5 Habits I Had To UNLEARN To Become A Better Music Producer

[@deeprestredemption]

"if the reference track sounds terrible, all you have to do is make your track sound terrible in the exact same way, and you are good!" this is probably the most underrated advice you can give someone

[@Dull3n2]

genius advice fr

[@jeffreyhanc1711]

That’s the problem with so much music today: everybody copying everybody. Try making your music suck in your own UNIQUE sucky way.

[@alecgoldberg303]

he's the goat

[@kategoss5454]

@@jeffreyhanc1711 If every novelist made up a language for every book, nobody would read them. You learn to talk from copying your parents, friends, media, and reflecting on what suits your purposes. Music is the same- learn languages, and make sentences. They need to make sense to you, so you need to develop your own sense of your tastes and opinions. And crucially, musicians need to appropriate techniques, such as the use of instruments, keys, modes, styles, rhythms, arrangements, motifs, or whatever else inspires you.

[@ace-smith]

@@kategoss5454 a+. people get too hung up on unrealistic and arbitrary ideas of "uniqueness"

[@ctrainbeats]

hell yea, i knew after 10 years the reason my music sucks is because of my car

[@TheTonyTitan]

😂😂😂

[@IsraelMolina1997]

Hahahahaha same

[@dani_salguero]

XD

[@dj0shtur]

Hahaha good I have no car. Spent all the money on gear.

[@abrahamclark767]

Respekt

[@wyde0812]

I lost it all, my confidence, my girlfriend, and no bangin boogies to get down with the boys. It wasn't until I visited Dr. Underbelly that I was diagnosed with loopitis and had it for the last 5 years. Rest assured I'm now on track to get at least one song completed by the end of the month. Thanks Dr. Underbelly!

[@jclokwork]

On Track 👀. I see what you did there even if you didn't. 👏

[@PlunderAchiever]

​@@jclokworkunderrated reply

[@trayvanakin591]

Not the loopitis 😂

[@profyle766]

Bro...i was actually feeling a bit for you and about to say"strange name for s a DR..get well soon" and shit..then my guy says in the vid about catching loopitus!! I fukin DIed. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@milztempelrowski9281]

get well soon and please wear a mask xD

[@dennis_doom]

the "ok so check it" gets me every single time. no matter how many videos i watch that confirm that i suck at producing

[@futur_sunds]

Leaped for joy when I got a notification for this. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This guy is THE best resource for genuine and relevant music production information without being bored out of your mind 🐐

[@ocupado658]

wowzers

[@futur_sunds]

@rickyneves5895 with da sauce

[@theonenonlybass]

I got high before watching it for ultimate entertainment and it didn't fail.. and all of those tips couldn't be more true and crucial (except maybe the 1st tip about clipping, and i get his point but i think it's best (even in bass music stuff) to retain some dynamic while tryin to match the reference track loudness rather than jus clipping your way to it for the sake of lufs.. that's why the last tip about using reference tracks is the most important one cuz eventually you'll find out whats the problem in your mix at that stage just with comparing and analyzing.. (sorry about my long ass rant 🙏🏻 i fw that man and want no beef with him)

[@futur_sunds]

@@theonenonlybass everyone’s got their own preferences. It’s part of what makes unique music

[@cavedwellersound]

fuckin ay

[@RobVice]

4:48 I was diagnosed with loopitis but then I started getting in those broad strokes during the session. After hours of hard stroking it finally happened! Thanks to Mr. Overchest I am no longer a loop-virgin!

[@joonglegamer9898]

One thing I've come to learn over the years is to not drown your music in instruments. Like good cooking, a few ingredients made well is good enough and can bring the flavour of that particular vegetable or meat savory and perfect. Same for sounds. The most common mistake I did in my early days was to add too many tracks with instruments. Another thing is to not let an instrument dominate too much, it should support the music not dominate it.

[@spiritlevelstudios]

Ye simple is nice. Tough to achieve with enough fullness but doable. Having dedicated background sounds and rhythms that sit low in the mix helps fill out and create the space that leads and hooks float around in.

[@innavision1920]

Simple finesse is the way

[@WithJustaWhisperMusic]

Your last tip is so underrated! You might be the first person that I've encountered to talk about this. It's true, you gotta give up trying to make your song sound perfect on every playback device. It's an endless trap of analysis paralysis.

[@snubdawg1386]

the combination of my studio monitors + headphones + tv speakers (or laptop speakers) works pretty well for me

[@nnarcus]

yep. it's only by time I've learned that many of my favorite producers and engineers work on Beats or other shit but they know the sound so well so it doesn't matter

[@ILIKETOBOOM]

analysis paralysis. Hot dam ima steal that

[@cavedwellersound]

this was so refreshing to hear

[@WithJustaWhisperMusic]

@@snubdawg1386 Yah, nothing wrong with focusing on making your music sound good on those! Most people are going to be listening to music on headphones anyways, so I tend to make sure my mix sounds decent on ear buds and over the ear headphones. I used to primarily mix on headphones, but now I normally mix on speakers because I feel like it translates better all around to all playback devices. I suppose you have to find what works for you. 😀

[@dedrxbbit7549]

Here’s a bonus tip I’ve learned over 17 years. Yes, don’t over process your drums. Maybe one distortion. Maybe one compressor. Maybe one EQ. Not always all three, not always in a specific order, but that’s about it. Also, underrated tip but equally important, _ADD REVERB TO ALL OF YOUR DRUM SAMPLES._ If everything else in your track gets room to sit in, why not your drums? And ik, some of you are gonna say “yOu CaN’t PuT rEvErB oN a KiCk DuMbAsS,” and to you I say, “ever cut the low end of your reverb bucko? Probably not if you’re saying this.” I tend to use two reverbs. One very very very wet reverb (still full dry) that has a short decay and physically mimics a 4-walled room, and another one with slightly more decay, larger room, and less wet.

[@huntingvega3876]

100% agree. there's a great Sound On Sound article called "How To Use Reverb Like A Pro" that gives similar advice

[@urphakeandgey6308]

I agree with the drum samples. Sound selection is a very fundamental thing people sometimes forget. This applies most for samples, since it's the most literal example of "sound selection" possible, but it also applies from synth patches too. You want your "starting point," whether it's a preset or an original patch, to be as good as possible. Like 90% of the way there. Then process from there.

[@Osax-music]

"Just make your track sound terrible in the exact same way"

[@DrumNBassed]

One thing I must stress to new producers to break out of loopitis is to work with vocals ASAP. Vocals can give a clear direction for a song rather than an instrumental. For instrumental music you need to have really solid motifs that act how a vocal would. Solar System by Sub Focus is a good example of this.

[@sashimi879]

Most generic tune ever. Boring

[@lavenderllamamusic]

The two i'm currently working on are loopitis and reference tracks. The last one, has never really been a problem for me, but i think laziness actually helps me avoid falling into that bad habit. I have a desk with cheap (decent) speakers and a sub on the floor. I would usually get on there to create, but i have a pile of shirts n stuff on my desk chair that i'm too lazy to move/put away. So for the past year, i've just been producing on my bed with my headphones and recently, a bluetooth/3.5mm jack speaker. I test out my mixes in my car and it's been consistently good with this setup. Just don't think about it too much is what I would say lol

[@kentwood9821]

Reference tracks for mixing is a stupidly great idea for making the most of any headphone/monitoring system.

[@corradinomusic]

Happy recovery from loopitis guys🙌

[@ohmaramusic]

Loopitis?! Is it loopitis?!

[@TripleTSingt]

when I made my techno album, I was mixing on my KRKs and headphones, as well as doing a car check. Since both my primary mixing setups have little bass (5" speakers with no subwoofer), I realized very fast in the car, that the main thing was "sub is too loud", so I turned that down and now I really like my mix on most systems.

[@ThunderPantaloons]

You are by FAR my favorite music production channel. My life’s mission is to watch every video of yours until I no longer suck at producing.

[@conway3452]

Okay so I'm following the instructions and I just bought the 02 Corolla. I'm already battling student debt, and the apr is shoddy (only like 18%). Anywho will there be a part 2 to assist with loan issues? Thanks!

[@tav333]

i am just finding this guy. man i've seen A LOT of producing videos, but no one has ever been this thurough while also being this naturally funny. i love how you keep it fun man that's what music is all about. i feel like a lot of people on YT miss that and take all of the enjoyment out of learning. thank you for your help i know exactly where i'm coming anytime i wanna suck less at producing😂

[@unknownrocketeer9289]

you're so great bro even after ten years plus of producing I still watch ya. love ya 💜

[@Isaac-yt3bv]

I know you have some older videos on it, but I think a video going in depth on gain staging, clipping, peaks, and generally just volume would be a great resource actually. I think both music producers and streamers would benefit a lot from it. I tune into way too many streams where the volume is just way too low.

[@soniromanov]

I haven't laughed this hard in so long. "If the reference track sounds terrible, all you gotta do is make your track sound terrible in the exact same way", love it because it's so true. Subscribed.

[@lifexearth]

It's funny cause, I already understood a lot of the concepts he was talking about in this video. But the one thing I took from this video to start using reference in my projects to get the same effect and loudness as the person's track I am using as a reference. Thanks for making this video, it goes to show that no matter how much experience you have in something, you can still learn something new.

[@MrBubbyG_Official]

Addictive editing style and video format. Great video. Subbed

[@kamcosmic]

Definitely suffering from loopitis, i really struggle with multiple drum patterns, can make 2 at most. (Genre is more like alt rnb/hiphop)

[@joshkeating7825]

I’ve recently started using more toms and multiple different hats, and it adds so much variation, depth, and texture. Helps change up patterns more to have more pieces to spread out.

[@kamcosmic]

@@joshkeating7825 Same! Definitely helped my drums in general. However I feel like my songs could benefit from multiple kick/snare patterns, so I actually have more change in dynamics, cuz usually those stay the same for me (aside from moving around ghost notes and whatnot) but yeah not sure if thats necessary. I REALLY needed to hear about the honeymoon phase thing, i thought if i get bored of a beat after hearing it a million times its just not good enough lol.

[@joshkeating7825]

@@kamcosmic totally true, dude. Mixing is a fickle task; it can really skew your opinion on your track no matter how good it sounds. Definitely have a beat graveyard that I go in and listen to sometimes and am like “what, this is heat, why is this down here”

[@stripedelicstudios]

You've gotten really good at teaching production! Please keep it up!!!

[@lionnonny]

Priceless with the hilarity 😂

[@luisinhobr]

as a visual arts student I love to see comparisons between different arts like what you did with Bob Ross. keep it up

[@sebostar123]

ur a legend been watching since forever so happy ur still uploading

[@heymr.k]

My Bro just described my first 5 years of music making

[@staysmuth]

I started using a reference track to do production now. as in, load "baby blue", notate every section and big change "-bass 4 bars here, add melody filtered back" etc, and then build my entire track around that. I've never fleshed out full songs so fast. having a skeleton is by far the greatest game changer.

[@jasonanderson5034]

if u actually make original music like unique u can't use a reference how do i find a reference for a lo-fi death metal song

[@secretchefcollective444]

@@jasonanderson5034 Just use one song from each genre, mash them together (with a saturator obvs, don't worry if one is 70bpm and one is 200) and add section refs: intro, whining about losing a lover, whining about why govts always go to war, chorus, more whining, break (more whinging), chorus, outro. Job done.

[@LionHrodgari]

4:21 was the biggest game changer for me. I used to mess around with the sound of my kick or the eq on that synth for hours before finishing to sketch out the broad idea of the track. Those things aren't useless in general but they are wasted things, while your ears are still fresh. Every track where I waste time tinkering on things I shouldnt tinker with, never gets finished because after tinkering for an hour, all the creativity is usually gone.

[@lemonberries]

The king has returned

[@ivazhu]

Thank you Underbelly! Who else in the world would remind me how much I suck at producing. Love to learn from you! Long life for your channel!

[@OutOfMySystem]

I want that stacked OTT chain

[@aeroliteAus]

You’re already ahead of the game using Leotrix as a reference

[@Delr0ssy]

my music sucks, and I suck at producing. you are my only hope of getting better. love you man

[@yasin6904]

Where has this guy been all my life

[@tynan_official]

Unironically some of the best advice for modern day bass music production. A+ work 🤝

[@MichaelsPaintingChannel]

Maaan, that was gold! I knew that already. I was sick testing my classical guitar pieces in my car. It's always the most horrible experience. Of course I've learned a lot over time and hat much improved, but the rest of the bad noises are from the car speakers! I have another one: I've seen many finding a peak in the spectrum meter and then immediately eq it out. I mean, that really don't have to be always the case. Some notes or tone have that peak - it's ok!

[@PixelTravelYT]

the ph drum intro at 2:06 😂

[@DJDREWID]

thank you, bro you’re helping me achieve a higher state of gibbis within my music production as well as like , a proper UK mixed down keep up the decent work

[@FuranGameplays]

One thing I learned the hard way is: trust your ears. Too much visual information when mixing can be a problem for a noob.

[@aeonATL]

Ditto

[@JerkyTreats]

Putting key changes or chords in locators is also useful.

[@mubumubu5975]

That list tip saved me 😅been stressing over getting the low-end right for multiple systems. I'll just focus on the ones i expect my song to be heard and call it a day! Release time 😊🎉

[@Divergent-ym3py]

Remind me of Basically Homeless but for music instead of games.

[@DeejayRach0]

Thank you

[@F_E_U]

love the haïda pic in the background, have a moon design myself

[@mdfkrz79]

I have some really good headphones I've rarely used, I turn up the volume to 50 and make it sound ok between some sound magic in ears and some audio technica overly bassy headphones, most people are listening on something between the 2 as far as quality goes anyway lol

[@andreiavram5861]

4:36 c'mon man don't EXPOSE ME LIKE THAAAT 😭😭😭😭

[@016_]

1:27 I was reminded of Bo Bunrhams Squares vs Circles joke haha. Our beautiful Sine turns into an UGLY, ANGULAR Square wave 😂

[@stripedelicstudios]

Great video!!! Wish i saw this a few years back. You rock!

[@zepharephic5381]

I fuckin' love you dude A non-serious serious tutorial video about all the things I've been doing wrong, in a way that just cracks me up just right

[@larrybwoy2970]

Thanks!

[@wntrsoul]

McDonald coins

[@BraveTheStorm]

mans still got it

[@DawlessHouseMusic]

Your intro was REAL.

[@williamfields]

Great advice. I still can’t believe we’re at -4 LUFS though. 🙉

[@JakubSchlosser-i3q]

this guy is so accurate with all the things he is saying about my production skills etc

[@sausausaus]

ty!

[@nobodys2358]

The Earth is finally healing ❤ Missed you man

[@tobias_george]

As someone getting back into producing 6 years since practically giving up altogether, I needed this. Love u Underbelly

[@Vysceral69]

You're fantastic dude I appreciate this channel so much.

[@theisandersen614]

this was probably your best video yet

[@Piercemxpx]

The reference track with luf meter, & using it for the sub as well, is easily the biggest epiphany I’ve had in a long time. That is gonna make my life sooooo much easier from now on

[@AlecWyld]

Your videos never get old man haha. Love it.

[@kurokurokuro9152]

the marker thing to use reference track song structure is actually golden for me since i struggle with that the most tbh

[@jacktheeditor502]

Can you make a video on how to create multiple styles of dance songs(think James Brown, or Donna Summer or Cha Cha, Jungle)? A playlist with these kind of videos would suffice as well. By the way, your channel is a blessing.

[@kamranramsdenmusic]

So glad you’re releasing this kind of content again! Been following the channel throughout my entire production journey and the fact that I’m somewhat half-decent now is thanks in a large part to you.

[@livinthrusound]

No matter what car I'm in, my mixes always sound like sh*t. Car manufacturers need to fix their sound system or something.

[@tracktaylor2783]

Dude you are hilarous🤣🤣 and very educational too.. subsribed!!

[@Air1_R1]

In the intro I always hear "Ok Sir chicken"

[@Rivalofficial]

incredible simply incredible

[@dj_Davepz]

It's always the car. Happy new year mate 🎶

[@chema__gonzalez__]

Sweeet bonkers wowzers uncle Barry is back with the tutorial and I am on the chuff train.

[@jonmora8890]

Thank you, you also have a great day 🙏😌

[@nacha8403]

The part on the “loopitis” is really deeply true

[@shdsky]

finally someone talking about that ive recently discovered that you can calibrate your ears to pretty much any output source no matter how shitty it is with the use of references. feels almost like a cheatcode. once you realize that, all that talk about "shit-testing" your tracks goes to waste

[@Thepaulislame]

Really helpful, love this style of video. Thanks man :)

[@celsoduque6634]

This guy is amazing at teaching, learning a lot from the videos in a fun way and just got a free orientation from him after entering the website, it's trully mind blowing and an honor for me, gotta love the internet. Thanks for your wisdom and knowledge sharing bro, and giving out the most valueable thing in life, time. I'll pay for a class when I get the money and organize my doubts in place. Dude is awesome! Thanks again.

[@magnificus23]

Underbelly, you’re a shining source of infinite wisdom! Thank you!

[@emilholmsten8600]

Getting there

[@GARCIIIAmonster]

i liked the kick at the benining

[@mariusglaser4020]

Once again, wisdom was shared. So next time with the boys I can use the excuse that It's probably the car. Thank you underbelly 🙏

[@WithJustaWhisperMusic]

Finally an excuse that is actually legitimate. 😂

[@BEEB-music]

These tips are actually super useful! This is exactly what I needed to hear lol

[@BasementEraAudio]

You have opened my eyes to my many flaws! Thank you, sensei

[@thewiddler1746]

clipping inside the DAW is different than clipping on master for export. 32 bit float means you basically have infinite headroom while in the project

[@coopernichols4275]

If you export a track that clips the master (turn off dithering), it's not really different than using a clipper or limiter at the end of your master chain. Mr. Bill has a whole video about it, but yeah, IMO it sounds better than any clipper I've tried.

[@danibeing1]

tyyy man

[@miguiz_]

The intro === my life

[@zoeydionne6378]

Wowsers

[@dylangonzalez1688]

How is he wearing the same shirt as the stock image 8:04

[@unknownrocketeer9289]

I feel so called out I used to mix on inkd and I actually had the song pop the fuck off haha totally agree

[@aloc23]

actual useful information in a short time with great humor so it‘s even more fun to watch.. awesome!

[@Uuuu-y8s]

the start of the video is literally me before having a severe life crisis that ends with me doing a parachute jump from a skyscraper w/o parachute :D

[@joaopedromedinamartinscarr6899]

Happy you are still uploading gold education and not giving up working on us. Stay forever please ;)

[@in_10z]

Bruh!! "You're finally ready to show off your shit song to your boys in your friend's 2002 Camry so you ask him to pass the aux, your song comes on, and it sounds terrible. There's like no bass bro." Bahaha. Man I needed this after a long day today. Thanks. You are the BroScience of producing haha.

[@amenbreak4970]

the OG has preached! however, do you guys export the track hot on +7 clipping or do you prefer a DIY mastering chain (I usually use an utility to compensate the clipping i.e. -7db, maximizer, standardclip and a limiter and go for the same LUFs)

[@magnopere]

I tend to try to add as little on the end of the chain as possible. But always Freeclip at the very end, lol. Recently I've just been adding a super subtle comp beforehand. So trying to keep the individual tracks close to 0, mixing with room for the bands, and the soft clipper at the end for the LUFs

[@joshkeating7825]

Thanks, homie!

[@theJiveMind]

Thanks for disabusing me of these silly notions

[@dasiegel]

Great video, long time no educational one

[@tysonlenard9594]

I watch your videos for tips. I stay for the humor.

[@ManoKuerten]

Bro, funny as heck as educational! Thank you!

[@winterlogical]

It goes for any stage of the process, but especially for overprocessing, I've found it helpful to forcefully stop myself every now and then and ask the question: "Is what I'm doing actually improving the sound in the context of the track? Is it improving the song in general?" There may be times where compressing that snare gives it that extra punch you want, sure, but if it's not serving the song or is just compressed "because it should be," then you're missing the point. By and large if you just grab a different, punchier sample, make that synth chord patch better sounding from the get-go, design a bass with more low-end instead of artificially adding it, etc. etc. you'll be much better off.

[@WithJustaWhisperMusic]

So true! We do so many things, because we think that's what we're supposed to do for our mixes and sound design. 😂 Sometimes we just forget to adhere to what is actually present and adjust accordingly. 🤷