The Music Producer’s Survival Guide by Jackson, Brian M. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition (Revised) Introduction

DIY.Independent.Electronic.Music.Producer What Is the Goal of This Book? How Is This Book Structured? What This Book Is Not Whom Is This Book For? Can I Get a Venn Diagram? DIY Independent (Indie) Electronic Music (EM) A Few Words on Major Labels and the Corporate Media Business Magic Might Make Machine Mechanism, Moegen Macht Welcome to the Future The Accidental Producer Faster, Smaller, Cheaper . . . Easier? From Musician to Producer: An Author’s Version One Thing Leads to Another: Positive Chaos

Chapter 1: Musica Universalis

Music Is Universal Music Is Diverse Music Is Technological Music Is Personal Music Is Vital Music Is Fundamental Nature Is Musical Music Is Mathematical Music Is Evolving

Music’s Evolution Is Chaotic

Basic Dynamics of Genre Evolution

Baker’s Transformation

The Technology “Nothing Sounds Quite Like an 808” Arthur Baker’s Baker’s Transformation A Very Brief Intro to the History of Electronic Music

EM’s Two Timbral Sources Source 1: Sound Reproduction Source 2: Sound Synthesis

Independent Label Pioneers

Jamaica, U.K., and New York American Punk, Metal, and Aggressive or Alternative Rock Styles Various Styles of Adventurous Rock, Underground Metal, and Industrial-Related Genres From Germany, U.K., U.S., and Canada Electronic Music Labels From US, Canada, Germany, and U.K.

Music Is Cybernetic Cadence

Chapter 2: Plot Point on the Space-Time Continuum

Putting Things in Perspective Music Is More Than the Recording Industry

Yo Ho Ho, and a Bottle of Rum

Context Is Everything

History . . . zzZzz . . . What’s in It for Me?

A (Very Incomplete) Brief History of Everything

Epoch 1: Back in the Day Epoch 2: Recent History Epoch 3: The 20th Century Epoch 4: The New Millennium

Where Are We Now?

Era 1: Local and Exclusive (? to 1877 ) Era 2: Transmission and Storage (1888 to 2000) Era 3: Global Information Networks (2001 to 2029[?]) Era 4: Biotechnology Network Integration? (2029[?] to ?)

What Goes Around Comes Around

Industry Expansion and Limited Access to Technology Industry Contraction and Expanded Access to Technology

A Parallel Teachable Moment From Recent History Where Is the RIAA’s Equivalent of Deep Blue?

Gains From Complexification Losses From Complexification

The Argument for the Industry

Technology Economics

The Industry’s Weak Argument

P2P and CD Sales (Correlation Does Not Imply Causation) Other Factors

The Argument for Self-Destruction RIAA Failures + Apple Computer = Apple, Inc. Emergence of the “Celestial Jukebox” What Is a “Producer”?

The “Classic” Record Producer DIY/Independent Music/Producers Electronic Music Producer

What Does “Professional” Mean? Aspiring Pro, Semi-Pro, or Serious Hobbyist Last Refrain

Chapter 3: What Is Your Plan?

Did You Choose This, or Did It Choose You?

Sense of Direction The Butterfly Effect

Patience and Persistence

Luck, Talent, Preparation, Opportunity, and Success

Defining Your Goals Brainstorming Developing a Plan

Possible Pieces of the Planning Puzzle Are You Already a Pro or Skilled in Something? Are You Just Getting Started (or Starting Over)? School Personalized Training Learning on the Job Moving Backup Plans Versus Alternate Paths

Be Flexible Some Considerations, Strategies, and Options

Technology and the Internet Before Skills Pay the Bills Paying the Bills With Your Skills

Getting Paid

You Are Your Business Advances Residual Income Is Awesome

Personal Finances Be Involved Thoughts on Partnerships and Collaborations Planning Your Artistic Musical Identity Outro

Chapter 4: Master Your Craft

Multiple Intelligences and So-Called “Styles” of Learning Stages of Learning Developing and Integrating Specializations The Big Four Production Holons

Music Sound Design Tools/DAW Audio Engineering

Skills Does Not a Skill Set Make Workflow: Putting It All Together

The Concretization of Potential From Start to Finish

Learning Strategies

Identifying Strengths Identifying Weaknesses Learning Sessions

Outro

Chapter 5: The Social Scene

Scenes and Communities Networking 101 The Cast of Characters

Connectors Mavens Salesmen

Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies

Vampires Werewolves Zombies Implications

Final Thoughts, Tips, and Strategies

Scarcity Is Often an Illusion, Especially in the Realms of Cultural Currency Respect Others Dedicated to Their Craft Especially Veterans and Even Has-Beens What If You Really Don’t Like Networking but You Know You Need to Do It? Tips for Newbies on Interacting With Successful Artists

Outro

Chapter 6: Producer Tips

Keys to Success

Plan and Prepare Create a Budget

Time Management

Separate Sessions Keep Things Moving Forward

Working with Others

(Social) Psychology

Knowledge Is Power Communication Presets: Data Mining or Time-Saving Sound Designing?

The Yamaha DX7, Suspect Zero Presets, Complexification, and Proliferation Presets: Synths and Sample-Based Instruments

Good File Management = Saved From Destruction Saving, Backing Up, and Archiving

What’s in a Name? Saving, Exporting, Rendering, Bouncing, Printing Backing Up Archiving Transferring

Upgrades and Updates

Never Upgrade in the Middle of a Project! Synths, Samplers, and Sound Modules/ROMplers

Things You Should Know

Listen Avoid Distractions When Working If It’s Not Broken . . . Less Is More Bass Sound Selection and Voicing Watch Your Levels The Art of Analysis Tips and Tricks on the Internet Regular Practice and Maintenance

Outro

Chapter 7: Creative Process

There Is Nothing That Is Not Creative

Unlimited Creativity, Limited Relevance Integration of Art and Science

In the Beginning . . .

Gravity, Stars, Supernovae, and Black Holes

Being Creative

Influences and Originality Stages of Creative Process

Defining Boundaries and Priorities

Intentions and Mis-takes

Methods, Practices, and Techniques

Let Your Subconscious Do the Work

Isolation, Quiet, Focus, Clarity

The Sounds of Silence Meditation

Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness (NOSC)

Low to Moderate Risk Moderate to High Risk

20th Century Innovations

Dada and the “Cut-Up” Surrealism and the Unconscious Assemblage and Bricolage Music Concrète Tape Music Aleatory Processes DUB, DUb, Dub, dub . . .

Practical Techniques

Generate, Sift, Edit Jam Sessions Knob Twiddling Generative Approach Audio Processing Time Stretching Granular Synthesis and Resynthesis It Slices, It Dices

Not So Random . . .

Define Limitations “Bad” Cover Version Fake Score Play the Fool Daily Practice

Time Limits, Deadlines, Pressure Creative Blocks When the Thrill Is Gone: Completing Ideas Outro

Chapter 8: Selecting Your Tools

Tools Creativity and Tools Users and Designers Users Influencing Designers That Influence Users That . . .

Moog Roll Your Own

Tools of the Trade Analog and Digital, Hardware and Software Hardware

Computer Audio Interface Instruments Speakers and Headphones Acoustics Microphones Preamps, Channel Strips, and Other Outboard Gear Mixer, Monitoring, Control Room Furniture Necessary Accessories

Software The Digital Audio Workstation

Basic Considerations Specific Considerations

Selecting Your DAW

Avid Pro Tools Apple Logic Ableton Live A Few Other Considerations

Subjective Terms and Hype Words Listening Decisions and A/B Comparisons Your Setup Using Software Without a License

Bits Want to Travel The Facts of the Matter Why You Should Care Even If You Are Broke Early in Your Career and Implications for Later On

Ways to Legally Get Your Software Cheap or Free Outro

Chapter 9: Lifestyle Tips

Trust Me: I’m an Engineer A Fish Doesn’t Know It Is Wet Vital Holons Versus Sex, Drugs, Rock N’ Roll

Faster and Faster Balance Not Unlike a House of Cards

Protect Your Hearing!!!

The Science (In Brief) Earplugs: Get to Know Them Well Earbuds and Headphones

Avoid RSI at All Costs

What Are the Symptoms?

How to Avoid RSI

Ergonomics and Good Posture Breaks Follow The Four Pillars of Health

The Four Pillars of Health

(Alternative) Medicine The Ambient Temperature of Your Mood

Diet

Your Diet What to Minimize: A Short List What to Maximize: A Short List

Exercise

Yoga Martial Arts Pilates Whole Body Vibration (WBV)

Rest and Relaxation

Sleep Aids Breathe

Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) Set and Setting Pick Your Friends With Care Why Is Good Music So Often in Shady Places?

The Leading Edge of Gentrification

This Is Your Brain On Last Call

Chapter 10: Dénouement

The Producer’s Mindset

#Trending Like a Flock of Birds

There Is Always More Finale

Chapter 11: Interviews

Motivations and Perspectives Hank Shocklee

The Interview

Hillary Johnson (Earthlight Room, Avatar Studios)

The Interview

John Jansen (UNH/SAE)

The Interview

Laura Escudé (Alluxe/Electronic Creatives)

The Interview

Stanley Jungleib (Seer Systems, Sequential Circuits)

The Interview

Eric Hoegemeyer (Rust Belt/Tree Laboratory)

The Interview

Jason Drummond (DJ Spun/Rong Music)

The Interview

Appendix A: Chaos Theory and Complexity Studies Primer

Complexity Studies Systems Theory Cybernetics Emergence Bifurcation Theory Set Theory L-systems Chaos Theory Order Out of Chaos Fractal Geometry Self-Similarity

Index

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