Overview
The aim of this project is to complete a strong and varied production portfolio, within a time frame, that simulates the workload and collaborative nature of a professional producer/engineer role.
The portfolio is the start of my production career and will initially serve as a professional showcase of my work and capabilities that can be used when applying for opportunities within the music industry.
It will be a broad collection of 25+ tracks, by multiple artists, across a range of genres, but primarily within Rock and Metal. The project will explore different recording approaches and production techniques, while also allowing me to develop my own production style and sonic identity as a producer and engineer. It will also be a test of planning and efficiency, to keep workloads achievable and on schedule.
In the making of the portfolio I will demonstrate skills in:
Recording bands, both live and multitracked
Audio engineering and production techniques
Production and arrangement
Mixing and post-production
Session organisation and project management
Client communication and collaboration
Through doing a significantly larger amount of production work than in previous years at university, I hope to further develop my skills in recording and mixing, as well as increase my recognition and connections with artists and bands in the Bath and Bristol music scene… and beyond. I want to continue freelance production work after this project, with grassroots artists, and build on my portfolio.
My goal is to achieve a connection with a professional commercial studio, whether that be work experience, collaboration or, ideally, employment.
The final portfolio is broken down into -
Greensmith - Album
I Know Who I Am
Feel It
Hurricane
Faded Signal
Nowhere To Run
Take Me Where You Lay
Watch Me As I Fall
We Remain In Love
Have You Ever
Can I Stop The Rain
Please Don’t Be Long
That’s Alright
For You
Override - 4 Track EP
Out of Spite
Imposed Hate
Sick and Tired
Untitled
Kride - 4 Track EP
Dinnersaur
Cartphone
Sucre
Cone Snail
Spiderhoney - Singles
Big Kid
Guy Stuff
Shutterspeed - Singles
Affirmation
Lost Child
Complicit
Tarn Matthias - Single
Step Outside
Click to view more details about each project
Conclusion and future plans
At the start of my major project I identified skills that I wanted to develop throughout the year.
These were -
Recording bands, both live and multitracked
Audio engineering and production techniques
Production and arrangement
Mixing and post-production
Session organisation and project management
Client communication and collaboration
I have used many different recording setups during my postgraduate year. I think I have taken full advantage of the university studio spaces, for live recording and multitracking, and used the equipment and spaces that best suited each particular project I was working on. Over the last year I have become much more confident with the equipment and techniques, and feel very comfortable working autonomously in a studio environment. I know I can enter a studio, use all of the equipment, and create something to a high standard. It has made the studio an increasingly creative and enjoyable experience for me.
I think that my mixing has improved throughout this year. I have definitely found my own style and a sound I like. I still primarily mix in the box, but have used The Hive a lot and have become much more interested in using outboard gear and analogue mixing. I can commit to sounds earlier in the recording process with analogue gear and get faster results. I have also learnt to create more space in a mix, using panning and a ‘less is more’ approach, for better impact.
I am not a particularly extroverted person. I knew this was something that I would have to work on if I was ever to be a successful producer and engineer. Working with Greensmith and Spiderhoney was relatively easy because I have been in the bands for a couple of years, and we are friends. Working with other bands, and people I have not met before, was a different story. I struggled with confidence to start with, but the more I did it the easier it became. I've worked with a lot of different personalities now, and have found that after a couple of sessions, getting to understand what each band is about and what they want to achieve, plus my increased confidence and ability in the studio, has made it much less daunting. My communication and interpersonal skills are much better.
Saying that though, I could further improve my input on arrangements and songwriting when in a producer role with bands I am not a member of. There were times I would have liked to have given more of an outside opinion. I think it may have possibly improved some of the songs, but didn't want to overstep my place. It was difficult to gauge. With time, and clearer discussions at the start about my role boundaries, this should improve.
Vocal production is something I could also still improve on; knowing when to add doubles or backing vocals, and giving better performance feedback. In many of the projects it was the vocals that I felt were most lacking. Working with Louie and Lily on the Greensmith project helped a lot, but I would like to learn more.
I think I did well at organising and scheduling sessions during the various projects . What I didn't do so well was establish specific schedules for project completion. The Override and Greensmith projects took a lot longer than they should have. I put most of this down to my initial relaxed approach for working to a deadline that seemed so far away. Just because there is lots of time to complete a project doesn't mean I have to use all of it. I've also learnt to expect the unexpected. Working to stricter schedules in the future will hopefully avoid a repeat of some of the workload and deadline stress I experienced. This major project has given me a greater understanding of what goes into making a record, and the time and effort that is required.
Using reference tracks, meetings, and pre-production sessions, I feel that I can work effectively to an artist's brief and achieve a sound that presents them well. In this project, I am satisfied that I delivered mixes that each band was really pleased with. The majority have released, or have plans to in the near future. I have since been in discussions with Shutterspeed and Override, at their request, to continue working with them in the future - on a paid rate.
I am looking forward to working outside of the university environment, and in ‘real world' studio settings. I want the experience of working where deadlines and cost play a factor in the whole process of making records.
I am really pleased with the portfolio I have created during this major project, and believe that it will benefit me when applying for opportunities in the future. I have already used it to apply for technician jobs at venues and universities/ schools. I also used it for a successful residency placement on the BSU Emerge Programme.
I will continue to expand and improve this portfolio with my freelance work and my near future goal is to secure a recording studio role.