Music Producers write, arrange, produce, and record songs, whether they’re shaping the sound of another artist’s album or creating beats or songs for their own projects. With the growth of home recording technology and boutique recording studios, many Producers find themselves pulling double or triple duty as Studio Owners and Sound Engineers, as does the Rattle Room’s Jaron Luksa. He says, “I am responsible for every aspect of my business and it’s definitely not all rock ‘n’ roll glory. A typical day for me starts with checking my Producer notes, prepping the studio and checking gear functionality. If something is broken, I’d rather have a fix or workaround figured out before anyone is in the space. Once the client shows up, I want my attention 100% on the artist and the music creation process. Nothing else comes first. I usually work for about 10-12 hours with lots of ear and mental breaks worked in throughout the day. While on a break, I am usually attending to phone calls, emails, texts, social media and even accounting. There is a lot of work that goes into being a Producer outside of the studio such as attending rehearsals, meetings, writing sessions, and going out to shows. Social media has given me the ability to connect with more artists than ever, but in-person interaction will never be replaced. Half of producing is the music, the rest is sales…and I am the product I push.”
Initially known to the world as an MC for N.W.A., Dr. Dre went on to become the single most influential producer in hip-hop history. With 1993's The Chronic, he married breezy funk samples to hardcore imagery, creating the G-Funk style and inspiring a host of imitators. He would later discover and nurture some of the best rappers ever, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent.
Recording Engineer
Career Description
Recording Engineers shape the sound of an album. They record, edit, and mix sound through their choice of microphones, setting levels and sound manipulation techniques. They are well-versed in all kinds of recording technology, from analog tape to digital multitrack recording programs like Ableton or ProTools. In many studios, the Recording Engineer is also the Producer, overseeing both artistic and technical elements of the recording session. Los Angeles-based Recording Engineer Lenise Bent says that “marking art is just as much a part of recording as making a living.”
Rudy Van Gelder was, quite simply, the greatest recording engineer in jazz history. He was responsible for just about every session on the Blue Note label from 1953 to 1967 (among thousands of others), encompassing some of jazz's most groundbreaking and enduring classics. The signature of a Van Gelder recording lies in the rich, natural tone of each instrument and the clearly defined separation between them, ensuring that every sonic detail is audible. What's more, Van Gelder had an uncanny knack for capturing sonic textures that supported whatever mood the musicians and producers were aiming at. Exactly how he did all that is a mystery. Van Gelder, a modest and unassuming man in many ways, was fiercely protective of his techniques, from the placement of microphones and musicians in the room to the type of mike itself. Whatever the source of his alchemy, Van Gelder was responsible for preserving some of America's greatest music in the most sympathetic settings possible.
Assistant Engineer
The Assistant Engineer has the important job of physically setting up the recording studio before a recording session takes place. This responsibility is not to be taken lightly. Studio recording time is very expensive, and no time should be wasted with setup.
The process begins with booking studio time; once a block of time is reserved the Assistant Engineer will receive a work order with what instruments and equipment will be needed, and where they should be placed. This includes instruments, microphones, consoles, booths, amps, stands, chairs, and various other machines. All equipment should be connected and powered on before the session takes place. If a piece of equipment breaks during a session, it is up to the Assistant Engineer to get it fixed as quickly as possible.
As soon as a recording session ends, the Assistant Engineer takes down and puts everything away. In some studios it might also be the Assistant Engineer’s responsibility to maintain the tape library and ensure that tapes are not misplaced.
The Assistant Engineer usually helps out the Recording Engineer during a recording session. The Assistant Engineer generally reports to the Audio Engineer.
Session Musician
A Session Musician backs another artist during live performances or in the studio. He or she must be able sight read and to perform several different genres. Session Musicians are self-employed, so when not performing, they have day-to-day administrative tasks like basic accounting, staying in contact with other musicians about projects, and of course, practicing.
The Funk Brothers
From 1959 until 1972, The Funk Brothers provided the studio backup sound for nearly every act on the legendary Motown record label in Detroit. Unlike The Wrecking Crew in L.A. and Booker T. and the M.G.’s in Memphis, The Funk Brothers were rarely credited for their work, and few outside of the industry knew about them until the release of the 2002 documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Despite their relative anonymity, the group—lead by piano player Earl Van Dyke in its later years—can be heard on countless hits from The Temptations’ “My Girl” to Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.” The Funk Brothers featured a core team of 13 musicians, and were known to experiment with unconventional and often jerry-rigged instruments. On some songs, they even used tire irons and snow chains as percussion equipment. In 1972, The Funk Brothers were unceremoniously dismissed from Motown after the label moved to Los Angeles. Most of the members continued to operate in relative obscurity as master session musicians, but it was only recently that their important contribution to pop music was finally recognized.
No comments:
Post a Comment