -Bill Engvall (Comedian)”