Steve’s Music Roll

Although the holiday season has come and gone again and spring is right around the corner, I would like to discuss an editorial which was published in the December issue of Recording Magazine. The article was regarding recording your own holiday CD for family and friends.

For those of us who are gifted with musical talent (instrumental or vocal), one of the greatest gifts that can be shared during the holidays is music. Whether it be recorded or live, there is something special about being able to perform a musical number for those we enjoy being around. And now with the plethora of recording gear options available on the market, it is now feasible to create a simple recording easily and quickly.

In order to produce and distribute a personal album in time for the holidays, the time to start thinking is now. (This is why I decided to write this post now rather than later in the year.) A plan needs to be thought out so that all the songs can be picked (or written), recorded, manufactured, and distributed. For instance, by the end of August, all the songs should be recorded. September and October should be the time to actually do the post-production work. In November, the final master should duplicated either by you or sent out to a company such as Discmakers which offers short-run duplication services. If you’re dealing with people who are very up with the times, you may opt to distribute it digitally in AAC or MP3 format. But overall, by December the whole process should be finished.

If this project becomes a yearly tradition, you will find that producing the album becomes easier as your repertoire of material will become greater allowing you to just pick from a library and rearrange the order of tracks. Of course, you may want to record some new material each year to offer something fresh each year.

So, if you’re looking for that special gift at the end of the year to give to your friends and family, think about making your own holiday album. It actually may become that item that your recipients wait for unlike the dreaded dry fruit cake.

Tags: holdiay cd, recording a holiday cd, recording magazine

If anyone didn’t know, many of the Virgin Records Mega stores have closed their doors after many years in business. At first, I was shocked that the store on Broadway in Manhattan shut its door. However, I was really shocked when I found out that the Orlando store located at Downtown Disney in Walt Disney World closed its doors I was utmost shocked and realized that the record resales have entered a new era, almost gone.

If we think back before the days of MP3 players and the Internet, the only place we could get the newest recordings from an artist were brick and mortar record stores like Virgin, Tower or Sam Goody. Based on my most current research, all three seem to be now gone. The only remnants of these giants are their online stores.

I remember growing up in the eighties and going to one of the major record stores and looking at all the endless racks that were filled with just about every artist that was current. And….there  was a choice between the vinyl, CD or cassette. Eventually the cassettes died as portable CD players around and then came MP3 players. The rest is history. It is now sad to see what actually is stocked on the shelves at stores and those who work there are not even familiar with some of the artists that are requested by us seasoned die hard CD aficionados.

It truly is a shame to see the traditional record stores go by the way side of online. But, it is also sad to acknowledge that the acceptance of less fidelity is getting higher. We have lost the art of being able to truly listen to music and appreciate it in a non-personal player. Along with the sound, the ability to study the album inserts and cover art is also going away. Some of the excitement of buying a new album was in the digesting of the album notes and other documentation that came along with the album, regardless of the format.

I truly feel that an unjust movement in the music industry has transpired over the past decade. Not only have we lost giant businesses, but have lost the ability to appreciate the art for what it is in the larger sense of the matter. The unjust to live music has also sanctioned this demise of the music industry. I hope that at one point we do experience a renaissance in the old traditional sense of experiencing music and the various art forms which were once associated with the release of a new album.

Tags: album art, MP3, music rennaisssance, record stores, Sam Goody, Tower Records, Virgin Records Mega Store

I thought it would be wise to publicly acknowledge the music of Michael Jackson. Just like many of the artists of the 1980’s, Michael made a statement through music which greatly changed the way in which music is used and performed for the people. Michael not only changed music, but he also introduced a whole new level in music entertainment which transcended many levels and existing boundaries.

One of the things that I did like about Jackson’s music was that it was moving and also had a message that was universal. Most of his songs called us all together to work toward a common good.  In a time when we tend more to think about ourselves, it is important to be reminded that we can change the way the world is by working together.

On the performing side, Michael did make a very large contribution to the way in which we were entertained by the use of dance on stage. Still to this very day, many of the moves that Michael introduced in the “Thriller” video, are still being used in various renditions in video and stage performances today. Would things be different if we had not had this contribution? Most likely things would be different or just introduced differently by another noteworthy artist.

As it has been stated, Michael Jackson knew what he was doing from the days he was part of the Jackson Five. He had the gift of being able to entertain then when he had to compete with his older siblings on stage. His ability to entertain just increased and improved from then on. He always found a way to improve what had already been accomplished. He always his creative mind employed in what he was doing.

Whether we be “Black or White” the music of Michael Jackson will live on. In fact, we most likely will begin to hear tracks which were previously unreleased. We may find some other great tracks; unfortunately, we will never know what else those tracks would have brought performance wise from the man who was one of the greatest performers of the 20th Century.

Tags: Michael Jackson, music entertainment

I think some artists have the ability to create decent work with the new technology, but due to the mediocrity that music has become, the quality of talent imparted into the work is reduced. The record companies are not as interested in the quality of the artist any more as they are in the monetary value of the album. That is a double loss to dedicated fans.

Tags: mediocrity of music, quality of music

The record industry has changed drastically in the last 30 years. Up until the end of the 1980s, record companies were relatively leanient toward new artists. Artists were able to be covered by the record label for one or two albums before getting an ultimatum. Now, it’s a requirement that the song or album be a hit to get the contract. There is a lot of stress on artists to make it in a time when quality has also been compromised.

A great example of this is Bruce Springsteen. When he started out with Columbia Records, he had two so-so albums before he hit a good one with Born to Run. If Born to Run had not been a success, then Springsteen would have seen the end of his recording career. Now could you imagine that as he is a rock icon 30 years later? Back in the 70s Columbia had backed both previous albums which had lack luster sales. When Springsteen began writing for Born to Run, Columbia was ready to drop him as an artist. If Born to Run had taken a dive, that would have been the end. Fortunately, that album was the beginning of the career.

Today, this would not be the case. It’s either a go or no go hit and record companies are only looking to sign for one hit. That also makes it harder to ensure a success. Therefore, the independent labels have become the king over the majors.

Tags: Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen, Columbia records, Independent Record labels, record labels

I often wonder whether recording a new album or song has just become too easy in the last two decades. With the advancements in recording technology, it is possible to inexpensively make a recording and get it out. Prior to the miniaturization of equipment and reduction in cost of quality microphones, it took a large sum of money to record a song or whole album.

With new compact gear and computer recording technology, it has become possible to almost record a whole song or album in a personal project studio, mix it down and publish it to the whole world in a number of different methods. This fast paced production in some ways, I feel, has allowed music quality to become mediocre rather than good. Combined with artists who are not good lyric writers, the number of songs which are considered timeless have depleted. We still turn to recordings which were done in the old fashioned method with dedication, time, and talent.

It may be a mixture consisting of the record companies and the artists that have allowed this to happen. Since the record companies are not as daring as they once were to accept new material, artists are not willing to expend the time to create material which will be overlooked. If cookie-cutter is what is being sought after by the labels, than nothing new will ever transpire unless independent labels take over.

Tags: A&R, record companies, record labels, Recording, recording methods, Songwriting, songwriting philosophy

Author: Somit Bandyopadhyay

You play in a Band or are a Music composer or dream of becoming one… Your next big step is going to be making a timeless album…

Despite how far or near this event looks to you these seven steps should be clear to you in your mind. Helps to have a clear picture of the future you are about to embark on…

STEP 1: Ideation

The initial spark can come anywhere. Typically one band member or the composer will come up with a starting point which is typically a guitar riff or a musical piece on the Keyboards or the Piano. It is best to have all band members participate in the ideation stage so that the band is truly greater than the sum of the parts. However typically in many bands there is one person who is the creative director of the entire show.

As an individual composer, your initial spark can come from many sources including the songs and musical genres that you are currently listening. This is not the same as being “inspired” or illegally ripping off someone’s musical work. However keep listening to new genres of music to have an open mind and greater exposure.

STEP 2: Background Arrangement

Once you have an initial starting point you will need to arrange other pieces of music around the initial riff. Say for example you have a killer guitar riff (Say a progression of chords) you may want to start the song with it or use it as the verse or chorus or main melody.

The other pieced of music will act to support the rest of the song. For example if you use your initial riff in the chorus you may want to use a lighter version (say an arpeggio version) of the progression or some complementary riff for the verse. Other derived musical pieces could become the bridge or the intro to the song.

Once you have figured out the pieces of music you will have to arrange the entire background of the song from the start to the finish as you want it.

Arranging is mostly done on computers using a very powerful computers say for example a machine with a 4/8 Core Intel/Mac processor. Various software like Logic can be used for arrangements. However if you are recording demo versions at home this can be done on much less powerful machines… even of your laptop!

STEP 3: Recording

Now as a composer or a band you need to bring in other instruments and/or vocals and record them separately.

For example you feel your composition could use a sitar solo in between or a Carnatic vocalist for backing vocals. (This is the stage to let your imagination soar!) The possibilities are limitless.

Once the lead parts of the song are recorded we can move on to the next part.

STEP 4: Music Production:

At this stage you may still want to nail a particular feel and add more instruments and effects. You may add or edit certain effects to the various musical parts you have recorded so far. The amount of processing you can do for each of the tracks you have recorded is again endless.

A word of caution: There is a point of time whereby you will not achieve much by spending sleepless nights tweaking some process into the tracks. Just be aware when to move on to the next stage! There are bands and composers who spend forever trapped in production! Just see where you draw the line between perfectionism and paranoia.

STEP 5: Mixing

This is where you give everything you have produced so far to a mix engineer and give him a basic idea of what you want to achieve in terms of the sound. The Mix Engineer will thereafter mix the song and give it the correct treatment. A mix engineer’s tool is of course the multiple Channel Mixer. In a typical professional setting it could be a 24 channel mixer with the ability to process any number of tracks.

STEP 6: Mastering

Once you are through with each of the above 5 Steps for each song that you want on your album you are ready to move into the penultimate step which is Mastering the Album.

The tracks which are produced so far are sent to a Mastering Facility where the final EQ adjustment including equalising the loudness of all the tracks takes place. The tools for this purpose used are Mastering Boxes.

STEP 7: Replication

The Mastered Tracks that are so produced are then finally sent to (hopefully!) your label company for final replication and distribution into hopefully millions of CDs.

Of course now that you album is ready for distribution you will have to make a huge effort to promote the album. That would require a lot many steps and in case you are an independent artist without the backing of a Music Label these initial steps are going to be a very difficult. Yet there is no need to lose hope if you are a band or composer who has found his sound the audience is out there. Make the effort and reach out to your audience. Use the internet to promote your music.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/the-7-steps-to-making-a-great-music-album-762567.html

About the Author:

Somit Bandyopadhyay is a Music Composer, Writer and hosts the Website 4guysformusic.com! The website offers a lot of resources for budding music lovers, musicians and composers including music tutorials, equipment reference, free classifieds, forums, music Genres and Artists.

Contact: 4guysformusic@gmail.com

Tags: Band, Mastering, Music Composer, Music Production, Music Studio, Musical Arrangements, Producing an Album, Riff

Everyone is encouraged as a young child to do one or two things, play a sport or learn an instrument. Both play very important roles in a person’s life. Sports teaches teamwork, something that we all need to be able to do with other people. Teamwork teaches being able to rely on others to get a job done. If we don’t learn this we become skeptic of others. The other piece that sports teaches us is coordination and quick response. Unfortunately, as we age the ability to play sports diminishes.

Music on the other hand does something unique. It makes connections in the brain that enforce creativity. Without creativity we become dull. Since playing an instrument requires two hands and each hand is controlled by a different side of the brain, music does something else for human development. It establishes bridges in the brain’s synapses for both sides to come together and work in unison. Whatever instrument it may be, whether it be piano, guitar, violin, or the bag pipes, we become better thinkers and creators. Unlike sports, music can be shared and continued well into life’s later years when the ability to actively play sports is behind us.

Tags: creative thinking, music, music lessons, sports, teamwork

I was playing on the Internet looking around a different web sites of current artists. I could not help but notice something very unique on the Jonas Brothers official web site. There was a clear picture taken with a piano, but not just any piano; it was with a Baldwin piano.

Seeing a Baldwin piano on stage with a popular artist is not normal. Most of the time that popular artists have pianos for a number or two, they are using the traditional Yamaha piano. The number of times that I have seen a Baldwin on stage with an artist I can count on two hands. When I saw this picture, I was elated to see this.

I have been a pianist for over twenty years and have done most of my playing and writing on a Baldwin baby grand. So, anytime I get to see or hear a Baldwin piano, it does something to me inside. There is just something about the sound of a Baldwin piano that is different from the other pianos on the market. So, seeing an endorsement for Baldwin by the Jonas Brothers was a huge thing for me.

Tags: Baldwin, Baldwin Pianos, Jonas Brothers

Writing a hit song takes practice, but relies on one’s ability to tell a story. Like a good book, the author will pull the reader into the work as if they are there with the characters in the story. Songwriting is very much the same. The songwriter has to use literary imagery to make the song connect with the person. If the person does not feel or comprehend the same feelings, the song will just be that, a song.

Even though songwriting has its unique forms to follow, it all comes down to the writing of lyrics that the listener will sympathize with and understand. For example, any songwriter that writes about a breakup of a relationship will be able to have listeners understand because everyone has had those feelings. On the other hand, if we talk about a personal situation that someone else would not know, we need to paint a bigger picture containing more details about the story.

I’m not discounting that the musical portion is not important. Trust me, it is! Any good songwriter will use create a “hook” that will keep bringing listeners back to that song or album. In other words, we need to create that section that will continuously play in your head all day. A carefully crafted song should affect the mind like a drug affects the mind.

A great song will grab us, lure us into the story. It should take us from beginning to a climax where we are in great anticipation of what is going to happen and then resolve at the end. Without this recipe in a song or any piece of music, the listener will be lost or loose complete interest in the song. That is why songs from years ago still are played on the radio today. The listeners are hooked and want more. At the same time, the song become part of them. When the song is over, there is a desire for more. If this recipe were to be followed the way it used to be followed, the music of today would be as good as it was years ago.

Tags: music psychology, recipe, Songwriting