Posted on Jul 12, 2014
What are your skills and interests in music production?
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I'm sure there are many instrument players within the community. Do you play an instrument? Do you record/engineer/mixdown? Do you produce music? Do you have knowledge within the legal side of the music industry? Share your thoughts and knowledge.
Posted in these groups: 
Music Production
Music Production
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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I love music and enjoy very much to listening to it. But I cannot hold a tune if my life depended on it. I like to dabble into the sound board portion to help out at church running the sound!
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Capt Jeff S.
A lot of singers, Beyonce being one of them, got their start singing in the church choir.
About 2 years ago, someone at our church donated a set of drums at our church and the pastors wife asked if I would try and learn them. The church started up a band and after a few months of reading the book and counting out the timing was able to pick up enough to play along. Have moved over to the bass guitar to allow a high school kid, who plays in the school band, to jump in. In time he will do well -- as soon as he learns to stop banging and overpowering the rest of the band.
About 2 years ago, someone at our church donated a set of drums at our church and the pastors wife asked if I would try and learn them. The church started up a band and after a few months of reading the book and counting out the timing was able to pick up enough to play along. Have moved over to the bass guitar to allow a high school kid, who plays in the school band, to jump in. In time he will do well -- as soon as he learns to stop banging and overpowering the rest of the band.
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Capt Jeff S.
Drums are easy to learn, but difficult to play exceptionally well. Ringo Starr is an amazing talent and underappreciated for his contributions. Paul Simon's drummer is another amazing talent.
The problems a lot of bands have with drummers is that they play like they are solo acts. They think it's all about them showing off their talents and it's not. The key to being a good drummer is having a good sense of timing, working well with others, and knowing when (AND WHEN NOT!) to introduce fills and accents. I've also discovered that if you play with hesitancy, it is felt immediately by everyone else so you pretty much have to let go and the only way to do that with abandon is to practice, practice, practice!
So far on the bass, I'm liking it. If I had to pick a guitar to play, it's definitely the bass! The bass is another instrument that's easy to pick up but difficult to play well. Good bass players stay in the pocket and work with the drummer. Jaco Pastorious is arguably one of the greats and he started as a drummer and then found his calling. The problem he had is that he thought he was the show and rhythmn isn't. He was too flashy. If you ever get to google Tal Wilkenfeld, you will find an amazing bass prodigy from 'Down Under' who quit school to go play. She's quite good and has gone on the road with Jeff Beck. Now she is making her own reputation in the industry.
The problems a lot of bands have with drummers is that they play like they are solo acts. They think it's all about them showing off their talents and it's not. The key to being a good drummer is having a good sense of timing, working well with others, and knowing when (AND WHEN NOT!) to introduce fills and accents. I've also discovered that if you play with hesitancy, it is felt immediately by everyone else so you pretty much have to let go and the only way to do that with abandon is to practice, practice, practice!
So far on the bass, I'm liking it. If I had to pick a guitar to play, it's definitely the bass! The bass is another instrument that's easy to pick up but difficult to play well. Good bass players stay in the pocket and work with the drummer. Jaco Pastorious is arguably one of the greats and he started as a drummer and then found his calling. The problem he had is that he thought he was the show and rhythmn isn't. He was too flashy. If you ever get to google Tal Wilkenfeld, you will find an amazing bass prodigy from 'Down Under' who quit school to go play. She's quite good and has gone on the road with Jeff Beck. Now she is making her own reputation in the industry.
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SGT (Join to see)
I stick with drum synthesizers. They're cheaper and take up less [physical] space.
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I was a music major before serving in the Air Force. I was a Voice Major and Piano minor. I play all keyboard instruments, sing high soprano, and write my own songs both words and music. I played Bells (Glockenspiel) in College band my Sophomore year of college.
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SGT (Join to see)
I think the only thing wrong with your post is that it doesn't include a SoundOut, Youtube, or SoundCloud link to your work. Hint, hint.
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MSgt Bj Jones
Oh, okay. If you want to torment yourself by listening to my work, just type in bjjones1968 (or copy and paste) in YouTube search. That will bring up my uploaded videos. I also included a couple of just piano playing. When it comes to my original work, I state such in the videos uploaded.
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SGT (Join to see)
She Carried You For Me by B.J. Jones
I wrote this song after a conversation I had with my Mum, which was one of many about my adoption. I grew up knowing I was adopted, and "Adopted" was my seco...
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Trance and house producer with a more classic touch. I occasionally will produce more "new age" stuff but for the most part I prefer to stick to the old styl...
I produce trance. I am pretty good at it too from what people have tole me. I also DJ. Check me out at https://www.youtube.com/user/zandertrance
Sorry I just had to self-promote :)
Sorry I just had to self-promote :)
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SGT (Join to see)
I don't remember reading anything anywhere stating you couldn't promote your work. I enjoyed your music. Do you post your music on SoundOut.com?
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I have worked in the music industry both as talent and on the business side.
A quick rundown:
-Drummer....yep neighbors love that one
-Singer.....even worse than the drums for the neighbors, people in my Jeep, etc.
-Have worked A&R
-Have worked as a manager
-Have helped develop presskits for bands
-Have helped plan major events and coordinating bands
A quick rundown:
-Drummer....yep neighbors love that one
-Singer.....even worse than the drums for the neighbors, people in my Jeep, etc.
-Have worked A&R
-Have worked as a manager
-Have helped develop presskits for bands
-Have helped plan major events and coordinating bands
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CPT (Join to see)
Document EVERYTHING. If you get permission to sample music, get it in writing. If you right something, MAIL a copy of it to yourself until you get it protected. This will give you a date-stamped way to show when you completed the music until you can get it copywritten. Develop both digital and hardcopy presskits. Some will want both.
One little trick I always used to use when mailing presskits was to send them certified mail with signature confirmation. This allowed me to track my packages to make sure they were received, but also permitted me to double check things. We had one venue who got our kit, used our CD for promotional ads on the radio, booked us....all without telling us. The funny thing is that in our kit it states that any use of our music must be expressly consented to. Had I not followed up with the venue two-weeks after they recieved that packet (which I knew because of the confirmation), we would not have known about any of this.
Join ASCAP. They can even help you with disclaimers to place in your presskits to ensure that your music is not stollen.
One little trick I always used to use when mailing presskits was to send them certified mail with signature confirmation. This allowed me to track my packages to make sure they were received, but also permitted me to double check things. We had one venue who got our kit, used our CD for promotional ads on the radio, booked us....all without telling us. The funny thing is that in our kit it states that any use of our music must be expressly consented to. Had I not followed up with the venue two-weeks after they recieved that packet (which I knew because of the confirmation), we would not have known about any of this.
Join ASCAP. They can even help you with disclaimers to place in your presskits to ensure that your music is not stollen.
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Great convo topic. I've DJ's since '95. I help promote today's industry standard for digital mixing, Serato (pictured). The event was in South Beach Miami (Winter Music Conferance '07). It was a demo of new musical soft/hardware hosted by Microsoft. I was brought in by Sony Media Software to demo Serato and Lil Jon was demonstrating the new Miko workstation. We demoed back to back.
I'm also a producer and remixer. I've done club remixes for Lil Jon, Britney Spears, and the Beastie Boys. If I wasn't a dedicated Soldier, I might have taken a much different career path.
I'm also a producer and remixer. I've done club remixes for Lil Jon, Britney Spears, and the Beastie Boys. If I wasn't a dedicated Soldier, I might have taken a much different career path.
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SP5 Michael Rathbun
Wow, man, your cred just beat up my cred and left it wheezing in the street. Hope to meet up with you some time when we get back to TX.
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SP5 Michael Rathbun
SGT (Join to see) Hasn't happened yet. Have met a bunch of my son's musical associates in Austin, tho.
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SGT (Join to see)
SP5 Michael Rathbun - Cool. We want YouTube links, just like MSgt Bj Jones piano playing above.
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I have been playing guitar for over 30 years and been in several bands. Pre and post military service. I am also an attorney and have a working knowledge of copyright law. If you have any questions , feel free to ask. Lt. Oakley looks to offer some excellent advice.
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SGT (Join to see)
I recently listened to a podcast by CDBaby covering copyright laws . It was very informative but the laws seem very complicated past sending in your own stuff without sampling or borrowed work.
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SPC Christopher Green
Does your music contain samples? If so, there are statutory fees that are required for the individual holding the copyright on the sampled music. Generally those can be paid through BMI or ASCAP. In order for everything to be on the up and up, you would need to do that. I am aware of a few Internet services that allow you to do that. You make a request to use the sampled music and they'll provide with the information on how to pay.
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SGT (Join to see)
I bought most of my samples through sample libraries. I want nothing to do with that legal hassle. I listen to CD Baby DIY Podcast, and every time they mention that topic, my head hurts.
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Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass
Download “Title” at iTunes: http://smarturl.it/MTitle Download “Title” at Amazon: http://smarturl.it/Ttle_MT Spotify: http://smarturl.it/Spf_Title Google: ht...
I sang in a few musicals in my high school days. NO NOT HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL! I wanted to be in Grease, but nobody put it on when I was available. I was in 101 in the Shade in a HS production. Oliver and South Pacific in college productions while in HS. I played a trombone for a few years before I had to choose between band and football. I also sang in HS choir for a few years.
Now my musical talent is imitating a cow being branded.
*edit additions: My range was Bass so Meghan Trainor pretty much sings about me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXk
Now my musical talent is imitating a cow being branded.
*edit additions: My range was Bass so Meghan Trainor pretty much sings about me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXk
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SGT (Join to see)
I was in Choir class while in Middle school. I didn't attend any recitals, though. I was a decent baritone. Now I leave it to vocaloids and vocal samples in the studio.
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The most fun I've had recently as a paid sound tech was real-time mix of four performers, live accompany, singing with mics on stands that they might suddenly start carrying around in the 3/4 surround performance area. (Had to be -- show premise would not have worked otherwise. So no wireless effortless.) Sixteen live performances. Oh, and handle light design, hang, focus and board as well, thanks.
Other than that I've mixed some studio sessions for broadcast. I didn't suck all that much at it.
Other than that I've mixed some studio sessions for broadcast. I didn't suck all that much at it.
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SGT (Join to see)
Sir, do you have any suggestions and resources based on personal experience?
Also, you'd probably enjoy the forum thread below:
https://www.rallypoint.com/topics/amateur-radio/answers/any-amateur-radio-enthusiasts-on-rallypoint
Also, you'd probably enjoy the forum thread below:
https://www.rallypoint.com/topics/amateur-radio/answers/any-amateur-radio-enthusiasts-on-rallypoint
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SP5 Michael Rathbun
SGT (Join to see):
Well, that's an awkward question.
This is entirely from the techie side; I have also been paid to sing stuff, but that doesn't seem relevant here. (I just now recall that when I was an E-1 at Fort Lost-In-The-Woods I somehow got a random duty assignment that put me where I had to set up and operate an AN/TIQ-2 PA system. Even in 1968, it was an AN/TIQ-UE.)
For me over the years, it has been a matter of getting to know the equipment intimately. (Except for the AN/TIQ-2.)
If I expect to have to do serious work in a studio setup where there is equipment with which I am not familiar, I want the manuals and some number of hours alone with it all. The studio equipment chain is itself an instrument that one can play with greater or lesser merit depending upon experience, practice and talent.
I started off mixing for what I wanted to hear, and eventually discovered how to mix for what the client and/or audience would want to hear. I'm not sure how to teach that.
I confess that I've been doing this much too long to know where one would go, outside of finding mentors and ransacking the wealth of information on line. I enjoy mentoring people, but the chances for that don't come very often any more.
(And thanks for the ham link.)
Well, that's an awkward question.
This is entirely from the techie side; I have also been paid to sing stuff, but that doesn't seem relevant here. (I just now recall that when I was an E-1 at Fort Lost-In-The-Woods I somehow got a random duty assignment that put me where I had to set up and operate an AN/TIQ-2 PA system. Even in 1968, it was an AN/TIQ-UE.)
For me over the years, it has been a matter of getting to know the equipment intimately. (Except for the AN/TIQ-2.)
If I expect to have to do serious work in a studio setup where there is equipment with which I am not familiar, I want the manuals and some number of hours alone with it all. The studio equipment chain is itself an instrument that one can play with greater or lesser merit depending upon experience, practice and talent.
I started off mixing for what I wanted to hear, and eventually discovered how to mix for what the client and/or audience would want to hear. I'm not sure how to teach that.
I confess that I've been doing this much too long to know where one would go, outside of finding mentors and ransacking the wealth of information on line. I enjoy mentoring people, but the chances for that don't come very often any more.
(And thanks for the ham link.)
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I graduated from Brown College with a certificate of Radio/TV Broadcast and Production. I create digital music, and add live instrumentation in overdub, to produce cover songs as a solo project. I have also been involved in mixing local bands' albums and producing/performing in two bands - albeit over ten years ago. I have no experience in the legal side of things.
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MSG (Join to see)
I'm still working on that. Much of what I have done in the past needs better vocal re-records. That's the only aspect of my work that was lacking due to financial reasons. Studio-quality vocal mics are expensive as hell. LOL
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SGT (Join to see)
A few years ago, I spent $300 of my income taxes on a pretty good condenser mic for the price.
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