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How much do DJ turned producers actually produce
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| G-Con |
Having been getting into producing myself for the past 12 months or so, I've realised just how much there is to learn, how much dedication and commitment is required to produce something thats actually good and that in most cases it probably takes years, rather than months, to get to a proffesional sounding level.
This has got me wondering how many of todays DJ's who now also produce, have managed to learn so much, so quick and are knocking out decent tunes. Take Jon O Bir for example. I can only assume that for many years he spent all his time dedicated to DJ'ing and trying to make it as a DJ.
Then only a couple of years after becoming a proffesional DJ, he has now produced quite a few tunes that have had good success played by other big DJ's.
When did he have the time to learn music production - to learn all about synthesis, effects, eq'ing, mixing, arrangement? To know how to use the software or hardware itself? Did he lock himself away 5 days a week, every week for a year learning to produce, only to surface on a weekend to DJ, before retreating back to his studio to carry on learning?
Or does he get someone else to actually produce for him - e.g. he tells someone the ideas, and together they produce a track (but its the other bloke who has actually done all the producing).
I'd love to know peoples thoughts on this and if anyone has any inside knowledge on what actually goes on.
By the way. Jon O Bir was just an example, there are obviously loads of other DJ's who fit into this category and I'm not in anyway critcising him for what he's achieved. |
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| Mr.Mystery |
Well, when you take a look at the discographies of these people you'll see they're almost always collaborations with some well-known name or you find a name of a studio engineer in the liner notes.
It's obvious that as DJ's they're bound to have great ideas regarding music but they can rarely pull it off on their own. That's why I learned to produce first and only then took up DJ'ing, so I don't have to depend on anyone (I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, though).
Not that I'm that good at either :p |
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| Derivative |
You have to look at the liner notes and see who else is on the production and engineering credits. Pooling resources like this is a great way of filling up the gaps in your knowledge.
The industry from my limited experience so far is as much about who you know as what you know. It is important to build contacts in the industry but at the same time I know its difficult to approach industry people when your own work is lacklustre. But persevere. If you dig it enough you will make it happen eventually.
A few the guys I know who are signed have in my opinion a woeful knowledge of what is going on in their own songs but they have the contacts and the understanding of the industry as a business which I have been lacking in. They were also brave enough to take their work, even when incomplete around to various labels and get knocked back several times. It takes alot of hard headedness to get over that. Also, there is a kind of decorum and professionalism about working with other people to deadlines which I lack. But those guys have it.
Of course, its something you can learn easily enough - it just takes time and patience. The more you take onto yourself the longer it will take. Don't know about you but I prefer it that way. I think its better in the end to have control over every tiny aspect of your own work. But thats probably just the control freak's answer.
In the end though you will have to step out of the crypt also known as your studio and meet industry people eventually. Otherwise nobody will ever know about who you are or what music you make.
I'm so guilty of that last part its not even funny. |
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| Nemesis44 |
Just keep at it as Derivative states... Intellegent post indeed.
Cheers
Nem |
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| Floorfiller |
| i think something that is pretty interesting if you look at some of your favorite producers bio's...it's interesting to see who in the industry they've crossed paths with back in the day. always seems like really good producers have ties with other really good producers. whether it's people they used to dj with, people they used to work with on projects or whatever...the connections always make me say wow...that's quite a team of talent going on... |
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| Allied Nations |
I'd say the modern DJ won't get anywhere without having some productions... I personally did the same as Mystery, I was producing before I was DJing, which has allowed me to develop them separately, but also bring them together.
If you aren't producing DJs... START. |
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| echosystm |
i have a better idea...
do what you enjoy, because you will never make money out of music ;) |
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| staticblue |
Activa does the engineering work for Jon o'Bir. I don't know which percentage of the tracks Jon actually does himself, but they definitly sound VERY similar to Activa's tracks :)
I think people should know where the talent is. |
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| richg101 |
i sometimes wonder this. i have been very into djing since 98. but only started producing on an intesive level about two years ago.
if a bloke like eddie halliwell releases a well produced track out of the blue i ask myself how the hell he suddenly got those production skills. i mean the guy is only where he is now due to a lucky break that mixmag threw him. he aint anything special because all he does is play other people records. and if he ever releases a track i will know that it has been 100% produced by someone else. |
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| jupiterone |
| quote: | Originally posted by echosystm
i have a better idea...
do what you enjoy, because you will never make money out of music ;) |
Do you mean produce what you enjoy because if you're fake you won't get anywhere, or do you mean you'll never get anywhere/make money either way with music. No offense but that's utter bull. |
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| ZxZDeViLZxZ |
plain and simple you will never make money producing electronic music thats why i say it and produce shotty pop songs with half nekkid bitches singing about how they spread their legs and make some bux off of it to fund my inherrant urge to consume as many drugs as i possibly can to escape the world of tie music making millions........... or maybe to just becuase i enjoy drugs??? no clue electronic music let produce shotty pop music so we can bag bitches?
producing is purely just a hobby and i en suck at it and wont ever get anywhere and i know this but i still do it becuase i like making music i like getting lost in my thoughts and coming out with somethings a few hours,weeks,months. years later that i can let someone listen to while the entire time going damn i really made that sound tie.... aww i put too much echo on that dont you think or other random production related comment at which point they go shut the up or i wont en listen..... hahahaha music production is en fun i shoulda stuck playing bass could of been wearing a tux in some music pitt playing somwhere but ohh well.... |
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| jahnlay |
| quote: | I have a better idea...
do what you enjoy, because you will never make money out of music |
This is rubbish, I make a living out of music, have for 12 years already, so I think maybe you're being pessimistic? |
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