The music advice that changed my life

[@krismelendres3266]

I'm Going to Save this Video and Watch this Everytime Im Frustrated and thinking of Giving up Learning Music Production. Thanks Joel! :)

[@KimbasAcademy]

I’m glad it helped mate!

[@matthewbackos9619]

Done ✔

[@JustMe-ql9li]

I found that my best pieces of work were the ones where i was kinda doing shit my way or even just messing around and figuring it out as i go, without really thinking too much about how im "supposed" to make music/ use plugins or sounds or whatever. It really doesnt matter what you do, if you have a vision, an inspiration or an idea, just focus on grtting there instead of focusing on the how and why

[@vitaliy.sergeev1]

I came to this industry after working as an English teacher for 7 years and there I was trapped inside all these “should and must” rules. Constantly trying to fit in to maintain Cambridge standards made me end up in overthinking. Now that I am here, I decided to care less about what I am supposed to do and just go with the flow, which also helped me with my main job.

[@ELLIOT8209]

Me all the time when I mess around

[@jeremyr8793]

so true ibstarted on reason one 20 yrs ago and made so much music so much passion n no tutorials. Then got into Logic and now ableton but watchbso much tutorials all i do is copy instread of be creative like i used to :(

[@brendanpatrickmusic]

I used to be addicted to plugins as well, and I’m happy to say that I only use a small handful now. I’ve used them consistently enough to not only create a “sound” but feel a sense of improvement because I’ve made better stuff with the same set of plugins and tools. Great Video! 🤙🏻

[@SinclairTheMage]

This is probably one of the most valuable videos regarding music on KZbin today. 👏🏾👏🏾

[@KimbasAcademy]

Wow, thank you!

[@jeremy5072]

I kept seeing this on my recommends and ignoring it as I thought it was just another video like those you showed in the begging. This is not at all what I was expecting and was a breath of fresh air. I regret sleeping on it, lol. I gave up on the plugin hype and only use a handful, I gave it up in an effort to learn how to do what those plugins do on my own. Thanks for this video, Joel! I like your vibe!

[@howtomusictutorials]

Guys the most important plugin is built in in every daw, it s called the mute button and comes for free. Less is more...

[@ags911]

Having less is more. There’s a small collection of plugins I use to craft my sound, more plugins means you waste time tinkering instead of working on your sound.

[@b00ts4ndc4ts]

Take more time on the sound you choose to use and your music production will get better, is the best advice. One of my best arrangements was made with the lite version of Ableton and I didn't use any plugins. It consists only six tracks but each of them work to compliment one and other. So I challenge you to make a 2 1/2 minutes track using only one with midi drums, one for a bass line and one for melody. Test yourself to come up with something interesting.

[@lillehammerexperimental]

My template session is 4 tracks - drums, bass, pad, vocal

[@b00ts4ndc4ts]

@@lillehammerexperimental that sounds perfect to me and all the right ingredients for a good track. Less is more, I think people over use there sound's a lot of the time. But saying that, the only time you need more is if you are transitioning from one type of sonically sounds to too another, although you need to know why you are doing it and not in the mind set of ' i'll put that in and use this because I've just down loaded all these new sample and plugins I have just paid for'. Best of look with all your projects and hope to hear them soon.

[@blainetoms]

the new martin scorsese of storytelling.

[@toma6742]

I can tell you 100% that gear and software don't matter as much, i thought i absolutely needed a 49+ key midi keyboard, but the song that i'm most proud about was made with only a laptop when i took a study break in the library. I pirated Native Instruments Komplete 13, which is arguably one of the best/ most comprehensive plugins ever and my songs still sound like dogshit, i then deleted it. Its true to some degree that gear and plugins bring some quality to your sound, but its a tiny fraction compared to genuine experience. I read something that sounds a bit bleak, but actually gave me some hope. "You start out making terrible music, and after making hundreds of terrible songs, you'll make something not too terrible. You'll get to the point where you can consistenly make something not terrible and after hundreds not terrible songs, you'll make something halfway decent, you keep grinding. After hundreds of halfway decent songs, one day you'll make something pretty good and after hundreds of pretty good songs, you'll make something awesome. How long this road takes is up to you, keep practicing and you'll get better." Also don't be discouraged by things like a 15 y/o producer getting placements or some dude younger than you making a billboard hot 100 song, this isn't a race. Success is success even at 40/50/60 and so on. Put the work in, stay passionate and you'll get there eventually.

[@b00ts4ndc4ts]

I started out with a 25 key midi and it actually held back my work flow but once I got myself an 88 key midi nothing gets in the way now. I think that once you find what works for you. My best advice would be to take more time selecting the right sound and having a clear idea what you want to do. Saying that, some times all it takes is the right idea. Just choosing one great sound and trying to build round that one sound will hold you back. But then some times all it takes is that one sound and it writes itself.

[@MartinAlegroMusic]

I feel you

[@adriejudd4811]

Amazing Video mate and so true.. It's taken me a while to get into this mindset, One Day it just Clicked and I deleted any plugin that I don't use regularly, my work flow, performance, output and quality of music I'm making has improved massively.....

[@lillehammerexperimental]

Thanx bro - world needs this message - I’m still on Live 9 suite with a Push1 going into 2024 - if I can’t make it happen with that - yep it’s all on me - thing is I’m happy and there’s plenty of great free VSTs to use anyways.

[@mitchmarsili]

It's simple, take some hit songs and try to recreate them using only stock plugins, if you can it means that spending a lot of money on gears is useless ... I agree with you! If you are a true artist you can also produce on a desert island using coconuts.

[@kudzy11]

👏🏽.... 👏🏽👏🏽.. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽... Everyone stands up 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Bravo

[@Jahk-mode876]

i stopped looking for plugins in general and seek the tool to help me do a particular job better, i stop buying the whole bundle and buy the particular tool... my pocket and cpu loves me for it😂

[@trilllzaza]

Thank u, it helped me realize i was not alone, appreciate u, love from croatia

[@KimbasAcademy]

Thanks mate, glad it helped!

[@CarsonHoy]

Plugins changed everything for me. Straight up they made the difference.

[@wokemadeit2826]

What he’s saying is there’s basically a margin of diminishing returns in terms of plugins. You only need a handful of top quality plugins to do the job. For example, Fabfilter offers, imo, the best digital tools ever. If you take time to learn it that’s all you need for compression, tone shaping, mixing, mastering etc. you don’t need 100s of UAD plugins worth 1000s of dollars. Learn to make the best of the tools you have.

[@rcecil88]

Very well said. You have to persist and keep trying and trying. It’s easy to forgot to have fun.

[@roymitchell5894]

Absolutely Golden Advice!! Thank you

[@penguinnoodle]

Fantastic video Joel! 😀

[@KimbasAcademy]

Thanks so much mate

[@dilbydj]

Great video mate. Couldn't agree more.

[@KimbasAcademy]

Thanks mate, I'm a big fan of your content keep up the great work!

[@jab8823]

i like this point of view on things, but one thing to remember is that if you take a tool away from a builder like a hammer or something, he will struggle to perform his task correctly, or worse, never give him the hammer from day one, and he'll never understand life could've been so much easier than smacking a piece of brick against nails and hoping it works, wondering why all the other builders are doing things better and easier than him, ensuring you have the essentials and knowing how to use them is important, replacing old plugins for better sounding and more variation is always great, but the focus should be more on making things sound good, and if stock sounds good, master it, don't change it unless you really have to, learning too much is bad, learning too little prevents you from succeeding, learning what you need to know to get the job done is ideal, find what works, and perfect tf out of it.

[@_HOLDON]

That intro hot close to home... Damn...

[@vascobarbeitos2921]

Great video! Thanks for your honesty :)

[@efeminella]

Great Points! One Minor observation, your near fields placements should be reversed; that is, the tweeters should be positioned outside, thus more closely producing a more natural image (low end closer to center).

[@joeysanchezmusic1]

Joel’s always dropping the gems

[@KimbasAcademy]

Thank you mate 🙏🏻

[@leonthelover]

Very wise, and well said mate!!

[@KimbasAcademy]

Thanks mate!

[@KPUFFMUSIC]

great advice. needed to hear this

[@KimbasAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DamnCam83]

I still find myself wanting more plugins a lot, but the only thing that’s ever helped me was just taking the time to try things out. I’m just terrible with money and fall for good marketing easily. 😂 This is the perfect advice though. I hope this helps out someone that really needs it.

[@KimbasAcademy]

Haha I totally agree mate! Thanks 🙏

[@SevAnsdigg-123]

Amazing speech brother. Amen!

[@Grxef]

Its funny how so many of the plugins i've downloaded i barely use and this video proves what a friend was saying to me. It's about experience and knowledge, not the tools. BTW... You posted this on my birthday and i watched it 8 days later.

[@stiptreezy8481]

This is very true. I spent many years working with some usb Logitech speakers that had the tiniest sub ever and actual $10 headphones from big lots. While I may not have been making the most informed decisions the time put in still taught me a lot. Nowadays I am confident using stock plugins and built in MacBook speakers, not to say I still don’t use studio monitors and 3rd party plugins, just saying that the practice will definitely get you there if you are willing to put in the work!

[@KimbasAcademy]

Yes mate! I was quite lucky and could afford relatively good speakers from the get go! If I look back now though, headphones would’ve been just fine for a while! I actually love working from coffee shops so I find myself producing in AirPods more and more these days!

[@sour412music]

I started on FL in 99 my bm broke my ext hard drive with everything in 09 I dabbled a few times but started again about 7 months ago seriously. I used to use just a crap pc and crap head head phones.

[@AirArtStudiosOfficial]

Never more true a word said❤

[@giannipetrocelli472]

I thought always I need outboard stuff like fancy analog synths and whatever. After a while I discovered that it's only one thing you need. Passion and fun. And don't hit the studio if you're not in mood. To get in mood, listen to some favorite tracks and be inspired from this tracks. Ableton has all you need from the gear side. But what I highly recommend is to treat your room. It's not that expensive and you can do it yourself. Than measure your room with sonarworks. Here begins the fun and you stop the guesswork

[@krzysiekmlodzik]

Love this, brother!

[@diemcarpemusic]

Let me buy RC 20 Retro and looperator before I take this advice 🙏

[@vitaliy.sergeev1]

That’s some Matt d’Avella from producer’s niche of YT! That level of video production and the message is really smth! Keep it up, man!

[@shanelarue8162]

preach. I love the new school stuff like fabfilter amd soothe, but between that and some basic compressors, 1 delay (h-delay for me), 1 verb (slate verb for me) and transient shaping what else does one need? Oh yeah, creativity and good ideas lol. I think thats what frustrates beginners most. They have to wade through the sea of plugins and forget to be creative

[@stefdazzle3075]

Wow, thanks for the advice! Will keep this in mind!

[@Chris_Genex]

Wise words mate

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

I dont new gear or plugins because I think it will make Me sound better, I buy them to have something fresh and spark new creativity. I also buy stuff for a spicific task they can do faster or more efficient then what I currently have. Finally Buy stuff when it's a good deal like 50% off.

[@Juliano_DJOL]

I can be a little guilty of this too, more so back in the day, but it's also nice to have shiny new things! Don't get me wrong I love some spices like RC-20 and fancie filters, but if u know what your doing u can use anything to get almost the same result!

[@samuellizotte5764]

Thank you so much for this!🙏

[@shimono992]

you're a legend mate!

[@taylortorrenceofficial]

Nailed it

[@oktaviopd5279]

Maaaan thanks for this! While watching this I just remembered that I bought tantra 2 and for what???? I haven’t even opened ableton in like a month!

[@KimbasAcademy]

Don’t beat yourself up! We all do it mate!

[@matheussoares7909]

amazing video bro thank you so much, that helped a lot

[@KimbasAcademy]

Glad to hear it!

[@neondemon4852]

Love this advice.

[@Steelmack]

This was very very helpful!

[@milkyfella.beatstore]

Agreed 💯

[@juanimingardo]

amazing video. thank you

[@theycallmeakid6992]

Finally someone Said it...

[@harryandrews3347]

Great video

[@tsucotoctoc5074]

Amazing things you Can do with simple words. Also with simple tools. Its so easy to look outside and think that you are not gonna achieve anything in this life without effort. Guys, an advice for everyone who are starting in this industry: It will not gonna be easy. Stand up, go to Studio and sit down everyday. There is not a magic trick or something that you Can do to accelerate the process. Enjoy the process. Believe in your work and NEVER GIVE UP.

[@simonvandenheever8571]

While there is truth to this there are definite limitations with cheaper gear, especially with monitoring.

[@GG-ow3ke]

But if you know your speakers or headphones, so they say, you can mix on them perfectly well. Enough experience makes you overcome that too. Or do you disagree?

[@simonvandenheever8571]

@@GG-ow3ke I think you can do good mixes on budget gear if you're used to your reference. Even so, there is definitive cap on how good your mix is based on how well you can hear something e.g if the same mixing engineer was fully used to his reference and mixed the same song on £30 000 ATCs and the other was £200 headphones I'm certain the mix on ATC's would win every time. You cant listen to what your monitoring system cannot replicate.

[@cl-zachwilliamsstudios3358]

True!

[@sour412music]

Wasting money is way less worse than the previous

[@HelpIwantToLeave]

Great video man

[@prodbytiger]

It depends on what you're trying to create...For example: Yes you could make a fantastic drawing with a piece of chalk, however you wouldn't be able to accurately recreate the mona lisa with all the skill in the world. Same goes for music. Ive sold beats that I've made and mixed on my bed with some earbuds, but I when it comes to mixing full songs for clients, i would never do that.

[@prodbytiger]

Im not referring to plugins when i say chalk. Investing money into your monitoring is going to serve you wayyyyyy better than any plugin you could ever buy.

[@nolimitsouljuh]

Love this video but man where did you get that couch? i need that!

[@RaymondValadez7777]

YESSSSS

[@vadimalmazov4572]

💯 agreed

[@prodbyak_6278]

I’m thinking of making the switch from FL to ableton live. How much more do you get for your buck with going for the most expensive one?

[@trapbeatproducer]

Love this! Especially when you pasted Ed Talenti's face 😂😭 my god 😁😁😁 that's jokes man 😁😭 It's my first time watching one of your videos! Blame - good choice of word to explain this type of behaviour. Your sofa is sick! 🛋😁 Nobody probably cares but I used to have five VST's installed, I now have two! Just two! One of which I made myself (drums). A friend of mine made Hensive VST and it's all I need. Once you've got a piano, some guitars, a few keys, strings, etc, that's it ! Since using just one VST I made 11 beats in the last two weeks; two of which are sold. We don't need loads of VST's, we just need one with the basic sounds. Don't buy more VST's. Get a music lawyer if you're serious. Forgot to say, I use a MacBook Pro M1 16GB and mix on 15€ JBL earphones (JBL T160) *drops mic* 🎙 💻 🎹 🎛 🔊

[@samuelpeterson7328]

thanks

[@Juliano_DJOL]

I agree

[@djundeux]

Boss !

[@sivisvitamparamortem]

I kind of disagree with this, but do understand where he is coming from. For ableton I would recommend anyone to invest in a professional EQ - ie. fabfilter Pro-Q 3 as it can do so much more than the standard 8-band EQ. Depending on what style of music you make the stock tools in ableton will definitely get you started, but you will reach a wall at some point and you will need to look at certain plug-ins as a means to expand your creativity. Definitely check out MAX for live which offers tons of free tools ie. sequencers, effects, groove boxes. etc that will go beyond what you can do with stock plug-ins. With 3rd party plug-ins the important thing to do is research before purchasing them and ask yourself the question - "do I really need this?" (in the case of an EQ like the pro-Q3, its definitely YES!!), and when you get started with one ensure that you get to learn how to use it and how the plug in works for you to get the most out of it.

[@a2bs333]

Very well said! This is something all producers need to hear. Wishing you all the best on your musical journey.

[@KimbasAcademy]

Much appreciated!

[@BlackCee99]

🙏

[@dm2779]

I would consider turning around your speakers. There is really no point in putting the tops inside. You Are loosing the width of the Stereo field.

[@Bthelick]

you think all that (in your intro) and then you realise terrible sounding tracks like "house every weekend" or some viral 13 year old trap kid with a bedroom mix that has zero bottom end have 100 million streams and you realise the mix has nothing to do with it, so don't worry! get on with it.

[@penguinnoodle]

Joel, can you recommend any sample packs for someone like myself about to take the beginners course? Thanks

[@Swiftopher755]

Sample market artist packs are cool

[@TheNxtzHD]

Depends on your taste but since you follow his course I recommend buying the Sidney charles samplepack. Great kicks, percussion etc. Max Chapman uses it in his course a lot as well👍🏽

[@KimbasAcademy]

Hey mate! Yes Sample market ones are great! Choose some artists you like the sound of and go from there ✌🏻

[@georget30000]

Are you on Spotify?

[@KimbasAcademy]

Not anymore mate! I will go back to releasing music at some point 😁

[@georget30000]

@@KimbasAcademy Discography? I ask because I like your teaching but a lot of teachers out there that haven’t released much. Check out Dilby on the other hand.

[@KimbasAcademy]

Search for Kimba mate, you’ll find some old bits! I stopped my artist career when I became a teacher. It’s a tough ask to do both!

[@FurkanTopal]

I thought this is gonna be solid video about music production, you were going to teach something useful about mixing or mastering because the thumbnail is "stop making this mistake" specifying with an arrow on some mixing plugins but you're talking about psychological and emotional things, as a person, who seeks for only material knowledge (as you mentioned the self-disciplined ppl in the video), I felt you stole my time dude, your vid is sincere and accountable though, but please next time use a better thumbnail by informing what's this video about.

[@Ffhh391]

You have talent or you have not! So go doing something else

[@domdraper3221]

Best music comes from a profi with top tools