Studying producers

How many of you out there study producers and their techniques to improve your production? I know some people say don't get too technical and to just let the music come out but this post is not concerned with that issue. You have to learn something to improve. What are some of the things you look for? Did you learn everything on your own? I'm curious because I'm getting more and more into production and I realize that as much as I want to make music from feeling, I'm going to need to study and learn techniques to improve various skills (mainly arrangement and sampling). Thanks in advance.

I study Jazz drummers. Don't really know there names off hand. I just got a whole lot of Jazz records. Also I study alot of quincy jones. If you just listen to the way he arranges his music. GENIUS!

Yeah I been studying(careful listening) for a few years now, from musicians to beat makers.

I like music on two different levels 1) I like the track 2) I admire the production. Stuff that falls into category 2 is stuff like Kelis and even some of Madonna's recent albums - not really into the music but the production is incredible..

I see. Yea, I think I'm the same way. Right now my favorite producer (both because of his techniques and arrangement) is Jimmy Tamborello. He would be a category 2 on your scale, although I am into his music as well (his stuff under dntel mainly).

Who else would you recommend looking at? Do you feel that it really helped you out in the long run?

i listen to alot of p-funk on how they did there arrangements. herbie hancock, roy ayers, issac hayes, pink floyd album the other side of the moon is interesting. then sometimes to bring up to speed i listen to various hip hop producers to see any simularities of the artist i listen to. just to sharpen up my chops.

I study EVERY DAY. Do the knowledge god...
like RZA said, drop out of school and get Wu Tang Forever... it's all the education you need...

Whether one realizes or not we all have been studying other producers since birth by recreating the music in our heads and singing with friends as a child. The key is how to learn to use one`s gear to recreate what we hear.

i like the way you put that

I dont study producers directly but this is what I listen to when I listen to music.

Since I write music myself everything stands out much more then it would to someone who didnt. I listen a lot to drum techniques. so i always find myself listening to how they did they're hihats and how they placed them between their kicks. and where it kicked at and things like that. and i'll remember that technique and try it on my own so i can learn it. A lot of times i've heard the same technique used more then once so ill definately catch it and try it on my own.

i love the piano, so if i hear it being played ill listen to how their chords progress the next and things like that. So ill get an idea of how to do it. And that goes for any other instruments. I like to listen to the effects they use on the instruments to make them sound how they do. Sometimes they use a lot of panning effects and things like that, so i try to remember different ways of doing things. Then try them on my own later. Theres more to it but that gives an idea on what im listenin to when i hear music.

I know this is about what producers you study and how you do it. well to me a producer is more then just the person who makes the beat, so my answer might not be on topic, but thats how i do it.

smoov

buddafingaz wrote:ANYTIME I SEE AN ARTICLE ABOUT DR DRE. KANYE,GREENLANTERN,ALCHEMIST,DJ PREMIER,TIMBALAND AND ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS MADE IT BIG--I READ IT TO SEE WHAT THEY USE,WHY AND THEN I WILL LISTEN TO THE BEATS THEY MADE AND TRY TO FIND THE SAMPLES THEY USED, NOT TO BITE BUT TO GAIN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEY CHOPPED OR LOOPED WHATEVER PART THEY USED. BY GAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THERE PERSPECTIVE AND ACTIONS I CAN GO FORTH WITH A GOOD DIRECTION OF NEW IDEAS. AND FILL LIKE I LEARNED SOMETHIMG PEACE

that sounds just about on point.

oww... caps hurt my eyes...lol

ne way...i study my craft more than i study for school. i listen to they way tracks are arranged and the way things are sampled, the bassline, drum programmin, etc. to make my ish sound better. so im like: "he did it this wy, its similar to mine, let me try to freak it mixing both our techniques...'

it has made my music a trillion times better than what it used to be...and im only 6yrs deep...

peace
issues

i use the same technique. listen to the original sample and find out how they used it. then recreate their track and freak it better than them.

RYBOOGIE wrote:i use the same technique. listen to the original sample and find out how they used it. then recreate their track and freak it better than them.

Just like playing a piano, guitar, basketball, golf, or drums watch, listen, break it down, recreate, innovate, and then make your own style.