Music production is a lucrative field, with brands and businesses raking in millions each year. And, with the right training, anyone can do it! In this article, we’ll discuss the basics of making money from home producing music, including tips on how to become a music producer, the various skills you’ll need, and the opportunities available to you.
The Basics Of Making Money With Beats
To start you off on the right foot, you’ll need to gain a solid understanding of how music business works. It’s important to note that not all music is made equal—and, in fact, most of it isn’t. If you’re looking to make money producing music, you’ll need to learn how to identify and specialize in creating high-quality, distinctive tracks for various platforms and markets. This way, you’ll be able to build a portfolio of unique sounds and establish yourself as an expert in the field. Whether you produce hip-hop, R&B, or classical music, each genre has its own requirements and standards for the quality of the final product. To learn more, check out this informative blog post by professional music producer, Andy Chase, on the topic of music business basics. If you’ve ever wondered how to get started, this is the post for you.
Choosing A Niche
As a music producer, your first port of call will be songwriting tools such as melodic instruments, chords, and hooks. There are various platforms and software where you can find and download these elements for use in your compositions. For example, you can use the Apple® GarageBand® software to write and produce your own songs, or the Roland® TR-606 to create a robot-like symphony of sound.
As the owner of a recording studio, Andy Chase, also suggests looking for a niche—a part of the industry with which you’re familiar. When you choose a niche, you can more confidently establish yourself as an expert, and customers will recognize your tracks. For example, if you have a specific sound in mind, you may want to produce some samples or even record some instruments yourself to get a feel for what it’s like.
In addition to the above, you’ll also need to develop your recording skills so you can capture the raw sound of instruments accurately. There are various software and hardware on the market to help you with this, such as the Røde® Microphones and the Korg® X3R®. Working with pro equipment and good-quality pre-recorded samples will take your productions to the next level.
Learn The Fundamentals
As a music producer, your first port of call will be songwriting tools such as melodic instruments, chords, and hooks. There are various platforms and software where you can find and download these elements for use in your compositions. For example, you can use the Apple® GarageBand® software to write and produce your own songs, or the Roland® TR-606 to create a robot-like symphony of sound.
As a beginner, you’ll probably want to stick with software that has a user-friendly interface for simplicity’s sake. With most software, you can start by simply selecting a style of music (e.g. classical, jazz, or blues) and then select an instrument (e.g. the piano or the guitar) to get inspired by. From there, you can start composing music and MIDI files that you can later turn into professional-grade songs.
To get started, simply download the app or program that suits your needs and platform, and start creating.
Understand The Business End
You’ll also need to understand the business end of things so you can take charge of your projects and follow the correct procedures when working with clients. This could include contract work, pricing, and the legalities surrounding music production. For example, when producing for brands, you’ll need to consider how and where you fit within their particular scheme of things. For more on this, read this detailed blog post by professional music producer, Andy Chase. If you’re looking to get started as a brand producer, this post is for you.
Record A Demo
Once you have the basics down and you’re confident you can produce music to a professional standard, it’s time to put your skills to the test. For this, you’ll need to record some demo tapes. You can do this easily enough using your computer’s built-in microphone or one of the many professional ones that you can buy specifically for this purpose. Once you’ve got your recording kit ready, get some instruments (e.g. the guitar, keyboards, and drums) around you and start playing. If this is a one-person operation, you can add more keyboards, guitars, and other instruments as desired for a fuller, more professional sound. If you recorded on location, you can add reverb and other effects as desired for a more polished end product.
Be Careful What You Wish For
Make no mistake, producing music is a lucrative field, but it can be extremely demanding. If you’re looking for quick cash, you may want to reconsider and look into other opportunities. Despite the above, if you’re passionate about music and genuinely want to make it your career, you can certainly do so. Just be careful what you wish for—the pressure can be immense, and it takes a lot of dedication and commitment to succeed in this field. If you truly want to be a successful music producer, you can take pride in knowing that you’ve got to put in the work to get there. With a little bit of luck and some determination, you may be able to make it big—but, as Andy Chase so poignantly puts it, “nothing in life is guaranteed.” So, be careful what you wish for—the work may be tough, but the rewards can be well worth it.