Advancements in Audio Production Technology
How can a seemingly simple 4-chord club dance track sound as good as a recording of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony? Simply put, the production!
Over the last century, audio production technology has undergone dramatic improvement. Modern computers can be used create virtually any sound. They can produce fog horn, a barking dog to sound musical. Electronic music consistently demonstrates this fact. By playing a short recorded sample within a repetitive groove with right modulation this music has the ability to invigorate us and takes us on spiritual journeys. This would not be possible without modern music production technology.
Have you experienced that song that just won't leave your head? Usually it's a small chunk of one of your favorite (or most hated) songs. Usually the only way to rid of it is to play a recording of something else (at least that's how I do it). That being said, repetition in music is essential, but in order for it not to sound static, real time variation(often called modulation) must be applied. Music, defined simply, is repetition and change. In fact, beauty, defined simply, is repetition and change. This can be observed in the slightly unsymmetrical pattern of a flower, stripes of a zebra, or clouds in the sky. Or the slightly varied pattern of birds or crickets chirping, or waves rolling up on to the beach.
What are the components of music? Many would say that it's lyrics, notes and rhythm. These are essential aspects to music, but they are just the start. It is ultimately the production that brings music to life. Production could be described as the layers of modulation(variation) added to the core components, such as lyrics, notes, and rhythm. These layers adjust aspects of sound such as timbre(tone), volume(amplitude), location (panning or balance), duration(length), frequency spectrum, dynamics envelope(volume shape), pitch envelope(note shape), frequency modulation envelope (spectrum shape),phase, waveshape. The list continues. .
It is no surprise that production is an essential part of making any type of music, however electronic music, in particular, requires a lot more production; many electronic pieces are built on 1-5 second repeating loops and thus require real time modulation (variation) to ensure they don't sound static.
We are in a time where anybody with a $1000 computer can produce sounds that were not attainable 20 years ago, even in the world's largest sound studios. This notion invigorates me and is partly the reason I have dedicated my life to being a competent composer, producer, and teacher.
My job is to help you tap into your musical mind and help you express those musical ideas that loop in your head.
Ben McMullan
Packages available with hourly rates ranging$50-$80/hour. Call for details!