3 Simple Things That Changed My Music Production Game

Hey friends!
You know how sometimes the simplest things end up being the most powerful? I've been reflecting on my journey from DJ to music producer to where I am now, and there are three important things I have learnt that keep coming back to me. They're not fancy techniques or expensive gear - just simple shifts that transformed how I approach music production.

1. My Love Affair with Ableton's Capture Button

I have a confession to make... I absolutely love Ableton Live's CAPTURE button. It's oh so simple but oh sooo mighty, and here's why.

From my early days playing vinyl and recording one-take 'LIVE' DJ mixes...

Fast forward to today, and Capture has completely changed my creative process. Now when I'm working on a track, I'll just start playing around with synths and drum racks without any pressure. Earlier this week I was noodling on my MIDI keyboard trying to write a catchy hook and stumbled onto this cool sounding descending riff. If I'd been recording traditionally, I probably would have been too focused on "getting it right" to discover that happy accident.

Ladies and gents, that's why Ableton's Capture is one of my favourites!

Speaking of making better decisions in the studio, there's another simple technique that's saved me from countless production mistakes...

2. The A/B Test That Changed Everything

Sticking with the simple theme, let me tell you about something that's fundamental to my work: the A/B test. It's fair to say I A/B test everything - those of you I've coached have heard me mention it once or twice... okay, maybe hundreds of times.

Here's a concrete example to try:

Next time you add a saturation or distortion effect, don't just slap it on and move forward. Listen carefully to what it's actually doing - not just that it sounds "better" because it's louder. Be prepared to A/B the original level against the new level and compensate by adjusting the output, dry/wet, or both!

Saturators are a great example of how important this technique is - as they HYPE the loudness, yet it's the colour and fatness you're aiming for whilst keeping things at the same level!

Pro tip: In Ableton Live, I always select the effect I'm going to A/B test and use the ZERO key on my keyboard to flick the device ON and OFF - Added bonus: it's perfect for doing comparisons and shootouts as well.

The moral of the story: A/B absolutely everything! Keep an ear out for the loudness monster that hijacks your decision-making.

Now that we've covered how to make smarter choices about what to add, let's talk about the counterintuitive power of taking things away...

3. The Magic of Working with Less

In this day and age where options are limitless, there's real power in conscious limitations.

Think about how the constraints of early analog gear forced entire generations of producers to be incredibly creative - the 12-bit Akai MPC that shaped hip-hop, the 4-track limitations that made The Beatles get inventive with bouncing tracks, or how the simple 808 drum machine became the backbone of entire genres because producers had to work within its sonic boundaries.

We can see this in modern artists too - take Matthew Herbert's Music Manifesto with its strict rules about sound sources, or Bicep's journey from using 90's house samples as poor university students to gradually evolving toward analog gear as their resources grew.

In my own journey, my very first limitation began with working exclusively with audio loops and samples. This turned out to be a blessing that forced me to get creative and sharpen my audio manipulation skills. Working exclusively with audio forced me to learn how to manipulate, transform, and mould it into my very own unique and distinct sound - treating it as source material rather than a finished product.

Try this limitation challenge:

• Reduction exercise: Take a cool audio loop from a sample pack and create three different versions with elements removed - maybe take out the kick, isolate just the hi-hats, or extract only the melodic elements

• Creative limitation: Use only stock Ableton Live devices for a month, or limit yourself to only 8 channels total for your next track

When I unlocked how to transform any loop from a sample pack into something uniquely mine, I discovered that those producers saying "don't use samples, it's cheating" were completely wrong. It's just source material - and great source material at that!

Instead of buying new gear, try working with what you have and getting the most out of it!

Closing & Call to Action

What's a valuable lesson you've learned about music production recently? I'd love to hear about it - perhaps it'll become the topic of a future newsletter!

Reply and tell me: "What's one effect you always add but have never A/B tested?"

As always,
Keep creating,
Heath