Here's a new article I recently wrote:

http://madsenstudios.com/are-you-letting-others-in/

Hope you like it!

I will add that this is one of the great things about GD.net. Lots of people share their work while it's being produced for feedback and help. Keep it up!

Excellent article, really nice work. I absolutely agree with everything you said. I formed my company with multiple composers and multiple engineers for exactly those reason. They all have their individual strengths with both composition and live instrumentation and can help each other out with new ideas.

I also find it very helpful to separate the composer and the producer. Being removed from a project an impartial producer can see a piece in a totally new way and make decision that would be very hard for the composer. Maybe they spent 5 hours adding that 1 last guitar track, but maybe the piece is better without it. An impartial producer can look past the investment of time and creation and simply remove or alter without bias.

I too try to spread work around to live performers whenever possible. Instrument plugins are great, and I couldn't work without them, but even the absolute best voices pale in comparison to a talented live performer. I've found that a great place to get very talented people are music colleges. They will jump at the chance to spend time in a real studio on an actual project. You can offer to produce their demo in exchange for services on a few projects and form a lasting business relationship.

So once again, fantastic article it was a great read. You should publish it in the GD.net articles. Not sure if it would be music/sound or business but it belongs somewhere for sure.

So once again, fantastic article it was a great read. You should publish it in the GD.net articles. Not sure if it would be music/sound or business but it belongs somewhere for sure.

+1. As a musician/programmer I think we need a lot more music stuff around here.