https://www.millennialmind.co/top-daw-for-music-production-2019/
It is nothing new that you can become a popular musician without music degree. For example famous artists like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Kurt Cobain or even Louis Armstrong achieved great success, and they were all self-taught. But there was one thing they had to do to record their hits. They were forced to rent a professional music studio.
We can all agree that living in the 21st century makes our lives
simpler in many areas (mostly thanks to technological progress) and it also
concerns music production. Nowadays everyone is able to create their own music
studio in their room and become a “bedroom producer” without having a lot of
analog devices and knowledge how to use them. All you need is willingness, your
laptop/pc/tablet or even smartphone, speakers or headphones and Internet
connection. There are a lot of applications called DAW’s (Digital Audio
Workstation) that allows you to create your own music from scratch using
virtual instruments, your voice, live instruments or ready loops and presets.
You can record as many melodies as you want and put them together into one
final audio file. They are also offering a lot of plugins to modify the sound
of your song by adding many effects, for example echo or reverb effect. In
general there are infinitely many possibilities to express yourself by creating
something unique.
All of these functionalities are available to use with nothing more than your
computer mouse. But if you are thinking seriously about getting into music
production and creating your home music studio, you will probably want
something more comfortable to work with DAW.
MIDI controllers, for example, are amazing tools that will diversify and
simplify your job. These are devices with knobs and buttons which you can bind
with different options in your software, so that you don’t need to click everything
by your mouse, and you can play more than one sound at the same time. There are
also MIDI controllers with keyboards, so you can record sounds playing
manually. Prices start from about 150zł which is not much, especially when 1
hour in a small music studio costs pretty much the same.
https://macprovideo.com/article/audio-hardware/5-things-to-consider-before-buying-a-midi-controller
Don’t trouble yourself to learn all the functions that you are offered by DAWs on your own. You can find plenty of tutorials for beginners on YouTube, which will answer your every question. They’re often made by professional producers, who have many years of experience in using such software. You can also find a lot of groups on Facebook dedicated to music production lovers where you can rely on members who willingly share their knowledge.
1. Have you ever tried to compose music
on your own? If yes, do you find it difficult? If no, would you like to try it?
2. Do you think it was easier to become
popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music?
Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you
have to break through?
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
sources:
https://www.joytunes.com/blog/music-fun/15-famous-musicians-totally-self-taught/
https://www.millennialmind.co/top-daw-for-music-production-2019/
https://www.thehomeroute.com/diy-studio-desk-plans-and-ideas/
https://macprovideo.com/article/audio-hardware/5-things-to-consider-before-buying-a-midi-controller
Comments
Popularity is a complex social dynamic. One thing I can say with some degree of certainty is that today, it's much easier to become a successful musician without needing to have been born into wealth. Between public schooling and universities, the unprecedented access to knowledge offered by the internet and the relative cheapness and availability of tools, one can become a composer starting in any economic background. Definitely a stark contrast from the days of old where most people with talent for music had only their voice for an instrument, unable to afford any other one or gain access to any sort of musical education. Now, the instrument is digital, synthetic, and any one person can become an entire virtual orchestra taught entirely by extensive, publicly available knowledge they've procured at no cost.
On the other hand, one has to consider that this unprecedented ease of entry to the field has saturated it with a great many talented, independent musicians. While many can reach a level of recognition and following that allows them to purse music at least semi-professionally, with their great number and the great diversity of musical genres which has sprung from it making any sort of canon of what is "good" hard to define, it's reasonable to assume we won't ever have another Beethoven, Vivaldi, Verdi, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky or Chopin. There is no longer a canon of music universally recognized as exceptional one can aspire to, the tastes of the people and the artists are now too diverse, varied and colorful. Recognition and success will now probably forever be confined to becoming a classic within a particular genre, instead of music and culture as a whole. I don't think this is necessarily a problem, especially since genres can still have wide appeal. There's still contemporary musicians and artists whose names are recognized by most, even if hardly all consider them to be great.
Personally, I think that creativity matters a bit more than production value or technical ability and can make up for some lack of those two, but all three ultimately need to come together to produce something truly great.
2. I have no idea, but I think it's easier now because we have media and it's easier to get publicity. But on the other hand, there are a lot of people willing to get such publicity, which makes it harder to stand out.
3. I believe that creativity is more important than technique in producing music. Techniques are usually the same or similar, but everyone's creativity is different. Everyone has different tastes.
I tried it, but I gave up almost right away. It seems too difficult for me, and I don't have enough time and patience to learn it. I'm making games, so music is a really important part of them, but fortunately, there is a lot of free tracks, and I have a friend who can create music, so thanks to her I always have top quality music in my productions~.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
I think that the level hasn't changed. It used to be difficult because of the production process, and now it's difficult to get noticed around thousands of people who also share their works, so it's a challenge to make your work stand out and get noticed.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
It's a difficult question, since I don't know a lot about music production, and they both sound pretty important. But I think that creativity might be important, because you can always study and learn better technique, and creativity isn't something that you can just learn.
I agree with your thought that nowadays anyone can succeed without financial background. I think this, inter alia, is the reason why we’re living in a simpler world.
@Igor Goryszewski
It’s a pity that you don’t want to create music at all. I know that not everyone has to like it, but anyway I would suggest just to try. It’s very enjoyable and relaxing!
@Kinga Kwiatkowska
Yes, I know that learning DAWs is very time-consuming. The best way to acquire this knowledge (as in every profession) is to keep making it :) Practice makes perfect! I hope that someday you will find some time to try it again! You must be creative person if you’re creating games, so I’m almost sure that when you get the basics, you will like it.
I haven't. I would rather try to learn playing an instrument like a violin, piano or saxophone than composing music on a computer. I already spend to much time behind the screen so it would be a nice change to really feel the sound. I would love to try in the future.
Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
All times have its' own obstacles and advantages. Back in the days there were fewer artists and you would have to play the real instrument.
Right now the competition is huge and it is hard to prove yourself and be better than others
What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
Well... the technique and creativity are tools for expression. When we say that someone's technique is great it cannot be perceived as something but. On the other hand, creativity can lead to something uninteresting, pretentious or I don't know ugly. I would choose the technique.
Yes, I did, and I found it difficult. I focused mostly on producing electronic music, by using some midi controllers (the latter helped me immensly) since composing by only clicking in a DAW is hard. I had the most trouble with getting out of the 8 bar loop, so figuring out longer segments and transitons between them.
2.
I think even with all of the competition it is still easier to get popular now. It has to be only in the good place and time.
3.
Technique, the most renowed producers are known to have excellent technique and know all of the small tricks to make it sound amazing. Without technique creativity is nothing, and you don't have to be extremely creative to create a popular song (see current charts)
That’s right. This hobby requires spending much time behind the screen. I understand that working in DAW after spending hours on programming doesn’t sound good. But as you mentioned, learning to play a real instrument is also great! I hope you will make it!
@Viktor Ryś
I used to have the same problem with creating or arranging more than 8 bar loop. I left them hoping that someday I would come back to them and finish them. There are some articles and videos on the Internet how to deal with such a blockage. You should check them out. Maybe it will resolve your problem.
I can’t agree that creativity is nothing without technique. It’s true that nowadays almost all the most popular songs sound pretty similar, but productions that break out of the pattern can also gain many listeners (for example Schafter on the Polish rap scene). And to do this, technique isn’t essential, but creativity is.
Yes, 15 years ago I tried to make my own ringtone in Composer application of the immortal Nokia 3310 :D But for real though I always thought it's very complicated and hard to get into and it discouraged strongly enough to never try it.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
I'm not sure, it's very hard to judge. My guess would be that it's harder to become popular worldwide because of the insane amount of music being produced in English but it might be easier in other languages because the competition is not so big and it's easier to reach new audience. I might be totally wrong though, would love to see the numbers on that!
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
In music production my guess would be the technique, outside of the production (like singing, using the traditional instruments) I think the creativity is more important. Probably you need both to reach the broad audience because of how many music pieces are being produced nowadays.
2. It certainly was harder to become popular, because people didn't use internet back then. And even if you possess true talent and your music is cool, the road to become famous includes not only musical performance. It also involved making connections, finding producers, sometimes sacrificing your dignity, living your previous lifestyle behind etc. Nowadays every punk can create music. And the tune is catchy you can go viral in no go even without revealing your face.
Also becoming popular is one thing and making money of it is another. But nowadays right people that will help you and themselves to become rich will find you on their own, don't you worry.
3. I think that technique is really important if you want to go live. But I personally listen to recorded music that I like and don't even bother if this person can perform on live stage.
During my high school times I had an adventure as a DJ and also tried my hand at producing music. It was a very interesting experience, however it took a lot of time. I had to decide what I wanted to do in my life, and yet I chose the scientific path.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
I believe there is no difference. In the past and in the future, you should combine and look for a certain kind of niche to find buyers for the art you produce.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
In my opinion, you cannot be good at one thing at the moment. You should have
impeccable technique and have a lot of creativity. Keep in mind that you create art and it cannot be average.
2. I think that nowadays it's much easier to reach your potential listeners because of popularity of such websites as: soundcloud, Youtube, Spotify, Tidal ect. Also it's much easier to get on real stage in underground clubs. There is of course much more producers but if you have your own unique style you will be noticed for sure.
3. I think that these two are really important but creativity it's something you can't learn in contrast to technique which is much easier to acquire. But if you want to be a good producer you have to combine these two things and thanks to them create something new and unique.
I've never tried it, however I've got a lot of friends who are very much into music production. Some of them have their own collectives, others even try to make money with composing. Because of that I've had multiple occasions to be present during their activity and I got to say that the amount of fun they have from e. g. using analogue synthesizers or operating music software such as FL Studio or Ableton, is massive. I think that after I complete my plan educate myself in the area of visual arts, I'm going to start making music without any doubt. Perhaps I will do both of these things simultaneously.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
It isn't an easy question to answer. I think that the process of becoming popular music maker boils down to two scenarios. Either you make popular music accoring to consumer defined guidelines and develop proper marketing strategy or come up with your own, innovative style that over some period of time levels up from underground music to mainstream as something known from its originality - thus defining new benchmark. Eiher way, you need resources - in the first scenario it's money and connections in the other it's talent, so I would say that difficulty of becoming popular music maker today is comparable to other periods of history.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
I think that creativity is more important, technical skills are crucial to be able to embody your ideas but they won't generate them. However on the master level experimenting with techniques can be a big factor of coming up with new conceptions.
Unfortunately, I have never tried to compose my own music. This is an interesting topic, but I find it very demanding. Personally, I like new challenges, but I would not like to try to create any melody. I had the opportunity to see how to create a professional soundtrack. The number of knobs and instrumental plugs in the programs did not encourage me to get acquainte.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
This is a tough question. Despite the smaller communication possibilities, it was easier in the 20th century to become a popular person. It was an age where the development of technology was the fastest. People created something unique and shared with the rest of the world. However, in today's world, despite access to the Internet and social media, the competition is much greater and the ideas for the next melodic paths are running out. Once upon a time people listened to the local band and raved about their music, now? Now, most of the music market is taken over by English-speaking bands, and the threshold to enter the industry is much higher and involves a large financial contribution
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
I believe that creativity is needed in this profession. The technique can be developed during the creation process, but without creativity you won't get far. Music is a kind of ability to convey emotions and values that guide an artist, so he/she must anticipate two steps ahead to stay on top.
I did couple of times. I think it's difficult at the beggining when you don't know your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). After you know how to use it, I think it's way easier.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
I think today it's easier, because you can make your own music in your own home with decent qualit, without spending a lot of money on music hardware and software. On the other hand today we have so much music made by a lot of people, so it's hard to go viral.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
Definitely creativity. You can be educated in music technique but never make anything new. Of course you must have some technique to make music, but I think creativity is more important. With creativity you can make something so different than before with a little help of someone that knows technique or even with some tutorial on the internet.
Nokia 3310… That was something! You just made my Sunday evening so sentimental… :D I’d love to hear that ringtone, do you still have it? Just imagine how hipster using it nowadays would be! Sure music production is quite complicated at the beginning, but what isn’t? Practice makes perfect.
Yes, numbers would say everything, but finding reliable statistics concerning this issue is really difficult.
@RomanDubovyi
It’s always fun, isn’t it?
That’s so true! Besides, a stroke of luck is crucial too!
@PawelBluszcz
That’s impressing! Did you enjoy it? Hopefully you’ll get back to it one day if you like it.
Finding a niche is crucial, but there are phenomenons like Dawid Podsiadło who are loved and admired by the whole nations :) And he is a great example of combination of creativity and great technique. With both of this and a personal charm sky is the limit.
@AdrianZygo
Wow, this is an awesome example of positive outcome of pandemic. Good luck!
Undeniably the widely available tools are very helpful when you are good at what you do. But as you said - without creative and professional approach platforms won’t be enough.
@JanBrynski
Perfect! It would be much easier to start producing if your friends are eager to share their knowledge with you.
Yes, there was a time when I tried to make my own music, but I gave up very quickly. The reason for my surrender is the difficulty you have to struggle with to create something cool. The programs for making music are very advanced, you also have to really try to get to know them well, sometimes it can take a really long time to make a song not sound like any other. I think I will still try to learn it.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
I think that despite the popularity of making music it is still much easier to become popular than years ago. First of all, the very fact that we have easy access to software. We don't have to have any instruments. A laptop and software are enough. It is quite cheap in comparison to making music x years ago. In addition, the presence of the Internet allows you to become heard all over the world in a fairly easy way.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
I think that creativity and technique is very important, but it is creativity that determines whether a given song is interesting or not. You can work out the technique or ask someone for help.
Yes, I have done it, few years ago I was trying to make some instrumentals. I don't remember the result of my work, but I bet it wasn't good. I find it quite difficult, because you must have good hearing and imagination. Moreover you have to learn how to use programs for making music.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
I'm not sure, it's really hard question. In a lot of areas, it's so difficult to tell whether it's easier to be the best now or it was easier in the past. I think in the past beginners had fewer rivals in the business, but it was harder to make qualitative things. Nowadays there are more features that can help you make something special. One more pros for these times are social medias, these days you can upload your music on youtube and if you can promote it wide you can become one hit wonder easier than before.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
I think technique is more important. I treat technique like a basement of music. You can be the most creative musician all over the world, but without quality of lyrics, melody and etc. it will be extremely hard to make something special.
I have never try to make music on my own but im looking forward to try it sometime when i will have more time. I think that i will enjoy it very much.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
I think that it is a little harder to become popular now, because of how many people are creating something nowadays. There is a greate number of talented musicians right now somwhere there that probably wont be noticed because of the number of them.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
I would say that technique, knowleadge of the music theory and what rules can be broken and how. There is a greate number of music theory patterns in pop music. And also 'creative' music usually make me feel strange to hear.
I don't have ever opportunity to compose music on my own. I think that could be really difficult. Of course, I would like to try it if I ever have an opportunity. Often, in songs nowadays, in my opinion, a large part of the music is the background. Of course, it depends largely on the type of music.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
Nowadays there are many more opportunities to promote your music and many more tools to create it than before. I think that nowadays it is easier to learn how to make music than before. When it comes to gaining popularity, I think it used to be easier because fewer people were involved. But I think that if you do something right, sooner or later you will succeed.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
I think that both technique and creativity are very important in making music. Creativity allows you to compose non-standard melodies but if they are weak from the technical point of view no one will want to listen to them. So I think that both aspects are essential for success in the music industry. Of course, there are exceptions
I am a musician by profession, I graduated from the first and second degree of music school and have been creating music for 5 years. I think that creating music is very difficult for a person who has no idea about music in the broadest sense of the word and for a person who doesn't know what musical goal they want to achieve. You can learn how to make music but also you can have innate intuition.
2.
I believe that in the 21st century it is easier to become famous. Sometimes it is enough to create a song at home and put it on the Internet. Previously it was more difficult because you had to have a contract with a label to succeed.
3.
Technique is very important but creativity is the most important thing. I think that a song that is not technically well made but is made creatively is worth more than a song that is a copy of another but is made very well technically.
Nowadays a lot of popular songs represent "Technique over creativity". This is sad because we, as listeners, are fed with the same songs. There is no room for creativity, because new things are often misunderstood at the very beginning. People have to get used to the new things, so creativity mostly does not match the popularity of the song.
I have tried to compose my own music. In my opinion it is like everything, you have to learn it. In the beginning it was hard to start and choose the right element in the console. I think it demands some practice and some good "ear" to produce music. I would like to try it again, it was so much fun to play it.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
It is easier now in my opinion, because we have a lot of recourses to learn, we can go on YouTube and search for some tutorials how to do something and "voilla". These days it only demands from us to want something and I belief most of things are possible. On the other hand if someone doesn't have a good taste in music he would not be able to become a music producer these days or in 20th century.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
I think it is more important to be creative with some proper technique. Both of these two are important but if we are not creative we can't do copy past with something old. It would be just the same.
Yes, I have tried to compose music long ago. I was using FL Studio but it was more for fun nothing big. I did not find it difficult but maybe it was because it was more amateur and my beats were only listened to by friends. I think I will try to find them and listen to them again.
2. Do you think it was easier to become popular in the 20th century, when not everyone could produce music? Or is it easier now, with a lot of possibilities but also much more people you have to break through?
I think in the 20th century it was easier for people who could access the studio because they were not many doing music. You only had to do good music and marketing yourself using the technologies that were available. But now there are too many talented individuals who make good music but can not be popular because there is too much content all around.
3. What do you think is more important in music production: technique or creativity? Share your opinion.
I think creativity is more important because music is an art in the first place. You can use basic techniques if you are creative and make really good music.