Part 4: The Recorded Music Industry
Chapter 12
Start Thinking... What should a producer look for when selecting a studio? Should the artist work for the producer or the producer work for the artist? What are the advantages and disadvantages of Do It Yourself (DIY) recording? Why is getting a big production budget from a label an advantage? A disadvantage?
Chapter Goals Learn what a record producer does and the important elements of a production deal. Understand the five stages of record production. Learn about production budgeting and how producers get paid. Gain an awareness of recording studio design, types of studios, and how to select a studio. Learn terms basic to the recording and mastering process.
Record Producers Details of the role vary Responsible for keeping the recording session moving toward a commercially viable master Creative control Selection of material
Matching Producer to Artist Ensure a good fit Preliminary meetings crucial People skills
Production Deals Royalties and Fees Producer contract grants percentages called “points” 1 point = 1% most producers receive 2 to 4 points Producers receive royalty payments from sale #1 Escalators Upfront production fee is standard Artists may also pay producer points out of their own royalties Letter of Direction
The Recording Studio Studio Operation Full-time staff Technology revolution crimped big multi-room studios importance of human decisions Traffic managers Studio profit The importance of scheduling Studio reputations usually spread by word-of-mouth
The Recording Studio Studio Design Good acoustics control room studios The proper balance of stereo depends largely on where the mixer sits in the room 5.1 surround sound compounds this problem Orchestras and ensembles require sound diffusion Studios ultimately sink or swim on whether the performing musicians feel comfortable in them
The Recording Studio Selecting a Studio Cost Location Equipment, service, and staff downtime EQ and timbre digital versus analog Studio’s reputation and vibe
The Recording Studio Types of Studios Home/project studios Preproduction/demo studios Independent studios Label-owned studios
The Five Stages of Record Production Preproduction: Budgeting and Planning Identify expense parameters Budget control reasons for exceeding a budget recording expenses = advance against future earnings Arrangements and rehearsals decide how each song is to be treated arrangers score the charts session musicians
The Five Stages of Record Production Basics and Tracking Capturing the basic elements Tracking sheet Producer and the engineer Deciding on the “best take”
The Five Stages of Record Production Overdubbing Punch ins or separate tracks Lead vocals trade craft + skillful cajolery Editing software
The Five Stages of Record Production Mixing Decisions to be made: instrument levels performances for the final mix tonal qualities and EQ where to place the instruments in the stereo mix Mixing engineers are key
The Five Stages of Record Production Mastering Record company pays for mastering and final steps Mastering engineer sequences the album adds space between each song correlate track numbers makes any sonic corrections to the recording Producer’s job done(?)
The Five Stages of Record Production Master Delivery 1. master tape mixed down as appropriate 2. deliver letters of consent from all individuals involved 3. deliver letters of consent from photographers and graphic designers 4. furnish evidence of copyrights and mechanical licenses 5. submit lyric sheets 6. submit technical credits summary sheet 7. submit sign-off statement 8. collect wage-related forms and contracts
Getting Started as a Producer Entry points Key requirements of a producer 1. will and passion to succeed 2. gifted in locating star potential 3. talent for picking quality songs 4. can evaluate combined impact of material, artist’s delivery, and production sound 5. access to money 6. know how to present artist to potential buyers
Getting Started as a Producer Meeting expectations technologically adept The DIY artist advantages Can record when inspiration strikes; artist controls sound; can be productive during in-between moments in life; sound experimentation disadvantages Acoustics; little collaboration; lack of experience
Professional Associations The Audio Engineering Society The Society of Professional Audio Recording Services The Recording Academy The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
For Further Thought... What complications has the technological revolution brought to record production? Can education and training help producers better identify good takes from bad ones, or is this an innate ability? What are the five phases of record production?