Reference Tracks or how to always sound up to date…

Hi guys, it’s Andre.

It’s the 52nd issue of my production diary and once again I’m sharing the things I learn at Benztown about radio imaging and production with you on this blog.

Creating imaging and work parts for various formats and stations at one time isn’t an easy task. It’s about getting the sound that the music you work with has. Nobody would purchase a CHR library that sounds like the CHR music ten years ago. You’ve got to keep up with your formats and their sound.

That’s why we’re working with reference tracks. We always want to sound a bit hotter than the others, so we’re checking out the newest innovators of their format. Check out the key artists of your format or your station and analyze their songs. You’ll soon hear all the characteristic sounds of your specific format.

Now, try to emulate that sound. Get one or two reference tracks into your session and try to make your work parts fit the reference tracks. Recreate certain sounds until you’re close to the original.

Especially when it comes to create drum loops, synths or during mastering – reference tracks help you finding the right sound that makes your imaging fit your format or station.

If you want to know more about the music you’re working with, use some analyzer tools to get an exact image of how it sounds and works.

Below are some work parts created from reference tracks for various Benztown formats. Maybe you can guess some of them 😉

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/37047864″ iframe=”true” /]

Cheers and have a nice weekend.