The Music Producer's Guide to Content Creation: What you Need to Know

If you’re seeking to level-up your content creation for promoting your music, look no further than this comprehensive, all-in-one guide

Social media has become a vital cornerstone in marketing and promotion online, and as musicians, we’re no exception to the rule. Content is king in the modern world, and if we want our music to reach the desired audience, it’s essential for us to implement some kind of content-creation strategy.

Luckily, it’s becoming more accessible for everyone, no matter their background, to get hands-on with semi-professional productions right from the comfort of their home. We often already have everything we need at our disposal to get things moving in the content-creation department, minus perhaps a few upgrades if we’re truly committed. Whatever your current situation, don’t panic. We’ve put together an all-inclusive guide to content creation for DIY musicians, where you’re sure to learn a thing or two.

Photo Credit: Kyle Loftus

 

Choosing a Platform

The first thing to do as a newly-fledged content creator is decide which social platforms you’re going to focus on. Don’t be misled into trying to output top-tier content daily across every single platform. We can assure you… Most established influencers doing this have teams working behind the scenes to minimise their workload.

As a one-man army, it’s important not to spread yourself thin. We recommend starting small and building a consistent habit. That doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to a single platform, however, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself.

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For instance, Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts generally have the same guidelines for acceptable content, meaning, if you stick to a certain format, you can make one video and upload it across all platforms. That way, you’re hitting three birds with one stone. Similarly, if you prefer written-style content, X (formerly Twitter), Threads and Facebook can be approached in the same fashion.

If you’re looking to make longer videos (10-20 minutes) frequently, YouTube is probably your best bet. The point is: have a think about what specific type of content will be most convenient for you to make regularly and then consider how you’ll realistically implement an efficient strategy to deliver that content across your chosen platform(s) on a scheduled basis.

Photo Credit: Md Iftekhar Uddin Emon

 

Video Equipment

Anyone can start creating content online, as long as they have access to a smartphone with a camera and an internet connection. However, if you want your content to stand out, investing in some equipment can go a long way. Even if you can’t afford it right now, you’ll still learn some key videography principles in this section.

Camera Quality

The first thing that should be considered is the quality of your camera. Most people have heard of 4k and HD 1080p resolution and can intuitively see the difference between a video that was ‘recorded on a potato’ and one that is professional-grade.

No matter how much editing you do, you can’t turn a pixelated monstrosity into a breathtaking masterpiece, so it’s integral we capture footage in its highest quality at the first stages. For most social platforms, 1080p will cut the mustard and most phones will meet this standard. Although, if you want to go above and beyond, copping a 4K camera will make a noticeable difference.

Photo Credit: Max Vakhtbovycn

 

Lighting and Background

Following from the last section, even if you have the best camera in the world, it’s not going to be able to capture anything usable unless you put it to work in the right environment. That means, you’re going to need to think about the lighting and scene wherever you’re filming. Check out the vid below for a brief introduction to lighting in cinematography.

 

 

Of course, if you regularly film on the go, you’ll have to make use of the natural environment, time of day and whatever mobile equipment you have at your disposal. But, when filming at home, it doesn’t take much effort to learn and apply the basic principles of cinematography to your setup and make it look the part.

 

Your Computer and HDD Storage

The last video-related hardware you’ll want to consider is your editing computer and storage. Working with video is much more demanding than audio, so it helps to have a higher performance CPU and more RAM in your computer.

Likewise, video files (especially in 4K) take up a lot of storage space, so you’ll want to think about how you’ll transfer and store those files during your workflow. Getting a decent-sized SD card for your camera and a 1-2TB sized HDD/SSD for storage is a good place to start.

Photo Credit: Josh Sorenson

 

Editing Your Videos

When it comes to editing your videos, there are also some essential things you can implement to ensure your content is competing with the best and reflecting your passion. Most importantly, it’ll go a long way if you set up your editing workflow as seamlessly as possible to bosh out videos. For example, setting up project templates is a great way to streamline the process so you’re not starting from scratch each time.

Photo Credit: Donald Tong

 

Software

Choosing a primary video editing software is imperative. Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Vegas Pro and DaVinci Resolve are among the most popular, however, there are some free introductory alternatives like CapCut, Veed.io and even countless apps for mobile devices if you prefer. Canva is also a worthwhile (free) mention for editing static images and photos that you can use in your content and thumbnails.

If you’re planning to keep things simple and mainly use vertical footage from your phone, maybe you can get by with one of the free mobile apps. Yet, if you’re serious about this long-term, we recommend choosing one of the professional softwares mentioned above and sticking to it. You’ll be a wizard in no time, just like with your DAW!

 

Editing FX

Next time you watch content online, try to take note of the editing techniques being used. Do they have in-your-face subtitles with really over-the-top, loud impact sound effects? Do they have abrupt, attention-grabbing cuts with lots of stock footage?

You’ll likely notice that different influencers adopt different techniques that contribute to their signature style. One thing’s for sure: the pros know how to make the video engaging and impactful through their editing and FX placement. So, it’s worth exploring this yourself. One key aspect of editing that really separates pros from amateurs is colour-grading. Check out a guide video below.

 

 

Artificial Intelligence

In the modern world, we have access to technology beyond comprehension. Artificial intelligence is among us, so get educated on it and start to implement it into your workflow (for video and audio). From instant caption generation to audio restoration, to synthesising your own voice, AI can seriously take the most tedious chores out of your hands and do it for you, instantly.

For instance, Veed.io’s editing suite comes with autonomous subtitle generation and Adobe Premiere Pro also now has this feature built in. Whatever the task, do some Google searches, watch some YouTube videos and see how AI can speed up your workflow.

Photo Credit: Samer Daboul

 

Audio Equipment

Seeming as if you're a modern-day musician, we’re going to assume you’re already pretty up to scratch with the audio side of things. Nonetheless, we’ll cover some of the essentials here just to be sure. These are audio equipment items you’ll need if you want your content to break through the noise.

 

Microphone Setup

First thing’s first, if you want to be professional, getting yourself a decent microphone will be a worthwhile investment. With that being said, studio-grade microphones also require some extra bells and whistles before you can use them properly.

If you get a professional microphone, you’ll also need an audio interface to connect it to your computer. Or, a portable, field-recorder if you’re recording on the go. A pop-shield is another thing you’ll want to consider to ensure your vocals don’t contain any harsh popping sounds. Lastly, for your home setup, you might want to grab a swivel arm/stand for your microphone.

 

 

Recording Environment (Room Acoustics)

Next up, we have room acoustics. If you have no idea what that is, don’t worry, we’ll give you a quick overview. Essentially, think of the difference between you clapping your hands in a giant church hall, compared to a tiny wardrobe. The characteristics of the room can greatly alter the sound, and this can translate into your recordings.

So, investing in some basic acoustic panels, or an acoustic shield might be a wise investment for your home recording environment. For most people, you can get by without going the extra mile here, yet, if your room has significantly poor acoustics, it’s worth considering.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

 

Plugins and FX

The last piece of audio ‘equipment’ you’ll need is actually in the form of software. Again, we assume you’re already familiar with plugins and mixing FX if you’re reading this article, so we won’t go into too much detail.

Essentially, going beyond reach with applying some basic mixing effects like EQ and compression to your audio recordings will instantly put your content above most DIY creators. A pro-grade EQ suitable for all tasks is FabFilter Pro-Q 4. Similarly, Pro-C 2 is a great compressor option.

 

Editing Your Audio

We’ve discussed the equipment you’ll need, but what about the actual audio editing process? Just like with the video editing, there are also standards in the realm of audio that should be strived for to keep your content in the professional stratosphere.

A tool like iZotope RX is a more than reliable companion when editing audio for content creation. With RX, you don’t need to keep re-recording your vocals for the perfect take. If you have an error in your recording, whack RX on it and get it fixed in an instant, from background noise to unwanted clicks and pops, this thing will iron out the creases.

 

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)

For most of your content creation work, you can do most basic audio editing tasks within your video editing software. For instance, in Adobe Premiere Pro, and most other softwares, you can add numerous audio tracks and apply plugin FX at your disposal.

With that being said, it’s still worth mentioning that having a dedicated DAW can go a long way for more advanced projects. Naturally, your music-making background will help you excel in this regard. Don’t be afraid to produce your own background music and sound effects for your content.

 

Loudness and Volume

The most important thing to consider when handling the audio of your content is the loudness (volume). Have you ever clicked on an amateur YouTube video and cranked the sound all the way up, only to realise the sound is still almost non-existent? How about clicking on a video and the audio is only coming out of the left ear?

Well, these are things you need to avoid when prepping your content. Try to keep a reasonable and consistent loudness throughout and whack a limiter, like FabFilter Pro-L 2 on the master output to stop any clipping. You know what to do!

Photo Credit: Marinko Krsmanovic

 

Mixing FX

Aside from using a limiter to prevent clipping, it’s also recommended to use an EQ and compressor on pretty much all of your vocal recordings. If you’re always recording in the same space, with the same microphone, you can also save your vocal FX processing chain to save time in future.

In terms of sound effects, it’s really down to your imagination to process these. Once again, we’re sure your background in music production will allow you to excel in this area. Feel free to check out Trailer Sounds Volume 1: Cinematic Hits for a luscious sound pack of top-shelf impact sound effects used in video editing for enhanced transitions and cuts.

 

What About Streaming?

Okay, we’ve discussed the editing process for video content creation but… what about streaming? Isn’t that just as much a crucial part of being a ‘content creator’ in the modern world? Whilst it’s not a necessity, there are certain niches in which live-streaming can be super beneficial, and being a musician is one of them.

Photo Credit: Roberto Nickson

 

Streaming Platforms

Music artists tend to flock to Instagram Live as their go-to streaming platform. Whether they hop on for a quick Q\&A with fans, or perform a 30-60 minute live jam session, Instagram Live has all of the built-in tools you could possibly need to connect with your fans. Plus, it’s free and easily accessible from your mobile phone.

Aside from Instagram Live, musicians can still benefit from using Twitch, YouTube, or Rumble as other platforms to stream from regularly and build a community. The choice is yours.

 

OBS Studio

If you do choose one of the latter options, they’re typically more often accessed through desktop computers, rather than mobile devices, which means you can go a bit more overboard with the streaming rigs.

Whilst we won’t go fully into depth with complex streaming setups here, we can recommend OBS Studio as the most effective desktop software for streaming. With OBS, you can set up multiple screens, applications and audio sources to stream together or independently. You also have a comprehensive settings suite for advanced features. See the video below for a proper breakdown on OBS Studio.

 

 

Live Mixing FX

Just like in our Audio Editing section, we recommend adding some basic mixing effects to your audio when streaming to make sure your viewers are getting a premium experience. OBS Studio, and other softwares allow you to also load up external VST plugins on your audio tracks to apply a swathe of effects.

Once more, EQ and compression should be opted for as a baseline, with a limiter to prevent clipping. You can also save a template within OBS Studio so that all of these settings are in place each time you go to stream. Again, FabFilter Pro-Q 4, Pro-C 2 and Pro-L 2 are professional tools to suit your EQ, compression and limiting needs.

Photo Credit: Brett Sayles

 

Sound Effects

We briefly mentioned earlier about the need for digital assets for sound and visual effects during content editing. Traditionally, you’d opt for keeping a folder on your hard drive and accumulate sound files and graphics over time that you can return to when needed. However, this approach is slow and there’s just no need to take up precious space on your own computer anymore.

There are cloud-based services out there, like Loopcloud, that give you instant access to over 4 million sample files from within a launchable browser within your DAW. So, whether you’re looking for pre-made royalty free music loops, or transitional effects like whoosh or impact noises, for an affordable monthly fee, you’ll have all you need at your fingertips.

Try Loopcloud completely free for 14 days, by signing up to a trial subscription. If you plan to build your content creation into a sustainable habit, this is a great source of creative sounds for years to come.