What Makes a Good Producer?

Different types of producers and their styles of working

By Bruce Miller

Top L, Peter Yarrow, Top R Larry Blackmon Bottom L David Kahne, R Marcus Miller

I have had the honor of working with some of the most respected Producers in the industry, such as Tommy LiPuma, Marcus Miller, David Kahne, Rob Fraboni, Peter Yarrow, Mick Lanaro, Larry Blackmon, Kassu Halonen, David Cole/Robert Clivilles, Yasohachi "88" Itoh and Taka Tsukuma.

I have also worked with some very bad Producers such as....(you didn't think I would actually give names, did you?)

I have noticed several different types of Producers. Here is an opinionated breakdown of the extremes that all Producers fall in between:

1. The "Non" Producer: This is a guy with total confidence in himself, his artist and the team he has put together. He has a plan, but allows the musicians room to create. If he feels they are moving into an unproductive area or that they may not understand what he wants from them, he does not try to tell them what to do. Instead he explains his perspective so that the musicians understand him and then sits back. It is almost as if he turns on a colored light that allows the musicians to suddenly see things differently and be inspired. Tommy LiPuma is a genius at this. Artist and musicians would be discussing a part and Tommy would come forward and casually say one sentence. After the sentence everyone would say "Oh" and get back on the right course.

I try to emulate Tommy when I produce. If I am working on a song with a band and do not like a part, I will explain what I believe the function of the part in question is and why the particular part is not working as well as it could. The ban d then makes the changes themselves. That way I can help the arrangement without actually composing....after all, it is not my music but the Artist's.

2. The "Me" Show: Lacking the self-confidence of the "Non"-Producer, this person absolutely must be the one to make every decision. I know a Producer like this who arrived late for a session and erased what was done before he arrived without even listening. Very often this guy will explain to people that he wrote the music when all he did was ask the musician to "give me what I want". Once I was mixing for someone who left a message for me to wait until he called before I started. 2 hours later he called. What were the important instructions that he wanted me to wait for? "Make it pump". Afterwards he felt that the mix was "pumping"-not because that was how all the records we did sounded, but because he told me to on that day.

3. The "Puppet Master": If you want someone to tell you exactly what to do, this is the guy for you. Sometimes he will even play for you. This is great if the person has a history of making records that you love and you are willing to allow him to make HIS record with YOUR songs and voice. Unfortunately, there are only a few great Producers like this and far too many unprofessional egotistical hacks. I have worked with both types. The great ones will give you a record that you will know the sound of before you even start. The hacks will spend the time stroking their own ego and if you are lucky you will get a record out of it. Here is a story of a guy who had the potential to be such a person:

A drummer once asked me to produce his rock band. I went to a few rehearsals and we were making good progress with our pre-production. Then he told me that his brother worked for an indie label and would be co-producing with me. Having never even met the guy I was hesitant but decided to try it. The first rehearsal that we "co-produced" was a disaster. There was a guitar part that was stepping on the lead vocal entrance. I mentioned that it would be nice if the guitar part left space for the vocal, perhaps by changing the part or waiting one beat or so. The guitar player understood and started working on another part that would have the same function but allow the vocal entrance to be stronger. At that point, the "co-producer" brother walked over to the guitar player, took the guitar, and demonstrated a bending riff to play. The guitar player liked the riff, but also liked my ideas regarding space in the arrangement. The band finally decided to make a quick tape of trying both parts and judged which they would use in a different room while the "co-producer" and I waited. They came in and told me "Congratulations, we liked your idea better". I thanked them and wished them luck in the future as I put on my coat to leave. I apologized and explained that I could not work this way.

Tommy LiPuma

4. The "Hands-On" Producer: Most of the good ones are like this. They are involved in all aspects of the project and are great to learn from. Which of the above-mentioned extremes they may become depends upon which is bigger...their respect or ego. When their respect is bigger, they become more like the "Non" Producer.

5. The "Unprofessional" Professional: This is someone who had a lucky hit and now thinks he has the formula for turning anything gold. Get him while he's hot and you may get lucky too. Just don't ask him any musical questions.

The Bottom Line is that there are many different styles and types of Producers. Few will be as extreme as what I described. The ones who have developed their ego more than their musical understanding will give you their product with your name on it. The good ones will help you to develop your music by either telling you what to do or (even better) by teaching you why you should do it.

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A true veteran of the New York City studio scene, Bruce has earned over 24 gold and platinum albums, and worked on a wide variety of music from jazz to hard rock to hardcore to pop to rap to hiphop to jingles to techno to club pop. He has worked with a who's who of artists including Miles Davis, Yes, Mariah Carey, White Stripes, Lost Boyz, Dave Matthews, Canibus, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, and many more. Bruce is commited to passing on the craft and artform of audio engineering, and is currently setting up and offering BAM Free Online Audio Classes. For more info vist www.bruceamiller.us. Bruce Miller is a contributing editor for Studio Reviews.