09 Mar Music Production vs. Audio Engineering
The music industry can be a complicated space to get a grasp of, especially when starting out and trying to understand the differences existing in different pathways. Music Production and Audio Engineering are both terms we have familiarized ourselves with yet, many fail to comprehend the difference between the two. This article aims to provide an understanding of what is a music producer, what audio engineering is and what roles do they play in the industry, and how each is important in the production of a track and the technicalities of it.
What is the difference between music production and Audio engineering?
- Music Producers are part of the creative process, whereas an Audio Engineer helps with the technicalities.
The job of a music producer is to help the artist throughout their creative process. This could be by suggesting changes to the arrangement, guiding and coaching the musicians, and overall supervising the creation of a track. A producer has to keep an open mind when working on a track and also be considerate of the artist’s vision, a lot of the time the job becomes a way to deal with the artist’s self-image.
An Audio Engineer focuses more on the technical aspects. Their role is to prepare the recording session and keep the studio space as organized as possible to save time. Understanding the hardware is key for an engineer, and being aware of what the producer and the artist require is essential. Recognizing the right equipment based on the needs of the producer and artists can reduce precious time in the studio while amplifying the vision in mind.
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Not all producers can be engineers but most engineers can be producers
However, in the modern world this isn’t entirely true. Nowadays a music producer can also learn the behind the scene aspect that comes with audio engineering and further help in achieving the required sound. A producer will have a good ear for the song and its arrangement. They will have an understanding of how the song should sound and also the skillset to reach that vision.
An audio engineer will know all the ins and outs of the studio they are working for and be aware of which gear to use, which microphone will work best, which cables are required, deal with audio recording, post-production mixing, and mastering. This is no easy task as being aware of the equipment and the sound is important.
Which is better to study: music production or audio engineering?
Ever wondered what is required to be a music producer and engineer? There are plenty of diploma and undergraduate courses for Music Production and Audio Engineering which provide substantial information for you to get a head start. Therefore, when it comes to understanding the educational aspect of the two, it really depends on which avenue speaks to you the most. Both provide an understanding of what it is like to be in the music industry and also how there is a relationship that exists between the two. There is no hierarchy of roles when it comes to production and engineering as it is a collaboration.
Music Production gives you more of room to experiment and be innovative. Being a producer calls for a lot of collaboration and network-building opportunities. You will find yourself surrounded by artists who are looking for a producer or want to work with one. There have been many famous producers like Quincy Jones who produced Michael Jackson’s albums like ‘Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad’, another iconic producer would be George Martin simply because of how much he contributed to The Beatles’ success. If you wish to study Music Production, it is important to understand the roles you’ll be taking and the stages that require you for a full grasp of being a producer, such as:
- Being a Songwriter – Anyone who is composing music or writing lyrics. As a producer a lot of the time you will be exchanging a lot of feedback with a fellow artist. Understanding their songwriting process is crucial as you can guide them towards a different lyric or harmony.
- Understanding of Arrangement – The structure and the arrangement of the song is beneficial. A producer may move around a few parts of the song to best reflect the artist and also make the whole flow of the song more smooth.
- Learn how to Edit – One of the crucial qualities to have as a musician is to understand how important editing is. Sometimes a track doesn’t need all the bells and whistles an artist thinks it needs, that’s when the knowledge of the producer comes in hand.
Read more about music production and the Beginner’s Guide to Music Production with Jay Pei – an acclaimed composer, producer, and educator at Global Music Institute.
Similarly, many known audio engineers also exist such as Eddie Kramer working with Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie. Engineering and production aren’t just for men as many iconic women have also established themselves in the industry such as Sylvia Massy working on Johnny Cash’s projects and Susan Rogers engineering albums for Prince. If you wish to study Audio Engineering, there are quite a few different roles that it comes with such as:
- Being a Mixing Engineer – this is towards the final stage of the production of a track when the recording is over. The role requires you to make a balanced audio mix of the song and make everything sound more neat.
- Work at Live Venues – if studios make you a little nervous, there are other options for you to still get to work as an engineer. A Live Audio Engineer will work at live venues and manage a lot of the performing artists there. This gives you a lot more confidence as you will still be networking with many artists while also working on your skills like adjusting audio levels, mic-ing amps and connecting monitors.
- Different Pathways – it doesn’t just have to be music. As an audio engineer, the possibilities for you for different creative pathways do exist as you can work in movies, theaters or video games. This is called being a Multimedia Sound Engineer as you aren’t confined to any one thing.
The music industry is an ever growing space for artists and there is always room for new emerging music producers and audio engineers. Even though these roles are quite different, it is interesting to see the relationship that exists between the two. A producer needs an engineer just as much as an engineer needs a producer. The aim of this article is to provide you with a brief foundation of what each of these roles entail. There are a lot of courses and resources being offered to further get an in-depth understanding of each of these roles.
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