music production???

[IconBasser]

I'm curious. What exactly does a music producer do?

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by IconBasser

I'm curious. What exactly does a music producer do?

They produce music using carrots.

lowsound

[Mon Rominee]

Woulda thought this pretty self-explanatory. They produce music for artists to sing to. Complete tracks / collaborations / etc.

Think Gnarls Barkley: Danger Mouse is the producer, Cee-Lo the lyricist. Yes?

[KeithBMI]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_producer

The music producer could be compared to the film director in that the producer's job is to create, shape and mold a piece of music in accordance with their vision for the album.

[kevteop]

The producer is the guy who gets credited with making the record sound good. I think in an earlier, more innocent time, they actually did some of the work.

[Mon Rominee]

Originally Posted by kevteop

The producer is the guy who gets credited with making the record sound good. I think in an earlier, more innocent time, they actually did some of the work.

Right, but we're really kinda dealing with two different types of "producer" here... modern producers in reference to "music producer" is the person doing all the whole of the music, in stark contrast to the record producer of old that was essentially an extra member of the band on a project. Yes, they steered the music or helped maintain a consistent vision, but they didn't do the core writing... It boiled down to the same end product, but the roles do vary enough...for example,

Mutt Lange is a record producer

Timbaland is a music producer

Am I off on this? When I hear some of the good local guys (and many high-profile guys like the Neptunes / the Matrix / etc) claim to being producers, they are supplying the whole track done deal just add vox....

[kevteop]

I think your two definitions are pretty good, but you're missing the entrepreneur-cum-record-mogul who credits himself as producer because it's his label and he can do what he likes, despite not knowing anything about music production at all.

When I hear "Producer" I instantly picture George Martin, but the stuff the hip hop guys do is very innovative and unique - maybe they deserve a different title.

[Mon Rominee]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I think your two definitions are pretty good, but you're missing the entrepreneur-cum-record-mogul who credits himself as producer because it's his label and he can do what he likes, despite not knowing anything about music production at all.

P Diddy?

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

P Diddy?

Shh! He's got guns.

Edit: I do often wonder how much Berry Gordy fit the same mould, though.

[Rakie]

Sound engineering is my business, getting behind the console is my thing. Producing is not. There are two kinds of producers... Guys that create the songs (Lyrics, beats, etc etc) and those who shape the way things sound (More bass, less highs, drop the 250 hz, add 6k for diction)

A good example of a beat guy would be Darryl Swan, a great guy that you can learn a lot from and a great mentor. Watching him work an NPC is like magic. He is Grammy nominated for Macy Gray.

A good example of a guy that shapes tones would be Devin Townshed, big metal guy. I think one of his biggest was "As the Palaces Burn" by Lamb of God. Or another of my mentors. T.J. Helmerich, responsible for Fire Garden, from Steve Vai, most albums from Frank Gambale, did some Victor Wooten, worked with Gary Willis, recorded and mixed most albums from Planet X, as well as played with them (he's an accomplished guitarist)

There's a lot of little roles in the music business, and a guy for every one of them with his own "Specialty".