Music Producers and Audio Engineers: Their Responsibilities & Functions Music producers and audio engineers have different functions although they are commonly confused. A music producer determines the direction a song will go while an audio engineer takes care of all of the technical and practical aspects of recording, shaping, mixing, and delivering that song to the listener. As a songwriter, producer, recording artist, DJ, and audio engineer, Bear Cole uses each of the five terms to define his role within his independent process. All five of these roles have direct communication with each other.
A Music Producer: Directing the Creative Process
The creative process for a recording is directed by the music producer. This may include choosing songs to record, creating arrangements, choosing instruments, guiding performers, creating beats, creating sounds, scheduling sessions, editing material, or setting the mood of the recording. Songwriting and production are linked together in Bear Cole's process. The sounds used around a lyric or melody are part of the composition itself, not simply decorative elements added later. A music producer's primary concern is what the song needs. A music producer then determines when a decision has been made based on what is best for the song, not just to make the song sound busier.
Arranging & Songwriting
A single melody may lead to a variety of recordings including an acoustic version, a dance version, an alternative rock version, a hip-hop version using samples, or a movie soundtrack version. The producer determines which version will convey the message of the song most effectively. Arranging involves determining when the various components of a song (lyrics, melodies, harmonies) enter the mix, leave the mix, repeat themselves, or change in relation to one another. Arranging also controls how the energy level changes in a song and when new information is introduced to the listener. A music producer may decide to eliminate a section of a song, lengthen a specific point in a song, change the rhythm beneath a lyric, reduce the amount of instrumentation in a song, or add contrast.
Performance Direction
Although technical accuracy does not always equate to the correct performance, a music producer evaluates a performance for its character, intention, and emotional validity. Even though a vocalist's performance may contain slight errors, it may communicate more clearly than a technically perfect performance. When an independent artist works independently, this translates into self-direction — switching back and forth between performing and evaluating without allowing focus on technical aspects to obscure emotional response.
An Audio Engineer: Recording & Managing Sound
An audio engineer records and manages sound. When recording, an audio engineer can choose and place microphones, adjust levels of gain, route signals, utilize recording software, monitor recordings, and create dependable session files. Following recording, an audio engineer can edit recordings, clean up recordings, balance recordings, process recordings, mix recordings, conduct quality checks on recordings, and prepare recordings for release and distribution. An audio engineer must preserve the integrity of the creative decisions made during the recording process. Good engineering removes barriers to success while maintaining the qualities that contributed value to the original performance.
Recording Is Not Merely Hitting Record
Recording is comprised of many decisions. The physical space in which a recording occurs affects the selection of microphone. The type of microphone selected affects the tonal qualities of the recording. The placement of the microphone relative to the performer affects the balance between direct sound from the performer and ambient sound from the surrounding area. Performers respond to what they hear. Audio engineers listen prior to hitting record. Is the source creating the desired tone? Is the microphone capturing what is important? Can fixing the problem more naturally be accomplished through changing the performance or placement? The goal is not simply creating a waveform.
It is capturing expressive sound.
Editing Without Losing the Essence of the Person
Digital editing can correct timing problems, remove undesirable noise, combine multiple performances together and eliminate distractions.
However, digital editing can also remove character from performances. If every single note is placed onto a perfectly aligned grid, a performance may lose its flow. If every single breath is removed from a vocal performance, that vocal performance may seem disconnected from humanity. An audio engineer must distinguish between a problem and a personality. "The machine can measure it. The ear decides."
What Occurs During Mixing?
Mixing involves combining all of the individual components of a recording into a cohesive whole. A mix engineer adjusts numerous parameters including level (volume), stereo placement (positioning left/right in space), tone (frequency response), dynamics (changes in volume over time), depth (perception of distance), effects (added sonic elements) and automation (changes in parameters over time) so that listeners understand where priorities are. A mix is not designed to make every component equally audible. Rather than attempting to make every component equally audible, a mix establishes perspective: which components are telling the story? Which components seem close? Which components appear behind those components?
How does emotional scale change throughout a song?
Releasing Music
After a mix has been completed, there are still a few steps that must occur before it can be released to listeners. Releases may require specific formats, resolutions, metadata, artwork relationships, clean versions (no swearing etc.), instrumental versions or alternate mixes.
Additionally, an independent producer/engineer will usually save sessions, document credits for each song/mix etc., organize master files and provide options for future revisions. These tasks are less noticeable to listeners but they protect the music itself.
Why Independent Artists Often Perform Both Roles
Independent artists typically work alone or with limited staff. This creates both freedom and obstacles. Emotional attachment to one's own creation can create difficulties when evaluating technical aspects of that creation. Conversely, excessive perfectionism regarding technical details can slow down creative development. Bear Cole's method combines both roles through a common goal — accountability to the song itself.
Experience Production & Engineering in Context
To observe how songwriting/production/engineering/performance combine across releases visit Bear Cole's music catalog. Genre guides illustrate how these decisions vary across genres/styles. To learn more about Bear Cole's DJ foundation — especially concerning rhythm/sequencing — visit DJ Bear Cole. You can view additional examples of Bear Cole's broader professional endeavors at Bear Cole Professional. The producer helps define what the song will become. The engineer helps ensure that listeners can hear/experience it. When both roles work together — technology disappears into the final product — leaving only the music.