What is the Difference Between Tracking and Producing a Song?
Have you ever been talking with a fellow musician about releasing new music and you hear them say something like, “The new album is all tracked, now it’s just in post-production?” You nod and congratulate them but you walk away feeling kind of behind. What does it mean to have an album “tracked?” Is post-production the last step? If it is in post-production, does that mean there is also pre-production? And when does the actual production happen? Do I even know what producing a song is?
Don’t worry, guys. We are here to remind you not to feel stupid; the language associated with recording, refining, and releasing music is not only complex, but it is also often vague and variant depending on each musician’s processes and preferences. However, there are basics that we’re here to explain to get you thinking in the right direction, following along in the conversations, and starting to plan your own process with your music.
The Basics
First, let’s define the difference between tracking and producing.
Tracking
The term tracking really just speaks to the technical action of physically recording each element of the song in the studio. As we have learned in previous posts, tracking or recording instruments requires physical equipment (hardware) and digital programs (software). Each time an instrumentalist or vocalist steps up to the microphone and the engineer hits “record,” a track is created as its own unit of audio within the digital session in your digital audio workstation (DAW). The culmination of all the individual tracks of each carefully selected instrumental and vocal take creates one song file that is then sent out for mixing and mastering; which is what musicians are referring to when they say their song has entered “post-production.” This means that what also happens during tracking is…
Production
The producer can be a complex and malleable role to understand. What’s important to know here is that every artist has their own production culture, and system for applying the role of a producer within their writing, recording, and releasing process. Some artists do it all themselves, many outsource or consult other trusted industry professionals. Some artists budget for a heavily involved and hands-on producer who creates schedules, budgets, etc. Some producers just step in for the session to offer guidance and suggestions, while others are involved from the very beginning during the songwriting process itself. Lots of production roles are rolled into (or at least very closely linked with) the artist’s sound engineer, or even their marketing and PR team. If you’re a hip-hop, rap, or pop/R&B artist, often your producer is also the one creating the beats/backing tracks for your music, and even if you’re not in those genres, many producers often lay down tracks themselves based on musical suggestions they make within the session.
The point is, producing a song can look very different from artist to artist depending on their sound, preferences, and goals, but at the core, the role of the producer is to supervise the recording process of the song and offer guidance and suggestions with multiple perspectives in mind to enhance the musical product as well as the potential for its post-distribution success. Producing is an intersection of many things creative and logistical, musical and practical, feeling-driven and data-backed. Here are some things a producer may consider at some of those intersections:
The original intent and authentic center of the artist’s song to maintain its integrity
How it can best be enhanced to create a product that better reflects that initial intent
New creative visions for the song’s evolution once out of the writer’s head and into the more limitless space of the studio
Expanding the song into territory that the artist wants to breach; whether that be in terms of genre, feel, performance/career goals, target audience, etc.
Technically-informed sonic choices in accordance with whether the song is intended for radio play vs. touring, festival stages vs. small and intimate venues, and so on
How the song will translate on different streaming platforms and on social media
The promotional plan/marketing strategy for the song, or the goals for the type and amount of traction it will gain (One of our favorite marketing companies is “Moons & Things Co.” Check them out here if you’re looking for help with all things marketing!)
How much to coach/push
How to communicate sound balance and effects suggestions to the sound engineer, keeping in mind how all of that interacts with the artist’s goals for the song
What Production Can Look Like
As we said, the degree of involvement from the producer can vary. This can look as simple as deciding to add some lap steel if the artist is looking to appeal to a folkier side of their artistry or wanting to tap into a “western” audience. Or, if the artist is producing something very raw and singular but the producer knows she wants to play full band sets on festival stages, she may suggest a new arrangement of the song that includes background vocals, a groove change, or a horn section. The producer may bring in session musicians (learn more about why we make a case for that here) or suggest incorporating/removing specific audio effects an engineer has applied based on whether the artist has a goal of radio play. A producer evaluates everything from the structure of a song to the energy behind a vocal take in relation to all those factors listed in the previous section to help get the song where the artist ultimately wants it to go.
Want to Chat More?
As you may be beginning to understand, a good producer has to speak many different languages and understand music from nearly every vantage point imaginable. It’s important to work with a producer you like and trust, and whom you feel understands you and your vision. If you have more questions about the recording or production process, reach out to us here to speak to our producer and maybe even book your next recording session with Studio 45b.
***Written by Singer/Songwriter Kayla Lunden***