Now that I’ve got your attention, let me first clarify that I’m not badgering the computer producer. Many of you know that I also produce and record music in software as well as welcome the era of today’s music technology. However, I truly feel sorry for (what we call) mouse and click producers (namely because of their spoiled and inconsiderate behavior, and lack of work ethic), because there is no way they would have survived producing music just less than 15 years ago. They want everything to be spoon-fed to them while whining like babies needing pacifiers.

Briefly Taking You Back A Few Years

Imagine recording and mixing your music without ‘having or needing a waveform’ to ‘show’ what you are doing? Just some short time ago music-makers and engineers studied and learned how to hear their music. They processed and shaped their sound by what they heard, and didn’t depend on a visual preset. They didn’t need a grid or a map to know when a sample was in place. Every knob on an out-board processor had meaning and significant value because the producer knew how each one developed their sound. Many would perform various music editing techniques without a monitor. Picture that!!! (*pun intended) They respected their craft and the gear they produced it on. They didn’t make excuses every time someone didn’t like their music. They knew when to go back to the drawing board as ‘time and effort’ wasn’t an option; it was a must! They were patient and didn’t expect overnight success. If they had a room full of gear, it was not to impress their hangout cheering squad, and you better believe they knew how to use each piece proficiently.

There was no such thing as producing a track in 10 minutes, and if there was such a rare occasion, they were too ashamed to ‘brag’ about it because of their incredible work ethic. I know this all too well because I am a product of that era, and I have to say, I’m proud and honored!!! I developed a discipline because a certain chip of respect for the craft was embedded in me and I learned how to work with what I paid for and get better than satisfactory results.

The Importance

I think it’s important to be grateful for the gear you have and more importantly learn to use it and stop depending on software and hardware developers to spoon-feed you because you can’t function without ‘a function’. Sure, if we spend our money on a product, we expect it to do what it says it does… and some of us forget that it does!!!  It’s okay to create a wish-list, but respect your gear enough to know that you didn’t buy it for what it does not do or does not have!  And while it would be great to have all the tools you need in place; try focusing on getting the best out of what you have… and lose the spoiled and whiny attitude!

The responsibility in music today is a gross effect of the mentality surrounding it.

Photo Credit: Crying Baby by Brandon Baunach