Music Production: Techniques and Concepts

Course details

Learn how to turn a demo recording to a fully mastered song with Grammy-winning writer/producer/mixer Scott Jacoby. These simple, memorable, and practical techniques cover the production process from beginning to end, introducing not just the how, but the why—the philosophies and concepts—behind great audio engineering. You'll understand how to choose the right song for recording, select a tempo and key, and lay down tracks with both real and virtual instruments and vocals. Scott then takes you into post, where the editing, mixing, and mastering magic happens. The techniques are demonstrated in Pro Tools, but you can follow along in any one of your favorite DAWs. By the end, you'll have the skills you need to record, edit, and mix a complete song.

Learning objectives
Picking the right song
Choosing the right recording method
Creating the demo
Finding a tempo and ideal key
Recording basic tracks
Making beats
Recording and editing vocals
Editing the track
Mixing and mastering the song

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What you should know before watching

1. Artistic Vision Production Concept and Methodology

03 - Picking and optimizing the right song
04 - Understanding the artistic vision
05 - Creating the sonic vision
06 - Managing the budget and timeline
07 - Choosing the appropriate recording methodology

2. Pre-Production

08 - Listening to the demo or making a demo
09 - Finding the best tempo
10 - Picking the ideal key
11 - Analyzing and or tweaking the song structure
12 - Deciding on the arrangement and dynamics

3. Instrumental Production, Tracking, and Programming

13 - Recording basic tracks in a live recording session
14 - Making beats and building the rhythmic framework and groove
15 - Programming instruments and creating a sonic landscape
16 - Combining live and programmed material
17 - Recording instrumental parts and overdubs

4. Vocal Production, Editing, and Comping

18 - Deciding on the vocal approach
19 - Engineering the vocal sound
20 - Producing a great vocal performance
21 - Comping lead and background vocals
22 - Creating background vocal concept, parts, and sounds

5. Post-Production

23 - Reviewing the arrangement
24 - Editing the track and cleaning up the session
25 - Setting up the mix
26 - Mixing the song
27 - Mastering the song

Conclusion

28 - Next steps