An exploration of music production through informal discussions about technique, philosophy, gear, and creativity. Hosted by Brian Funk, a musician, songwriter,...
David Rowell is a veteran music journalist who has worked as an editor and writer at the Washington Post for over 20 years. Stewart Copeland of the Police said "David Rowell is the kind of critic that scares us musicians. He really gets it, maybe even more than we do." David is here to talk about his new book The Endless Refrain: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Threat to New Music. In it he expores the popularity of legacy acts and tribute acts and the challenges it creates for new musicians trying to get their music heard. David raises the question "do we even want new music?" We discuss his take on the trajectory of the music industry and what it means for artists like many of us, who create original music, and our culture in general. Finish-February 3-Day In-Person Workshop at Ableton's Pasadena Headquarters - https://brianfunk.gumroad.com/l/kwhsgv Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Takeaways: The abundance of new music can be overwhelming for listeners. Investing in music through purchase creates a deeper connection. Nostalgic listening experiences shape our relationship with music. MTV revolutionized music consumption and artist visibility. The desire for new music is declining among audiences. Tribute bands reflect a growing preference for familiar music. Hologram performances raise ethical questions about music consumption. Nostalgia is a powerful marketing tool in the music industry. The emotional connection to music is vital for artists and fans. Venture capitalists are reshaping music consumption. Listeners are increasingly exposed to nostalgic music. Streaming services have changed how we discover music. Albums today don't linger in cultural impact as before. Tribute bands provide a living for many musicians. New music discovery requires intentional effort. Cultural references in music are becoming less shared. Links: David's Website - https://www.davidrowellauthor.com The Endless Refrain: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Threat to New Music - https://amzn.to/4gD4lno Wherever the Sound Takes You: Heroics and Heartbreak in Music Making - https://amzn.to/4iCgBq8 Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
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49:07
Live Performance and Collaboration with C4RP00L
C4RP00L is an alternative hip-hop band that combines hip-hop beats with electric guitar and bass. They've just released new music, Creature Mode: Vicious and Creature Mode: Velocity. I spoke with Danger, Renzo Starr, and Villian about their new releases and recent touring. We had a great discussion about writing music as a group and performing live. Please welcome C4RP00L to the Music Production Podcast. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: C4RP00L Website - https://www.c4rp00l.com C4RP00L Creature Mode - https://fanlink.tv/CREATUREMODE C4RP00L on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6MVdvys1l8zICstcXKGZQs C4RP00L on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/c4rp00l/ C4RP00L on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@c4rp00l C4RP00L on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@C4RP00L Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
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1:22:03
Tyson Boorman - Getting Industry Standard Mixes for Your Music
Tyson Boorman is a mixing and mastering engineer for Nightowl Music Group. He is the author of The Objective Mix - Mix Like a Pro Without Pro Gear or Premium Plug-ins. Tyson teaches music production on his YouTube channel, Objective Mixing, and he also runs a podcast called Prolific Super Producer, where, in the very near future, I'll be a guest. Tyson and I spoke about his production philosophy of "skills over gear." We talked about the practical insights and messages from his book The Objective Mix. And Tyson gave a great explanation of how and why to use compressors in different mixing situations. Tyson is giving listeners of this podcast his "The 5 Secrets to Industry Standard Mixes" and "The Compression Styles Every Bedroom Producer Needs to Know" guides for free! Go to https://www.objectivemixing.com/funk to download them. This episode is sponsored by Baby Audio, makers of incredible music software. Use the code MPP15 to save 15%! https://babyaud.io Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Takeaways: Focus on the why behind your music production decisions. Skills are more important than gear when starting out. Understanding compression is crucial for effective mixing. Creative limitations can lead to unique and interesting sounds. Volume is the most powerful tool in mixing. Intentionality in mixing decisions leads to better results. Compression can be used to enhance dynamics, not just reduce them. Learn your tools deeply to maximize their potential. Avoid over-compressing; subtle moves are often more effective. Using EQ to create space in your mix before resorting to sidechain compression. Links: Objective Mixing - https://www.objectivemixing.com The Objective Mix - Mix Like a Pro Without Pro Gear or Premium Plug-ins by Tyson Boorman - https://www.objectivemixing.com/mix_2 Objective Mix YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ObjectiveMixing Prolific Super Producer Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrq7MgGMnCTNAdFLAfg_o10w9iYPnPiqg NightOwl Music Group - https://nightowlmusicgroup.com Ian Temple on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/ian-temple Free PDF Downloads - https://www.objectivemixing.com/funk Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
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59:32
STOP Optimizing! Do THIS First!!
Let's get the big things right before we worry about the details. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: My First Album Project Nairb - Apple Music - Spotify My Second Album Forest Far - Apple Music - Spotify Music From Video is from my Passings EP - Apple Music - Spotify Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
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13:52
Ben Levin - Staying True to Yourself as an Artist
Ben Levin is a musician, visual artist, and educator. He runs the Ben Levin Music School where he hosts courses that help artists find their voice, finish music, and maintain and cultivate their love of music-making. Ben's YouTube Channel hosts his art, music, and educational content. His new album Heaven Heaven Heaven features indie, alternative rock music with 2 Fender Bass VIs at its core. Ben and I explore the complexities of artistic identity, the challenges of navigating platforms like YouTube, and the importance of creativity in education. Ben explains the challenges of being artistically honest and following our passions while trying to create a consistent online presence that cooperates with the algorithms so we can actually make a living artistically. Ben even brings out his Fender Bass VI to demonstrate how he uses it on his new album Heaven Heaven Heaven. This episode is sponsored by Baby Audio, makers of incredible music software. Use the code MPP15 to save 15%! https://babyaud.io Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Takeaways: Ben Levin discusses the duality of being a multifaceted artist. Navigating the YouTube landscape requires balancing creativity and marketability. Batch production of content can help manage audience expectations. The importance of creating space for endings in artistic work. Teaching creativity in schools can enhance student engagement. Understanding modes in music requires contextual learning. The arts provide essential emotional support during difficult times. Artistic expression can be a powerful healing tool. Personal growth in music production often involves collaboration and community. The creative process is often nonlinear and requires patience. The Fender Bass VI offers a unique sound that bridges bass and guitar. Authenticity in vocal performance resonates more than technical perfection. Finding one's voice is a journey that requires exploration and practice. The creative process is often more rewarding than the final product. Vulnerability in music can create a deeper connection with listeners. Teenage experiences and emotions can be effectively expressed through music. Balancing humor and seriousness in art can enhance emotional impact. Links: Ben Levin Music School - https://benlevinmusicschool.com Ben's Courses - https://benlevinmusicschool.com/p/courses Heaven Heaven Heaven by Ben Levin - https://benlevingroup.bandcamp.com/album/heaven-heaven-heaven Ben's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BenLevin Ben's Art - https://benshow.horse Ben on the Fender Bass VI - https://youtu.be/G1DLpdFWrdM?si=gEvXLlRG6QzCKYIt Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! Brian Funk
An exploration of music production through informal discussions about technique, philosophy, gear, and creativity. Hosted by Brian Funk, a musician, songwriter, teacher, and Ableton Certified Trainer.