Inside the Studio - Doing what it takes for the song to survive

Not all songs have the same intent. Some people write songs for themselves, some write songs for other people to perform, and some compose songs for placement in commercials, films, and TV.

Similarly, the production that goes into the song should have specific intent. Where is the song destined? Is it a demo or a finished production master? Is this the final approved version of the song, or will there need to be multiple versions? While this later part emphasizes function over form, knowing where your song is going and what type of mix you need to deliver are sometimes as important as the song itself. With that in mind, here are some quick tips for both singer / songwriters and engineers to consider.