The Process From Songwriting To Released Song
FREE GUIDE LINK: https://songwritertheory.com/freeguide/
Episode outline:
Songwriting
Inception: The idea or inspiration
Gestation: Time where you’re thinking through where the idea could go
Development: Time you’re actually writing out where you want to go with the idea and what type of song you’re probably going for
Writing: The actual writing of the lyric and music
Refining: Making adjustments such as adding a pre-chorus, removing part of an overly-long second verse, adjusting lyrics or melodies you weren’t in love with, etc
Recording
- Find Tempo
- Record Main Instrument
- Record Body Instruments
- Record Filler Instruments
- Record Atmospheres Instruments
Editing
Mixing
- EQ
- Compression
- Delay/Reverb
- Other
Vocals
Record 8 good takes: You can do more or less. The common industry standard I’ve heard is 5 takes, but I like to overdo it a bit and to have an even number that can divide by 2 all the way down to 1. You’re about to see why.
Comp 8 takes down into 4 comps (composite takes): I do this tournament style. I’ll put two takes “against” one another, taking the lines of each that I like better. Sometimes I’ll even split by words if it makes sense.
Comp 4 composite takes down into 2 even better composite takes: Basically the semi-finals of the tournament- again doing this line be line or even word by word, taking the best between 2 takes.
Pitch correct final 2 takes: Before doing the final comp, this is where I like to pitch correct. I do this here for a couple reasons. One is sometimes the pitch correction will help me notice an imperfection I otherwise wouldn’t. This also gives me more to work with in the final comp with already-pitch-corrected vocals. Sometimes I’ll use the second pitch corrected vocal (the one that didn’t win) for a vocal double.
Comp down into 1 elite take: Take those 2 pitch-corrected takes, and create that final vocal take.
Sweetening
Mastering
- EQ
- Compression/Limiting
Release