Music Production Made Simple

Once you learn to make a decent quality beat, the next step people look towards is "how to make it in the music industry", which often includes how to sell beats.

Sadly, selling beats does not mean one is a good producer, but that they are very good at marketing.

This episode will be very encouraging to those who want to learn to make beats in FL Studio, but get discouraged when comparing them self to others within the industry..

Want a pro-tip? Don't compare yourself to others. 🙂

📘 FREE 5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT Book: https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

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When you're new to the music industry, the world of contracts awaits.. Are you ready for them?

I was an electrician for 10 years collecting a "regular pay check", just like many of you who want to start making money in the music industry.

This FL Studio Podcast Episode on Music Production Made Simple covers Never Selling Yourself Short to learn how to negotiate contracts that are FAIR for both parties involved.

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📘 FREE Beatmaking Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

Welcome back to SEASON 3 of Music Production Made Simple with GratuiTous, who is a Recognized FL Studio Trainer!

This episode talks about "Digital Spring Cleaning". Making sure you're organized for a fast and efficient workflow in the future, all from a MUSIC PRODUCER'S PROSPECTIVE, of course 🙂

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Collaborating can bring tremendous success and growth to you as a producer making beats.. but are you aware of the cons of collaborating as a beatmaker?

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The Music Industry is a Long-Term Game.. and Many People Want to RUSH IT.. It takes Time, Patience, Practice, and A LOT of Skill to Succeed.. Are You Ready for It?

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A big problem new producers face when starting to make beats and wanting to make drum loops, is they think they need to learn how to play the drums.

This is not a good mindset to have, because you will fall into a very bad creative-block trap of thinking you need to program your sounds so perfect, that you’ll never reach the creative level you’re wanting as a beatmaker.

I highly encourage you to take my SAFE SPOTS Drum Loop Training Curriculum to learn how to make your own custom drum loops in-depth!

(Or become a member and access all of by beatmaking courses based on FL Studio!)

Please feel free to contact me directly any time!

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This episode may be a reality check to a lot of cocky producers, but the reality is.. most beatmakers ARE NOT musicians, and can barely play an instrument.

That does not mean they are not good beatmakers, however.

Listen close in this episode to understand the difference between beatmakers and musicians, and hear my piano beat and live piano playing example..

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My COURSE PATHWAYS is a proven curriculum to learn FL Studio and Beatmaking in as little as 3 months! It's really hard learning the basics of music production, but my COURSE PATHWAYS walks you through step-by-step in easy-to-understand videos, and prepares you take off and truly make your own style of music.

You can view my COURSE PATHWAYS page here: https://itsGratuiTous.com/course-pathways/

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DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A LAWYER.. SO SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE REGARDING COPYRIGHT.

As a music producer, our copyright is EVERYTHING!

It’s how we make our money, it’s how we claim ownership, and it’s how we LICENSE the right to use our products.

NEVER just giveaway your copyright without understanding what you are truly giving away.

In this episode, I discuss the upcoming 5 Golden Pillars of Music Production Course (if you are a member, you get it free!)

We then get into digital products such as beats, sound kits, preset banks, books, courses, and even how a podcast or YouTube video is someone’s copyright!

INFRINGING on someone’s copyright is extremely dangerous. Yes, sampling is a popular music production technique, but you will want to look into “sample clearance”.

If you are using drum kits, make sure that they are actually 100% Royalty free, as not every drum kit out there is these days! That’s why I always recommend the Xclusive-Audio Drum Bundle TRIO to you guys.. not only because of it having 2,300+ one-shot drum samples, but because it is 100% royalty free to use in your beats!

So as mentioned, when you make the beat, it is YOUR COPYRIGHT.

Your evidence would be your .flp (FL Studio Project), which shows all the MIDI Notes, and how you made the original song. Yes, someone could technically try to “re-create” your beat as their own, but it’s VERY hard to 100% replicate something, as tweaking a knob exactly is nearly impossible on these VST synths.

You may have heard of the “poor man’s copyright” where they mail them self a copy of their released song, but I’d honestly say this was more important in the days of REAL RECORDING.. we beatmakers use MIDI, so replicating your track in-depth with the exact sounds would be very hard to achieve..

Producers use beat tags to prevent theft of their beat. If you catch someone using your beat without buying the proper rights (license), this is grounds to proceed legal action..

But, the beat WITHOUT a beat tag is still your copyright.. the beat tag is just one of those things like an extra layer of security to prevent theft, but if someone had amateur audio skills, they could still cut out your beat tag, and keep the beat looping over and over..

The fact is, it’s YOUR COPYRIGHT, and a beat tag doesn’t change that.. it just helps prevent theft, and helps your brand.

Should you still use beat tags? Yes, of course! They help your brand, and prevent theft by making someone do extra work to steal it.. but your copyright to that beat remains regardless of your beat tag over your beat or not.

The power of digital products is non-exclusivity. You can re-sell it over and over.. and if someone wants the exclusive-rights to something, that’s when the big money can come in.. but even then, exclusive-rights is very dangerous and can hinder your business because you may never benefit from it again.. unless you state it in the terms!

You must think about NOW and in the FUTURE to decide the offer presented is worth it to you. If you think $300 today is worth it, then that’s the decision you made! If you find out 3 years later that your work is generating $10,000+ a year.. it’s a lesson learned!

This is why giving away your copyright is extremely dangerous.. you always want to be somehow attached, whether it be they have to always show your brand name when it’s used, they pay on-going monies, or the exclusive buy-out offer is TREMENDOUSLY lucrative.

FREE .flp for FL Studio Producers Discover How Easy it is to Make Beats! DOWNLOAD IT NOW!

So there you go!

Your music is your copyright.

Own it, and know the power of it.

If someone wants your copyright, that’s YOUR WORK. They have to pay to use it. If you think it’s worthless, you could be regretting your decisions because of your lack of confidence in yourself. That’s the moral of the story.

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In this podcast episode of Music Production Made Simple, I talk to you about what I think makes a MIDI Keyboard Good for Beatmaking.

I understand everyone has their own preference, but when using FL Studio, this is my strong opinion to see great results, save money, and see RESULTS in your beats!

When talking about price, size, and workflow, I truly think the 49-Key is the BEST MIDI Keyboard option for producers (with Semi-Weighted Keys).

I like to put my M-Audio Oxygen Pro MIDI Keyboard to the right of my audio interface, and a 49-Key allows it to be within arm's reach! (That is the awesome beatmaking workflow I’m talking about!)

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I suggest taking my How to Use a MIDI Keyboard as a Beatmaker course, or learning from my what to look for in a MIDI Keyboard article. Additionally, you can see my recommended MIDI Keyboards for FL Studio! As always, reach out any time by contacting me directly.Should you volume balance your songs?

You’ve made the beat, and you love how it sounds nice and full, but you’ve seen tutorials tell you that you should now bring each instrument to the mixer, and try to re-mix the song. But.. think clearly for a second.. if you like the balance, should you try to “re-balance” your volumes and hope for that same balance?

Getting the same balance is VERY HARD..

With virtual instruments, like a ROMpler, we beatmakers ALREADY HAVE HIGH-QUALITY SOUNDS.

The thing you must understand as a beatmaker is a lot of information is jumbled together with the recording world to us beatmakers, who just use MIDI and one-shot drum samples.

When a recording engineer would record a musician, their recording levels would not ALWAYS be the same for each different instrument. This is where VOLUME BALANCING is important to bring up a BALANCE in the song.

But for us beatmakers, if we play our melodies, we can quickly lower volume by one or two dB, and that’s technically OUR volume balancing.. make sense?

Well, the same idea applies.

When you record an instrument or singer, the microphone is susceptible to many negative things like..

• The Room Sound (if it’s not acoustically treated).
• Distortion if Recorded TOO LOUD
• Inconsistency in Loudness (the singer or musician said some loud or quiet words)..

As a beatmaker, all of these are easily remedied through MIDI.

The room sound.. we can control this through adding/removing REVERB or DELAY!

Distortion.. we can easily just turn down our Virtual Instrument!

And inconsistency.. we can just adjust VELOCITY on an individual MIDI Note (learn more in my SAFE SPOTS Book).

So when we are applying Equalization and Compression, the same concept doesn’t fully apply for a recording to a virtual instrument melody.

Yes, we want things to be clear, but we may not be EQing to FIX a bad recording.. we may just be EQing to MAKE an instrument sound better or more clear.

I suggest taking my How to Use a MIDI Keyboard as a Beatmaker course, or learning from my what to look for in a MIDI Keyboard article.

Additionally, you can see my recommended MIDI Keyboards for FL Studio!

As always, reach out any time by contacting me directly.

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When making beats, should you sound design while making the beat, or should you just use a ROMpler to select high-quality presets?

This is a question I get ALL the time!

In addition, I also get asked is using a ROMpler cheating? And the answer is NO!

Remember, sound design is a totally separate industry from making beats. We as beatmakers need high-quality sounds to make our beats fast and with quality. It still takes A LOT of skill to make a beat.. but drum samples and synth presets allow us to make professional beats fast, and it makes mixing A LOT easier, too!

If you try to sound design while making a beat in FL Studio, you will discover it slows you down way too much.

My advice is to do sound design separately, then use those high-quality sounds to make your beats.

The beatmaking process goes: Make the Beat -> Arrangement -> Mixing -> Audio Painting -> Mastering Sound design is a TOTALLY SEPARATE INDUSTRY.. and one you may never have to learn to make high-quality beats..

If you want to learn sound design, that’s totally up to you.. and be prepared because it’s overwhelming.. just like learning to make beats was!

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I personally think the music industry is the MOST influential industry in the entertainment world.

However, when you enter the music world, you must understand that FAME does not equal SUCCESS, and you can have one and not the other. No matter who you are in this world, we all listen to music, and we all have our own favorite artists and songs from our own generations.

SUCCESS is what you WANT.. but FAME can lure you into thinking that you are “successful”.

Successful is a word without a real definition, because most people consider success different.. Is 1 million dollars successful? Is having a family successful? Is releasing your first beat tape being successful?

Now FAME is having people know about you and your “image”. There’s lots of famous people who have lost it all!

Success is being able to do what you want, achieving your goals, and still being a normal human who can enjoy their life!

The moral of the story is.. check your heart, and understand your intentions entering this music industry.

It’s very appealing, and can quickly bring you success, fame, as well as chaos.

The secret to it all is reading, understanding what you want, and knowing the pros and cons of each situation.

Take this one to heart.

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In this podcast episode of Music Production Made Simple, I discuss hard drives with you for your music production computer.

There's two main hard drives we use for our music production computers..

That is Mechanical Hard Drives (HDD), and Solid State Hard Drives (SDD). There are also what's called a "hybrid hard drive" where there's a small amount of SSD built into a Hard Drive to help it run a little faster by "caching" common files for faster loading.

A mechanical hard drive is more affordable, and is able to be purchased with LOTS of storage space.

You simply provide a power cable from your computer's power supply (PSU), and a SATA cable plugs into the HDD and motherboard for the data connections.

As I said in this episode, I liked the 5400RPM hard drive, as the noise was not audible in my acoustic computer case to help keep things quiet.. the 7200RPM can be hard audibly.

At the time of making my music production computer build video, 250GB was like $200-300!!! Now you can get 1TB-2TB for that same price.. (about 5-6 years later..)

SSDs are awesome because they are QUIET and FAST. The only problem at the moment is you can't buy them in LARGER sizes like 4TB or 8TB (maybe in the old card-type SSDs).. but they are still pricey.

So I hope the gives you insight to buying hard drives as a music producer. Currently we use an SSD for our main C:\ drive which is where we install our operating system (Windows for example), and our most important programs and files like FL Studio, Drum Kits, and our main VSTs.

For our LARGER files (like my FL Studio courses), we store these on a HDD (Hard Drive) because it's more affordable.

Hopefully in the coming years we will be able to just use one hard drive again, but this time on a fast SSD that is affordable, with a reasonable capacity to keep up with all our digital assets nowadays..

By the way, you can checkout my FL Studio Books if you'd like to become a better producer!

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It doesn't matter what genre of beats you make, the 808 is one of the most powerful instruments as a beatmaker. Now, the 808 sound is a VERY SPECIAL instrument because it's like a hybrid between an kick drum and a bassline.

To become a GOOD producer, you NEED to learn how to use an 808, and a bit of its history. Each genre uses the 808 a bit different, but it's a key element for fullness in your beats.

(The 808 kick drum originally comes from a Roland-TR 808 Drum Machine. There's also many other common sounds we hear in popular songs all the time from this drum machine, but the 808 is known for its initial hit [similar to a short-tailed drum], then it's long tail which rattles the subwoofer [like a bassline]).

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Producers ask ALL the time..

“Should producers start with their drum loops first, or melodies first, when making a beat”.

My answer for you is TRY BOTH WAYS..

It will allow you to become an extremely versatile music producer, who is able to adapt to ANY SITUATION they are thrown into.

In addition to making drum loops, or programming melodies, beatmakers should definitely know how to sample as well.

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Creating melodies on a piano as a beatmaker using FL Studio is not as hard as you think. Yes, music theory is required, but it's all about improvisation and catchy melodies!

🎹 Want 50% OFF the Piano Course? Copy + Paste Link!!!: https://itsGratuiTous.com/cart/?add-to-cart=23832&apply_coupon=PIANO

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The Walk Around Test is something that I have done for many years before releasing my music publicly.

It’s that FINAL LISTEN after you’ve made the beat, done your arrangement, and applied your AUDIO PAINTING.

It’s listening to make sure that the song FLOWS.

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Reverb is probably everyone’s favorite effect.

It creates such a beautiful sound, and can usually help any sound or instrument sit into a mix, if used properly.

In this episode, I mainly wanted to focus on something called Predelay.

Well, when you play a sound with the reverb effect, the sound can become “masked”. The dry signal (no reverb) and the wet signal (reverb) play at the same time, and because of that, the dry signal can’t be heard as clear, and the reverb will be masked by the dry signal. In this episode, I show you an example of predelay on a reverb using a piano note.

For your predelay settings, this is a by ear thing.

When you go too far, you will hear the predelay almost as it’s own instrument, and it will be out of time.

I would say, it’s always safer to have LESS predelay than too much, but if you want a lot of reverb on your snare, without the long tail clogging up your song’s mix, then you can adjust the predelay and DECAY knob accordingly!

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There is a struggle for new producers, and that is turning a loop into a beat (or a song). In this episode I share with you what I think the difference is between a song and a beat.

A loop is just the absolute beginning stages of a beat or song, and it is very hard for new producers to get passed the point of a LOOP to a beat or song.

In my opinion, a song is a beat with vocals/lyrics. The vocals immediately complete the song, and make the actual beat creation process a lot easier, because the beat doesn’t have to be so full!

A beat is a lot harder to know when it is done, but a trick I share in this episode is to first build out the arrangement, then when the chorus comes in, truly listen and think… “Does that sound like a full chorus that completes the song?”. If it doesn’t, well then maybe you need to add another instrument on!

Yes, both a song and beat are made up of individual loops, but it is your goal as a music producer to train your ear for what is catchy, and be able to put all those different loops together to make it into a BEAT or a SONG that is catchy, and captivates your listeners. If you missed the live stream from last night, you can watch it here.

Also, if you want to learn how to create powerful melodies as a music producer, definitely checkout my Piano Lessons for Producers course!

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Do you want to know the #1 secret to learn better, FAST?

It’s actually TRYING what you’re just watched, read, or have been studying.

If you do not TRY what you are trying to learn, you WILL NOT get it. It’s truly as simple as that. In this episode I share a couple VALUEABLE tips to discover how to learn effectively, no matter the time schedule you have, or the industry you’re involved in.

Remember, I was an electrician for 10 years and VERY busy all the time… so how did I make time to learn music production so well on the side? (P.S… I also run an electrical website called Becoming-an-Electrician.com!)

It was by following many of the tips within this episode.

I’d take advantage of my breaks at work… Sometimes I’d sit with the guys at work, but I’d like to read a lot, so I’d often go somewhere on my break to eat my lunch and do some light reading without getting distracted!

• Make a list of things you want to learn.. add to this list common terms you keep hearing repeated from video to video.. What do those things mean? When you have spare time.. (like on lunch break), try to read these topics as you’re eating your lunch!
• ACTUALLY TRY what you’re learning. If you just watch a tutorial and don’t go and try it, you’ll never learn it. Same with the things you’re reading, go and actually try it, and then you’ll see if you understand it!

Alright, thanks for tuning into this episode about how to learn music production fast.

Don’t forget, I have a beatmaking training platform with over 26 FL Studio courses..

You feel free to reach out any time. If you subscribe to my YouTube channel, I have been doing some live streams lately randomly.. they’ve been fun.

Talk to you in the next one!

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This is an episode that I would really like you to listen closely.

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT TAKE MY ARTICLE AND EPISODE AS HEALTH ADVICE.. I AM NOT A DOCTOR.. SEEK YOUR OWN PROFESSIONAL HEALTH ADVICE FROM A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL.

Being an electrician for almost 10 years, I was surrounded by a much different work environment in terms of how to look after your body and keep yourself safe.

The word “safe” I am meaning to prevent injuries, and allow you to stay as productive as possible, while not noticing any downsides such as pain from overworking your body.

Within the studio environment, I have realized over the past couple years there are some main things you really want to look at to help keep your body at its peak performance. Some of these things require a larger purchase, but I talked about these things because I’ve tried to cheap out myself over the last 10 years.

What kind of things are we talking about in this episode?

Well, mainly our eyes, ears, backs, and being aware of bad posture and continual movements that encourage pain.

You will have to listen to the episode to hear many of the things I’ve learned, which I’m hoping will help you prevent the same things that have happened to me.

One thing I wanted to share with you though was a picture of my new ergonomic chair, as I told you, I tried about 6-7 different chairs over time.. that I’d switch out when I’d notice some type of pain. This approach worked fine for awhile as it balanced out the different pain points, until finally, the pain was just too much.

Alright, so I hope you enjoy the episode, and that it prevents you from making the same actions I’ve done.

There’s times to pay a little more for quality, and there’s times to cheap out. When cheaping out starts to hurt you physically, it’s time to take a more serious look at what the issue is. As mentioned I share, make sure you have a plan while being on a computer to be productive, and reduce screen time.

And as always, you can join my music producer training platform to learn FL Studio! (available at https://itsGratuiTous.com/courses/)

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Your computer as a music producer is absolutely essential. If it stops working, you stop working!

The main point I wanted to get across in this podcast episode of Music Production Made Simple is if something happened to your computer today… how long would it take to get back up and running?

There’s many things to think about in regards to computer maintenance, like proper cooling and ventilation, having good backup solution going on, cleaning any air filters that come with your computer case, and even removing old programs (things I forgot to mention in this episode, but that’s why you read this, right? ) Additionally, you may want to look at your computer’s privacy settings.

Closing out, it is very wise if you start doing some research on the basic computer components, and what each part generally does (you don’t have to know it in-depth), as it will help you troubleshoot in the future.

The goal of a good music production computer is to select components that will give you the performance and stability you are after.

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

I always talk to you about the two ways to make a beat.. that is Original Compositions and Sampling.

Also, this episode is the first episode at 256Kbps for better audio quality when hearing the different frequencies better when making a beat. Episodes are regularly at 128Kbps to make the file size smaller, but I noticed at 128Kbps the hi-hat sounded significantly degraded.. I hope you enjoy this episode!

In this beat, we make a beat from scratch! I personally like making Original Compositions because they are 100% your own copyright, and I really like finding different melodies that compliment each other, and that suit the drum loop it self. Everything you heard was live as I recorded this episode. I edited up the audio to give you the best listening experience, and tried to lower volumes when talking so you can understand what’s going on.

Listen carefully as I pick through the drum samples, and finally decide on the 3 drum samples which I clearly play for you to hear how different they sounded… One had a nice low-end (could potentially make mixing harder)..

Also notice how powerful the layered snares were after turning them down in volume! That drum loop was SO FULL.. and it only had 7 SOUNDS USED!

Again, the Xclusive-Audio Drum Bundle TRIO sounds are available on my website! (I use them often in my courses. They offer VARIETY and QUALITY, are 24-Bit .WAV, and contain over 2,300 drum samples!)

But the best way to purchase them is through my SAFE SPOTS Bundle.. You receive my SAFE SPOTS Book, Course, and the Xclusive-Audio Drum Bundle TRIO sounds, which are used all throughout my SAFE SPOTS drum loop training curriculum.

Finally, if you’d like me to teach you how to make beats like you heard in this episode, then definitely check out GratuiTous’ FL Studio course membership! There’s over 26 FL Studio courses, teaching you how to use your DAW and how to make a beat.

I also offer FL Studio lessons for a more personal 1-on-1 experience. Please email me any time you have FL Studio questions, or would like to see an FL Studio tutorial on a certain topic.

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e13-how-to-make-a-real-beat/

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

It’s important to understand what your end result goal is with music.

We all want to make the beat. The beat is what is the most fun, it’s what people dance and sing to, and is what gets all the credit. But not everyone can make a beat!

You see, most people can learn the DAW, because that is easy to eventually understand. But making a beat is not able to be taught in the same way.

Making a beat comes from inspiration, ingenuity, and being original.

Not every beat is going to be the best, but once you make that special beat, is when it all will start taking off for you. It’s like you had your first taste, and you want more.

Again, that’s what my FL Studio training platform offers. It teaches you how to make a beat, it shows you many secrets and techniques, and will advance you fast! (You also learn how to use the DAW in my platform, but knowing the DAW is a given.. you must know your DAW, which anyone can learn, but not everyone can make a beat, and that’s what my business is.. teaching you how to make beats from scratch in FL Studio!)

Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget to visit the website https://itsGratuiTous.com !

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e12-making-a-beat-vs-knowing-your-daw/

===========================

📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

This is a very interesting episode to think about, as no matter if you are a beatmaker, or musician, we only have 12 notes available to us in an octave when making our music. And, if you download my free 5 Keys to a Successful Beat Book at https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys, you will also learn that when you pick a Key and Scale, you actually only have 7 notes you’re allowed to play!

Once you understand this, it really opens your eyes that it’s not as complicated as it has to be, and there is no “secret”, except for hard work, and finding your own sound.

I also talk to you about common things I teach about like STAYING IN YOUR DAW, AND DON’T COME OUT (unless you have a question) to get the best learning experience with the least amount of distractions while you are on fire (passionate), and wanting to learn how to make beats in-depth.

Please reach out to GratuiTous with any questions you have about making beats in FL Studio.. enjoy the episode!

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e11-we-all-have-12-notes/

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

In this episode I talk to you about VELOCITY.

Velocity is one of the ORGANIC TOOLS from my SAFE SPOTS Book.

There are actually many ORGANIC TOOLS, which come FREE inside of any reputable music program, and it’s really important you learn about ORGANIC TOOLS because they are the foundation of music production when using MIDI (if you are using VSTs.. Virtual Instruments, or One-Shot Drum Samples to make your drum loops).

Further, I explain that the louder you press a piano note, or strike a guitar string, it still produces the same PITCH, but gives you a different TIMBRE (pronounced TAMBER).

(To learn more about sound design and timbre, please view my Sound Design Basics 101 course).

Inside Sound Design Basics 101 Course I teach you that timbre is like Neapolitan icecream. If you press a note on a piano soft or loud, you are still hitting the same note, which produces the same pitch, but you will get a different sound. In comparison to Neapolitan ice cream, it comes with three different flavors. When you eat either Vanilla, Chocolate, or Strawberry, the texture is the exact same, but the flavor is different.

It’s the exact same thing when you press a note soft or loud on a piano, or select a sine-wave or a square-wave in your synth. You play the same pitch, but get a different sound (timbre)!!!

Once you understand how VELOCITY works inside your music program, and that when you press a note on your MIDI Keyboard, that it sends both the VELOCITY (0-127) and the note it self (A4 for example), then you will start to understand that VELOCITY adjusts not only volume, but it can be used as a very powerful tool to trigger a different sound, which still produces the same pitch, but gives us a different timbre.

To learn more about VELOCITY, and the ORGANIC TOOLS, read my SAFE SPOTS Book to gain a strong understanding of the core fundamentals of becoming a good music producer and take advantage of MIDI, and the ORGANIC TOOLS (which are free), inside FL Studio!

The book can be bought on Amazon by searching “SAFE SPOTS Riley Weller”, or on my website for the eBook version, which there is a bundle to grab the SAFE SPOTS Course and the drum samples used for the best experience.

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e10-velocity-makes-the-difference/

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

Quantizing is a very powerful technique for an extremely fast workflow while making beats.

Quantizing is not limited to only FL Studio, it is a part of the ORGANIC TOOLS which I teach you in my SAFE SPOTS book https://itsGratuiTous.com/safespots/.

There are two strong opinions towards quantizing.. that is do not quantize, and fix it by manually note-nudging (which is fine for drum loops, or smaller melodies)..

But once you start playing bigger melodies with many notes, manually adjusting every single note becomes extremely time-consuming in the beatmaking process.. where time is of the essence, and you want to quickly move onto your next sound and melody to continue building off the initial melody you created.

FL Studio allows for many ways to quantize, but the two I talk about in this episode are Quick Quantize (CTRL +Q).. this adjust BOTH the beginning and end of a note, which can be powerful, depending on the melody you have played, and the sound selected.

However, I have started to favor Quick quantize start times (SHIFT + Q). This will adjust the beginning of your notes to grid, helping them to be on time with the beat. Sometimes you may still have to drag a note left or right to line it up properly, but you will discover that this is an extremely fast workflow to get the sound you want, howbeit, maybe a bit too “robotic”.

To get the sound you want, WITHOUT sounding robotic, definitely read my SAFE SPOTS Book https://itsGratuiTous.com/safespots/, which will teach you about sound placement, and the ORGANIC TOOLS which are FREE inside of any DAW, and are the core tools beatmakers must learn to use to become a good well-rounded producer.

I hope you enjoyed the episode about Quantizing in FL Studio, and if you should do Quantize or just manually note-nudge. (I like to quantize, then manually note-nudge afterwards for a much faster workflow).

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e9-quantizing-makes-life-easy/

===========================

📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

Being a music producer, you will see GREAT results in your first months, but once you start getting better.. you may not see such big increases in your skills. Keep at it, and do not give up, because the next time you do feel improvements with your music, you will be so happy you continued!!

You will CONSTANTLY be faced with these UPS and DOWNS as a music producer, so I tell you in this episode to be prepared for them, and we battle these ups and downs through education and practice.

Be prepared for new courses coming soon to my beatmaking training platform (https://itsGratuiTous.com/courses/).. the new equipment is on its way, which I spent all last weekend researching.. (over 14 hours of research!).. but it will allow me to have reliable equipment for the long-term (hopefully!)

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e8-ups-and-downs-of-a-producer/

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

The main reason I wanted to make this episode is to share that after starting to teach beatmaking education with FL Studio (https://itsGratuiTous.com/courses) full time, mindset and self-discipline are at an all time high for myself!

If you are wanting to somehow be involved in the music industry full time, you get the flexibility of more time, but you also get the weight of doing most of the work yourself!

This require knowledge and preparation in MANY AREAS rather than just knowing how to make music..

It’s important to be aware of your “Producer Health Meter”.. and question how you are feeling, where you are at, and maybe it’s time for a break.

Take that walk, read that book, or maybe play that video game for that hour or two that you need.

Just remember, you need to come back to do the work, but it’s about being prepared to do the work, with a well-rested mind.

If you rush things, that’s usually what your end result will be.. rushed. Discover my tips on keeping yourself well-maintained for long-term efforts as a music producer.

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e7-producers-need-breaks-too/

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

It’s SUPER OVERWHELMING starting to learn music production.

There are so many videos on YouTube.. and it’s hard to know what’s the best approach to learn how to make beats without guidance and direction.

This is the second interview with Avadar, who has been a student of my platform for over 12 months now.. He has come a tremendously far way, and I’m so proud of him. He has completed almost all 26 of my FL Studio courses.. what an accomplishment!

Make sure to check out the COURSE PATHWAYS page (https://itsGratuiTous.com/course-pathways/) to see how to start taking my FL Studio courses.

This interview will help you make wiser decisions in your early months of learning beatmaking in FL Studio.

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e6-making-your-first-months-count/

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

This episode also has a video.. not all episodes do, but you can see when I apply certain techniques.. (https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e5-examples-of-low-end-bass-clashing/)

The low-end of your song is make-it-or-break-it.

If your low-end sucks, you song will never be at its BEST!

It honestly comes down to wise sound selection to achieve the absolute best sounding mix, but wise sound selection is also luck of the draw.. you cannot perfectly select the right sounds every beat.. you can be mindful of it, but when the right sound selection does happen, you will instantly know it… your beat becomes much easier to mix, the arrangement just works, and the beat is more fun to work with than usual.

In this episode, we build off the previous S2E4 on SHORT-TAILED and LONG-TAILED DRUMS(https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e4-short-tailed-and-long-tailed-drums/). I wanted to now break down how low-end bass sounds when it clashes.

When you play a kick drum with a long-tail too fast, its tail overlaps on itself, and essentially a bunch of duplicated audio gets played for a short bit until all drums are done playing. (The example was hard to hear in this example, sorry, but there was a difference.)

This instantly messes up your song’s bass, and overall balance of your mix, because the bass will either be WAY louder for a second, or it entirely skews the low-ends phase response.. giving you that horrible wobble sound.

The final example I gave you is when we use different notes on our bass that overlap.

This overlap can happen if the RELEASE is TOO LONG on our BASS’s ADSR when we talk about sound design, or it can be when we change notes on our 808’s.

To prevent bass overlap, we can use Cut Itself.. it’s really easy in FL Studio.. simply right-click any sound in the Channel Rack, and select Cut Itself.

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e5-examples-of-low-end-bass-clashing/

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

Heads up.. I recorded this in video format as well (https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s3e4-short-tailed-and-long-tailed-drums/)

Listen to real examples of LONG-TAILED and SHORT-TAILED drums in this episode! You will hear how they sound, and when to use them for a solid drum loop. (Something you'll learn is LONG-TAILED kick drums can clash with your bassline if you're not careful, because they both live in the same frequency spectrum, right?)

Ask yourself this question.. do you REALLY know how to use the different types of sounds (https://itsGratuiTous.com/product-category/sounds) within your music? Yes, we're talking about MAKING DRUM LOOPS in this podcast episode, but the concept applies to both your drum loops and MELODIES!

Knowing how to use your sounds is tremendously important, and will only come with time as you play your piano keys (https://itsGratuiTous.com/product/piano-lessons-for-producers/) with your virtual instruments (https://itsGratuiTous.com/my-favorite-vsts-for-fl-studio/).

And I'll give you a pro tip like I talk about in my Creating Organic Beats course.. (https://itsGratuiTous.com/product/creating-organic-beats/) which is making use of OCTAVES to take advantage of the frequency spectrum.. (I teach you about OCTAVES in the (Piano Lessons for Producers Course), and the frequency spectrum in my SAFE SPOTS book about drum loops (https://itsGratuiTous.com/product/safe-spots-book/).)

So tune into this episode, and learn the power of learning to make your own beats from scratch.. and knowing about LONG-TAILED and SHORT-TAILED drums are a fundamental part of knowing that, if you want your mixes to sound clean, and hit hard.

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e4-short-tailed-and-long-tailed-drums/

=========================

📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

Is making beats something you do for fun as a hobby, or is it something that you would like to make a career out of?

It's important you decide early on in your music career, otherwise it will always fight you while you are at work.

If it's for fun, keep it as such. If it's for a career, you will need to start reading about online business, and learning the essentials required to have a long-term foot in the music industry (and online business industry).

I quickly talk to you about a really cool trick in FL Studio, that not many people know about, and it's Spare State. It allows you to Store in spare state, then you can Flip with spare state. (This allows ANY PLUGIN to have A/B comparison for powerful mixing!!!)

If you were confused about the A/B state and FL Wrapper, then please view the episode on my website (https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e3-taking-music-production-seriously/). I include an image of where to access this Spare state within FL Studio's plugin window.

I talk a lot about A/B comparison throughout my blog (https://itsGratuiTous.com/blog/), podcast, and courses (https://itsGratuiTous.com/courses/).

This allows you to switch back and forth between changes you've applied on EQ or Compression, and can really help you nail in the proper settings. (And I even mention in the episode that A/B gives you two options, but you actually have a third option, which is OFF/ON.. OFF/ON is like the BEFORE, then you have Version 1 which is A, then Version 2 which is B).

So, if you use a plugin in FL Studio that does not have A/B, now you can use this trick!

You will also hear my interview I had with James, a member who was so happy he found my beatmaker training platform. The interview is available on video as well here (https://itsGratuiTous.com/member-interview-4/).

I hope you enjoy the interview, and the A/B tip.

I plan to start recording this 5 GOLDEN PILLARS OF MUSIC PRODUCTION course very soon, and it will be added to the platform of my other FL Studio courses (https://itsGratuiTous.com/courses/).

Stay tuned!

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e3-taking-music-production-seriously/

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

Sticking to one DAW (digital audio workstation) will tremendously speed up your knowledge of beatmaking in your early years. (Your early years are very important to absorb as much information as possible, because you are new, things are fun, and you are like a sponge.. looking for all the valuable information out there).

But I totally get it...

When new, you see so many tutorials out there, and you think, "Oh, I need that DAW.. or that VSTi (https://itsGratuiTous.com/my-favorite-vsts-for-fl-studio/), or that Drum Kit (https://itsGratuiTous.com/product-category/drum-kits/)".. And it's hard, because you definitely need some of these tools, but the trick is knowing the good tools, and the tools that work for you. That will allow you to avoid GEAR LUST, like explained in Music Production Made Simple Podcast - Episode 1 of Season 2 (https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e1-welcome-back-and-combating-gear-lust/).

I do suggest new producers try different DAWs when starting out, to see what they like, but eventually, you HAVE TO SETTLE DOWN.. otherwise you'll waste too much time trying to learn the music program, rather than LEARNING HOW TO MAKE BEATS! (Which is the end goal, right?)

You'll also spend a lot of money if you are using multiple DAWs, and you'll just spin your wheels without moving very far.

If you are struggling with your beatmaking, I encourage you to try FL Studio (https://itsGratuiTous.com/which-version-of-fl-studio-should-you-buy/). Their LIFETIME free updates are absolutely amazing, and their support team is wonderful.

I'm here to help you learn how to make beats with FL Studio, as I'm now an approved FL Studio trainer, and have my Beatmaker Training Platform (https://itsGratuiTous.com/courses/) with tons of FL Studio courses. (There's also a questions area where you can ask me questions when you're a member, and I'll respond back fast!)

Remember, it's usually the lack of the producer's abilities and skills, rather than the capabilities of the DAW. You have to put your time in to learn this craft of beatmaking, and if you do, you will truly feel the true reward of saying, "Yes, I made that beat from scratch!". (And yes, FL Studio is more than capable to be called your only DAW you use, just like I do!)

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e2-sticking-to-one-daw/

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📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

Welcome back to Season 2 of Music Production Made Simple by GratuiTous!

I spent the last year re-organizing the website, and preparing to do beatmating education full time.

In Episode 1 of Season 2, I explain a lot new content I have released, a new member interview #4, and how to purchase your music equipment properly to prevent GEAR LUST!

Make sure to visit the website to experience my Beatmaker Training Platform for yourself at: https://itsGratuiTous.com/courses

P.S. – I recently became an FL Studio Trainer, and have released BEAT TAPES By GratuiTous Vol. 9! https://itsGratuiTous.com/music/beat-tapes-by-gratuitous-vol-9/

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GET THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/s2e1-welcome-back-and-combating-gear-lust/

=========================

📘 Try my FREE Book "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL BEAT": https://itsGratuiTous.com/5keys

With the release of my new book called "FL Studio Ultimate Template Creation Guide", I wanted to reveal some best practices I've discovered over the years.

The biggest point I'm wanting to get across to you is to be MINDFUL of your actions behind this template.

Yes, templates can save you time, but you have to be careful as they can also hinder your workflow and performance as a producer!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/030-the-evolving-template/

In this episode, we talk about a couple things related to music production, but more of just an update of where I've been.

I announce the release of my two new books (FL Studio Beginner's Book, and FL Studio Ultimate Template Creation Guide), talk about some money management mindsets, and what's to come with the FL Studio membership!

Some big things are to come, and your feedback is welcomed.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/029-keeping-it-real-no-matter-what/

You may have never thought to make money through your music, but for those who are just starting out to actually capture some capital in this industry, here's some tips I've discovered to keep my finances in check when dealing with online income.

But here's my disclaimer: I am not a tax professional. Please do not listen to any of my advice on taxes, money, or any finance stuff! Please seek professional guidance from a trained professional!

I hope this gives some solid help in staying organized with your taxes!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/028-managing-your-monies-and-paying-taxes/

Collaborating can bring huge potential growth to your brand and music career, but.. it doesn't come without its downsides.

In this episode I talk about my own personal experiences with collaborating, and how it's accelerated my growth within the music industry, various ways to collaborate, and how to properly reach out to a potential candidate you'd like to collaborate with!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/027-collaborating-in-the-music-industry/

You may not think about it, but being a music producer requires A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE!

Nowadays, with us being "bedroom producers", we actually take on the role of many trades to create our music.

Whether you're aware of that or not, there will be a lot of reading/studying required from you to obtain respect in this industry.

I talk about some powerful ways to research and put a big emphasis on the importance of RETAINING the knowledge you've just read.

Tune in for the details!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/026-learning-how-to-research-effectively/

Trying to learn the piano for music production from watching YouTube videos that teach you classical piano techniques? Sadly, these videos/techniques don't fully relate to us beatmakers playing the piano.

We need to learn improvisation, as well as how to create catchy loops.

In simple terms, a piano works by having the same 12 notes that repeat (octaves). We then pick a key + scale, which will tell us what notes we're actually allowed to play. Our notes/chords have to have these notes, and you're on your way to improvising!

My course will teach you how to play the piano, as a beatmaker, guaranteed: https://itsgratuitous.com/course/learn-piano-for-beatmakers-and-producers/

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/025-playing-piano-as-a-beatmaker/

In my decade within the audio industry, I've discovered it's very hard and discouraging, if you let it.

In this episode, I discuss how I first started making money in the audio industry with my online endeavors, and how things have evolved over the years.

If you're a content creator, tutorialist, or want to somehow generate revenue online through music, tune in and gain a lot of wisdom through my experience.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/024-making-a-career-out-of-music-online/

In this episode, we discuss the importance of a healthy sleep schedule to keep a clear mind and stay focused.

In addition, we also talk about an audio interface, what features are important to buy one, and thinking about how you as a beatmaker go about creating your music.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/023-sleep-and-audio-interfaces/

After receiving MANY questions on the chatbox of this website about how to use a MIDI Keyboard to make beats, it intrigued me to research MIDI further, and I discovered what company's use to base their products off of MIDI standard-wise.

MIDI has been an amazing creation for us producers, it's AMAZING!

We definitely take it for granted.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/022-how-easy-midi-makes-it/

Automation clips are how we producers allow our music to do things automatically. However, we still have to set up them up manually, and tell the automation clip what to do.

Then, the song will listen to us when we play the song!

We can automate pretty much any parameter inside of FL Studio, so the sky truly is the limit!

One thing to note which I forgot to mention in the episode. VST 2 third-party VSTs cannot be right-clicked to create an automation clip. You'll have to Tools -> Last Tweaked to create an automation clip for those. (VST3 plugins are fine here!)

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/021-using-automation-clips-in-fl-studio/

Some big news to celebrate. The 10 Steps to Become an FL Studio Pro course is officially released. To celebrate, you can use coupon 10STEPS at checkout to save 50% off the course!

In this episode, we discuss some golden nuggets I've come across over the years in terms of mixing and mastering.

• Level Matching
• A/B Comparison
• Mixing in Solo

We cover some audio examples, and some things to be careful of.

Take heed to the advice to make more accurate judgement in your mixing/mastering!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/20-golden-rules-of-mixing-and-mastering/

Here's a cool trick to get extra clarity out of your delays.

Send the audio insert to a delay insert, apply sidechain compression on this delay insert whenever the audio insert plays.

An audio example is provided in this episode!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/019-delay-with-sidechain-compression/

In this episode we talk about the mindset behind a catchy melody.

As much as understanding a musical instrument inside and out is important as a music producer to create amazing melodies, many melodies we hear in our music today only consists a couple notes!

As sad as it is to say that it doesn't require as much skill behind the musical instrument, it does however take skill and ingenuity to create catchy melodies.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/018-melodies-dont-require-expert-knowledge/

In this episode, you will learn about a technique called Cut Itself.

It's a very powerful tool that is used in many areas of music production from sampling, to achieving a cleaner mix, to replicating a realistic sound to your music.

In short, you have cut, and cut by (your cut group.)

If your cut is the same number as your cut group, whenever a sound plays, then plays again, it will immediately stop playing the first time the sound played, and start from the beginning of the new sound, giving a nice clean sound to your mixes.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/017-using-cut-itself-while-sampling/

What's the best custom music production computer you can build? What do you look for in parts?

In this episode, we talk all about how to pick out the parts to build a custom music production computer from scratch!

In addition, check out this episode's resources to watch the video of how I built my own custom music production computer, and additional links like what Image-Line (makers of FL Studio) suggest for music production!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/016-building-a-custom-computer-for-music-production/

In this episode we're going to be talking about compression!

Compression is probably the trickiest tool to learn as a music producer, in addition, it will also be the last tool that you'll fully comprehend, too!

We cover the basics of most compressors (threshold, ratio, attack, and release), as well as cover the knee (some compressors allow you to adjust this), and more advanced compression techniques, like upwards compression.

We even go further by describing how to get started using a compressor, what to listen for, and how to use a compressor so that you know the settings you've applied are actually benefiting your music!

Learn how to balance a vocal, or shape/mold a sound with your attack and release knobs!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/015-a-quick-up-start-with-compression/

This episode is inspired by my own mistake, while also noticing on-going trends within the social industry.

It’s really easy to compare yourself to others, but this will burn you out so fast, and make you quickly forget why you started creating music in the first place!

My blunder was recording a whole course, and the audio wasn’t salvageable!

I tried recording with a lavalier microphone (like discussed in Episode #013), and even did a test recording prior to committing to record the whole course.

I have now learned, a lavalier microphone (those small microphones you see clipped onto people’s shirts in videos), require much LESS phantom power voltage than the regular +48V on our audio interfaces.. Typically lavalier microphones take 5V!!!! That’s why it was distorted.. I fried the microphone lol (Good thing it was a cheap one!)

When I went to go edit the course, I was sad :(

However, as you’ll hear in the podcast, this made me search for new solutions to achieve high quality audio, but not see my microphone, since I’m now using a green screen in my courses to allow for a more personal feeling to the courses!

This just reminded me to have patience, and silly mistakes can be made, even after being in an industry for many years!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/014-patience-and-comparison-to-others/

This week we take a little break from creating music, and talk about how to create content to teach about music through tutorials and courses.

We cover the software I personally use and equipment to achieve high-quality videos, and the quirks that come with certain software and what to be aware of.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/013-how-to-create-content-as-a-beatmaker/

Did you know the secret to an amazing mix is actually in wise sound selection?

Wise sound selection is the foundation of your song's frequency spectrum, and in this episode, we discuss how to think in terms of your lows, mids, highs, and how to use certain instruments powerfully in your music.

Additionally, the main course I wanted to share in this episode is called Creating Organic Beats. I record a single guitar note with you, and show you how to create a whole composition out of that single guitar note! You'll learn sound design, and learn to think in terms of your song's frequency space in the course. (See link below to check out course in episode page's resource links.)

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/012-creating-melodies-with-sound-selection

What should be your goal when mixing a track?

Should every instrument stand out with clarity? How do you achieve balance?

Do VSTs even compete with expensive analog gear?

These are just some of the questions new and intermediate producers face when starting out.

In this episode, we cover what your goal of mixing should be, and many helpful tips to improve your mixes so you can give your music a fair comparison when using effects like EQ and Compression.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/011-goal-of-mixing-the-analog-vs-digital-debate

So you're wanting to get started in music production, eh?

It all seems fun, until it starts getting serious. It's at these times where you reflect on past decisions you've made and how you could of approached certain situations a little differently.

That's what we cover in this episode.

What to prepare BEFORE you release your brand and music. Additionally, how to stay professional at all times, and always be aware of your decisions and the outcome those decisions can bring.

If you want to be a professional music producer, you must be aware of your actions, and the image you are portraying to the world.

For more info on GratuiTous' FL Studio courses, books, studio gear, or 1-on-1 music production lessons, visit: https://itsGratuiTous.com/learning/

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/010-before-releasing-your-music/

Personally, I feel the division between an amateur to professional producer is in their arrangement.

It's the patience they apply to their arrangement that constantly prepares and communicates with their listener.

This episode not only talks about arrangement, but how to build your song so it flows naturally, and brings out your song's fullest emotion.

Links to the book Audio Painting, the course Song Structure and Arrangement Music Course, and the new FL Studio Intermediate Course (releasing end of July 2019), will be in the episode resource links below.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/009-arranging-your-song-with-audio-painting/

The question of "Does a beatmaker need to know how to play the piano" sparks a good conversation.

Depending on if you just sample music, or create original compositions, this question can tip the scale of your opinion, but at the end of the day, I personally feel it's extremely wise to have an understanding of the basics of piano and music theory.

We cover a variety of points to help you learn the piano from a beatmaker's perspective, but if you'd like that visual insight to learn the piano, my course Learn Piano for Beatmakers and Producers is always available to you.

Hope this episode inspires you to learn the piano, learn to improvise, and start making amazingly composed beats!

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/008-do-beatmakers-need-to-know-the-piano

Welcome to SAFE SPOTS™.

SAFE SPOTS™ is a term GratuiTous has coined over the years which reveals where you can place your sounds within your drum loop for them to sound good no matter what!

In addition, you’ll also learn about the ORGANIC TOOLS available to you in your DAW (music program) to further enhance this drum loop.

GratuiTous calls these tools ORGANIC because they’re absolutely FREE in any music production program.

In addition, GratuiTous has also written a book on this SAFE SPOTS™ concept, which can be found on the episode's page below on his website.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuitous.com/podcast/007-safe-spots-create-amazing-drum-loops/

This episode asks you an interesting question:

"When making your beats, what do you first start with? The Instruments, the Drum Loop, or do you create both at the same time?"

It's an interesting topic for discussion, upon which GratuiTous gives his opinion. It may spark some creativity for your own productions!

In addition, we cover some popular courses within GratuiTous' music production membership, and how to overcome beat block/producer's block.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/006-different-approaches-to-making-a-beat/

Purchasing the right sounds is important when starting to produce music.

In this episode I talk to you about various things to think about when it comes to purchasing sounds like:

• What to Look for in Sounds
• What Types of Sounds Should you Buy
• What Kind of Sounds Should a Producer Have

When I'm looking to purchase a sound kit, I'm looking for Quality and Variety.

These two criteria are essential to being creative as a producer, and having a solid foundation to work off of.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/005-buying-sounds-saving-money/

Before you start taking music production seriously, it's INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT to set up your own custom music production folder.

FL Studio offers its 'User Data Folder', but has been known to cause a lot of headaches for many users.

That's when I took the initiative to figure out the absolute best way to set myself up for the long-term as a music producer, know exactly where my files are, and never have missing files EVER AGAIN!

This episode is actually based off of my course: A Specific Music Production Folder.

I break down my actual personal music production folder in this episode (but the video course shows you step-by-step the why's, how's, and reasoning between my organization and file labeling.)

In short, you want to create a music production folder which nests everything to do with your music production!

You'd then create sub-folder for further organization.

Here's an example:

• Music Production Folder
• Albums
• Beat Tapes
• Sounds

But, within these sub-folders is where it's important to pay attention to my layout. (I've spent years perfecting this folder layout until finally nailing it.)

Within the Sounds folder, for example:

• Sounds
• Drum Kits
• VSTs

For each subfolder (Drum Kits and VSTs), I create a folder for each vendor (company) I purchase a product from.

It's then super easy to access these sounds from within FL Studio's browser.

When it comes to organizing your beat tapes/album releases, it's even more important to follow my folder structure to prevent missing files, and know exactly where files are at a later date. (For remixes, or various other commercial endeavors.)

Again, check out the course for a step-by-step video walk through.

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/004-a-specific-music-production-folder/

[BONUS - THIS EPISODE SHARES MY 100% FREE MUSIC PRODUCTION GEAR COURSE! - LINK IS AT BOTTOM OF THIS DESCRIPTION]

Music production gear has truly become affordable!

Be careful with the information you read online in regards to this digital vs. analog debate. The digital route totally outweighs the analog route in terms of benefits and convenience!

However, we still have to purchase some hardware tools to be most effective as a music producer.

It's important you purchase the right gear right from the start. Not only to save money, but also for enjoyment. If you have the right gear that suits you and your workflow, it will motivate you to continue to practice music production, and break pass that point to truly excel in this craft!

In this episode, we cover:

• Gear Required to Produce Music
• What to Look for When Purchasing Certain Music Production Gear
• Different Ways to Produce Beats
• How to Save Money When Buying Your Gear

Get this episode's resources [FREE COURSE is in "Episode Resources" on link below]: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/003-gear-and-tools-required-as-a-producer/

It's important to stay true to who you are as a music producer in this music industry. It's easy to look at and compare yourself to others and fall into the same spiral.

In this episode, I share various topics from my book 'Proper Producer Mindset', such as:

• Pursuing Life as a Music Producer
• Actually Achieving these Goals to Make it in the Music Industry
• What (9-to-5) Jobs are Good to Have that Still Allow You to Work on Music
• Building Your Producer Name/Brand
• Being Aware of Your Actions and Not Following the Trends

For more info on GratuiTous' FL Studio courses, books, studio gear, or 1-on-1 music production lessons, visit: https://itsGratuiTous.com/learning/

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/002-proper-producer-mindset/

Welcome to 'Music Production Made Simple'.

This is the first episode in the podcast which introduces what to expect from future episodes, and also a brief background on GratuiTous and his approach to this music industry. (Visit the episode page to watch a video of GratuiTous skateboarding!) https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/001-welcome-to-music-production-made-simple/

For more info on GratuiTous' FL Studio courses, books, studio gear, or 1-on-1 music production lessons, visit: https://itsGratuiTous.com/learning/

Get this episode's resources: https://itsGratuiTous.com/podcast/001-welcome-to-music-production-made-simple/