Duties of a Music Producer

The singer in the studio depends heavily on her music producer. Without a producer, the direction of a song or the entire album may get off track. Music producers provide inspiration to established artists trying to rekindle their fire and foundations for new artists searching for a sound that uniquely defines them. Music producers have a challenging task.

Function

Successful producers today are computer literate. They understand technology and its use in the musical arena. Producers use a software application such as ProTools to create and manipulate sound, and add layers to a track. First, they create the production with the software, lay down any keyboards and then edit the vocals on the track with the computer software. A producer creates sounds on the computer that will inspire the singer. Most states have trade schools that specialize in ProTools training. Graduates leave with a basic understanding of how to manage audio in a studio setting.

Misconceptions

Music producers don't have to be musicians. It is helpful to be able to relate to an singer as a musician, but it's more important to be able to direct a singer and produce the desired results. Comedian Bill Cosby, for example, produced an entire jazz album based on his love for jazz. He was so familiar with the genre that he developed an understanding of what it took to create a jazz composition.

History

Music producers have changed has music technology has advanced. At the beginning of the rock era, producers only used acoustic instruments. At the turn of the century 21st century, though, an entire production can be created without the help of one acoustic instrument. Such computer-based techniques have increased the number of music producers.

The role of the music producer has also changed over time. During the early rock, country and R&B eras, a music producer was relatively unknown to the average music listener. Only industry insiders and musicologists knew who music producers were. Later trends in music brought the music producer to the forefront. For example, in R&B and hip-hop, producer Sean "Puffy" Combs is prominently noted for the songs he produces. Early predecessors, like Quincy Jones, were equally involved in the creation of their music, but were perhaps a bit more humble.

Types

Some producers may only be attached to one singer. Other producers may create music and beats and sell them to singers who like their sounds. There are producers who focus on a genre of music like R&B, rock or gospel. Executive producers oversee an entire project, while a music producer may only produce one song at a time for the singer. For example, Timbaland has made a name for himself with signature beats that artists pay a lot of money to use. A music producer like Rick Rubin, on the other hand, works one-on-one with singers across genres from rap to country to bring out the best marketable voice in that particular singer.

Warning

Working with the same producers for many years may create stagnation for a singer. Over time, the familiarity between the singer and the music producer may prevent the flow of creativity.

Resources

• More about music producer duties