Jake Childs (Dj, Producer)

I picked this off an Interview from UGH. Here just what he had to say on his production technics.

For a lot of people trying to get into production, they want to know what the steps are. From start to finish, how do you produce a track?

First I started sampling a lot of shit and made templates. Then I couldn't find anymore samples, so I tried the keys and started making all the shit myself. I use a sample here and there, but not a whole loop. I started trying all the different chords and basslines, getting more into the percussion side of it, trying to make it sound solid. Then I started incorporating vocals, because I've always been a vocal kind of person.

Do you start with the bassline?

I don't always start with the bass. I start with off with a beat, and then the bass, and then the keys. Or the keys, then the bass. Or first the keys. I kind of do have a pre-set way of doing it, but then I always change it up.

Do you sit down and say "I'm going to make a track," or does something come to you, and then you create it?

It's more like I sit down, and I open up something, and I think I'm going to do a downtempo track and it turns into house track. It's almost like surfing. I just wait for the wave, because whenever I try to force it, it doesn't turn out right, and I'm just fucking around with switches and knobs and keys.

How do you know when a track is finished?

I know through a 16 bar loop. If I make that 16 bar loop sound dope, then I know I have a song right there, and I just spread it out and add to it. So I start with a little loop and try to find the bassline, try to find the keys. Make that little snippet. If that shit's sounding tight, I just spread it out like butter.

How would you describe your basslines?

Very choppy basslines. It depends. Dirty and funky. I just try to change it up a lot, especially the basslines in the song. I've got to have at least two change ups. A lot of people do the same bassline, the same keys through the whole song and then they just add like a "de de dee," which is cool, but I take the jazz approach to it, where it breaks off into this whole different shit, but it's still in the same key, or a different key, just like jazz.


What software do you use?

I use Nuendo, Reason and Outport Gear.

I created this blog for the so purpose of...

Making music production information available to those that seek it. Im in the process of doing some special things here. Stay posted and you wont be disappointed.

Cheers

G