| What's the use of talent if you will not share it to | | | | to a manager or a film director wherein he |
| the whole world? You have been writing songs | | | | oversees the actual production of the music. He |
| since you were seven, you and your band have | | | | controls the recording sessions, guides musicians, |
| been practicing almost everyday in your garage, | | | | and supervises the mixing and mastering. The |
| and you even have a few gigs every now and | | | | engineer is in-charge of the technical aspect of |
| then. Don't you think it's about time you make an | | | | the actual recording. That means, he is in-charge |
| album and have your share of the limelight? | | | | of the sound quality, the mic positioning, etc. Thee |
| You say you are just too shy to make an album | | | | people will guide you on the whole process of |
| because you are afraid you are not good enough | | | | producing your album. |
| or you do not have enough money. But if you will | | | | Take the unmastered album to a mastering studio |
| not do it now that you're at your prime, when do | | | | After the actual recording, take the |
| you plan to do it? With the advent of new | | | | unmastered(raw) album to a mastering studio. |
| technology, producing your album is not as | | | | The mastering Studio will tweak vocals and adjust |
| meticulous and costly as before. You can even | | | | the levels so that the quality of your music is |
| do it entirely on your own if you know the basic | | | | clean and solid. They remove noise and make |
| tricks of the trade. To help you get a glimpse of | | | | sure that there is no portion in your music that is |
| what it is like to make your album, here is a | | | | inaudible or too loud. |
| step-by-step guide that you may find useful. | | | | Make a catchy packaging design |
| Choose the songs you want to include in your | | | | A creative CD packaging is one of the best |
| album | | | | strategies to convince people to buy your album. |
| When you make an album, the first thing you | | | | With many bands sprouting everyday and with |
| need to decide is the songs you want to include in | | | | the decrease of CD sales due to piracy and |
| it. You may have plenty of great songs but you | | | | downloads, an attention-grabbing CD packaging is |
| have to choose the cream of the crop to include | | | | a good way to increase your album sales. You |
| in your debut album. You are introducing your | | | | can do this by placing a catchy image, by using a |
| band for the first time so you want them to hear | | | | unique material, by including freebies, and many |
| only the greatest songs. It is advisable, although | | | | more. Get creative and think of ways to make |
| it's not the rule, to have songs with a common | | | | your album standout! |
| theme or personality. Seven to ten tracks is | | | | Duplicate it |
| enough for your first album. Do not exceed 15 | | | | Once you are very satisfied with the mastered |
| tracks so that you would not spend too much | | | | CD and the CD packaging design, it's now time to |
| and so that the buyers would be wanting for | | | | mass-produce it! If you are for quality, do not |
| some more. | | | | just simply burn the CDs at home and print the |
| Hire a producer and an engineer | | | | packaging from your printer. Let CD |
| As an independent artist, you want to do | | | | manufacturers do it for you. They have the |
| everything on your own. This gives you enough | | | | state-of-the-art equipment and the expertise in |
| freedom to experiment and at the same time it | | | | manufacturing CDs which is advantageous to you |
| cuts down your expenses. However, it really pays | | | | in the end. You would be assured of the quality |
| to have a great producer especially if you are a | | | | and it saves you plenty of time and energy. |
| first-timer. The producer's role can be compared | | | | |