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Everything in music production requires a system!

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Did you ever think how much and time and work goes into a finished product or even a demo?  Try putting all of the steps in your production from concept to a tangible product on a flow chart and you will be amazed at how many steps are actually involved in the process of music /video production.  From concept or the first thought, continuing on and even including writing down on a paper napkin at the restaurant while you are eating, that first thought of the melody, lyric or rhythm section playing in your mind is the first step.  The finished product, for some of the newer, major played artists includes videos, which can really increase the sales of the product.

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Music Producers Requires a System

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Every business, school or organization operates on an intentionally designed and proven system.  Whether you are making a record, video, movie or made for TV production, the basic success of the project will totally rely on an in place, tested and proven system.  Including technical support,  logistics, planning, organization, staffing, training, product development, placement, advertising and marketing.  These are just a few of the basic steps required to that finished marketable product you or your company will be offering your buyers.

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Technology advances the creative musician to new levels

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Thanks to all of the new technology advancements in the music industry, the internet, and in the electro-computer industry, I have been able to do so many things in my studio that only the wealthy, multi-million dollar recording studios could handle.   Things like:  the good quality recording and mixing consoles, recorders or studio time.  All of these are now computerized with software and a good Mac computer.

I use Logic Pro instead of Pro Tools for my digital audio recording. I can now use DSP  for reverb, and a multitude of effects that are so very important in obtaining the finished professional quality warm sound.  I can do all of the things that the major studios charged thousands of dollars for budget conscious musicians and producers.  A budget was that major hit maker or breaker, which, today, opens up the gates of the dam- allowing good material from the people to finally be heard by the masses.

The medium is obvious- it’s going to be the internet.  Rather online downloads or purchases of CDs and DVDs, the internet marketing opportunities are there in this industry!  Even music videos are now made on digital video camcorders/ cameras and edited on the computer with non-linear digital video editing software such as Avid,  Final Cut Pro and Abode Premiere.  I can take a talented singer,  write, arrange, record the music, shoot the video, edit it, post it on the web and just wait for folks on You tube to watch, get interested and link them to my website to purchase either a finished CD, DVD, or download same for a lesser fee due to less overhead.  But you must keep up with the tech-dashians to keep the edge.  Even with music for movie sound tracks,  the person with the best technology has the advantage.  I compose, record my demos, print out the arrangements for orchestra with Logic Pro,  Finale, or other music writing/printing software and have a complete package for the director and producer, and can even send the info via Skype or other forms of e-mail.  But it is all so wonderful and beautiful to experience!  From concept to finished product, all done in the comfort of my home studio.  This is an awesome sytem!

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Hey everyone! Old school Motown music maker here. My name is Vic Johnson, from Highland Park, Michigan-class of 70′. Wow, that seems to be a long time ago, but to me, it seems like yesterday. My memory goes back to my father, who learned to play piano from his father, teaching me how to play the piano, trumpet and sing. That’s three generations of teaching-and by ear-even though I did have formal teaching on all via the Highland Park School system and private instruction.

That was a great time in my life, and I learned so much! I would like to share some of this knowledge with anyone who is interested. I learned a lot of technical and computer stuff including music production of a song concept to a finished album, or CD today. I have my own history which includes such names as Ray Parker of Ghost Busters music, and Byron Miller-bad bass player for Luther, Roy Ayers, George Duke and many other music artists. Also mention Greg Phillingaines, from Detroit, who played with Quincy and Michael Jackson and last I checked, was touring the world with ABBA. This brother is a true to form master keyboardist. His mom was my boss at Highland Park General Hospital when I was working as an orderly.

I must also give respect and love for my deceased friend and original Meditation Band leader and bass player Ted Waterhouse. His mother, Mrs. Waterhouse was our band manager and 2nd mother, as we were young teens at the time we started performing. I remember playing for the City of Detroit on one of those portable stages that would be set up in different locations during the summer month’s entertainment for the inner city communities. That was when I first met Ray Parker. He had this big beautiful fro’ that was perfectly maintained. The brother could play even back then and he was only about fifteen. Detroit, musically, really had it going on, and everyone who had any musical talent wanted to be a part of that flow that was pouring out of Motown.