Engineers and Producers
What’s the difference between an engineer and a producer? It’s an interesting question since often times the lines are blurred. If a band comes into the studio and they simply want to capture a live recording, they likely need a solid engineer with mixing skills. Someone who can capture a moment without coloring the recording or influencing the overall sound beyond making fundamental mixing choices. A lot of producers get their start as engineers. They are responsible for microphone placement, signal routing, and the the technical details surrounding a recording session. Sometimes this is all the band needs when trying to capture a recording of a live performance. When an engineer becomes responsible for making sonic decisions, influencing musical choices, and generally helping shape the direction of a recording, the engineer is exploring the role of a producer. Often times this is an organic process, when the relationship between a band and an engineer evolves into something more.
The role of the producer is not so easily categorized. There thousands of decisions that are made during the recording process. Which guitar, which amp, drum heads, arrangements, instrumentation, dynamics, song key, vocal melodies and inflection, harmonies – those are just a few of the choices that are made before anything has been recorded. Tones, reverbs, featured instruments, spatial aspects, relative volumes, effects, choosing takes – these are all choices the producer is faced with on a daily basis. There are countless musical decisions, though sometimes it’s more about moving the recording process through creative gridlock. Musicians who have spent years in a band will tell you it’s like being married to 3, 4, 5 people. Understanding that dynamic and helping a band navigate some of the challenging times in the studio are all part of the process.
For a band, having an objective voice as part of the recording process is invaluable. Finding someone who believes in the music, while still voicing honest opinions about ideas and performances is the foundation for a strong producer and musician relationship. Beyond that, someone who understands the appropriate aesthetic and can help sonically shape the recordings in a way that achieves these goals, while simultaneously capturing a compelling performance. Sometimes it’s great experiment in the studio, exploring interesting sounds. There’s a time and a place for experimentation, which can lead material into a special and unique territory and sometimes that’s how songs are written. Ultimately, what serves the song and will help communicate the material is what’s paramount to the process. When a band and the producer are aligned in the vision for the project, there is a sense of unity and belief that you’re working on something special. When these ideals are met, inspiration strikes and the magic that happens in the studio can help shape a musician’s career.
