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Expert Music Career Advice For DIY Musicians
4 Times You Shouldn't Take the Gig
The Number One Mistake Bands Make Right After Booking a Gig
The Ultimate EQ Cheat Sheet for Every Common Instrument
15 Reality Checks Young Artists Need to Hear

Recording, Marketing & Promotion, Honing Your Craft

Apr 16, 2018 06:00 AM

Hugh McIntyre

5 Musical Formats to Tide Fans Over Between Full Albums (Part 2)

Image via Shuttertock

As I already discussed in part one, sharing music in many different formats and forms between full albums is a great career move because it keeps your name (and your art, of course) on people’s minds, and it allows you to dedicate the necessary time to your craft in order to ensure you’re really doing your next album justice.

In the previous post, I discussed five options that would work for many musicians when it comes to in-between projects, and in this continuation, I’ll give you five more. I wouldn’t suggest choosing  multiple options — you might delay finishing a new album for several years — but one or two before a proper record comes wouldn’t be a bad idea!

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Honing Your Craft, Recording, Marketing & Promotion

Mar 21, 2018 06:00 AM

Hugh McIntyre

5 Musical Formats to Tide Fans Over Between Full Albums (Part 1)

Image via Shutterstock

Releasing an album is hard. It’s what most musicians want to do the most (that and play live), but it is also one of the most difficult things you’ll have to do as a working artist. One of the things that can make the process so stressful is how long it takes and how many resources it eats up.

Between writing, rehearsing, perfecting, recording, mixing, mastering, and actually releasing the collection (which also typically includes a promotional campaign and shooting music videos), years can go by between proper full-lengths, but in today’s fast-paced musical world, that is not the best way to keep your career on the fast track.

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Honing Your Craft, Recording

Jan 29, 2018 06:00 AM

Sonicbids Staff

Video: Why Mixing to Reference Tracks is So Important

Screenshot via YouTube.com

Have you ever thought, "I really want this song to sound more like the Beatles?" or even something more esoteric like, "I wish this song sounded summer-y?" By using reference tracks — inspirational guides that help you illustrate the sound you're going for — you'll be better able to help your engineer pinpoint and figure out how to create it.

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Honing Your Craft, Recording

Jan 3, 2018 06:00 AM

Sonicbids Staff

Video: The Basics of EQ: How the Professionals Use It

Screenshot via youtube.com

As a musician, EQ is an important ingredient in any recording process. As with any skill, the more hands-on training you have with it, the more you'll be able to use it to make your tracks that much more professional. 

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Recording, Honing Your Craft, mixing

Oct 18, 2017 06:00 AM

Graham Cochrane

How to Get That 'Wow' Kind of Mix

Image via recordingrevolution.com

This article originally appeared on The Recording Revolution.

 

Every time I crack open the latest issue of Sound on Sound or watch an interview with a top mix engineer sitting in his studio surrounded by racks of outboard gear, I’m reminded of one thing: Mixing is elevated above all other aspects of the song creation process.

Everyone is talking about “magic” plugins, summing mixers, and secret side-chain tricks. I get it. Mixing is a complex art form and it can make or break a good recording. That’s why I create some of the best mixing resources on the planet. (You can get started with this free guide.)

But perhaps we elevate it too much.

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