Music Production Made Simple

Welcome to 'Music Production Made Simple'. This is the first episode in the podcast which introduces what to expect from future episodes, and also a brief background on GratuiTous and his approach to this music industry. (Visit the episode page to watch a video of GratuiTous skateboarding!) https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/001-welcome-to-music-production-made-simple/ For more info on GratuiTous' FL Studio courses, books, studio gear, or 1-on-1 music production lessons, visit: https://itsGratuiTous.com/learning/ Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/001-welcome-to-music-production-made-simple/

It's important to stay true to who you are as a music producer in this music industry. It's easy to look at and compare yourself to others and fall into the same spiral. In this episode, I share various topics from my book 'Proper Producer Mindset', such as: Pursuing Life as a Music Producer Actually Achieving these Goals to Make it in the Music Industry What (9-to-5) Jobs are Good to Have that Still Allow You to Work on Music Building Your Producer Name/Brand Being Aware of Your Actions and Not Following the Trends For more info on GratuiTous' FL Studio courses, books, studio gear, or 1-on-1 music production lessons, visit: https://itsGratuiTous.com/learning/ Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/002-proper-producer-mindset/

[BONUS - THIS EPISODE SHARES MY 100% FREE MUSIC PRODUCTION GEAR COURSE! - LINK IS AT BOTTOM OF THIS DESCRIPTION] Music production gear has truly become affordable! Be careful with the information you read online in regards to this digital vs. analog debate. The digital route totally outweighs the analog route in terms of benefits and convenience! However, we still have to purchase some hardware tools to be most effective as a music producer. It's important you purchase the right gear right from the start. Not only to save money, but also for enjoyment. If you have the right gear that suits you and your workflow, it will motivate you to continue to practice music production, and break pass that point to truly excel in this craft! In this episode, we cover: Gear Required to Produce Music What to Look for When Purchasing Certain Music Production Gear Different Ways to Produce Beats How to Save Money When Buying Your Gear Get this episode's resources [FREE COURSE is in "Episode Resources" on link below]: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/003-gear-and-tools-required-as-a-producer/

Before you start taking music production seriously, it's INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT to set up your own custom music production folder. FL Studio offers its 'User Data Folder', but has been known to cause a lot of headaches for many users. That's when I took the initiative to figure out the absolute best way to set myself up for the long-term as a music producer, know exactly where my files are, and never have missing files EVER AGAIN! This episode is actually based off of my course: A Specific Music Production Folder. I break down my actual personal music production folder in this episode (but the video course shows you step-by-step the why's, how's, and reasoning between my organization and file labeling.) In short, you want to create a music production folder which nests everything to do with your music production! You'd then create sub-folder for further organization. Here's an example: Music Production Folder Albums Beat Tapes Sounds But, within these sub-folders is where it's important to pay attention to my layout. (I've spent years perfecting this folder layout until finally nailing it.) Within the Sounds folder, for example: Sounds Drum Kits VSTs For each subfolder (Drum Kits and VSTs), I create a folder for each vendor (company) I purchase a product from. It's then super easy to access these sounds from within FL Studio's browser. When it comes to organizing your beat tapes/album releases, it's even more important to follow my folder structure to prevent missing files, and know exactly where files are at a later date. (For remixes, or various other commercial endeavors.) Again, check out the course for a step-by-step video walk through. Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/004-a-specific-music-production-folder/

Purchasing the right sounds is important when starting to produce music. In this episode I talk to you about various things to think about when it comes to purchasing sounds like: What to Look for in Sounds What Types of Sounds Should you Buy What Kind of Sounds Should a Producer Have When I'm looking to purchase a sound kit, I'm looking for Quality and Variety. These two criteria are essential to being creative as a producer, and having a solid foundation to work off of. Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/005-buying-sounds-saving-money/

This episode asks you an interesting question: "When making your beats, what do you first start with? The Instruments, the Drum Loop, or do you create both at the same time?" It's an interesting topic for discussion, upon which GratuiTous gives his opinion. It may spark some creativity for your own productions! In addition, we cover some popular courses within GratuiTous' music production membership, and how to overcome beat block/producer's block. Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/006-different-approaches-to-making-a-beat/

Welcome to SAFE SPOTS™. SAFE SPOTS™ is a term GratuiTous has coined over the years which reveals where you can place your sounds within your drum loop for them to sound good no matter what! In addition, you’ll also learn about the ORGANIC TOOLS available to you in your DAW (music program) to further enhance this drum loop. GratuiTous calls these tools ORGANIC because they’re absolutely FREE in any music production program. In addition, GratuiTous has also written a book on this SAFE SPOTS™ concept, which can be found on the episode's page below on his website. Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuitous.com/podcast/007-safe-spots-create-amazing-drum-loops/

The question of "Does a beatmaker need to know how to play the piano" sparks a good conversation. Depending on if you just sample music, or create original compositions, this question can tip the scale of your opinion, but at the end of the day, I personally feel it's extremely wise to have an understanding of the basics of piano and music theory. We cover a variety of points to help you learn the piano from a beatmaker's perspective, but if you'd like that visual insight to learn the piano, my course Learn Piano for Beatmakers and Producers is always available to you. Hope this episode inspires you to learn the piano, learn to improvise, and start making amazingly composed beats! Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/008-do-beatmakers-need-to-know-the-piano

Personally, I feel the division between an amateur to professional producer is in their arrangement. It's the patience they apply to their arrangement that constantly prepares and communicates with their listener. This episode not only talks about arrangement, but how to build your song so it flows naturally, and brings out your song's fullest emotion. Links to the book Audio Painting, the course Song Structure and Arrangement Music Course, and the new FL Studio Intermediate Course (releasing end of July 2019), will be in the episode resource links below. Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/009-arranging-your-song-with-audio-painting/

So you're wanting to get started in music production, eh? It all seems fun, until it starts getting serious. It's at these times where you reflect on past decisions you've made and how you could of approached certain situations a little differently. That's what we cover in this episode. What to prepare BEFORE you release your brand and music. Additionally, how to stay professional at all times, and always be aware of your decisions and the outcome those decisions can bring. If you want to be a professional music producer, you must be aware of your actions, and the image you are portraying to the world. For more info on GratuiTous' FL Studio courses, books, studio gear, or 1-on-1 music production lessons, visit: https://itsGratuiTous.com/learning/ Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/010-before-releasing-your-music/

What should be your goal when mixing a track? Should every instrument stand out with clarity? How do you achieve balance? Do VSTs even compete with expensive analog gear? These are just some of the questions new and intermediate producers face when starting out. In this episode, we cover what your goal of mixing should be, and many helpful tips to improve your mixes so you can give your music a fair comparison when using effects like EQ and Compression. Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/011-goal-of-mixing-the-analog-vs-digital-debate

Did you know the secret to an amazing mix is actually in wise sound selection? Wise sound selection is the foundation of your song's frequency spectrum, and in this episode, we discuss how to think in terms of your lows, mids, highs, and how to use certain instruments powerfully in your music. Additionally, the main course I wanted to share in this episode is called Creating Organic Beats. I record a single guitar note with you, and show you how to create a whole composition out of that single guitar note! You'll learn sound design, and learn to think in terms of your song's frequency space in the course. (See link below to check out course in episode page's resource links.) Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/012-creating-melodies-with-sound-selection

This week we take a little break from creating music, and talk about how to create content to teach about music through tutorials and courses. We cover the software I personally use and equipment to achieve high-quality videos, and the quirks that come with certain software and what to be aware of. Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/013-how-to-create-content-as-a-beatmaker/

This episode is inspired by my own mistake, while also noticing on-going trends within the social industry. It’s really easy to compare yourself to others, but this will burn you out so fast, and make you quickly forget why you started creating music in the first place! My blunder was recording a whole course, and the audio wasn’t salvageable! I tried recording with a lavalier microphone (like discussed in Episode #013), and even did a test recording prior to committing to record the whole course. I have now learned, a lavalier microphone (those small microphones you see clipped onto people’s shirts in videos), require much LESS phantom power voltage than the regular +48V on our audio interfaces.. Typically lavalier microphones take 5V!!!! That’s why it was distorted.. I fried the microphone lol (Good thing it was a cheap one!) When I went to go edit the course, I was sad :( However, as you’ll hear in the podcast, this made me search for new solutions to achieve high quality audio, but not see my microphone, since I’m now using a green screen in my courses to allow for a more personal feeling to the courses! This just reminded me to have patience, and silly mistakes can be made, even after being in an industry for many years! Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/014-patience-and-comparison-to-others/

In this episode we're going to be talking about compression! Compression is probably the trickiest tool to learn as a music producer, in addition, it will also be the last tool that you'll fully comprehend, too! We cover the basics of most compressors (threshold, ratio, attack, and release), as well as cover the knee (some compressors allow you to adjust this), and more advanced compression techniques, like upwards compression. We even go further by describing how to get started using a compressor, what to listen for, and how to use a compressor so that you know the settings you've applied are actually benefiting your music! Learn how to balance a vocal, or shape/mold a sound with your attack and release knobs! Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/015-a-quick-up-start-with-compression/

What's the best custom music production computer you can build? What do you look for in parts? In this episode, we talk all about how to pick out the parts to build a custom music production computer from scratch! In addition, check out this episode's resources to watch the video of how I built my own custom music production computer, and additional links like what Image-Line (makers of FL Studio) suggest for music production! Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/016-building-a-custom-computer-for-music-production/

In this episode, you will learn about a technique called Cut Itself. It's a very powerful tool that is used in many areas of music production from sampling, to achieving a cleaner mix, to replicating a realistic sound to your music. In short, you have cut, and cut by (your cut group.) If your cut is the same number as your cut group, whenever a sound plays, then plays again, it will immediately stop playing the first time the sound played, and start from the beginning of the new sound, giving a nice clean sound to your mixes. Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/017-using-cut-itself-while-sampling/

In this episode we talk about the mindset behind a catchy melody. As much as understanding a musical instrument inside and out is important as a music producer to create amazing melodies, many melodies we hear in our music today only consists a couple notes! As sad as it is to say that it doesn't require as much skill behind the musical instrument, it does however take skill and ingenuity to create catchy melodies. Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/018-melodies-dont-require-expert-knowledge/

Here's a cool trick to get extra clarity out of your delays. Send the audio insert to a delay insert, apply sidechain compression on this delay insert whenever the audio insert plays. An audio example is provided in this episode! Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/019-delay-with-sidechain-compression/

Some big news to celebrate. The 10 Steps to Become an FL Studio Pro course is officially released. To celebrate, you can use coupon 10STEPS at checkout to save 50% off the course! In this episode, we discuss some golden nuggets I've come across over the years in terms of mixing and mastering. Level Matching A/B Comparison Mixing in Solo We cover some audio examples, and some things to be careful of. Take heed to the advice to make more accurate judgement in your mixing/mastering! Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/20-golden-rules-of-mixing-and-mastering/