Becoming a Better Music Producer By Being Generic

Support my Work Here
linktr.ee/zenworld
In this video, I talk about why being unique is one of the worst pieces of advice new producers and intermediate producers get. It's not that the direction is wrong; it's just that it's given at the wrong time in a producer's journey. We are all inspired by some artists, and our goal should be to sound as good as them before becoming unique. Being generic at first can help increase your skills in songwriting and arrangement. You don't have to guess what sounds you want to use, and you don't have to destroy a decently written song. Once you have the sound and sound as good as the pros, you can embark on a journey of finding your sound if you haven't already seen it.
Timestamps
00:00 Why Being Unique Is Bad Advice?
03:41 My Bad Unique BASS
04:20 How To Make Deep House Bass In Operator
07:50 Be The Best GENERIC Version of Yourself
10:56 Improve More In Songwriting Being Generic
11:39 MY OUTRO RANT
Follow Me
zenworldmusic
zenworldmusic
zenworldmusic
www.soundcloud.com/zenworldmusic
Follow Evolution Of Sound
eospodcast
www.soundcloud.com/eospodcast
evosounds
Visit Our Website for Free Sounds VIP Sounds and sample packs.
www.evosounds.com

[@FourthCo]

You gotta learn the rules before you can break them

[@nico-yh5kn]

This!!!!!!

[@DSVN23]

Facts !

[@returnfall]

This is exactly what I needed to hear. I am stuck trying to make something too unique which leads to me not releasing or even finishing any music anymore. Thanks Zen!

[@JamesHype]

Sick video bro ❤

[@musicbyarron]

2:25 is absolutely key. We should really listen to this advice because for myself personally, this whole obsession with being unique and the common perfectionist approach to this idea totally screws me up. Mark Knight recently did a studio video and basically gave similar advice, the packs are all there, they have been (mostly) designed by professionals and we should be open to using them in whatever way we like. Also Steve Angello made a hit off of a Vengeance melody loop back in the day, so... I guess this is the challenge, reminding ourselves about this. Easier said than done though of course. Cheers for the great video man

[@KhaledBeatz92]

ive been listening to this track at the gym, such a banger. I don't care that Korg M1 bass hits everytime, never gets old!

[@ZenWorld]

Thanks bro

[@TheProducerSchool]

Love the approach you're talking about in this video. Really useful for (beginner) producers!

[@jay-c.k.]

True! Simplifying sounds, melodies and bass lines has been a major factor to achieve the sound quality I dreamed of as a beginner 🙏🏼

[@cekirdekci32]

Great video, First of all i love this song super catchy I listen to this song, and again why your videos are so dope , less is more and this is a great demonstration of it. I swear over-producing is the issue of many producers they dont even know yet. Another very good advice here: dont sound shitty when you are trying to sound unique

[@chrisstage6954]

Bruh this couldn’t have been timed more perfectly to pop up at the top of my feed. Droppin knowledge as usual!!

[@victorbocanegra7487]

Love your content and teaching mang!

[@Tendixmusic]

thanks man. needed this

[@soulecemusic]

Good video, nice vibes on your track btw 🙏

[@Screaming-Trees]

True innovation is extraordinarily difficult. It is difficult to even describe just how difficult it is. It's worth keeping in mind but you have to crawl before you can sprint at the Olympics.

[@DSVN23]

I came to this conclusion this week, great to have my theory confirmed by you zen 🙏🏻

[@mrgibonskc]

Great advices man, as always:)💪👌

[@alexapelgrim]

Watched the whole already. Amazing 🗿

[@soulecemusic]

I agree w the basic generic thing. It took me 3 years to get a track out and I felt so much pressure to be unique but it held me back. Was hard enough to get something solid that was generic kinda but it gave me momentum. So, positive vibes 🙏

[@Crimsenmusic]

Once you get to a really high level of understanding then you can finally understand what is moveable and immovable piece of the style

[@Manilck]

probably my favourite track from you too! 🔥

[@HighlyDecorated]

Used these tips on my latest release - thank YOU!

[@cekirdekci32]

Thanks!

[@joelazzara703]

Bro, I’m a bald man in his 40’s and still making music but you cut us oldies real deep 😂 give the elderly some love!!! Keep up the great work 👍

[@ZenWorld]

I’m 31 I’m headed there haha

[@Cardamusic]

This is so spot on 🙏

[@CristianArangomusic]

Beautiful Video

[@rogerroger8670]

That IS Cool man 🔥😎

[@shawtunes]

thank you Zen

[@danjers77]

hahahah sometimes it's difficult trying to sound even generic...🤣

[@selfslain3520]

For real i can never properly emulate someone elses style i just always end up down the rabbithole of experimenting. The end result sounds nothing like the artist anymore lol

[@nico-yh5kn]

As a beginner I also struggle with this. Just getting something to sound "the way it‘s supposed to" can be very difficult - Especially for Sound Design & Synthethis …Luckly there‘s presets

[@danjers77]

@@nico-yh5kn amen

[@kaitsu9608]

Most useful sounds are mostly really simple.

[@mathieudubois7374]

@@nico-yh5kn Kaitsu is right, many used sounds are wuite simpel. I can highly recommend Synthorial, it really helps with those basic sounds and understanding how to get there

[@FourthCo]

"Human centipede vibe" when explaning fm bass routing 😂😂

[@kristofferjohansen2780]

I used this vocal awhile back on one of my tracks as well 😂 pretty decent vocal for being on splice 🙌🏻

[@DanielRivera-wn7ne]

My favorite plugin for frequency dependent sidechaining is Waves C6 sidechain EQ. Super flexible since it's multiband.

[@petro6883]

Damn, I've been off the channel too long, Zens been releasing tracks

[@user-qp5be2hq2i]

Do you have Sound Design Videos for analog, meld..?

[@6Litz_]

Promote that shit bro! Anyone complaining is a hater! 🗣🗣🗣 tracks a banger 🔥🔥🔥

[@derek-iz6gx]

"the 80's and the 70's and the 60's and the 80's" lol

[@branchyapple]

12:14 Zen did you realise, David called a track Odyssey, probs because he used the sounds from you I cant find this sound pack :(

[@ZenWorld]

That song came out way before I released ODYSSEY haha

[@don_huzan]

I have reached a state of zen from this video

[@vestanpance99]

Haha…I’m a bald man in his 40’s. Love your videos. Get something out of all of them.

[@ricardojmestre]

Me too :)

[@antihero5518]

IMHO, it boils down to where you want your music to go. If you want your music (with vocals or not) to be heard and shared by a lot of people, then it HAS to resonate with others through familiarity, replay-ability, relatable themes, etc. If you want your sound to be "unique" and YOU appreciate it then would that's enough in itself. "Unique" and "Generic" are such dirty words in generally because people (especially those who try to be soooo unique) think one is more "artistic" than the other. Your bleepity-bleep-bloops made with a euro rack isn't better than that pop song on the radio just because it's obscure. A billboard hit isnt more valid than a 10min evolving ambient track just because it has 10000000 streams.

[@ogtraxx]

How can I become a student??

[@DSWL_]

😂 im a bald man in my 40s and i was literally like ay i kinda like that sound 💀

[@KhaledBeatz92]

finding that preset in the Korg is so annoying tho.

[@joaoR9988]

Sometimes simple does not mean its easy

[@nico-yh5kn]

«Only a bald man in his 40s would say this is a dope sound» Hahahahahahahah

[@LeftCat]

Me as a bald 41-year-old man, "LOL, WTF?"

[@DaddaPsy]

Moby's like "What?"

[@dubbledubble]

Bro thinking about you is 🔥. I played it at all my pool parties. The only suggestion I could make is you and matillo could have done a better Job with the uplifter pluck thing around 1.08. It just comes in out of nowhere and sounds generic AF loool

[@ZenWorld]

Yes funny story I lost the project so we thought the build was empty so we just added it over the master X_X Good ears lol

[@hey_maurice]

“It’s like an orgy… of waves and stuff!” 😂 Not sure if this helps me better understand FM synthesis or orgies. 🤣

[@soulecemusic]

Love the drug and sex analogies 😅 -makes sense to us all tho lol

[@abrahamclark767]

4:42 no love for wavetable?

[@MichaelJCaboose013]

Presets are the GOAT. Use them and don't apologize

[@calimodmusic]

😍

[@SweepsBeats]

Wish I got this advice 10 years ago

[@MrMikomi]

That M1 bass doesn't gel with the guitar, in my opinion. Just my opinion.

[@ZenWorld]

It's OK

[@Rzn8B58]

emulate, then innovate.

[@aonain09]

2:25 in thinking about you :´(

[@rikkshow]

Hey, Steve Angelo stole that bass line. The original was done by Stonebridge, the original Show Me Love track.. He is the OG organ bass inventor. I've worked with him, really a nice guy. Just an FYI.

[@derekpegues8103]

DAVID GWETTA

[@OZI_DJ]

Everytime i watch your videos, i realize that i suck at producing :D

[@5T45H]

I'm bald in my 37 and that preset on v lab still sounds meh 😐. Maybe in 3 years I will be rocking it who knows But I just want to be in that testimonials just the heavyweight there Hall of fame.

[@ZenWorld]

😂😂😂

[@joedriver2588]

Both basses sound good. I think your original bass sound could have worked as well. Good tune though dude.

[@techno303808909]

generic is so overrated, we all are unique, so we always come up with something that really is best fit. what works, works, you still gotta do it yourself and find those sounds that complement each

[@zbit1625]

Chris Lake has produced house music for closer to 30 years homie

[@ZenWorld]

Jesus BRO I didn't know

[@zbit1625]

@@ZenWorld ya bro

[@zbit1625]

@@ZenWorld “Changes” with Laura V back in 2006 was such an epic tune

[@KingKhage]

Hahahaha human centrpede vibe

[@CademanLillywhite]

Bald man in his 40s .. I'm offended.

[@sodapopgrease]

Not his fault you like the sound

[@naturesdopeflow]

Don’t be hating on bald men in their 40s 😅

[@decapitateallcops3214]

Glass straws are for chicks

[@DanielRivera-wn7ne]

Stop dissing us poor boomers :( lol

[@Gino_567]

If you can go one video without mentioning Chris Lake, I'm going to donate to your only fans.

[@ZenWorld]

300$ AND IT's A dEAL

[@abrahamclark767]

But is it basic 😂

[@edblas9186]

what happened to your face???

[@jeremyformerlyknownastoken8218]

Not meant as hate but better producer worse artist

[@ZenWorld]

HAHAH YESSS