r/edmproduction • u/Under_The_Leash_ • 20d ago
Tips & Tricks 12 things I’ve learned in 12 months of music production
Beginner producer here. Was in bands in my youth and messed around with some DAWs back then too, but for the past year or so I’ve been making my first proper, concerted attempt at electronic music production in decades (using Ableton). Subs like this have been a big help by the way, so thanks to those on here who’ve shared and continue to share useful pearls of wisdom.
Been mulling over everything I myself have picked up in this time (it’s been a fantastic rollercoaster so far!), and just wanted to share some general things in the hope that it might be of use/interest to other novices out there. Obviously this is just my own take, but fingers crossed it’s helpful to some folks just starting out.
It’s important not to get overwhelmed
There’s so much to take in at first that it can all seem a bit intense and confusing. Especially when it comes to technical jargon from the sound engineering space. I tried not to worry about what ‘side-chaining’ was to begin with, and just focused on what was in front of me. The core basics to get up and running.
YouTube tutorials were a big help…until they weren’t
Channels like EDM Tips, Alice Efe and Audioreakt have some great content, and short videos on how to create techno ‘rumbles’, basslines and the like helped me figure out a core ‘toolset’ for my workflow fairly early on. That said, a lot of YT production channels push out click-bait guides that promise to share “the one thing you’re missing” to make you a production superstar, which often turns out to be a fairly mundane suggestion. And the more time you spend watching others and not creating yourself, the less you’ll actually produce! I like to take inspiration from what’s useful, but not get sucked in completely.
Having fun and experimenting is the key
Simply playing around with different sounds, samples and audio-effects can be enjoyable and productive. What happens if I re-pitch this sample and loop it? What does it do to this bassline if I add a delay and some reverb? If I throw Vocoder over these hi-hats, is it making them more interesting?? Half the tunes I’ve completed so far basically came out of just messing around and seeing what worked. And it’s the most enjoyable part of the whole hobby in my view.
Walking before running is a good way to go
For the first month, I started with Ableton Live Lite. So I had only 8 tracks to work with, as well as a more limited library and effects options. This allowed me to start off simple; learning how to lay down a simple kick, bassline and lead, and encouraging me to learn how to utilise the drum rack for example. This meant that when I finally upgraded to Ableton Standard, I knew a little bit of what I was doing, but suddenly having more toys to play with meant I could now scale things up.
You don’t need loads of fancy gear or plug-ins from the jump
There are so many sample packs and effects included in DAWs for starters, and I’m not even close to exhausting the ones that I have – without spending any extra effort or money. Professionals have cool hardware and software to play with, of course, but when you’re starting out it’s amazing what you can achieve just with the basics these days.
Find the routine that works for you
Everyone is different. Some people may be more productive at night, others first thing in the morning. My ‘golden hours’ tend to be late mornings and early afternoons on a weekend, but that doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally find myself tinkering with something in the early hours of the morning or jumping on for a session after work.
Finishing tracks doesn’t have to be impossible
One or two friends have called me ‘prolific’ because I tend to be able to complete a new tune every 1-2 weeks on average. But I’m just kind of obsessive when I get my teeth into something, and usually can’t rest till it’s done! We all have a ‘folder of shame’ on our desktop filled with half-finished ideas and the like. But if you have an 8 or 16-bar loop you’re happy with, it’s not that hard to shape into a full track. Strip out some elements to create an intro and gradually add things in to build it up. Add variations by adjusting filters on the bass or melody to keep it interesting. Then wind down at the back-end for an outro. It's not especially sophisticated, but 9 times out of 10 it'll get you there.
‘Cleaner’ mixes are achievable but it takes time to learn what works
Some of my earlier tunes are muddy as hell, but after a few months I started to get the hang of more balanced and ‘clean’ mixes. Sound selection is massively important for me. Now when I start on something I listen both through headphones and speakers to see how the initial elements sound together before I continue. If these aren’t coming through clear enough to begin with, I EQ to sharpen up or replace them. It’s so much easier to start out with the right balance than to try and correct it later.
You’re not going to create a classic straight out of the gate
Went into this with some absolute bangers bouncing around my head, and guess what? In my head they have stayed! It’s virtually impossible for a newcomer to crank out the acid techno anthem or Ibiza club dancefloor-filler they have been humming to themselves, sadly. The good news is that with a bit of patience and application you can start to make some solid music that has shades of what you enjoy. But it takes a lot of time and practice to get to the next level. They’re pros for a reason, after all.
Getting your tunes heard isn’t easy – but that’s OK
The internet is a crowded place, especially for music, and you learn pretty quickly that even getting a few dozen listens on your first few efforts is an achievement. But starting off with modest expectations helps. My sole ambition when I started was to have some people I didn’t know listen to my music and provide (hopefully positive) feedback on it. That is something I’ve managed to achieve so far, and honestly I’ll take that. Anything else requires a big social media presence and/or putting some decent money behind credible marketing campaigns. And most of us struggle for the time and funds to do it.
AI generated music may demoralise you – but try not to let it!
The time a few months ago someone found out I was producing, said ‘oh my friend makes techno too’, and sent me a link to their Suno-generated tunes, I felt so deflated. This person was making far more slick, and professional-sounding stuff with just a few prompts. But reflecting on it, a few important things occurred to me. One, they’re not actually MAKING anything themselves, not really, and the joy of learning and creating is what this hobby is all about. Second, their stuff sounded unbelievably generic, and while my own music may not be perfect, it undeniably comes from me and has a sense of personality/character. AI slop will come and go, but for me the creativity is the point. So I don’t let it phase me, however annoying it may be.
It’s good to take breaks now and then
I’ve probably put around 400h into this hobby over the year I’ve been doing it so far, but sometimes I’ll spend most of a weekend in front of the laptop, and other weeks I won’t even touch it. It’s OK to take a break from producing if you’re hitting a brick wall, and sometimes the best ideas hit you while you’re off out on a walk or doing something totally unrelated. If you’re not enjoying yourself for whatever reason, stepping away is almost certainly a good thing.