Last year, we posted quite a bit on our Twitter account.
But not all of you are following us on there, and sometimes they get lost in the noise.
So we decided to round up 50 of the best tips from the past 12 months into this blog post!
Because sometimes, you just need something to keep the inspiration flowing.
You’ll find tips on:
- Optimising workflow
- Production hacks
- Mindset shifting
- Setting goals
- + more!
Let’s get to it.
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The Tips
Strike balance between routine and fresh experience.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) February 26, 2020
One is needed to make music in the first place.
One is needed to have something to express.
Never underestimate the power of layering.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) February 27, 2020
Even a simple second layer can help find the sound you were looking for, and it always works better than trying to EQ, compress or process the first layer in order to compensate.
We’re all so scared of sharing the vulnerable parts of ourselves, including our music. But the more you put out there, the more confident you’ll become, even in the face of haters.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) February 26, 2020
Points of similarity and points of difference are both needed in your ‘sound’ in order to be palatable yet unique.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) February 27, 2020
Make a series of frequently-used FX chains that you can drag on to give any instrument a particular sound.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) February 25, 2020
Try making a song where the only mixing you can do is with volume.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) February 25, 2020
No EQ, no compression, no mastering.
Just focus on the quality of the arrangement, sample selection and composition.
More ideas generally imply more finished songs, but there are ways to increase your ratio of unfinished tracks to finished ones.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) December 4, 2019
– Structure your track early
– Commit to ideas and bounce to audio if necessary
– Make versions incase you go in a bad direction and need to backtrack
Cool sound design hack – reverse a sound.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) December 6, 2019
Rest is important for producers. While productivity and creativity are also important, striking a balance is key.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) December 4, 2019
Starting with just a piano instrument or VST can help to focus on the composition and not on sounds or mixing. Those things can be thought about later down the track.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) December 3, 2019
“The amateur tweets. The pro works.” – Steven Pressfield
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) November 6, 2019
The irony but it’s true.
Is your environment conducive to music production?
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) November 9, 2019
Which programs open when you start your computer?
Is your desk clear of unnecessary tools?
Are your keyboards always on and ready to go?
What does your default DAW template have in it?
Do you get too many notifications?
Etc.
Always challenge your production habits:
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) November 8, 2019
– does that sound really need sidechain compression?
– maybe the lowpass on that sound is too high?
– maybe the mix sounded cooler before I chucked on a stereo imager?
Don’t do something arbitrarily. Do it because it makes the song better
Teaching what you know is an effective way to retain the knowledge you learn.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) November 7, 2019
Invest into your craft with both your time and money. Many producers are afraid to spend money on their artist project because they think it’s a waste, but both time and money can multiply results if spent wisely.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) November 5, 2019
Give yourself a time limit for making something ‘work’ in a track.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) November 29, 2019
For example, you try a kick drum in your track. It sounds good, but needs tweaking. You EQ, compress, shape the tail etc. for 5 minutes and it still doesn’t quite do it for you. Scrap it and find a better sample.
Ableton Pro-Tip: If you’re warping fast drum loops to a slower tempo, make two copies of the loop and set one to Repitch, and the other to Complex with a high-pass, and blend to taste. This way you retain the natural feel of the drums without losing the high-end.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) September 9, 2019
Ableton Pro-Tip: If you’re warping fast drum loops to a slower tempo, make two copies of the loop and set one to Repitch, and the other to Complex with a high-pass, and blend to taste. This way you retain the natural feel of the drums without losing the high-end.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) September 9, 2019
Tracks sounding boring? Try layering in interesting, unusual textures. Foley, weird synthesis or unusual effects can be fun to play around with.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) October 9, 2019
Don’t assume you’re not good enough. Send your stuff to labels, YouTube channels or whoever. Worst case scenario, they don’t like it. But at least you tried. So then you get better, and try again. Until it works.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) October 10, 2019
Going into the studio with high expectations can be dangerous. The only thing you should expect to do is produce something. Expectations can kill motivation.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) October 14, 2019
Who’s better?
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) August 8, 2019
A producer who grinds out an 8 hour session into the the morning?
Or a producer who does a solid 4 hours and gets sleep?
The second – sleep is proven to help improve muscle memory and knowledge retention, so stop fulfilling the producer cliché – get some rest!
Compare yourself to your previous work, not to the current work of others.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) October 3, 2019
Don’t neglect the importance of good samples.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) September 27, 2019
Things tend to grow at rates which are unnoticeable to humans. This includes careers, music projects and musical skill.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) October 23, 2019
Take time to appreciate how far you’ve actually come.
Overnight success takes many years.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 24, 2019
If you’re hesitant to put your music out into the world, just do it.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 23, 2019
Worst case scenario? Nobody listens or cares.
Best case scenario? People love it and share it.
Besides, you can always delete it.
Make music without the expectation of releasing it.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 20, 2019
Opportunities in music come through people first.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 18, 2019
You may have heard the term ‘polishing a turd’ when mastering a poorly mixed track.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 10, 2019
The same can be traced back to mixing a poorly produced track.
Or producing a poorly arranged track.
Or arranging a poor initial composition/idea.
Everything stems from the original idea.
Making electronic music has 2 parts
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 22, 2019
1. Sound source
2. Expression tool
For most, sound sources vary from synths to samples, & the expression tool tends to be a mouse/keyboard, but it could be good to change that (e.g. MIDI controller or iPad app) when switching up workflow.
Every idea you make can be used for something, even if you aren’t going to finish it. Export out the stems to resample them, save presets and racks, or even just bounce the whole idea as raw material for you to use later on.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 9, 2019
Why should producers read books?
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 25, 2019
Nobody just decides to write a book – they write because they have something important to say.
That’s worth considering at the least.
For the intermediate/advanced producers:
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 26, 2019
If you ever feel stuck in your sound, let it evolve. You’re likely not going to sound too different anyway.
Remember, not every customer will buy all of a companies products. Not every fan will appreciate every single one of your songs.
Optimal music production workflow is never achieved, it’s always evolving, adapting and improving as you grow.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 10, 2019
Your sound is likely more distinctive than you think – everyone has their own processes, techniques and workflows, even when trying to emulate someone else.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 12, 2019
If you’re a new producer, don’t make your choice of DAW based on other people’s opinions. Try the demos out and make the decision based on your experience.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) July 21, 2019
In creative work, quantity always leads to quality.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) May 16, 2019
Make a LOT of music.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) May 22, 2019
People need to enjoy the journey of music production and becoming a better producer. Goals and dreams are good, but don’t live in a perpetual state of failure just because you’re not where you want to be.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) April 24, 2019
There seems to be a workaholic school of thought going around suggesting that people who want to start something (producers included) need to work around the clock get results.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) March 25, 2019
Don’t get me wrong, you need to work hard. But work smart first.
Burnout’s not a fun place to be.
If you work best in the morning, work then.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) May 23, 2019
If you work best in the evening, work then.
There isn’t a magic plugin.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) March 21, 2019
There isn’t a magic tip.
There isn’t a magic DAW.
There isn’t a magic collab.
There isn’t a magic solution.
Every step you take in the right direction as a producer – that’s where the magic’s at.
How to guarantee dissatisfaction as an artist:
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) April 4, 2019
– set follower-based goals
– keep thinking every song you make will be a hit
– care more about social media appearance than your craft
– have a perfectionist mindset
– compare yourself to others
Good music is 40% preparation, 50% editing and 10% creative inspiration.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) May 24, 2019
Ideas are good but how you execute them is more important.
Walking is great for creativity and a fresh perspective.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) April 12, 2019
Too many people quit too early.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) April 18, 2019
Making good music is an art that’s difficult to refine but worth every effort.
Remember to listen to your mixes literally everywhere.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) April 5, 2019
– Monitors
– Headphones
– Phone speakers
– Laptop speakers
– Your brother’s AirPods
– Your Dad’s old radio
– Your friends car stereo
– Hack into the mall speakers
– At your university lecture
– Inside the hadron collider
Remember to listen to your mixes literally everywhere.
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) April 5, 2019
– Monitors
– Headphones
– Phone speakers
– Laptop speakers
– Your brother’s AirPods
– Your Dad’s old radio
– Your friends car stereo
– Hack into the mall speakers
– At your university lecture
– Inside the hadron collider
My favourite plugins:
— EDMProd (@EDMProd) March 4, 2019
1. Coffee
2. No wi-fi connection
3. Multiple hours of uninterrupted time
And That’s A Wrap
After more tips? Check out a few of these articles:
- 100 Essential Tips For The New Producer
- 100 FL Studio Tips
- 100 Ableton Live Tips
- 100 Sound Design Tips
- 50 Mixing Tips
- 50 Workflow Tips
- 11 Uncommon Workflow Tips
Make sure to give us a follow on Twitter if you want more tips like this!
