We all know that producing music is fun, rewarding, inspiring, and can also be a difficult task. There are so many things to think about – the melody, the harmony, the instruments, the arrangement… it can be overwhelming! In this blog post, we discuss five simple yet powerful hacks that will make your music production process easier and help you create better-sounding tracks.

So without further ado, let's get started.

Learn how to EQ

EQ (equalization) is one of the most important tools in a producer's toolbox. By learning how to properly EQ your tracks, you can make them sound better than ever. A well-EQ'd track will have clarity and punch, while a poorly EQ'd track will sound muddy and lifeless.

Many producers who are a year or two into their producer journey do not spend enough time leaving room for vocals within the audio spectrum. While most of this is done during the mixing process with the vocals, starting off your beats with the idea of where most vocal ranges sit is something producers should not ignore. So if you want your tracks to sound their best, learn how to EQ.

Compress your drums

Compression is another essential tool for producers. By compressing your drums, you can make them sound tighter and more punchy. This is especially important for HipHop, and electronic music, as compression can help to make the drums pop out of the mix. Rappers are going to expect your kicks to hit hard, so you must make sure you compress your drums without going too far.

Be careful not to overdo it, as too much compression can muffle the sound or bleed your drums across the audio spectrum into your bass range causing your drums to get overshadowed by your subs.

Sidechain your kick and bass

Sidechaining is a technique that involves using one track to trigger another track's compressor. This is typically done by using the kick drum to trigger the bass compressor, which results in the bass pumping in time with the kick.

This is a great way to add energy to your tracks and make them more danceable. Just be sure not to overdo it, as sidechaining can quickly become annoying if used excessively. When to know it's too much is up to you, but getting enough reps will break things down for you through experience.

How To Master Your Song in 5 Easy Steps

Use automation

Automation is a great way to add interest to your tracks and make them sound more dynamic. By automating parameters such as volume, panning, and effects, you can create buildups and breakdowns that keep listeners engaged from start to finish.

We like automation for creating random moments within our beats to keep the listener on their toes. It's useful when you reach the beat breakdown, or when you're leading up to your chorus the last four bars prior should be crescendo leading into that chorus. We spend a ton of time setting up our levels, presets, etc, so if you want to produce more tracks in a shorter time frame your tracks to sound more exciting, don't be afraid to experiment with automation!

Master Your Tracks

Once you have mixed your tracks, it is time to master them for release. Mastering is preparing your tracks for release by ensuring they sound their best possible quality. This includes adjusting levels, EQ, compression, limiting, and stereo imaging. Don't forget to absolutely use presets to save your settings so that you can quickly master records that have a similar sound.

Final thoughts

We hope the five music production hacks we've shared today will show you how you can take your music to the next level without incurring any more costs while improving your sound. These are the first steps in music production if you want to create radio-ready songs.

There's a LOT more to perfecting your music producer skills, so stay tuned for more blog posts from us that cover more aspects of your beat making journey. In addition, this requires your commitment to continuing to learn your craft and ensuring you understand the ins and outs of the music software you use.

When you're ready to start selling your music online, websites like SharePro can be an easy-to-use and free way to start making a living off your music. If you found this post helpful, please consider sharing these music production hacks with other artists.