Music Production Podcast

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

David Abravanel has worked with some of the most important companies in music production. He has done marketing work for Ableton, Eventide, and Sensel. He writes for Ableton's blog, Create Digital Music, and many more. He always seems to be right in the middle of the action. On this episode, David shares his experience working for various music production companies. As a confessed plug-in hoarder, he shares some of his favorite plug-ins. David shares his knowledge about live performance with a DAW and/or modular synthesizers. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play or Spotify; watch on YouTube Show Notes: Official Site - The home of David's work. Bandcamp - Listen to some of David's music. Instagram - Keep track of David's work and musical jams. Presets by Stefan Goldman Eventide's Physion Mosaic by Echo Bit 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