The Programmed High-Hat Feel Trick

Programmed tracks are generally so stiff that we need to do something to give them a more natural feel. Here's a cool trick (#82) from my 101 Mixing Tricks coaching program courtesy of my buddy Dave Pensado that improves a high hat by automating a few parameters. Of course, it can be applied to any programmed instrument.

If you'd like to get 4 additional tricks that can be used on your next mix, just go to 101MixingTricks.com to sign up.

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Mixer To The Stars Dave Pensado On My Latest Inner Circle Podcast

I'm very pleased to have my good buddy Dave Pensado as a guest on my latest Inner Circle Podcast. You all know Dave as the uber-mixer of huge hits for Pink, Christina Aguilera, The Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, and many more, as well as from his wildly popular Pensado's Place web-series.

The interview with Dave takes a bit of a left turn as we discuss how he went from being a smoking hot guitar player to engineer to mixer to the stars. We'll also talk a bit about his new book written with his partner Herb Trawick.

In the intro of the show I talk about the new TIDAL hi-def music streaming service, and how not to soundproof your studio.

Remember that you can find the podcast either on iTunes or at BobbyOInnerCircle.com, and now also on Stitcher.
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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

8 Questions To Ask To Determine A Production Budget

It used to be that when you were working your way up the food chain as a music producer, you'd hone your chops with indie artists, at first not signed to a label, then signed to smaller labels. Today this is a fact of life for all production pros whether you're just starting or are a seasoned veteran producer.

One of the major questions that producers new to the game often ask is, "How do I determine a budget?" Here's an excerpt from my Music Producer's Handbook that will provide 8 questions that you can ask your client (even if it's a label), in order to better understand what your client's needs are, and how you can best fulfill them.

"If your artist is signed to a label, most likely that they’ll say, “We need you to bring this project in for xxx dollars.” That makes your life a bit easier since you already have a major parameter to work with, so you’ll just try to fit everything into the financial box that you’ve been given. But most likely, your project will start with the words, “What do you think it will cost……?” That makes your job a lot more difficult since you’ll need to gather up a lot more info before the question can be answered. Assuming that you’re already familiar with the artist and her material, here’s what you’ll need to find out: 

1. How many songs? The more songs, the more time you’ll need to complete the project. The more time, the more money it will cost. 

2. How will this be released? If the final release will be in a CD or vinyl format, you’ll have to figure additional mastering costs as well as a sequencing session to test the song order. If the release is only intended for online distribution, that will also impact your budget since there won’t be any income from the product to recoup the costs.

3. Will the costs of manufacturing be included in the budget? A neophyte artist, band or record label sometimes includes the entire costs of manufacturing the final product (CD or vinyl) in the recording budget. This is not the case with a more established or experienced entity, who recognizes that manufacturing is a burden not charged to artist. Regardless, including the manufacturing costs in the budget can put a serious ding in the amount of money you have for recording, so it’s best to get the answer to this up front.

4. Are mastering costs part of the budget? Sometimes mastering is seen as the first part of manufacturing and is not charged to the production budget. If that’s the case, find out if you’re responsible for mastering even though it isn’t part of your budget.

5. What kind of sound or direction are you looking for? This will determine whether the band plays together in the studio or layers the parts, or whether studio musicians or a large tracking room are required, or if exotic musical instruments or recording gear must be rented, all of which will impact the budget.

6. What kind of facilities are you comfortable recording in? This determines the environment and the type of studio that the project requires. Some artists don’t care how low-brow the studio is as long as the final product is what they’re looking for. Other artists have to be in a top notch facility that caters to their every whim in order to perform well. And yet other artists have a certain facility that they’re particularly comfortable in. This question may impact your final budget more than anything.

7. Does the budget include my fee? This is somewhat of a moot point if you’re going to be working on spec anyway, but if not, the question can have a large impact on your budget. Regardless of who’s paying the bill, this can go either way, but you’ve got to know how much you ultimately have to work with in order to produce the product.

8. Are you sure you don’t have a budget in mind? Most artists, bands, neophyte labels or financiers have a figure in mind before they even speak with you, but are afraid to tell you so they won’t look as inexperienced as they are. It’s best you get that figure out of the way so you don’t do a lot of budget development work only to find out that they only had a fraction of the amount to spend in the first place, or worse, you left money on the table that could’ve been used for production."

If you can get clear answers to these questions, you have a lot of the information needed to determining a budget that will fit the needs of the artist (although usually it's a lot smaller than we would all like).

To read additional excerpts from the Music Producer's Handbook and my other books, go to the excerpts section of bobbyowsinski.com.

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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

Introducing The Bobby Owsinski Inner Circle Podcast

I'd like to introduce you to my new weekly podcast called Bobby Owsinski's Inner Circle.

The Inner Circle podcast will feature the latest in music industry and production news and analysis, as well as an in-depth interview with a variety of guests from all different parts of the music business.

The first 3 episodes are now live and have some exciting guests and topics, including:

Episode 1: Engineer Dennis Moody, who's the engineer of choice for drum gods like Dave Weckl and Steve Gadd as well as a world-traveling live sound engineer, discusses the differences between mixing live and in the studio. Commentary includes why Apple's Carplay is such a big deal,  and a condition where some people actually can't enjoy music. 

Episode 2: Thom Kozik, COO of Omnia Media, a YouTube multichannel network catering to music, talks about making money from your videos. Commentary includes why streaming may become more lucrative than you think, and how Guitar Center has been financial engineered to where it might be difficult to stay in business. 

Episode 3: Los Angeles session bassist Paul ILL discusses how the mindset of a session musician is different from a gigging musician. Commentary includes a look at the music industry sales numbers from last year and how CDs are still a bigger seller than most people know, and some tips on how to charge for your services.

Some of my upcoming guests include:

• EveAnna Manley discussing how Manley Labs started and the surprising level of care that goes into each product.
• Grammy-winning producer and former president of the AIMP Richard Feldman gives a broad overview of today's publishing business.
• 15 time Grammy-winning engineer Benny Faccone on the differences between Latin and American music.
• Jingle producer David Campos talks about modern day jingle production.

And many more.

So join me every Thursday for the latest edition my Inner Circle podcast. 

You can access the podcast on iTunes or at BobbyOInnerCircle.com.

I hope you enjoy it! If you dig it, please leave a comment on iTunes, and please send me your comments and requests about it as well.

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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

Christmas Gifts For The Musician And Engineer

We're just a few days away from Christmas 2013, and many of you may still be looking to buy some audio or music-related gifts. Here are some books and programs from my catalog that would make great gifts for that musician, engineer, songwriter, producer or music exec in your life.

Social Media Promotion For Musicians - If you don't have the online presence that you think you should, or you're not increasing your fan or client base through your online efforts, then this book's for you. Covers Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, bookmarking sites like Digg and Delicious, as well as your website, blog and mailing list. (a Kindle version is also available). See the table of contents and read some excerpts.

Deconstructed Hits - If you're enjoyed my song analysis on this blog, you'll love the Deconstructed Hits series. Designed to look deep inside the hits from different genres, you'll get some real insight as to why songs are hits and how they're both the same yet different. Each book looks at song facts, song form, the arrangement, the sound and the production. There are three volumes: Classic Rock Vol. 1, Modern Rock and Country, and Modern Pop and Hip Hop. You can read more about them, look at the table of contents and read some excerpts here.

Mixing Engineer's Handbook 3rd Edition - Are your mixes not sounding the way you think they should? The latest version of the Mixing Engineer's Handbook (written especially for the home or small studio) can come to the rescue. New interviews and a new "advanced" chapter that looks at automation, sound replacement, pitch correction techniques and more make it a must-have for any musician or engineer. Also available in a Kindle edition. You can read more about it, look at the table of contents and read some excerpts here.

Video Courses At Lynda.com - Have you ever wanted to learn a new piece of software, but hated the "how-to" videos you found on YouTube with their bad audio and lighting and people that barely know what they're doing? Try Lynda.com, with more than 1500 courses with super high production values by experts and in small digestible bites. Check out my courses on mixing, recording, mastering, studio building, and social media, and get 7 days free of unlimited access to lynda.com.

Recording Engineer's Handbook 3rd Edition - Not sure how to mic a tabla, marimba or fiddle? Here's the book that will show you not only one, but multiple ways how, as well as the techniques you can use for getting a great recording every time. Invaluable to the recording musician. Also available in a Kindle version. You can read more about it, look at the table of contents and read some excerpts here.

The Studio Builder's Handbook (with Dennis Moody) -  Every musician has a home studio these days but the product coming out of it can be disappointing, not so much because of the gear, but because of the acoustics in the listening position. The Studio Builder's Handbook shows how to improve any listening area for as little as $100, as well as showing you everything you need to know to keep your neighbors from hearing what you're doing, and you from hearing them. You can read more about it, look at the table of contents and read some excerpts here.

The Music Producer's Handbook - This is the book you need if you want to be a producer, but aren't sure how to get there. Covers everything from getting a production gig, to handling a budget, to getting paid, to working with musicians, to making sure that the recording is great. Also available in a Kindle version. You can read more about it, look at the table of contents and read some excerpts here.

How To Make Your Band Sound Great - If your band isn't quite where you want it to be musically, if you don't sound as tight as the records you love, or if you're stage presence isn't knocking your audience dead, then you should read this book. Also comes with a DVD that shows a band in rehearsal as they get a song tight and together with tried and true techniques that always work. Also available in a Kindle version. You can read more about it, look at the table of contents and read some excerpts here.

The Ultimate Guitar Tone Handbook (with Rich Tozzoli) -  For most all guitar players, the quest for the perfect tone is like looking for the perfect wave. The Ultimate Guitar Tone Handbook shows you why electric guitars, acoustic guitars and amplifiers sound the way they do, why the tone varies, and how to zero in on the perfect tone for your playing. There's also a host of great interviews with some real kings of tone that you won't want to miss. You can read more about it, look at the table of contents and read some excerpts here.

The Touring Musician's Handbook - If you want to know what it takes to get a gig as a touring musician, this books for you. Covers the essentials like gear, chops and attitude required to get the gig, how to pass the audition, how to prepare for the road, what to bring with you, and how to stay healthy. You can read more about it, look at the table of contents and read some excerpts here.

There are other books on being a studio musician, music business, creating videos, recording, mixing and mastering in my library that you might like as well. Check them all out at bobbyowsinski.com.

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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

You should follow me on Twitter and Facebook for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

Don't forget to check out my Music 3.0 blog for tips and tricks on navigating social media and the new music business.

The Social Media Promotion For Musicians Book Is Here

Bobby Owsinski's Social Media Promotion For Musicians, the manual for marketing yourself, your band and your music online, is finally available.

The book shows you how to stop just using social media and learn how to promote with it, as you’ll find a host of online insider tips and tricks that that will help you gain more fans and followers, increase your views, and grow your ticket and merch sales.

Social Media Promotion For Musicians shows artists, bands, engineers and producers the latest techniques and strategies to increase your online presence more effectively and efficiently than you ever thought possible. Best of all, anyone can do it!

In the book you’ll discover:

• How to increase your online exposure to increase your fan base
• How to have more time for creating by saving at least an hour every day on common social media operations
• Exclusive promotional tips that boost your views and followers
• How to uncover and develop your brand
• The secret behind successful tweets and posts
• Why a mailing list is the key to your ticket and merch sales
• 10 ways to make sure that fans, music critics and bloggers, bookers and promoters, and agents and managers always have your latest information
• Ways to optimize your YouTube channel and videos to maximize your views

and so much more.

Social Media Promotion For Musicians covers all aspects of a musician’s online presence on the most widely used platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, blogs, Pinterest, bookmarking sites, as well as personal and band websites and newsletters.

Check out the bobbyowsinski.com website, where can see the table of contents and read excerpts. The printed book is available from Amazon, as is the Kindle version.

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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

You should follow me on Twitter and Facebook for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

Don't forget to check out my Music 3.0 blog for tips and tricks on navigating social media and the new music business.

The Recording Engineer's Handbook 3rd Edition Is Here

I'm happy to announce the release of the 3rd edition of the Recording Engineer's Handbook, the best selling book that covers all aspects of recording music.

The new edition is updated to better reflect the fact that so many people are now recording at home directly into their DAW. It also includes a new chapter on prepping the drum kit for recording, an essential operation when it comes to getting a great drum sound.

Still included are the interviews with many of the legends of recording, like Al Schmitt, Chuck Ainley, Ed Cherney, Frank Fillipetti, Eddie Kramer, Michael Bishop, Steve Albini, Bruce Botnick, Wyn Davis and Mark Linett, that covers just about any genre of recording.

You'll also enjoy the Microphone chapter that covers all of the history behind all of the classic mics that we've come to know and love, as well as the new classics, and the classic clones. Of particular interest is the interview with David Bock of Bock Audio Designs, one of the most knowledgeable and passionate proponents of both old and new mics, and why they sound the way they do.

Best of all, you'll discover multiple miking techniques for just about any instrument you can think of, as well as simple drum miking techniques using one, two, three and four microphones that get a great sound. There's even techniques for getting that classic Ringo Beatle's sound, a reggae drum sound, and the big Tommy Lee snare cannon sound.

Instructors that use The Recording Engineer's Handbook as a text book will be happy to learn that an Instructor's Resource Kit is now available (drop me a line for the link), complete with weekly lesson plans, tests, and Keynote and Powerpoint presentations.

You can read more about The Recording Engineer's Handbook at bobbyowsinski.com, as well as read a number of excerpts. You can also buy the book on Amazon (available for the Kindle too) or at most book and music stores.

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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

You should follow me on Twitter and Facebook for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

Don't forget to check out my Music 3.0 blog for tips and tricks on navigating social media and the new music business.

Online Radio Begins It's Takeover

The Infinite Dial report from Edison Research was released last week outlining the listening habits of Americans, and there are some pretty interesting facts that were revealed.

Highlights of the study include:

• Online radio listenership grew by nearly a third last year as listeners discover specialized niches and new ways to listen

• 69 million Americans listened to online radio last month alone

• As a pushback to consultant driven broadcast radio, variety and control were given as the top reasons for the increase in online listening

• Thanks to in-office listening, 35-54 year olds dominate online radio listening numbers (so that's what they do when they should be working.)

• Online video saw viewership jump by a third to 69 million

• 40% of Americans over the age of 12 own an iPod or MP3 player

• MP3 player ownership among 12 to 17 year olds is 71%!

• Just 25% of consumers say they've purchased music online, but the number jumps to 41% among online radio listeners

• 1/3rd of Americans have a social networking profile

• 2/3rds of 12 to 24 year olds have profiles

• 40% of people with profiles visit them daily

• HD-Radio is barely making a dent in the consciousness of the listening public. (This isn't too surprising. The technology was way to long coming to market.)

So it seems that radio listenership is up, but not necessarily for broadcast radio. Listeners are finally revolting against the tightly controlled playlists foisted upon us by Madison avenue, consultants and focus groups. How long will it take before terrestrial radio begins to take notice?

It's Record Store Day today!

Today is Record Store Day.

Support the music business and your favorite artists by visiting a local independent record store today!! It's good for you and for music.

The more people support record stores, the better music we'll have to listen to.

Are CD's Back?

This week was finally a good one for CD sales, with 5 releases with sales of more than 100,000. The album sales chart was topped by the latest Rascal Flatts album Lyric Street at 355,000.

What's more, 20 out of the top 50 showed positive gains from the week before and 12 were new entries.

Could the rise of the current release digital single have anything to do with that? Is an album priced at $9.99 suddenly a better bargain than a single at $1.29. Maybe it's just a coincidence and an odd week, but it's something worth looking at the next few weeks to see if it signals a trend.

Either way, it was a great sales week. Not quite like the days of old when with sales in the millions and near millions, but better than it's been in a long, long time.