11 Mistakes To Avoid In Music Production - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro

Over the years the producer's role has changed dramatically. There was a time when a music producer was essentially the person that oversaw everything and put the whole "production" together.

That's not the production we have now, these days the job of a music producer is so vast that it covers pretty much everything. As a producer, you can be expected to also be the engineer, mixer, songwriter, therapist, the record label, co-promoter, social media manager and all kinds of fun and less than fun things.

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Produce Like A Pro is a website which features great tips to help the beginning recordist make incredible sounding home recordings on a budget.

[Producelikeapro]

What is a common mistake you made when you first started? I made many! However it was listening and learning from amazing people that really helped me overcome and learn from my mistakes! The people that really stand out for me, are Paul Gilbert, his generosity and talent knows no bounds and he played a huge part in me believing in myself and Jeff Jampol, his counsel was absolutely huge for me!! If there's one take away for me, it's the memory of those things! I know these points I've said many, many times before, in many other videos, however I have to hear them again and again! None of us are perfect and although the points might be simple and be common sense that doesn't mean I don't need to be constantly reminded myself! Have a marvellous time recording, mixing and mastering!

[chnzn]

#1 - 2:19 #2 - 4:38 #3 - 6:21 #4 - 7:56 #5 - 9:45 #6 - 11:25 #7 - 14:47 #8 - 17:37 #9 - 22:03 #10 - 26:29 #11 - 28:36

[ronh]

After hearing this, I'm so glad this is just a hobby for me. That being said, many of your points are true in many other professions as well. Professionalism is professionalism regardless of the industry.

[donaldryder]

Staying away from perfection is the one that resonates with me!

[paulsaunders]

#11 Seeking Perfection is probably my biggest problem. In the early days of recording real instruments to tape I was never entirely happy with all the tiny errors. When Cubase and sound modules came along later I was finally able to achieve the quantised perfection I desired. Then it slowly dawned on me that there was no life in the music, no dynamics, no feel. Perfection killed the vibe. Since then I've been trying to "unlearn" perfection, to go back to my imperfect roots and try to resist the temptation to fix every tiny fault. There is a certain magic in a real performance with feeling and rough edges. It can be hard to decide what really needs fixing and what should be left as it is.

[peterbrandt]

I'm a freelance programmer for more than 20 years and your first 9 points - at least - are true for almost any kind of service. I can subscribe to all of them without hesitation.
My weakest point when it comes to music is overmixing and overproducing, combined with the latest possible point in time to commit. Close to your last point and hard for me to let go.

[blakecurtis]

Dam dude, th I s be the cold hard truth. I have experienced some of what you spoke of.
I think one of my biggest frustrations was a promoter I worked for. I was stage manager, drum tech and baby sitter for a metal fest in Oregon. First one I basically volunteered, knowing the promoter had a contract with the club for $$$$ amount. Plus the headlining bands. 18 hour days on a Friday and Saturday. First one was a success. He tipped me a little cash. He got himself a new pa system.
Second fest, bigger club, bigger bands. I was told I would make $$$ for the same work. I made $$, he bought himself a expensive new fender bass head and a custom b.c. rich bass.

3rd fest, bigger and better. This time I was upfront about my expectations. And if they were not met he could find someone else ( to add I was taking time off my day job ). Suddenly I was making$$$ a day, meals were comped and I was given credit on the fest officialy.
He still made bank and treated himself to new gear, which is fair.

Bottom line, you need to get paid for the work you do. Strangely enough, I moved from Oregon and that festival is no more.

[philatco]

thanks you said perfection is the death of feel and also music

[ksparbanie]

About the backend, getting paid before handing over the final mix... what about the multi-tracks? Example: Client owes you $2000, but they have have the multi-tracks and find somebody to mix them for $500. They keep putting you off, saying they're broke, but in reality has blown you off?

[jurgenschuler]

This video is like the range settings of a Distressor: 10.5 out of 10

[rickpearce]

The wonderful Mary Spender has a saying that I love: "Done is better than perfect." I agree with this philosophy. I work on a project tweaking, re-doing, punching in where it really wasn't necessary etc. driving myself nuts over things nobody will hear in a mix and leaving things undun because I am looking for "perfection" instead of just a good overall mix. Done is better than perfect.

[ragingchimera]

Great tips Warren!

My tip, the word "exactly" is your friend....

What EXACTLY do you like about this song you are influenced by?
What EXACTLY do you hope to achieve with this recording?
EXACTLY what will you be paying me and when EXACTLY should I expect to receive it?
What EXACTLY do you mean by "more open" or "warmer" or "groovier" or (insert ambiguous sound reference here)?
What EXACTLY will be my responsibilities and credits on this recording?

[WhaleBluePRS]

26:01 The servant's heart. There is no greater lesson in life than that. Staying within the confines of music for the moment: The artist or band serves the song. The music serves the listener (even if you're both the artist and the sole listener). The engineer and producer serve the artist. The record company serves the artist and the listener. The listener serves the artist and the people they share the music with. etc. etc. If we approach everything we do with that understanding, the rewards are beyond measure. I love how much Warren emphasizes the need to be humble and strive for excellence and integrity in his videos. Now to point the finger where it belongs, I have to work on it every day. Learning this lesson all starts with me. It's not something I've conquered by any means.

[alejandromontves]

This is amazing Warren! Can you show us an example for the contract your lawyer made? I dont know what i have to put correctly. Thank you, you are amazing!

[doriarama]

Warren Huart is the most nice guy I ever saw on this kind of videos in YouTube. Although so many ppl ask him questions, he always do his best and try to answer as much as he can. No one else does it like that.

[adammartin]

The Verve did clear that sample but Allen Klein (yes, him again) decided that they used too much of it and went in for the kill. He demanded rights to the full song or Urban Hymns could end up being pulled out of the shops. Jagger and Richards returned the rights to Ashcroft earlier this year.
The awful thing is that it's a sample of an orchestral cover of The Last Time, and actually sounds nothing like that song. I think Andrew Loog Oldham owned the original masters of the sample and was looking for a slice of the cake too. Very messy.
Oh great video. My 1st production end up being credited to someone else (the artist) so I learned very quickly with that. It's very hard to take.

[Max-npmk]

Any advice on mixing ambient music/layering synths? I think it could be a great topic for QA video

[filteredwaters]

Warren, I am 64 years old and I learn so much more from your videos than just music production. Thank you.

[keithfarrar-haygar-]

Two points that stood out to me. When is was 16 my music teacher took me to a "real" studio and the engineer told the key is learn as many instruments as you can A. you may need to lay a trak B. You know what it should sound like. 2nd. I always called my self a over paid button pusher, under paid baby sitter, I feel off my chair on the "Therapist" comment.

[adrianwagner]

absolutely priceless advice and tips from someone who has "been there and done that" in almost any situation relating to sound and audio...gonna have to rewatch this one every few weeks for a while to absorb more that my noggin will recall from one viewing
the old adage "treat others as you wish to be treated" goes a long way in many situations ive been involved in
many thanks as always for your sage advice and your time