\Music production Workflow

○ Pre-Production
 Consultation
• Where a series of questions is asked by “Executive
Director” and concerns are expressed by client.
○ A detailed report is filled out with what is requested
of the project as a whole.
 Requests for each song or piece of the
project may be filled out when the situation
arises.
○ A package is chosen or a customized combination
of services is picked to meet the needs of the
client.
○ A payment arrangement is figured out and agreed
upon with accounting or the secretary.
• A contract is filled out by the “Executive Director” or
”Studio Manager” and clients.
 Songwriting
• Normally will occur when R&B songs are being produced.
○ Worked in tight collaboration with MIDI composers.
• With hip-hop & rock, this step is normally skipped,
because it’s done prior to the contract being signed.
• This is one of the contractual obligations with Fox66 for
the “Erie Idol”.
 Digital MIDI programming & Arranging (Beats)
• Done upon the ease & knowledge of the composer that is
working on the project or track.
○ The consistency of the process is that all
composers have to document a log with the name
of the track, date of completion, etc.
○ A weekly disc of beats will be burned by the “Media
Manager” and given to the “Executive Director” to
be dispersed to “Empire Entertainment” and also .
• The library of beats and audio will be
managed by the “Media Manager” and
the secretary will also receive a copy
that will be used for;
○ Filling
○ Internet Dispersion
○ North Star Clients
 Sampling
• Recorded from receiver into “Sound Forge” to master and
import the sample.
○ Vinyl, DVD, CD, Video Games, etc.
 ○ Also, live instruments can be recorded in control
room with protools and either arranged within or
imported into Sound Forge.
 Percussion
• Drum Kit, Jimbay, Congas, Bongos,
Talking Drum, etc.
• Tambourine, Cowbell, Woodblock, Bell
tree
 Woodwind & Brass
• Flute, Trumpet, Recorder, Sax
• Then imported into Dr. Rex, to make a .Rex file, or directly
into Protools in the post-production process.
○ If Dr. Rex is used the .Rex file is then imported into
Reason 4.0 then sequenced.
○ Production

 Setting up the session;

• If dealing with hip-hop, the first step would be to import
the beat off the CD by;
 Itunes
○ Double Click Itunes, and wait for it to open then; (1)
○ Then, go to Edit/ Preferences/Advanced/ General (2)
 Change the “ITunes file location”
• Use a the folder already made for the
artist or make one if they are new
clients.
○ Should be imported by the path
NorthStar/ Beats/ “Their name”
○ Then, click on the CD on the left column and hold
the “Apple Key” fallowed by the “I” (apple + i) [3]
 The artists name is the same as the the file
it’s going to be saved in (occurred during
step 3)
 The album should be named the by the
project that is being worked on.
 The track is named the same as the Protools
session is being worked on
○ Make sure all the tracks that are going be used are
checked and the ones that are not needed are not.
(4)
○ Finally click the import button, which is at the
bottom of the interface on the right-hand side.
 Important to make sure that file is only
imported as a .wav
• A common mistake is to import the
beat as an .MP3, to make sure this
doesn’t happen;
 ○ Fallow the path: Edit/
Preferences/Advanced/Burning
 Make sure that the
“Import Using” is set to
WAV Encoder
 Protools
• Lastly, close Itunes, make sure the “Rack 002” is turned
on, and double-clicking the Protool’s icon.
• When Protools opens if any prompts open with click the
“quit” button
• Once it finally opens press apple + o if working on a
previous session, or if working on a new session press
apple + n
○ Name the session by first making folder for the
artist that booked the session or double-click on a
pre-existing folder
○ Create a new folder with the one that is name for
the artist;
 Ex: North Star/ Protools/ Prophit/ I Got
○ Then click enter and make sure the both Preamps
are turned on also anything else that may be within
the signal flow of the microphone that is being
recorded
○ Once the edit screen opens press apple + n for new
tracks
 Make (20) new mono audio tracks
 Make (2) new mono Auxiliary tracks
 Make (1) new stereo Master Fader
○ Once tracks open click on the first audio track, hold
the shift button, & click on the last audio track
 Make sure all of them are highlighted
between the first & last.
○ Hold Option, then click Mic Input of the highlighted
tracks and change to the desired imput (normally
Input 1)
 Make sure that all the tracks input change to
the Desired Mic Input
○ Change one of the Aux’s input to Input 1 and the
other to Input 2.
• Naming the tracks;
○ It’s important, for post-production purposes, to
communicate what each track’s audio files are.
○ The fallowing is how each part of the song is to be
titled;
 I/O (Intro/ Outro) V1 (1), V2 (2), V3 (3), Hook
(H), Bridge (Br) fallowed by
 Mains (M), backs (Bcks/ Dbls), and Adlibs (A)
 Then the consecutive number of each
  If there is only one then no number is
necessary
• Examples; 1 M 1, 1 M 2, H M 1, Br M 1,
etc
• Tracking (Recording)
○ During any session, any of the fallowing may be
recorded
 Vocals
 Live Instruments
• Drums, Bass, & Guitar (normalcy)
• Trumpet, Piano, & Organ (Secondary)
○
• Editing & Organizing audio files
○ Separating audio files by arrangement of song
 I/O, V1-3, H
• Mains (M), backs (Bcks/ Dbls), and
Adlibs (A)
○ Put the I/O 1st, then the H, then V1-3
○ Grouping the tracks by;
 I/O, V1, Hook, V2, & V3
• May need to break down the Mains &
Backs in each

○ Post-Production
 Mixing
• Effects
• Levels
• Panning
• Automation
• Sound Effects
 Mastering
 Duplication/ Replication
• Use Media Sales Infastructure