Working as a producer for the last ten years, I’ve recorded with all kinds of artists from “fresh off the boat” newbies to artists whose experience in the world of music doubles or even triples my own. In every case, my role as a producer stays essentially the same. It’s that role that I’m going to describe in this article.

The art of producing songs in the studio involves a tremendous amount of patience and focus. Songwriters should strive to achieve a recording that will be appreciated for many years to come. Crafting and perfecting your production process is different for everyone. It’s important to be aware of what works and what doesn’t. Learn from past experience and always strive to make progress creatively, technically, and professionally.

Today, I want to discuss the importance of using scratch tracks. Scratch tracks are recorded parts of a song that have not been perfected yet. They are meant to be rough takes, not to be used in the final mix. In this article I’ll talk about how using scratch tracks are crucial part of a successful production process. I’ll also go over how to use playlists to easily record multiple takes in Pro Tools.

These days, it seems the length of music releases is getting shorter. Or is it getting longer? When is a song considered “rough” and when is it meant to represent a moment in history for your band? You might be able to give your project a creative name, or keep it self-titled, but that doesn’t tell us what the project IS. Is it a single, demo, an EP, a full-lenth album, or is it something else? Here’s a breakdown of the common names for music releases. This should help you figure out which format best fits your style and current situation.