Music Production Podcast

When the problems of the world loom so large, it can make the act of music production seem unimportant. But during these times, music is more important than ever by helping us connect and empathize with each other. Over the last month or so, I've found it extremely difficult to find meaning in my musical work. In the face of enormous world challenges, twiddling around with sound has felt insignificant and purposeless. But after some reflection, I believe it is actually extremely important to continue to create. In this episode, I take you through my own struggles and how I am working to get passed them. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: What's Going On - Marvin Gaye's classic album that has offered some insight and perspective. Alicia Keys Tiny Desk Concert - I didn't mention this in the episode, but watching it reminded me of the joy and unity music can create. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Ned Rush is a musician, YouTuber, and Max for Live device maker. His work for Isotonik Studios includes the World Collection, which allows you to incorporate video into your Ableton Live Performances. Ned and I sat down for a conversation about his work, musician production, and creativity in general. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: YouTube - Keep up with Ned Rush's tutorials and devices. More Kicks Than Friends - Ned's weekly online music festivals. Visuals Collection - Ned's Video tools for Max for Live. Knobulator - Ned's Max for Live device for easy glitch effects. Patreon - Support Ned's work on Patreon. Create Howling Feedback with Operator - Ned's awesome tutorial on using Ableton's Operator to create guitar-style feedback. AIR ORGAN - Ableton Live Pack made with samples of vintage General Electric Air Organ (as heard in episode intro music). Music Production Club - Monthly subscription to receive music production tools in your inbox while supporting the podcast. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Jerry Seinfeld is a master stand-up comedian, and we can learn a thing or two about making music from him. According to legend, one of the techniques he used to hone his craft is called "The Chain Method." In this episode of the Music Production Podcast, we explore how Jerry Seinfeld's "Chain Method" can help us become better music producers. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: AIR ORGAN Ableton Live Pack - 24 Ableton Live Instruments made from samples of a vintage General Electric Air Organ. Music Production Club - subscription service that gets you new music production tools each month. Wall Calendar - a one page, one year calendar I am using for the "Chain Method." Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

This episode is a guided meditation by Jörgen Kjellgren that I created the music for. Sit back, relax, and drift into your mind. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Jörgen's BandCamp - Listen to Jörgen's music. Jörgen on the Music Production Podcast - Jörgen and I had a great conversation on the Music Production Podcast. VCR WAVE Ableton Live Pack - All music in the meditation was made with instruments from this Pack. Free Ableton Live Pack #198 - Try 3 free instruments made in the style of VCR WAVE. Tommy Zee Webinar - Tommy Zee, founder of Making Music for Brands breaks down one of his commercial projects. Tommy Zee on the Music Production Podcast - Tommy and I have a conversation about making music for companies. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Maddy Kong is a music producer, engineer, music technologist and live performer from Perth, Australia. Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, and winning multiple production spots, she understands the sonic nuances of various genres and has proven to harnesses positive responses across her work. Maddy makes music under the name Sesamii. Maddy and I spoke about her work combining her classically trained background with electronic music. She discusses taking a leap of faith traveling halfway across the world to pursue her dream of making music. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Official Site - The home of Maddy's professional work. SoundCloud - Professional work portfolio. SoundCloud - Maddy's music as Sesamii. Instagram - Follow Maddy on Instagram. Facebook - Sesamii on Facebook. Twitter - Sesamii on Twitter. NYC Ableton User Group Meeting - Maddy breaks down her remix of Hypnotoad. Discover - Live performance by Maddy as Sesamii. dollar!ck - Claire Marie Lim on the Music Production Podcast. Jesse from Gravitas Records - Gravitas founder, Jesse Brede on the Music Production Podcast. VCR WAVE Ableton Live Pack - Ableton Live Instruments made from samples recorded to VCR tape. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Tine Schenck is a composer and trained vocalist. Along with Andrew Magee and Clément Panchout, she hosts Music Weeklies Challenge, which gives a community of musicians creative projects each week. Tine also creates soundtracks for video games. Tine spoke about Music Weeklies Challenge and how it helps artists breakthrough creative blocks and learn how to finish music more efficiently. She discussed her work composing music for video games. Tine explores how consistently working on Music Weeklies Challenges allowed her to find herself as an artist. Special Note: I will be collaborative with Music Weeklies Challenge for the May 15, 2020 challenge! Check their Twitter or my website on Friday May 15th at 2PM EST. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Music Weeklies Challenges - Official Site for the challenges. Music Weeklies Twitter - The main action for Music Weeklies Challenges happens via their Twitter. Tine's Website - Keep up with Tine's work. Tine on Twitter - Follow her! Listhère (Official Soundtrack) - Tine's new album that she was in the middle of finishing during our conversation. Andrew Magee - Music Weeklies Challenges team member. Clément Panchout - Music Weeklies Challenges founder and team member. Stephanie Merchak - Tine introduced me to Stephanie's work; Stephanie appeared on the Music Production Podcast. To Go Pro or Not To Go Pro - Music Production Podcast about becoming a professional musician. VCR WAVE Ableton Live Pack - 40 Ableton Live Instruments made from samples of the OP-1 recorded directly to VHS Tape. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Stephanie Merchak is a composer, sound designer, improviser and performer from Lebanon. Stephanie has a deep academic background in music and loves to explore and experiment with sound. Stephanie and I had a great conversation about her willingness to take chances and try new things with her art. She isn't afraid of experiments that might not work, and this attitude and philosophy has helped her break new grounds musically. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Bandcamp - Stephanie's music on Bandcamp. Mixcloud - More music from Stephanie. Instagram - Stephanie's music is closely link with her love of photography. YouTube - Stephanie shares many of her experiments here. A Trip Through Unknown Territory - Stephanie recycles her old music ideas into something new. Collapsing Structures - Stephanie's experiments with glockenspiel. Cities and Memory - Collection of field recordings from all over the world, categorized by map. Borderlands - Granular app for iOS. Music Weekly Challenges - Weekly inspiration and challenges for music projects. Graveyard of Unfinished Ideas - Free Ableton Live Pack that recycles unfinished projects to make new sounds, similar to Stephanie's A Trip Through Unknown Territory. Music Production Club - Monthly subscription service where I send you Ableton Live tools and tutorials. We have a Discord chat and now hold live online webinars. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Hainbach is a composer, sound designer, and YouTuber based in Berlin, Germany. He is well-known for his work with tape machines, test equipment, and modular synthesizers. His childlike wonder and endless curiosity about sounds has brought him tens of thousands of viewers on his YouTube channel. I've been a fan of Hainbach's for a while and it was great to get a chance to speak to him about his work and his approach towards music in general. Hainbach spoke about how he likes to explore gear, his creative process, and some more philosophical ideas about art and inspiration. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Hainbachmusik.com - The internet home for Hainbach's work. BandCamp - Hainbach's music. Isolation Loops - Free sample pack Hainbach made for the Coronavirus lockdown. YouTube - Hainbach's videos are an excellent place for learning and inspiration. Patreon - Support Hainbach's work! Single Malt Synthesis - Conversations with friends about synths. Superbooth - Hainbach will be creating content for a virtual Superbooth beginning April 23rd - April 26th. Hainbach Isolation Instruments Free Ableton Live Pack - Ableton Live Instruments I made with samples from Hainbach's Isolation Loops. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Laura Escudé is the founder of Electronic Creatives, who run playback for some of the largest touring acts in the world, including Kanye West, Arianna Grande, American Idol, Bon Iver, Harry Styles, and so many more. She's a classically trained violinist and one of the first Ableton Certified Trainers. Laura has created a collection of educational workshops for musicians, creatives, and business people alike. Laura and I had a great talk about some of the steps she's taking to help performing artists and creatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also discusses how she's learned to how to maintain a balance between health and work. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Official Site - Laura's homepage. Electronic Creatives - Laura's company that does playback engineering, show programming, and musical direction for some the industry's biggest artists. Laura's Music - Combining futuristic, modern and forward-thinking sound with classical elements. Transmute Accelerator - Laura's 8 week workshop on building a live performance. Next session begins May 4th 2020! Mastertrack - First-ever program for music playback and performance design. Events - Laura is pumping out live streaming educational and performance events during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Hustle Healthier - Honest and open piece Laura wrote about the need to take care of one's health while working, and her experience finding that balance. The Work by Byron Katie - Accessing the wisdom and power within you. The Joy Money Matrix - Finding balance in work, life, and pleasure. Dr. Joe Dispenza - Unlocking personal potential. Music Production Podcast #49: Laura's first appearance on the podcast. Warrior Free Ableton Live Pack - Ableton Live Instruments made with samples from Laura's music. Super Awesome Sounds - Ableton Live Pack made with Casio SA-20 synth. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Darren Cowley runs Isotonik Studios, a site that offers products for Ableton Live, Max for Live, Novation Circuit, and more. Isotonik Studios has grown into a small army of developers releasing exciting products to producers. Darren and I have been trying to coordinate a podcast for years. It was worth the wait. We spoke about his beginnings as a DJ, how he developed and shared his DJ template, and how an artist's donation for his DJing template helped him begin Isotonik Studios. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Isotonik is offering free "stay at home" products. The offerings change on a regular basis so be sure to check them often. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Isotonik Studios - Innovative products for music producers. Arcade Series - Video game inspired Max for Live sequencers. MaxforLive.com - Resource of thousands of Max for Live devices. Ned Rush - Prolific developer for Isotonik Studios. Mark Towers - Creator of Arcade Series. Mark Towers on the Music Production Podcast - My conversation with Mark on the Podcast. Bomes MIDI Translator - Turn MIDI messages into key commands (and much more). Tensnake - Used some of Darren's templates. Evernote - Note-taking app. Super Awesome Sounds Ableton Live Pack - made with Casio SA-20 keyboard, both free and paid versions! Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Animus Invidious is a music producer who runs the site PerforModule for audio production tips and Ableton Live resources. Animus recently put together the Super Awesome Sounds Ableton Live Pack made with the Casio SA-20 synthesizer. We discuss the process behind making sound packs, staying organized, and much more. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: PerforModule - Animus's site for production tips and Ableton Live resources. Super Awesome Sounds - Casio SA-20 Ableton Live Pack Animus created. Sweetie Pies Isolation Pack - Animus's free collection of "secret weapon" Ableton Live devices. Demystifying Chain Volume - Article and fix for an interesting problem in Live device racks. Shavano - Animus's work with his neighbor's music. Tough Love by StoneyBertz - Hip hop album mixed and mastered by Anime. Music Production Podcast #13 - My first conversation with Animus on the podcast. Toy Synths - Ableton Live Pack that features my old Yamaha keyboard we discussed. Gestalt - Arovane's new album that comes with a free Puremagnetik delay plug-in. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Matt Sharp is the creative force behind The Rentals and is the original bass player for Weezer. He is currently releasing the Rentals new double-album, Q36, one song every two weeks. It was a pleasure to sit down with one of my own musical super heroes. His work in The Rentals and Weezer was instrumental in my own musical growth. Matt spoke about his creative process and collaborations with different artists. We discussed the way music and art can be healing in difficult times. Matt explained the unique and collaborative way he has been releasing his new album. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: The Rentals - Official Site. BandCamp - Listen The Rentals on BandCamp. The Rentals on Twitter. Matt Sharp on Twitter. The Rentals on Instagram. Matt Sharp on Instagram. The Rentals on YouTube. Nick Zinner - Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist, who worked with Matt on the new Rentals album. Dave Fridman - Mixing Engineer on the new Rentals album. Ronnie Vannucci - The Killers drummer, who played drums on Q36. Ivan Minsloff - Artist creating artwork for each song on Q36. 9th Configuration - Video for my personal favorite track on the new Rentals album. Z36 - Guitar and Synth remix of the track "Invasion Night." Hit Record - Community of artists where there are regular prompts and challenges with The Rentals material. MTV VMAs - In his fictional Rentals character, Matt accepts the award for Best Alternative Video for Weezer's "Buddy Holly." Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Dan Policar, aka DanTheBand, is a Grammy nominated, international touring musician, songwriter, and producer. Dan has toured the world playing in Sean Paul's band, the "BaddaBanz." He has done production work and songwriting for artists such as Fabolous, Sean Paul, Raekwon, Andra Day, Faith Evans, and Mystikal. Dan also produces music for video games. Dan and I spoke about his work as a touring musician and the effect of the coronavirus pandemic. He shares some excellent tips on songwriting and finishing music. We also get into his work writing music for video games. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Official Site - Dan's homepage, DantheBand. Twitter - Keep up with Dan 280 characters at a time. YouTube - Dan has some helpful music production tutorials. Crimson Diamond - Independent video game for which Dan is supplying the music. Live Stream Crimson Diamond - On Tues. March 31 at 8pm EDT, Dan will be live streaming his process for making the music for Crimson Diamond. Roland MT-32 - The unwieldy vintage synth Dan uses for the Crimson Diamond score. Empire of Sin - Game Dan is doing music for. John Ivers of Bandlab - My discussion with Bandlab sound designer, John Ivers. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Rob Barbato is a creative director at Squeak E Clean Productions, a composer for Film and Television, a producer and engineer of records, and a multi-instrumentalist. Rob has produced music for brands like Lexus, Nike, and Apple. He recently produced the new Vivian Girls album, Memory. Rob spoke about translating marketing briefings into music and emotion. He explains some of his techniques for getting interesting and unique sounds, while maintaining a childlike sense of exploration with his music. Rob explains how he managed a polished yet raw sound on the new Vivian Girls record. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Squeak E Clean Studios - Music production, licensing, sound design. Rob's site - Rob's official site. Squeak E Cares - Initiative to help artists who are affected by the CoVid-19 crisis. Memory - The new album by Vivian Girls. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Peder Losnegård, aka Lido, is a producer, singer, songwriter in LA from Norway. He has worked for an impressive list of artists such as Chance the Rapper, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, A$AP Ferg, and many more. He started as a pop star in Norway as a teen but gave it up to pursue his artistic vision in the United States. Lido and I had a great conversation about his work as a producer and musician. We talked about the importance of having a vision for your work and how he used this approach on his upcoming album Peder. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Official Site - Lido's official site. Instagram - Visually follow Lido. SoundCloud - Lido's music. YouTube - Lido's videos. How to Do Nothing - Lido's track we discuss at length. Live Performance with Ableton Live Video Course - Currently available for free if you promise to stay home. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

We are living through unprecedented times. It is our duty to stay home to slow the spread of coronavirus. In an effort to maintain positivity and make the most of our time at home, this episode runs through some ideas you can use to be productive. Stay healthy! Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Live Performance in Ableton Live - My video course is free when you use the code: STAYHOME Music Production Club - Monthly subscription for a steady flow of music production tools to your inbox. Klevgrand - Makers of Kleverb and other great audio plug-ins. Korg iKaossilator - Amazing app that is currently free. Moog Model D App - Beautiful iPhone recreation of the classic synth. Isolation Loops - Hainbach's free loops for your time home. Quasimidi Sirius Samples - Legowelt is sharing some nice samples of a cool synth. Expanding Sound - Lots of free Ableton Live Packs. Sonic Bloom - Excellent Ableton Live Packs and Tutorials. Gumroad - Sell something! Sahil Lavinglia - Gumroad CEO on the Music Production Podcast. Listen to Music - LA Times article on deep listening. Thinking In Bets - by Annie Duke. The Paradox of Choice - by Barry Schwartz. You're It! - Collected speakings of Alan Watts. Live Producer's Online - Dan Giffin's Ableton Live Podcast. Hanging Out with Audiophiles - Jamie Lidell's Podcast. Huston Music - Huston Singletary's Podcast. Art + Music + Technology - Darwin Grosse's Podcast. Mr. Bill's Podcast - Mr. Bill's Podcast. Song Exploder - Podcast about song creation. ELPHNT - Tom from ELPHNT on the Music Production Podcast. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Thomas Glendinning is an Ableton Certified Trainer and the man behind the popular site ELPHNT, where he helps producers "make better music." Tom and I sat down to speak for the second time on the podcast about his recent work (including the amazing FRZN GRAINS Ableton Live Pack), finishing music, and crafting a business out of a passion. Thanks to Tom for creating the beautiful artwork for this episode! Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: ELPHNT - Tom's site that helps music producers make better music. Newsletter - Join Tom's newsletter; I'm a subscriber. YouTube - Tom's incredible collection of tutorials. Instagram - Tom's might be the cleanest and slickest Insta I've ever seen. How to Finish Music - Tom's insights after creating music for the YouTube Audio Library. FRZN GRAINS - Tom's beautiful Ableton Live Pack. YouTube Audio Library - Search for ELPHNT! Favorite Max for Live Devices - Ableton's recent piece on Tom's curation of quality Max for Live devices. Music Production Podcast #26: Tom's first appearance on the podcast. Gumroad CEO - Sahil Lavinglia on the Music Production Podcast. Interview with Floating Points - Tom recommended Floating Points music based on his use of limitations. Audio Jungle - Library music site. Kleverb - Klevgrand's beautiful reverb plug-in. Music Production Club - Get a steady flow of music production tools right to your inbox. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

This episode marks the beginning of the 4th year of the Music Production Podcast! I never imagined I'd be a podcaster, but I think I've done it long enough to earn the title. And that's what this episode is about: if you want to be a thing, act like the thing. Do the things that person would do! Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Music Production Club - While my very limited supplies last, you can get Klevgrand's Kleverb when you join the Club! Kleverb - Klevgrand's excellent algorithmic reverb plug-in. Liam Gallagher - Entertaining interview with the frontman of Oasis unapologetically owns who he is. Laptop Feedback Ableton Live Pack - My first Ableton Live Pack. A Journey Inward - My new EP available on Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, SoundCloud, etc. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

I've just released my new EP, "A Journey Inward," and the secret to finishing it was in the story. I find that by having the story of your music clearly defined, making music because much easier and more enjoyable. In this episode we talk about how I used story to complete my latest EP. The episode ends with a listening to the EP itself. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Music Production Club - While my very limited supplies last, you can get Klevgrand's Kleverb when you join the Club! Kleverb - Klevgrand's excellent algorithmic reverb plug-in. A Journey Inward - My new EP available on Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, SoundCloud, etc. Social Story Songs - Music my friend, Chris P Cauley, and I wrote to teach acceptable social behavior. Chris P Cauley - One of my musical brothers. Leave Stones Unturned - An insightful blog by Seth Godin. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Graham Cochrane is the founder of The Recording Revolution, whose YouTube channel has over 500,000 subscribers. For over ten years, Graham's tutorials have shown musicians how to record great music at home with affordable gear. Graham also helps entrepreneurs build their online businesses. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: The Recording Revolution - Graham's site helping musicians "create radio-worthy songs from your home or bedroom studio." YouTube - A wealth of home recording video tutorials from Graham. GrahamCochrane.com - Learn about online business from Graham. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Staying organized will keep your music making experience fun. You will have the tools you need when you need them. In this episode, I talk about some things that have helped me stay organized. I also talk about the most impactful book I read last year, Getting Things Done by David Allen. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: FRZN GRAINS - ELPHNT's granular Ableton Live Pack Music Production Club - Join the club to get a steady flow of sounds for you music making. Workflowy - Simple and powerful web-based app I use for keeping lists. Getting Things Done - David Allen's incredible system for keeping track of ideas, staying organized, and getting work done. David Allen - Listen to David Allen on the Tim Ferriss Show. #103 and #51: Music Production Podcast episodes with Eshan Khadaroo, aka Push4Life. Audio and MIDI in the Basement - My chart for keeping track of where everything in my studio is connected. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Mixing is an art. Mixing is technical. A mix can be objectively good or bad. A mix can be subjectively good or bad. This episode of the Music Production Podcast contains some of the general guidelines that have helped me find the sound I'm looking for and improve the technical quality of my mixes. Thanks for listening and please pardon the clickbait title; I'm running some experiments in naming. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Space Journey Kit - Free Ableton Live Pack used for the opening music. Music Production Club - Get access to a constantly updated collection of music production tools. 10 Time-Saving Music Production Hacks - An experiment in click-bait titling. Currently my second most downloaded episode. Go figure! 10 Things To Do When You Are Uninspired - An experiment in click-bait titling. Currently my fifth most downloaded episode. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

As you work and toil over your music, there comes a point when a song is finished. But how do you KNOW your track is finished? You can always add or change things. You can try new sounds or alter the arrangement. But how do you know where to stop? In this episode, we explore the topic from both a philosophical and practical position. We ask questions about what makes a song complete and then go through specific techniques and approaches you can use to finish your music. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Music Production Club - Subscribe to my Club to get a steady flow of tools and inspiration to your inbox. FRZN GRAINS - ELPHNT's beautiful granular-instrument Ableton Live Pack. Twilight Zone "Escape Clause" - A great episode about what happens when risk and danger are removed from life. What is Your Audience Doing? - Music Production Podcast about what your listeners are doing while listening to your music. Make Bad Music - Just finish your tracks, even if they are bad! Music Production Podcast episode #2. Some Thoughts on Finishing Songs - Music Production Podcast with practical ideas on finishing music. John Lennon - John's sometimes harsh critiques of songs by The Beatles. Gumroad Founder on the Music Production Podcast - Sahil Lavingia has some powerful thoughts on finishing art sooner rather than working on it too long. Derek Sivers - Derek on the EDM Prodcast (great show) talking about releasing art. More Derek Sivers - Derek on the Music Production Podcast. Pay attention to "deep and shallow happy." EDMProd Guidebooks - The makers of EDM Prodcast have a lot of helpful PDFs for music production. A Simple Mistake That Will Ruin Your Mixdown - Make sure your tracks end smoothly, 2 Minute Ableton Live Tip. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

As you are making music, it can help to consider what your listeners will be doing as they listen. You can also think about the 13 musical emotions and which ones you want to evoke with your music. All of this can help us finish and release an album, EP, or single this month, during the Finish February Challenge! Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: FRZN GRAINS - ELPHNT's collection of Ableton Live instruments made from analog sources run through granular effects. Music Production Club - Get a steady flow of music production tools in your inbox. Finish February 2020 - Music Production Podcast about the Finish February Challenge to release some music this month. 13 Musical Emotions - Studies have shown there are 13 musical emotions. Inner Circle Podcast - Bobby Owsinski's excellent music industry podcast. Jamuary Spreadsheet - A spreadsheet you can use to organize and categorize your Jamuary Jams and decide which ones to finish in February. My 2018 Spreadsheet - See how I used the spreadsheet to categorize my work in 2018. My YouTube Channel - I will be live streaming my Finish February process. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Jamuary is over! And if you participated, you probably have lots of ideas to work off of. Even if you didn't participate, I'm sure you have a lot of unfinished ideas anyway. Finish February is a challenge to finish some of that music and release it. It can be a single, EP, or full album. The point is to finish some music and get it out to the world! Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: FRZN GRAINS - ELPHNT's collection of Ableton Live instruments made from analog sources run through granular effects. Thomas Glendinning - The man behind ELPHNT made an appearance on episode 26 of the Music Production Podcast. Let's Start Finish February - Episode 48 introduced the idea of Finish February. Jamuary Spreadsheet - A spreadsheet you can use to organize and categorize your Jamuary Jams and decide which ones to finish in February. My 2018 Spreadsheet - See how I used the spreadsheet to categorize my work in 2018. How to Upload Your Music to Major Streaming Services - A post I did about releasing your music with DistroKid. 7% Off at DistroKid - Save a little money when releasing your music with this link. Music Production Club - Get a steady flow of music production tools in your inbox. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Derek Sivers is a musician, writer, and entrepreneur. He started CDBaby in 1998, offering independent musicians (including me!) a way to sell their music online. 10 years later, he sold it, donating most of the money to music education. Derek wrote "Anything You Want" explaining lessons he learned from the adventure. Derek is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and in this episode he shares some of his insight about making music and the creative process. It was a great conversation that makes meaningful connections between life, business, and creativity. Be on the look out for his new books "Your Music and People" and "Hell Yeah or No." Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Official Site - Derek's website. The simple design reflects much of his philosophy. Now - See what Derek is up to now. Anything You Want - Derek's story and wisdom about founding, running, and selling CDBaby. Radio Darvish - Persian Traditional Music. Randy Newman - Official site. Thirty-Two Short Stories About Glenn Gould - film about Gould's life journey. Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1: U2 and Brian Eno's score for imagined films. A Beginner's Guide to Japan - Japan from the eyes of a beginner. Oblique Strategies - Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt's collection of abstract creative prompts. Oblique Strategies on the web - a site that randomly generates an Oblique Strategy. Social Story Songs - Songs I wrote with my friend Chris P. Cauley to help children learn acceptable social behavior. Music Production Club - Join the club, where I send a steady flow of music making tools in your email inbox. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

By participating in the #Jamuary2020 challenge to make and share a new piece of music each day, it's become extremely clear how important it is to find ways to focus while working. In this episode, I talk about some important lessons I'm learning during Jamuary and offer some practical ways you can find focus while working on your music. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Music Production Club - Get a steady flow of music making tools in your inbox. My Jamuary2020 SoundCloud Playlist - Listen to my (nearly) daily musical output during the Jamuary2020 challenge. Jamuary Live Stream - I've been streaming the entire process of each of my jams on YouTube. Hit the Page Running - Steven Pressfield's blog post about his mantra when he starts working. War of Art - Steven Pressfield's manifesto, which I reference when speaking about Resistance. Howler Timer - a handy free timer for Mac OS. Self Control - a free internet blocker for Mac OS. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

You will inevitably come across days that you just don't feel like making music. The thing that differentiates a professional from an amateur is the amateur does it when he/she feels like it; the professional does it no matter what. If you can make music on the days you are tired, uninspired, and lacking motivation, you can do it any time! Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Costco Cash Register Free Ableton Live Pack Music Production Club - Get a steady flow of music making tools in your inbox. My Jamuary2020 SoundCloud Playlist - Listen to my (nearly) daily musical output during the Jamuary2020 challenge. Jamuary Live Stream - I've been streaming the entire process of each of my jams on YouTube. War of Art - Steven Pressfield's manifesto, which I reference when speaking about Resistance. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Roger Linn is a Grammy award winning electronic musical instrument designer, whose instruments have had a major influence on the music industry. He designed the first drum machine with samples. His MPC60 revolutionized the sampling and hip hop community. Today, his LinnStrument is ushering in a new generation of expressive electronic musicianship. It was an honor to speak with the legendary Roger Linn. I could immediately sense his passion for his work. Roger shared a lot about his background and what motivates him to continue his work. Despite his deep work in the technological aspect of the craft, Roger maintains a firm grasp on the love of music that continues to inspire his work today. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Roger Linn Design - The home of Roger's work. LinnStrument - Roger's latest creation, an expressive MIDI instrument for live performance. MIDI Polyphonic Expression - Explanation of the system used for LinnStrument. MIDI 2.0 - Details on the next generation of MIDI. Why Expressive Control? - Roger's thoughts on the importance of more expressive electronic instruments. Piano vs. Grid - Roger's thoughts on why the grid format is more suited to expressivity than traditional piano layouts. Ableton Loop - Portions of the Ableton Loop panel, hosted by Dennis DeSantis, featuring Roger Linn, Stephan Schmitt, Carla Scaletti, and Gerhard Behles. Keynote Speech - Roger's talk at ADC 2016. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Music Production Club - Join my Music Production Club for a steady stream of music production tools to your inbox. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Happy New Year! It's the start of a new decade and a perfect time to do a little self-reflection. In this episode, we talk about some big picture stuff and how it relates to our music making. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Death of a Salesman - Film version starring Dustin Hoffman. Music Production Club - Get a steady flow of new music production tools in your inbox. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Jamuary is a challenge to make a piece of music every day for the month of January, and to share it online. In this episode, I talk about the Jamuary Challenge, what it takes to participate (not much), and what the benefits will be. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Cuckoo on the Music Production Podcast Podcast about Jamuary The Music Production Club Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Producing music is essentially a series of making decisions. It's important to make commitments to our decisions in order to move forward. In this episode, I argue that in order to move forward with your music, you must commit early and often. Looking back and questioning our decisions is sure to lead to dissatisfaction in our music. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz The Music Production Club - join before the end of 2019 to get an incredible amount of music production tools! Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

John Ivers is a composer, sound designer, and works as head of sound design for BandLab. BandLab is a free social music creation platform. John and I had a great conversation covering a range of topics. We discuss his role at BandLad and how the platform can bring in first time producers and offer helpful services to more experienced users. John talks in detail about sound design and how interface design changes how we perceive the product. Show Notes: John Iver's Web Site BandLab - All-in-one social music creation platform. BandLab for Education - BandLab for schools. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Join the Music Production Club to get sound packs to help you make music directly in your inbox. Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Like it or not, artificial intelligence and machine learning is changing the music industry. It could threaten jobs and eliminate the need for humans in the music making process. So what can we do? Double down on our humanity. After a few episode with people using AI and machine learning in the music industry, I have some thoughts on what we can do to avoid becoming obsolete in a changing world. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Now AI Takes on Writing Death Metal, Country Music Hits, More - CDM article about music written with artificial intelligence. Hazel Savage on the Music Production Podcast - Hazel talks about how her company Musiio is intelligently categorizing music. Paul Zgordan on the Music Production Podcast - Paul discusses Mubert, which is creating AI generated music from samples. Jonathan Bailey on the Music Production Podcast - Jonathan explains how Izotope is using AI to help us make music. GLITCH DRUMS - Ableton Live and Sample Pack featured in the intro music to this episode. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Happy Thanksgiving! Today's show is all about gratitude. We talk about how being thankful for what we have and feeling satisfied in decisions we make can help us make better music and live better lives. The conversation is based on a few books and mediations I've come across recently, as well as some real life experiences that have affected the way I see things. We talk about how those experiences can help us with our music making. But in truth, maybe the music making is just a metaphor for our lives in general. Thank you for listening! Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz Barry Schwartz's TED Talk The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday Waking Up Meditation App by Sam Harris Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Jonathan Bailey is Izotope's Chief Technology Officer. Izotope is known for their high quality audio plug-ins that make use of cutting edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and plug-in that communicate. Jonathan and I had a great conversation about the technology behind Izotope's plug-ins, as well as the company's overall vision and philosophy. Jonathan goes into what the future of music production might look like and how technologies like artificial intelligence are changing the way we work. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Izotope Izotope Products Learn with Izotope Are You Listening - Video series with iZotope Education Director Jonathan Wyner. MixCon 2019 Panel - The Future of the Loudness Wars, A.I. in Music Production, 360 Sound. The Story of Iris SonicState Podcast 192 - Podcast where the idea of Iris was born. GLITCH DRUMS - Ableton Live Pack and Sample Pack. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Kristoffer Lislegaard is an electronic musician, producer, and sound artist from Norway, and one half of the duo, Sgrow. Sgrow's music contains beautiful soundscapes, beats, and vocals. They've just released a new album called Circumstance II. It was great to talk with Kristoffer again. He has some really helpful ideas on completing music, working within limitations, and live performance. Kristoffer surprised me with a little demonstration of his live performance setup. His way of working is inspiring and the new music is excellent. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Kristoffer's Website Kristoffer's YouTube Sgrow - Kristoffer's electronic duo with Vilde Nupen. Sgrow YouTube Channel Tap Dance Live Performance Video Linnstrument Monome Kristoffer's first appearance on the Music Production Podcast Get the new Sgrow album: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/33lsY2i Apple: https://apple.co/2IHvvft Tidal: http://bit.ly/35lUDSE Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2OBwfXe Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Paul Zgordan works for Mubert, a company that develops tools for making music created by artificial intelligence. Mubert creates algorithmically generated music using samples uploaded by users. Mubert's generative music is targeted towards businesses that need music for their products (apps, spas, video games). Paul and I discuss Mubert in detail, from its technology and how it is being used. We explore whether artificial intelligence will endanger the jobs of musicians. Paul also shares ideas on how musicians can use AI to further their artistic vision. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Mubert - AI Music Solution Mubert Beta - join and participate in Mubert's #I-am-the-world project to create the never ending collaborative generative music stream in A Minor. Walkthrough Video- Short video on uploading samples to Mubert. Google Magenta - AI Max for Live devices. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Hazel Savage is the CEO and co-founder of Musiio, a company that uses artificial intelligence to automatically analyze and tag music to make it more discoverable. Hazel is a life-long musician and music technologist, working for companies like Shazaam, Pandora, and Universal. Hazel and I talked at length about Musiio and its potential to influence the music industry. We also get into what makes music human and why she isn't afraid that artificial intelligence will replace artists. The conversation goes into a lot of big questions that new technologies will ultimately raise for everyone in the music industry. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Musiio - Hazel's company that helps make great music more discoverable. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

David Marston and Phil Celeste are musicians, producers, and long-time collaborators who just finished a new track called "Airwaves." Phil (aka Life on Planets) and David have managed to make their partnership work over barriers of time and distance, and have had successful releases both together and separately. Phil, David, and I had a nice conversation about music production and collaboration. We talked about how they both help guide each other in the studio, and how they also know when to work on certain aspects of a project separately. We also talk about releasing albums on labels and independently, as well as a ton of other related topics. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Life on Planets (Phil Celeste) David Marston Life on Planets & David Marston - "Airwaves" "Airwaves" Lyric video David Marston & Life on Planets - "Take Your Time" Life on Planets - "Fork In The Path" (David Marston & Dan Izco Remix) Phil's Guitar, used on "Airwaves" Garden of Earthly Delights Soul Clap Records Chill-Struments Ableton Live Pack Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Julie Covello, aka DJ Shakey, is a DJ, producer, performer, and founder of Warper Party. It's hard to overstate how important Julie's role in the shaping of live electronic music has been. Warper Party is a monthly live electronic music event that has been running since 2005. So much of what modern live electronic music has become has roots in the community Julie has helped build. In this episode of the podcast, Julie talks about the early days of Warper Party and how community has helped her and the scene in general grow and develop. We learn about the days of modding MIDI controllers into creative live performance tools and how the live electronic music scene has changed over the years. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: DJ Shakey Instagram Warper Party Instagram Shakey's Record Fair Instagram Empire Breaks NYC Instagram The Plaster Cramp Instagram Warper Party Radio Extravaganza Matt Moldover - Father of Controllerism DJ Tech Tools - Founded by Ean Golden Dan Freeman - creator of Ableton Push "key-tar," Blinky. Mojo Video Tech - The Art of Projection Mapping, Brooklyn. Improbable Confetti - The Plaster Cramp Radio Show. Ill Gates - Creator of the Producer's Dojo. Chill-struments - Ableton Live Pack made with the OP-1. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

William Kage is a video game programmer and music producer, who produces music in the style of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System sound card. William built SixEngine, a web-based 16-bit video game engine. William releases music in the style of the SNES and is working on a new 16-bit RPG called Otosan. William and I had a great conversation about his work and the challenges of writing within restrictions of the Super Nintendo's sound card. We discuss how game composers were able to find creative solutions to the limitations using some clever sampling techniques. William also gives some nice sound examples to help explain how this type of composing works. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Official Site - The hub of William's work, his music, SixEngine, and Otosan. SixEngine - 16-bit web-based game engine. Otosan - 16 bit role playing game William is developing. miniVerb - 8-bit chip tune reverb plug-in. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

It's very exciting when a new update comes out for your computer. There are new features and tools that may make things much easier, smoother, and faster. However, if you rely on your computer to make music, an update can break that system. Instead of enjoying new features and workflows, you will be stuck trying to figure out why nothing works. And if you are on a working machine, ask yourself why you need to update. Is it really Resistance? Are you avoiding work? Don't get stuck with a machine that doesn't work. Stick with what does and wait for things to iron out! Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Create Digital Music explains why you don't want to upgrade yet. Bobby Owsinki offers insight on why you shouldn't update. Ableton's official Mac OS compatibility help page. War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Ben Burnes is a producer, live streamer, and game programmer. He releases unique sample packs and is very active in the music production community. Ben is known for not only sharing his work and projects, but also creating projects and collaborating with the community to make them come to life. Note! In the episode we mention Ben's Two Hour Album Challenge. At the time of our talk, we didn't expect the show to go live before then, but we pulled some strings and made it happen! If you want to be a part of the Two Hour Album Challenge, it starts Friday October 11, 2019 at 6PM GMT and ends Sunday October 13, 2019 at 6PM GMT. Go to Two Hour Album Challenge for more details. And if you miss this one, there is another one planned in January. Ben Burnes was my first guest on the Music Production Podcast. It was great to reconnect with him. Ben shared wisdom and lessons he's learned from completing nearly 200 2-hour track challenges. He spends a lot of time discussing the growth he's undergone by making himself vulnerable by live streaming as he attempts to write a song in 2 hours. Lots of great insights! Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Support Ben Burnes on Patreon Ben's Work: Abstraction Ben on YouTube 2 Hour Album Challenge 2 Hour Album Challenge on Bandcamp Shakka and Pal's Podcast Color Jumper - Ben's Video Game. 2 Hour Track Challenge Playlist 2 Hour Track Challenge Recordings The Tree That Was A Forest Composer Quest Podcast Ben's first appearance on the Music Production Podcast. Tommy Zee on the Music Production Podcast Vespers on the Music Production Podcast 24/7 Eurorack Modular Music Stream Ben's tutorial on How To Use Famitracker Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Drew Vespers is a musician, producer, and founder of Warp Academy, an Ableton Certified Trainer Center in Canada. Warp Academy is one of the leading producers of high quality online music production education. His tutorials have helped thousands of musicians (including myself!) grow and develop into successful artists. Drew's music combines elements of rock, jazz, hip hop, and electronic bass music, and been released on a variety of record labels. I really enjoyed talking with Drew about his work, Warp Academy, and how he manages to stay so productive and focused. This conversation covers a lot. We cover advanced mixing techniques, which has become a passion of Drews. There's also quite a lot along the lines of getting and staying productive. Drew shares practical tips on health and mindfulness, as well as many resources and books that have helped him keep his attention on his work. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Warp Academy - Ableton Certified Trainer center Drew founded. Vespers - Drew's personal work as an artist and teacher. YouTube - Subscribe to Warp Academy for tons of tutorials. Nexus - Facebook Group for producers to share knowledge and ideas. The Mod Method - Drew's video course designed to give the tools and inspiration to create music you can be proud of. Ableton Push 2 Jumpstart - Ableton Push 2 video course I made with Warp Academy. 5 Focus and Productivity Hacks - Drew shares some tips on getting work done. Book Recommendations: Stealing Fire Optimum Nutrition for the Mind Deep Work The Power of Full Engagement App Recommendations: Freedom - Block the internet and apps for focus. Self Control - free alternative to Freedom that I'm experimenting with. Vitamin R - Productivity app. Free Downloads: Mixing Template - Drew's Mix Template for Ableton Live Song Structure and Energy Heat Maps - Derived from the MOD Method video course. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Jörgen Kjellgren is a prolific ambient producer from Sweden. Since May 2018, Jörgen has release 9 EPs. He has developed a working method that uses restrictions to encourage creativity. In this episode, Jörgen shares how discipline and restrictions has allowed him to become a prolific producer. Jörgen shares his thoughts on progressing ideas into finished piece of music and how the Japanese concept of "Wabi-Sabi" has allowed him to silent the internal critic. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Bandcamp: Jörgen's music on Bandcamp. Soundcloud: Jörgen's music on Soundcloud. Spotify: Jörgen's music on Spotify. Apple Music: Jörgen's music on Apple Music. YouTube: Jörgen's work on YouTube. Wabi-Sabi - Japanese concept of impermanence and imperfection. GUITAR CHORDS Sample Pack: The sounds that made the introduction music for today's episode. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Enjoy! Brian

I recently had a hard drive fail and I have lost years of music, photos, and other stuff. It might be gone forever. This episode is a public service announcement and reminder to back up your files and back up your back ups! Your digital work is irreplaceable. Today, I share a few ideas on how to back up your work, and also think about how to handle this loss on a psychological level. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Guitar Chords - My new Sample Pack that I used to create the intro music. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Emre Yilmaz is a guitarist and singer songwriter from Istanbul Turkey, living in New York. He's done work for film and commercials. Emre is an avid meditator and yoga practitioner, and often produces music for those environments. I had an excellent and wide ranging conversation with Emre. We explored the idea of self and the artist. We discussed how the mind works and how that affects our music production. Emre shared his wisdom from years of yoga and meditation, and showed how that can be applied to not only our music production but our everyday life. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Emre Yilmaz - Official Site. YouTube - Check out some of his live performances. Instagram - Keep track of Emre's work. Gumroad - Emre and I met at a dinner hosted by Gumroad. Sahil Lavingia - Gumroad founder on the Music Production Podcast. Slate Digital - Plugins and Tutorials. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Remute is a techno artist who is bringing new meaning to "minimalism." Revolting against our maximalist culture, Denis Karimani (aka Remute) programmed and released his latest album on the Sega MegDrive 16-bit video game system of the 1990's (known as "Sega Genesis" in the USA). On this episode of the Music Production Podcast, Denis Karimani (aka Remute) discusses his work as an artist and how he started his own record label to pursue his artistic vision. Remute talks about how he built his album "Limited" on a 3.5 floppy disc, and how he released his latest album as a Sega MegaDrive cartridge. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Remute - Check out Remute's entire musical catalog. Technoptimistic - Remute's latest album, programmed and released on the Sega MegaDrive. Limited - Remute's album released on a 3.5 floppy disc. Trump - One of the many tracks Remute made with headline news samples. Twitter Instagram Facebook genMDM - Device for connecting MIDI to and controlling the Sega Genesis sound card. Plogue - Makers of Chipsounds and Chipsynth MD video game sound chip emulation plug-ins. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk

Dani DiCiaccio produces experimental electronic music with a hint of pop as KYOSi. She just released a new EP Negative Space. Dani has produced music for film, theatre, and podcasts. In this episode, Dani shares her thoughts on experimental music and live performance. We talked about how saying yes to a variety of different projects can help expand one's artistic horizon. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: KYOSi - Official Site SoundCloud - Keep up with Dani's new music. Instagram Facebook SoHo Shakes - Dani did music for their adaptation of Macbeth, The Sisters. Tommy Zee - Music Production Podcast about making music for brands. Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at the My Store with the code: PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk