that's why it's so important to remake beats you like. this is the fastest way to understand why the producer did the things he did in this beat and why he did something different in another beat
KRISTIJAN
I remember during Covid I decided that I wanted to learn everything I could about making great music. As many have said before, "It's all about mixing and mastering" was all I heard online; and how you need to be taught by professionals because the "secret tricks" are only taught in courses and hidden from beginners and other producers. "You can't learn this skill from YouTube tutorials alone".
I found myself on a call with a representative of a well-known mixing-related channel on YouTube who's course promised to show me everything I needed to learn about making your music "Radio Ready". The price I was quoted was for $5, 000. Like Navie, I was serious about this choice and decided to take the deal.
What was in that course was all the same information you've seen online. The same ways to use EQ. The same ways to use compressors. The same ways of using Reverb, Delay, and everything else under the sun. What WASN'T in the course, was what I TRULY needed to learn: sound selection, production, layering, and arrangement.
As a mix engineer for 3 years now, I can say with 110% certainty that mixing is NOT the answer to making great music. What IS the answer is developing your ear for sound selection, arrangement, and songwriting. If you use great sounds that are full and impactful, arrange those sounds to fit well together and not clash too much, and volume balance those sound even just somewhat well to tell a story, you have a fantastic song.
Producers are the MOST IMPORTANT gog in the wheel. I don't care how many egotistical engineers try to say otherwise. I am one of those engineers, and I know that we are all at the mercy of talented producers and beatmakers to give us the clay to mold cohesive songs together. If you are reading this right now, and you want to make great music, please listen to this message:
- You CAN make great music in your bedroom, by yourself.
- You CAN learn everything you need to learn from tutorials on YouTube. It may take some time, but not the "years" like most people say it will.
- Don't let ANYONE tell you it's the analog gear A shitty kick drum is still gonna sound shitty even if it's run through every piece of hardware on the planet.
And don't let ANYONE tell you that, "The song comes together in the master". I saw an add for that channel awhile ago where the new owner turned on his "Hardware Pultec EQ's" and the song magically came together in the master. It wasn't the hardware EQ and the mastering that suddenly made the track sound huge, full, and fantastic... it was the 10db of gain you added to the signal.
To finish off this rant, I want to leave you with a final message. At the end of the day, if you are having fun making music, enjoying the process, and learning something new every day... the sky is the limit for you. Your taste will match your skill level in time. And until that gap between taste and skill is closed, don't let imperfection stop you from releasing your music right now. Your music doesn't need to be perfect to be released to the world. Even without the bells and whistles that come with time, your fans will still say "It's their song".
Have fun, and good luck.
BeeSquared
Great advice Navie. I also think making more and more beats is a good tip... improving skills and confidence 😎👍🏼
oleg_samples
You and “Digging the Greats” are killing it rn. A COLLAB WOULD B LEGENDARY
prodjoon-rfmb
Thank you for sharing your experience so honestly. This video will help many upcomin Producers to better Preparing and stop wasting money on the wrong people 💯💯💯
SamFocused
Navie this is some good advice man, when I first started watching you and some others I would be super judgemental in what I listened too, I thought"why would I try to learn from people who's music I don't want to make" and because of this I didn't even try to learn some fundamentals and such.
GodisKing
From the start of the video i knew you was asking the wrong people for help cuz as you explained engineers are not musicians or producers.
Fortunately i figured out what was wrong with my own beats to determine that i needed to learn music theory and the nuances of sampling and specific subgenres of rap, tempos and sound selections etc
Much respect to Navie for your tutorials I'm sure many young producers are helped with your work and business. I wish i had guidance back in the day to avoid some of my mistakes lol
d-beats
A fascinating story full of twists and turns. I'm sure there was more to it than just too much reverb on the snares though. 😂
We live and learn.
DrBigFMC
Thank you so much, all your videos are so helpful and interesting for unknown producers like me, love your videos and your beats. Much love from Spain. <3
SmokingEveryDayProd.
As always, another GEM from Navie. Thank you again bro. This knowledge is amazing.
sharpevisionmedia
Great video Navie! On the topic of mixing and mastering, it's important to know "how much" of it you need.
For example in my work (which is releasing my own beats on streaming platforms) I'm the only person that starts and finishes the project, so I'm the only person that's responsible for the mixing and mastering of my work. Because of that, I take it very seriously and it has helped me a lot in my releases, however, if you're someone that sends beats to artists or labels, mixing and mastering won't be as important, because there is most likely an engineer that will take care of it.
So I guess this relates to point number 3, which is asking your question from the right people. Because if that person doesn't understand your line of work, the advice may do more harm than good.
Hope my comment helps :)
RaoufBeats
I love your videos, it’s helped improve my beats so much!!! 👌 Here for every upload.
awezometomm
Thank you for sharing your story fam. You’ve helped my beatmaking journey immensely and it’s inspiring hearing how you succeeded. Hope I get to where you are one day 🤙🏾
VirsaTyleBeats
Over the years I realised no one can mix YOUR beat quite like YOU can!
The mix class wasn't a waste... Just not on point like you'd want it to be. I learned alot hanging out with Rock and Dance music mixers
blakasmurf
I missed you on YouTube, great video as always🤠
felipeparra
Man, you got hustled! We live and we learn.
smketweedsdailysmketweed
I used to think that I *needed* a midi controller in order to make good beats. Then I bought one and discovered that my beats sucked because of inexperience and lack of knowledge. Now I make most of my stuff using the mouse
radiobe
I know there’s a million out there, but I really wish you would start a podcast lol I love hearing your stories. Good video bro!
bmbpets
I know this is a different era where mostly everything's done on the internet, but the best way to learn is to put yourself in the same room with other musicians and beat makers. I had that luxury in 2005 when I went to engineering school in Miami. I just connected with other musicians, saw their techniques and tried to apply it to my own music. I made beats with other beat makers as well. I learned a lot from them. The point is, just making beats might get you better at the technical aspect of beat making, but there's an aura to a great beat. It's hard to explain, but when it all comes together the way you want, you'll know it.
fernvill
As allways, very helpfull to learn, what NOT works ❤ ✌️
