Today's  post is a guest post from my producer and colleague, Gary Gray.

Take it away Gary....

It’s a known fact among Music Supervisors and Publishers that the first thing they listen to is not your song or composition. They first listen to the quality of your production. That’s your first test. That’s the first qualifying stage. That’s the difference between your foot in the door, or the door in your face. You pass the production quality test – then they’ll listen to your full song or composition. 

I learned this lesson, like many people before me, the hard way. 

One of the best ways to improve the quality of your music production, without wasting months of frustration, is to set up a simple team. Two people. You and a Mastering Engineer.  

Write a song. Record the song. Mix the song the best you know how. Send it off to a Mastering Engineer and ask him or her to give you feedback regarding the quality of your mix before he Masters it. Work with a Mastering Engineer who has had productions (plural) accepted by Music Supervisors and Publishers. 

This very simple and direct relationship with a Mastering Engineer will teach you more, in less time, than trying to go it alone. The best Mastering Engineers are also Mixing Engineers, so they can speak your language. And since they had to come up the ranks, they can communicate effectively to everyone from a new beginner to a seasoned pro. 
The incredible thing about this relationship is that while Music Supervisors and Publishers will rarely tell you what specifically is wrong with your mixes, a Mastering Engineer will give you the keys to the kingdom by explaining in detail what he or she needs and wants. 

And the icing on the cake is this: you yourself are fully capable of learning how to Master your own recordings and you’ll find that the relationship with a Mastering Engineer will be your first step towards becoming one yourself. 

Beware of false information in the field of Music Production.  My business, LearnAudioEngineering.net, is founded on the principle that getting the truth to producer/engineers and sifting through the myths and exposing false information is the only way to effectively teach someone how to achieve the highest standards of mixing and mastering music. 

Here’s one Myth we’ll blow out of the water right now:

“You should never have the same person who mixed a track, master that same track.”

Total. 100%. B.S.

I find that the people who spread this lie are either:

1. Insecure or Poorly Trained Mixing Engineers or

2. Insecure or Poorly Trained Mastering Engineers. 

In fact, every one of the tracks I worked on that were accepted for licensing deals, were both mixed and mastered by me. In my Home Studio. 

Today is the last day to sign up for Aaron Davison’s 180 Day Music Licensing Challenge. It was one of Aaron’s challenges that changed my career and changed my life. I was a successful songwriter, producer and engineer – but not with licensing. 
Since then (3 years ago), I’ve had music licensed on film score sound track albums, commercials, television, internet corporate websites, national radio – and the list keeps growing.  I’ve become an award-winning singer/songwriter.  I learned that what Music Supervisors and Publishers need and want is different and more specific than just “radio ready” tracks. 

I became so excited with what Aaron taught me, that we ended up teaming up to create courses. I also wrote a book, “The Home Studio Bible,” specifically to help people who want to achieve the standards of production quality necessary to land licensing deals. 

If you sign up today for this 180 Day Challenge, I will not only personally Master two of your tracks (you’ll receive 5 Mastered versions of each song for Free!), but you will receive critiques from me on those tracks prior to Mastering which will either give you two thumbs up, letting you know your tracks are ready for Mastering, or you will receive detailed instructions, at a level you can understand, on what to do to get your tracks mixed properly for Mastering. I will then be available to answer any questions you have as you prepare your tracks for Mastering. 

I’ve received an incredible amount of help from Mentors along the way in my career, such as Aaron. Now I get the greatest joy by turning that help around to those who are working hard on achieving their dreams. 

It’s time to get your foot solidly in the door with regard to licensing YOUR music. Sign up with Aaron today and take a giant step forward!

More info:
180daymusiclicensingchallenge.com

Gary Gray
Los Angeles, CA