While singers and musicians write and record songs, get the attribution on album covers and headline concert tours, there are others who play key roles in crafting hit songs. After the performer, the person who is most responsible for turning music and lyrics into gold is the producer, who essentially runs recording sessions and makes key creative decisions.
In some cases, the producer is the mastermind and an innovator. During the early 1960s, Phil Spector created the “wall of sound” and Brian Wilson figured out how to combine tight harmonies, excellent musicianship and Chuck Berry guitar riffs into a California sound that captivated the entire world.
In other cases, the producer is the creative leader on which many performers depend to help them achieve their visions. Billy Joel had Phil Ramone, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson had Phil Ramone, the Mamas and the Papas had Lou Adler, and the lust goes on.
Many top producers have supervised recording sessions at the Evergreen Stage in Burbank, formerly owned by DiaDan Holdings, Ltd., and a longtime favorite facility of numerous A-listers. The facility offers both analog and digital amenities, one of the largest recording stages in southern California and a huge collection of vintage microphones. From Streisand to Slash, everyone who’s anyone has recorded there. It’s a producer’s dream facility, especially at a time when computer-based home (or hotel room recording while on tour) have become convenient options.
So what does a producer do?
Depending on the artist, it could be a combination of several things. They organize the sessions, determine what musicians and instruments are needed, coach the artists while recording is underway, decide what order the tracks should be recorded in, and more. The music producer also selects the studio, determines who should serve as engineer. This is often based on his or her past experience.
When a song is recorded, it is usually accomplished track by track, as opposed to “live,” which means everybody playing and singing at once, as they would onstage. Depending on the musical skills possessed by the performer or band, “session” or “studio” musicians will often be hired by the producer to supplement (or even create) the band’s sound. These can range from drummers, pianists, guitarists, bass players, and others to a string section, specialty instrumentalists or even an orchestra.
Like an oil painting, a music recording is created in layers, known as tracks. Based on the musical charts, instructions and additional input provided by the producer, each musician will record his or her own solo track, all of which combine to create the song. It will be drums on one track and bass on another, creating the song’s “bottom.” Then, other instruments are recorded on other separate tracks. During these recording sessions, the producer will give each musician coaching and instruction.
As the tracks are collected in the recording system (which can be tape for analog recordings or a software program like Pro Tools for digital), the producer, while in the control room, can listen to tracks either separately or in combination while adjusting each track’s volume. At the same time, he might add effects, decide to include more instruments or even drop others from the final mix.
Then, vocal recording begins with the producer helping each singer find his or her sound. The producer will usually record solo vocals on one microphone, while harmonies are recorded by several vocalists around another.
The producer coaches everyone along the way and uses his ears, as well as the playback spears in the control room, to determine the quality of each recorded track as well as how they sound combined. Once the tracks are recorded, a producer might add “punch-ins,” which are instrumental embellishments or additional vocals.
Then, the recording is sequenced to place the songs in a specific order, and mastered before being sent to the CD manufacturer or online distributor.
Through it all, the producer guides all activity.
Finally, you hear the recording via your mobile device, car radio or home audio system.