Raising the Bar for the Entire Music Industry by Raising the Quality of the Independents
Why Raise The Bar?
Just because you're independent, doesn't mean you have to sound like it...
It has always been kind of mind boggling to me how many up-and-coming artists that I come across who have the means to create high quality music don't, and they rely on the excuse of 'we are independent so we don't care about the quality.'I would have thought that wasn't the case, but I would have been wrong.
Apparently, there are thousands of independent artists who feel that being independent gives them the right to short-cut the time and energy of making sure their songs sound as close to professional as possible. Its true that 'independence' allows you the freedom to pretty much do whatever you want, but don't complain if no one else takes your music seriously.
The artists who don't put energy into making their music sound quality are the main artists who complain that the major labels and major artists are unfair in their way of conducting business and 'bullying' the industry.
So while these complainers sit around and make excuses, and keep making sorry music, everyone else conducts business as usual, invests in the quality of their music, and receives a huge return on investment.
So why should we raise the bar on independent music?
Well, you will find it interesting that a lot of major artists have songs that do not have quality content, but they do have quality recording, mixing and mastering. This is really shown in today's rap industry. There are plenty of multi-platinum songs that have poor sounding rap beats, and poor quality lyrics, but they have high quality recording, and high quality marketing.
On the flip side, I hear lots of independent artists who have songs with super high quality content, beats, lyrics, but super poor quality recording and mixing.
The fact that a lot of majors are putting out high quality recordings with poor quality content gives a huge opportunity to up-and-coming independent artists who spend the time to put out music that embodies both of these characteristics.
Simply stated: An independent artist who can create music that has quality content combined with quality recording, mixing, and mastering, has the potential to compete with a major artist signed to a major label.
This is why we should raise the bar on independent music.
Can't Forget About The Fans!
Another important reason independent music should raise the bar
This is one of the most important reasons why as an independent music artist, you should want to raise the bar on the quality of your music. Your fans who already support or who will come to support you deserve to get all around quality from you.
They take time out of their day to visit your website, watch your youtube videos, come to your local shows, download your songs, and they deserve to get the best quality that you can give them. This is how loyal fans who support you become lifetime fans who adore you, so give them the absolute best all around quality that you can.
A Letter From My iPod...
Start With A Good Microphone
Trying to fix a crappy recording 'in the mix' is like trying to clean dirt...
In order to have a high quality end, you must start with a high quality beginning. You can't take dirt and turn it into a shiny clear diamond by some magical process. The same applies to the quality of your original recording.Yes, technology enables you to make the original recording sound better than it was originally, but when it's all said and done, clean soil is still dirt.
In the recording process, your beginning is the foundation of your end, so you should build a good strong foundation.
Therefore, it is a good policy to get a decent quality condenser microphone for recording your vocals. This subject is so important, that I went a lot further in depth on the AaronBeats blog in my full-length article about microphone techniques.
Check that out when you finish reading this article, because it is an important part of the process.
But I can already see and hear a lot of you right now saying, "but as an independent artist I don't really have the money to buy a good microphone!" To those of you who feel this way, I can tell you that because of the advances in technology, you can find a decent quality condenser microphone for $200 or less.
Obviously it's not going to sound exactly like a $3,000 mic, but it will sound a million times better than that $19 cardiod microphone from Best Buy. Also, remember that the average untrained music listener's ear won't really notice the difference between the $200 mic and the $3,000 mic, but they will definitely notice the difference from the $19 mic.
So stop complaining about not having enough money to be competitive, stop making excuses, and invest in a quality microphone.
A few 'affordable' Condenser Microphones
You really can afford it...
MXL 990/MXL 991 Recording Microphone Package
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/23/2009) 
List Price: $199.95
Studio Condenser Microphone Recording Pack
Amazon Price: $107.16 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $239.95
Perception 200 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Amazon Price: (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $319.95
Blue Microphones 8 Ball Condenser Microphone
Amazon Price: (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $199.00
Audio Technica AT3035 Condenser Microphone
Amazon Price: $139.95 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $199.00
Put The Good Mic In A Good Room
What's the point of having a good microphone if you have a crappy sounding room?
Just as important as the quality of your microphone is the quality of your room. Have you ever stood in an empty room with fresh painted walls and thin carpet?Most rooms with untreated walls have an array of unpleasant 'flutter echoes' and these can be a major problem in your recording. It makes it almost impossible to make your vocals fit in the mix with the music, and it can really sound amateurish.
There are multiple solutions to this problem, but one the easiest ones is to treat the walls with acoustic foam from a company such as auralex.
Now again, I hear some of you over there saying "that stuff is expensive, and as an independent artist I can't really afford it." Blah Blahhhhh I say to you. But don't fear, I have another 'homemade solution.'
The solution is simple, and extremely affordable. If you get a small enough room, put a rug on the floor, and find some type of way to hang some cotton clothes such as sweaters in the room, then you can effectively eliminate the flutter echoes and get a decent sounding dry room. (This works real well in walk-in closets:)
The point that I'm trying to make here is that having a quality mic and a quality room go together like interlocking pieces of a puzzle. Having one without the other is like eating pizza with no tomato sauce. (Yea, yea, I know they call it 'cheese bread' but the don't call it 'pizza')
Major artists record in the highest quality rooms with the highest quality acoustic treatment, and although your budget may not allow you to do exactly the same, you can get the same effect by using some of these 'homemade' techniques.
The Mixing Process
Putting it all together, after the recording
A lot of new independent music artists believe that a song is complete once they finish recording their vocals. They believe that the process is complete, and they spend just a few minutes adjusting the volume of the music and the vocals.
These artists are left scratching their heads trying to figure out why it never gets quite right, and continue playing with the volume some more. What they don't realize is that mixing is a process that requires time, patience, and consistent effort.
Instead of the standard '5 minute mix' that they put on the song because they don't see mixing as part of the overall music production process, indie music artists who don't have a big budget should learn as much as they can about other mixing tools such as eq's and compressors.
The eq and compressor are among the most widely used and standard tools used to detail the sound of not only vocals, but a number of percussion and dynamic instruments as well.
You should at least learn how to use these two tools. A lot of newbies just adjust volume and then slap too much reverb or echo on their voice and think that it sounds good, not realizing that the settings they are putting on the vocals are completely inconsistent with the overall mix of the music.
If you can swing a few dollars, then I would highly recommend using an online music mixing service.
Online mixing services like this are very affordable to independent artists, and can take the quality of your songs to an entire new level. One in particular that comes to mind is GetYourSongsMixed.com. I know and have worked with the owner, Chris Steinmetz, personally. I would recommend checking out this service because Chris has many years of experience working as an engineer with multi-platinum artists and is responsible for the mixing behind numerous Multi-Platinum and Grammy Nominated Records.
But if you choose not to, or simply can't afford to invest in this type of service, then I would highly recommend learning as much as possible about eq and compression settings, and turn that reverb down some!
Some Quick Tips for Mixing Your Vocals
Give your vocals a cleaner and fuller sound
Mastering Your Recordings
The finishing touches and the final step
Yet another important process that new artists forget, or don't know about, is the mastering process. I hear a lot of independent music artists confuse or mix the two processes together.Let's clear it up:
Mixing and Mastering are two separate processes, and both are important.
Mastering makes all of the songs consistent in volume and overall sound. If you've never had any of your music mastered, then you will be very surprised when you hear how much more professional and commercial your songs sound once they are mastered.
Have you ever put your 'finished' CD in the player, and while listening to one song, you turn the volume way up so you can hear it, but then when the next song comes on its BLASTING LOUD and you have to quickly turn it down? Have you ever wondered why all of your recordings sound so low when you listen in the car on the cd player, but when you switch the radio, the sound comes BLASTING IN and you have to turn the radio down even more?
There is nothing wrong with your radio, the problem is your un-mastered song.
Mastering will help with all of these instances. Also keep in mind next time you think you have a song worthy of sending to the radio, is that most commercial radio stations won't accept or play your song if it's not mastered.
They get thousands of CDs and MP3s from up-and-coming artists with a dream that don't have any type of mixing or mastering to the songs. If you want to stand out above the rest, then do your best to make your songs sound as close to professional and to the industry standard as possible.
Once again, if you can't learn how to do it on your own, then get some help. There are also many online mastering services that are affordable and can help your music sound a lot better.
Reach For The Stars
Beyond the music creation and production process
In this business of music, as an independent artist, there are not many shortcuts to success. The only shortcuts are political relationships in the industry, and if you are reading this article then you probably don't have any yet.
So you have to work a bit harder, and do the things that everyone else is not doing.
Yes it is hard, but so is working somewhere that you hate for the rest of your life. If you are going to work hard in life, then it might as well be at what you are passionate about. So if you are passionate, I mean truly, truly passionate, then you will work harder than anyone else at making your dream to succeed as an independent music artist.
It has now been proven that an independent artist and independent record label can achieve the same, if not more, success as a major, but frankly, you will have to work.....HARD!
You will have to do everything in your power to raise the bar.
You will have to make the overall quality of your music sound better than that of the majors if you want to really stick out. I know that sounds impossible, but remember that all you simply have to do is fill the empty space where the majors are lacking.
Don't try to eat the same slice of the pizza that they are already eating, get your own slice, and if there are no more slices left, then make your own pizza.
The analogy is simply stating that if you can't fit through the door into the industry, then find a window, and if that window is locked, then cut out your own hole and make your own way in.
You should be glad that it's tough to succeed and stand out, because if it were easy, then there wouldn't be as many perks because everyone would be able to attain music industry success. Therefore, the benefits would be significantly less.
So start raising the bar on the quality of not only your musical content, but also on the quality of your finished recordings.
If You Want More, Then Tell Me!
What do you think of this article?
I hope that this has given you a few tools, inspiration, and motivation to really raise the bar with your music and create success for yourself. Let me know with your comments and questions...
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- The_Goblins_Den The_Goblins_Den Jan 31, 2009 @ 12:24 pm
- You're absolutely right. Independent artists need to step up their effort in order to stand out in today's industry. Everyone appreciates a well-produced sound...no matter what the genre of music.
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- ats2009 ats2009 Dec 30, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
- Very good info. It is actually to the point thanks. Those of you interested in learning the in's and out's of the music industry, or "How to break into the Entertainment/music industry" check out my page.
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- ats2009 ats2009 Dec 30, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
- Very good info. It is actually to the point thanks. Those of you interested in learning the in's and out's of the music industry, or "How to break into the Entertainment/music industry" check out my page.
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- Grundge Beast Grundge Beast Dec 9, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
- Wuzzup, yep yep. I feel what u saying my dude. Imma keep alll dat in mind. M.H.P. 1[in reply to Markus Mance]
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- Markus Mance Markus Mance Dec 7, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
- Good shit my duke...
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- Markus Mance Markus Mance Dec 7, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
- Good shit my duke...
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- Tyler H. Tyler H. Dec 6, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
- Thanks for the info now me and my friend will find how to do all that, Then we're ready to take off making music at the age of 15.
Tell some of your music submitters to keep making good beats because me and my friend are on a roll. Thanks again.
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Reply
- Tyler H. Tyler H. Dec 6, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
- Thanks for the info now me and my friend will find how to do all that, Then we're ready to take off making music at the age of 15.
Tell some of your music submitters to keep making good beats because me and my friend are on a roll. Thanks again.
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- Don Stacks Don Stacks Dec 6, 2008 @ 7:18 am
- good look! This is what idependent artist need to study!
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- Tyler "The Exception" Tyler "The Exception" Dec 5, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
- I definitely agree Aaron. I, luckily at a young age (17) realized that I needed to learn to mix and master my music myself, and really learn how to do it well, and so far so good, I'm about to release my new album, and I would honestly put the overall sound and everything up there with the top artists out there, I think it's important for artists to understand this, you're really doing a service with this article!
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by AaronBeats
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