When mixing bass guitar, don’t get discouraged if it takes a while to get the track just where you want it – bass can be the most difficult instrument to manage in a mix. Here are some tips to get started.

The relationship between the bass guitar and kick drum in the low end of an audio mix is of fundamental importance. A rhythm section that’s in step and expertly mixed can make a track (and a band) sound tight and ferocious, while a sloppy and indistinct bottom end can drag a recording down – no matter how good the performances are.

When mixing bass guitar and the kick, the goal is to create a powerful and moving combination, avoiding either instrument crowding the other out or forcing it out of the way.

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Veteran vocal coach Cari Cole talks about proper vocal care and five things you can do to avoid major vocal health issues

Ever wonder why stars have issues with their vocal health? Why do professionals lose their voices and need to have surgery? Does it happen to everyone eventually, or are there proper vocal care techniques that can help to avoid these situations?

It’s not inevitable, but it’s highly probable that you will have vocal problems if you don’t learn to use proper vocal care. Your voice is an instrument inside your body, and how you treat your body will reflect upon your voice.

First things first, your voice is not an instrument to screw with. Your vocal cords are not replaceable. You only have one set, and the way you care for them will determine whether you follow the road of deterioration that befalls so many singers or take the high road to vocal care, preservation, and health for your career.

Read more http://blog.discmakers.com/2013/10/stop-shredding-your-vocal-cords/

As an indie artist, you’ve got plenty of hurdles to clear before you achieve success with your music career – a positive mindset is where it all starts

There are a variety of reasons musicians and indie artists fail. Some lack real talent or work ethic. Some suffer from bad timing – like starting up a hair metal band just as grunge began to take over in the early 90s. Other artists lack motivation or let their fears win. This is definitely an abbreviated list, but you can see a common thread here if you look closely.

We know there are a million and one reasons artists fail. But the #1 top reason they fail is simple: it all boils down to not having the right MINDSET. Almost all the other issues that arise are simply offshoots of this one fundamental flaw.

The right mindset starts with understanding that what you think and the way you think is what determines your course and your music career – and it’s often the under-the-surface thoughts that lurk in the unconscious that run the show. You see, you will only achieve what you believe is possible. It doesn’t mean necessarily that you have to be confident, but it does mean that you stay determined and committed in the face of all odds, and that you get back up on the horse no matter how many times life throws you off.

Read more http://blog.discmakers.com/2013/11/the-reason-musicians-fail/

Mix with your song structure in mind

There are standard tricks a mixing engineer can call on to cater to and complement the song structure and arrangement and create a great overall mix.

A great song is not static: it grows, contracts, and changes from intro to ending to keep the listener engaged and create an emotional connection. By its very nature, music is dynamic, full of life and emotion, and an expert arrangement and mix should contribute to that.

When listening to an album or collection of songs that are mastered and mixed well, one characteristic the songs might have in common is a shift in energy from one section to the next. It’s typical that the feel of a song will change as it shifts from a verse to a chorus or a chorus to a bridge.

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http://blog.discmakers.com/2017/05/mix-with-your-song-structure-in-mind/

When playing keyboards, latency can refer to the delay between hitting a key and hearing the resulting sound. Just a little delay can derail your part.

Recently, I played in a recording session where the goal was to track live, full-band instrumentals for five tracks in six hours. The first four songs went down as smoothly as we could have asked for, but the sixth tune gave me some unexpected trouble — for the first couple run-throughs, I couldn’t seem to get my piano parts to lock in with the groove of the overall track. I knew the song well and had performed it live dozens of times with my band mates. Here in the recording studio, I wasn’t sure what the issue was.

After some reflection and listening back to our first couple takes, the hang-up became clear: latency.

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http://blog.discmakers.com/2017/04/managing-latency-with-your-keyboard/

Whatever you’re setting out to accomplish, the best thing you can do for your career is finish your music projects and bring your ideas through to completion.

This might be the simplest and most valuable piece of career advice I can give you: Finish things! It doesn’t matter what those “things” are: maybe they’re songs, an album, a music video, booking a tour, a crowd funding campaign, a new website, or new merch designs. Whatever they are, the best thing you can do for your career is get in the habit of finishing your music projects and bringing your ideas through to completion.

The problem with perfect

I see so many musicians sitting on their ideas, songs, and projects for months (sometimes years). They keep refining and editing, trying to improve their product because they feel like it needs to be absolutely perfect.

Read more http://blog.discmakers.com/2017/10/finish-your-music-projects/

Your voice is an instrument housed inside your body, and taking care of your mind and body is essential to optimal vocal health

The state of your body affects your vocal health. I tell my students all the time that singers are “athletes of the small muscles of the voice and breathing.” But as a vocal athlete, your focus on vocal care needs to extend beyond your vocal cords.

Aerobic training, stretching and yoga, realigning your body and spine, and mind/body connection exercises – these are all ways in which we improve vocal health with professional singers and public speakers. The goal is to help you improve vocal function, increase endurance, build performance stamina, and maximize breath control while improving overall vocal health and vocal performance. Plus, you’ll improve your tone, conditioning, and looks, too. Seriously dedicated to re-sculpting your body? Here’s what you need to know about how singers work out and the right approaches to strength training and weight lifting.

1. Stretching and yoga prevent injury and keep your spine flexible.

It’s a fact: yoga, when executed correctly, prevents injury. I’ve been doing yoga almost all my life, and it not only keeps me young and flexible, it helps prevent physical injury – and that includes your voice. My singing students who do yoga stay in shape much longer and have healthier singing careers – just look at Madonna and Sting. Both are devoted yoginis in their 50s and 60s with no vocal problems, and they get toned, fit bodies to boot. Read more

http://blog.discmakers.com/2013/09/8-ways-to-improve-your-vocal-health/

Invite your fans behind the curtain and into your world as an indie artist if you really want to connect, grow your audience, and find success

Gone are the days when being an indie artist meant boldly throwing off the corporate structure and shaking your fist at “The Man.” While there is a certain freedom obtained in independence, being an independent artist is no longer the anomaly – even for larger acts. Going independent is the new reality for many successful music artists across the globe.

What does being an indie artist mean, exactly? For one thing, a new game requires a new set of skills. Those who got into this gig because they can master melodies and craft thoughtful lyrics now find themselves facing the world of social media, marketing engagement, Facebook fans, Twitter followers, pings, tweets, adds, and more.

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http://blog.discmakers.com/2013/10/5-secrets-of-the-successful-indie-artist/