CONRAD PRODUCTIONS
Production Guide
Your Demo
The purpose of your demo is to provide us with enough information to base the arrangement and production on.
The sound quality or how well you sing or play is of no importance. We receive demos ranging from just a vocal line sung into a mobile phone to a full, multi-instrument production and everything in between—all are equally good.
Most demos are sent as mp3s attached to an email, but anything you find convenient would be fine. Examples would be audio files such as mp3 or m4a, MIDI files, links to online audio or video or a reference to existing tracks.
From Demo To Master
After receiving your demo we'll get back to you with our ideas for the production. When complete, we'll send you the mp3 version of the master for your approval.
We're happy to make as many changes as you want until you're completely happy with the finished result.
Pre-Production
Pre-production describes all the work necessary on a track before the arranging and recording can begin.
After listening to your demo we may suggest changes to the structure, key or tempo if we feel it would improve the production. Usually we'd send you an edited version of your own demo, with the changes included, for your approval.
After we've both agreed on the arrangement and production style, or if you have your own definite ideas, work will begin on creating the arrangements.
The Arrangement
The nature of the arrangement is very much dependent on the work done in the pre-production stage.
Each instrument in the production has a custom written arrangement based on the style and feel of the song. The rhythm section instruments (drums, guitar, bass and keyboards) usually have quite a basic set of instruction, such as a chord sheet with the song structure, while the orchestral instruments have a more defined score.
Recording
The clip below illustrates the arranging and recording process, starting with the drums, followed by the bass, guitars, and pianos, before introducing the string section and finally adding the vocals.
Mixing - Sculpting Sound
EQ, short for equalization, is the technique of boosting or cutting chosen frequencies of a sound during mixing. Think of it as a sophisticated version of the treble and bass controls on a hi-fi. Common uses include things like bringing out the thump of a bass drum or the crack of a snare.
The dynamic range of an instrument is the difference between its loudest and most quiet sound. Using compression gives us the ability to reduce this range and help make an instrument blend into a mix. It is also used to add power to an instrument, vocal or the complete mix.
The Use Of Reverb
Reverb is the reflected sound you hear when in any enclosed space. It ranges from a short sound, as in a living room, to a long echo you would hear in a cathedral.
The first artificial reverbs were simply a speaker and microphone in a reflective chamber. Later techniques use metal springs, a suspended metal plate and digital algorithms.
Mastering
The various music delivery mediums require tracks to have a specific loudness, referred to as 'Loudness Units'. The mastering stage of production ensures the various master files comply with these requirements.
It is also quite common to add extra compression and EQ at this stage if the mastering engineer thinks it would improve the overall sound of the track. Additionally, vinyl masters require specific technical adjustments before they can be cut to disc.
We can master your track for any online outlets, as well as CD and vinyl.