why does so many people want to be ...

i want to be a 'producer' for myself.

i dont actually have a goal to produce a song for anyone....
all i want is to bea able to make some good quality music for myself and my friends. i dont expect to get one cent out of 'producing'. i simply do it becasue its fun, creative and what interests me.

Yeah I just do it for myself. I don't expect to get succesful from it and I don't wanna be Pharrel or Kanye. I enjoy making beats and get a buzz when I make something I really like.

I think the reason people ask so many questions is not always because they don't have talent to actually make good beats, but because in alot of cities (including my own) there isn't alot of places and information you can go to find stuff out. Like how different Samplers, Mixers, Keyboards, etc, all go together.

Its sometimes easy to see through people who come on asking how they can sound like Kanye or Premier, etc! Its almost like they think they can make money off making beats in a matter of a few months, when they've practised for a bit. I don't get this myself

i've been "producing" for about a year of and off, and I primarily use Fruityloops (got 5 for Christmas...legit). It doesn't matter what I use to make my music. I love doing it. I also play bass, a little guitar and keyboard. Fruityloops is the fastest program for me. If I wanna perfect something, I use Sonar.

First off I think the reason that alot people now wanna be producers/beatmakers Is simply because the music industry is a easy way to really make alot money if U get the right opportunity, Just like hitting the lottery.. Secondly U can put yourself in a room with 100 strangers today between the ages of 18 to 25 and probably 85 of them wanna be rappers and what does every rapper need.... beatz. I mean how many underground rappers can really afford the Kayne's, just blaze, the neptunes, and so on. The bottom line is everyone that get into the beatmaking game do it 4 tha money, even tha ones that Like myself who took band and really played instruments. But when it comes down to it, U not goin to give a beat away 4 free when u know that if u had a industry connect U know u get a nice phat check for I don't care how much u love music! I mean let's be real!!!

I think its partly because hip-hop/urban has reached the rich kids in the suburbs whos parents will buy them a load of gear lol....doesnt bother me too much, as it just means theres plently of cheaper 2nd hand gear available when they get bored of it, or realise that buying an mpc & a sound module doesnt make a person a dope producer

mwalker wrote:producers/beatmakers? 5 years ago everyone wanted to be a dj and now everyone wants to be a producer. why? because it is so cheap these days to get started? because, programs like like fruity loops make it so easy to produce music? because, programs like fruity loops are pretty cheap (entry level programs)? as i read this forum more and more you have people purchasing top of the line equiment and do not know how to use it. why? is it the bling-bling? one would say, i just brought digi 002r, triton, and mpc how do i setup it up? what cables do i need? or how about, i have triton, faton, mofit, mpc and computer what should i buy next? i do not have a problem with wanted to make music but allot of this sh!t is getting out of hand.

so, my question is why do you personally want to be a producer or

beatmaker?

It`s simple to go from walking around hummin a beat in your head, to beating on the table, to buying records, imagining to improve or remix some songs, to deciding to do for self. Plus you don`t have some irate teacher yelling at you telling you that`s not how to play the sound of music. Plus Hip Hop / Dance/ R&B is the most popular music now. It like asking back in the day why did you buy some guitars, or drums set because everyone wanna jam like the artist that influence them. And its history in the making. Alot of people as they progress (sample based that is) learn more about the music of the past and how it shape and influence the music of today. Alot of it some so much better and inspiring compared with the present. Alot of the pioneer, and many a pop music are self taught musicians with timeless works. Everyone is a musician at heart just that with skill and technique how to play, program an instrument makes the field open for everyone to bring their musical muse to reality.

I agree that a lot of mofo`s seem to lack patience and dedication to learn their craft or even music theory to at least understand what all those time signatures, notes, tempos, and then the technical LFOs, Filters, and midi means. Usually they need to first learn music and then learn technology, not technoloy then music. The DJs have an easier time because the studied their records. And to go from djing to producing is a natural progression. That`s how the current forms, Trance, Hip Hop, Techno, Trip Hop, Drum and Bass, ans so on got started djs using studio equipment.

My definition is a producer is a person that can make an artist shine and souns great. It ain`t the equipment, records, keyboards, software or any of that shit it is whether you can produce a songs for an artist Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Xizbit, Usher, or whoever and make them sound great.
I love E-bass by the way he got some chops which are simple but funky. I a little disappointed that pro trained musicians like Stanley Clarke, Soulive don`t get the mass props like Beyonce but this are the times we live in.



this is not a flame thread but i am confused about this subject.

My definition is a producer is a person that can make an artist shine and souns great. It ain`t the equipment, records, keyboards, software or any of that **** it is whether you can produce a songs for an artist Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Xizbit, Usher, or whoever and make them sound great.

i dont really think thats what its about at all..'GREAT' is a subjective term, so is quality. the only way to determine what sounds 'great' is what sounds good to YOU and only you. not everyone listens to sun ra, some think hes great, some think hes offbeat. others opinions make no difference in the big picture because it is what sounds good to you...if others like your music too then that is a bonus.

I started a Fruity Loops and moved along quickly to a lot of other equipment and I'm quickly realizing that I've really only got my feet wet as far as production... My programming is finally tight, but the compression, EQ, and the actual mixing stages are still pretty new to me... I understand what you're sayin man, but like someone else said it's great to see kids go with this rather than the streets and drugs... I can speak personally when I tell you that music saved my life... I was goin thru a lot of family sh*t back in 10th grade and was turnin towards the wrong sh*t to cope wit my problems... I found production and found a better way to deal with my issues... Music saved my life and kept me from runnin the streets or ODing or some sh*t...

I know you were just venting some personal feelings so I ain't mad or nothin, but anyway it comes out the increase in beatmakers can only be seen as a positive... I mean obviously everyone isn't going to make it as a bigtime producer, but I mean it's a great hobby and the best kind of therapy out there... My little cousin just got FL and his mom's just died... His older brother wildin out and doin drugs... So I been takin him under my wing showin my lil cousin the ropes of production at least as far as I've come...

And really all these cats can do is force you to push your sh*t further cause now you know anybody can program a four bar Boom Bap track, but noteveryone can really push the limits with it and do that next sh*t... All these producers are only gonna push creativity further...

Sure some are gonna do that same old sh*t, but they ain't gonna last and it'll stay a hobby for them or die out with them...

Overall it ain't gonna effect you...

(By the way I didn't read all the posts so my bad if some of what I sad has already been stated... I typed this in between classes)

i guess a lot of people really love music and figure they could do it themselves! but how many of those people actually continue after they see it aint as easy as it may seem? i unno. its a good question walker.

MattMatiks PG wrote:I started a Fruity Loops and moved along quickly to a lot of other equipment and I'm quickly realizing that I've really only got my feet wet as far as production...

me too

FLUENT wrote:

My definition is a producer is a person that can make an artist shine and souns great. It ain`t the equipment, records, keyboards, software or any of that **** it is whether you can produce a songs for an artist Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Xizbit, Usher, or whoever and make them sound great.

i dont really think thats what its about at all..'GREAT' is a subjective term, so is quality. the only way to determine what sounds 'great' is what sounds good to YOU and only you. not everyone listens to sun ra, some think hes great, some think hes offbeat. others opinions make no difference in the big picture because it is what sounds good to you...if others like your music too then that is a bonus.

Some examples I look at as great producers Quincy Jones, Gamble and Huff, DJ Priemier, DJ Shok (Slippin), Hank Shocklee way back, Timbaland each ones work, cooperation, and talent made which of the artist that they work with shine. The public can give to shits what you like if you want to be a mole in the hole keep your music to yourself. The attitude that to be a lonely recluse and everyone got to be on your plane is ridiculous. Great producers move the people with their music. Every great modern band had a great producer giving guidance on what translates into great music. If you sing, rap, or yodel and produce your own music you are a self contained package and you can get a feel on how many people come to watch and hear you play at your shows. But since most users on this board are mpc user aka studio gear that means we are making recorded music aka dance oriented which plays on a cd or record if you get it pressed. Unless you are a dj/or keyboardist there isn`t much ways to just made music that is good to other you and have it heard. The artist is the vocalist not the producer unless you sing the hook like Pharrell. I don`t know what style you program, loop , whatever, but house, r&b, hip hop, the artist is the star. Nobody is going to buy or listen to your tracks if it can`t make the vocalist sound G R E A T! I say this to the upcoming producers who want to go pro and make a living from their music. I don`t want to steer you wrong. If you are a club dj you can at least know what I`m talking about moving the crowd. Music is relating with the people not to see a guy spin some records. The crowd must feel your music.

That don`t mean to follow the crowd and do what`s popular either flava of the month kind of mofo! But your style, your sense, passion and direction can take your artist and the people into a new direction, growth, and maturity. A great producer I believe learns from the greats of the past by music history, innovates, and evovles to add to the continuation of great music that the people can feel.

Give the people a dirty **** up glass of water that`s all they got to drink, but give them soul, spirit, and a beautiful, narrative, and strong voice with a glass of cool water and you can made a difference classics.

It`s not if you like your fav artist or not, it is whether the piece of music you made with the artist you work with stands the test of time like even 4, 6, 8, or 10 years from now.

Great producers in dance music field at least work with talented vocalists.

Of yeah there is a big difference between a producer and a beatmaker just hammer away on the pads.

FLUENT wrote:

My definition is a producer is a person that can make an artist shine and souns great. It ain`t the equipment, records, keyboards, software or any of that **** it is whether you can produce a songs for an artist Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Xizbit, Usher, or whoever and make them sound great.

i dont really think thats what its about at all..'GREAT' is a subjective term, so is quality. the only way to determine what sounds 'great' is what sounds good to YOU and only you. not everyone listens to sun ra, some think hes great, some think hes offbeat. others opinions make no difference in the big picture because it is what sounds good to you...if others like your music too

Mark Nevers, Hugh Padgham, Phil Collins, Eddie Bo, Oliver Sain, George Clinton, and so on. As DJs have now become producers in their own right, Orbital, Masters at Work, Nisan, Touch of Jazz Producers, and a shout out goes out to Dave West of De La I think hes slept on pretty much.

I had some cats come to my spot the other day, saw my rack of modules and say, "Do you actually use that stuff?". I was like, "Are you serious?". I guess a lot of cats DO just collect outboard gear just to sport, impress, maybe get some dome, who knows? I ain't gonna lie....I've impressed a broad or two with some tracks I've done with known artists, but at the end of the day, I'm in it for the music, not the hoes.

Another part of the problem is that nowadays, producers share the spot light (it's about damn time!). Plus the word finally got out that producers usually make more money than the artist who uses the track. So now it's like this big azz gold rush....like everyone going low-carb or something. But, as these wanna bees will figure out soon enough, there is alot more to it than just emulating "Grindin'" on (insert music program of choice here).

I started out with the MTV Music Generator for PS1 like in '99. I was one of those kids who would always make up dumb little songs. I actually turned my Atari 800 computer into an 8-bit sound module/baby sequencer when I was like 9 using BASIC, so I guess that music has always been in me.

That also prolly explains how I've come so far so fast (relatively speaking). I believe that great producers are born, not made, but that talent, like all talent, needs to be developed and honed until it like a knife sharpened to perfection. All the software in the world, regardless how automated and accessible they may be, will NOT turn a duck into a swan. One hit wonder MAAAAAYBE, but no staying power.

If you got it, you got.....if you don't, you don't.

FROZEN

Its the prayer the training and the vitamans

is that kanye west on FL?!?!?! cant be, or is it!?

tell you the truth, im encouraging these FL users to puut out these lil john beats with these minimal drum patterns( 808 snare and a kick, NO HI HATS!?!lol)
and the 2 tone high-ass percing synths that can break your booth glass.

it breaches out a genre of producers out there that have generated an image about producers that have no concept about music.
i mean, where is the melody? what type of mood are u trying to feel beside making chiks shake their azz!(i guess thats not a bad thing).
but i jus my problem is that u dont really get a sense of the person who created the tune.(im not about about 9th wonder who uses the same drum pattern on every beat.lol) but i get no sense of individuality of the producers.

the problem with the industry is that its all about the money (of course) and about what these rich white men who controls the industry want to put out there.

BOTOOM LINE

"every dogg has its day"
when people will get tied of hearing catchy "entertainment rap" on the radios. the industry will shift to something els. and get somthing els that "hot at the moment"

i predict:
at a certain point in our near future the will be an over thro in hip hop.
-rappers will be obligated to have at sentences that actually makes sense.
-disc jockeys will not get respect for blending 2 cds with the beat matching button.
-and producers will have to make their own samples, and beats. cuz i know these producers dont have that much time to make their own beats now.they too f*cking bizi. so theyll jack a starving producing for his beats and sign his name on it like its his creation.
-videos wont alwayz be about b*tches and n*ggas bragging about how much
1. how much money they have
2. how many guns they blast
3. how many b*tches ****
4. how times they got shot

and i guarentee u that #4 is a result of 1. and/or 2. and/or 3.

i predict THE RETURN OF THE ESSENCE

WHERE MY HIP HOP HOOLIGANS AT!?!?!?!?!?!