
Singer / Songwriter Production & Arranging
Chapter 1 : Building Up the Arrangement
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8:19
The Song
Learn what this series is about and hear the before and after versions of the song “Sticks and Stones” by Rex Strother.
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4:37
Finding a Direction
Follow along as alternate feels and tempos are explored in order to determine what best suits the song.
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4:54
Adding Acoustic Guitars
The feel of this song so far seems to lend itself to either a picking/arpeggiated guitar part or a strumming approach. Why not use both?
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6:16
Adding Electric Guitars
Several different ideas and parts are added for potential use in the arrangement.
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5:09
Making Some Decisions
The piano and bass are re-programmed, and the drums re-recorded, to fit a more rock oriented direction.
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3:50
New Breakdown
A dramatic breakdown at the top of the third chorus is created to help emphasize the protagonist’s inherent tension and conflict.
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5:15
More is Good
The arrangement is augmented with some new brass and keyboard parts, along with some revised programming and editing of the bass and guitar parts.
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4:37
Less is Better
After reflection and sober second thought, various elements are moved and removed, and the arrangement is shortened.
Chapter 2 : Vocal Tracks
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7:08
Working with New Vocals
Melodyne is used on a newly recorded lead vocal track to clean up phrasing and pitch.
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4:50
Vocal Doubling
See how Melodyne’s random deviation functions are used to create a thickening effect on the lead vocal.
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4:15
Creating Vocal Harmonies
Selected bits of other vocal takes are used either for unison doubling, or transposed to create vocal harmonies.
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3:15
Adding Female Vocals
A remotely recorded female vocal track is brought into the project and edited.
Chapter 3 : The Mix
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4:43
Drums
Take a look at the routing and plug-ins used on the multi track drum mix.
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3:47
Bass & Keys
Hear how various plug-ins are used to subtly enhance these tracks.
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3:51
Acoustic Guitars
Listen as two different EQs are compared on the acoustic guitar sub group.
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5:32
Electric Guitars
Discover the unique tone shaping possibilities created by simultaneously subgrouping electric guitars to a stereo and a mono bus.
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5:00
Vocals
Multiple EQs, compressors, and delays are used to create a warm and rich vocal sound that cuts nicely in the mix.
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3:46
Master Bus & Automation
See where automation is used and how some plug-ins are used to sweeten the full mix.
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5:41
Conclusions & Final Playback
A quick review of some of the arrangement’s defining elements followed by playback of the finished song.
Product Overview
Are you a singer / songwriter who wants to create complete songs? Join Eli Krantzberg in this in-depth video tutorial series as he shows you how to take a song idea, arrange it, expand it into a complete band production, and mix it down to share with the world!
Eli starts by introducing you to both the raw song idea and the completed mix of “Sticks and Stones” by Rex Strother, the song that Eli uses for this series. Eli then shows you how to expand your initial idea, experimenting with feels and tempos until you find what best suits the song.
After that, Eli starts to build the arrangement by adding acoustic and electric guitar ideas, and shows you how the decisions you make with various parts can affect the entire direction of the song.
Next, Eli tackles the vocal tracks, demonstrating how to use Melodyne to clean up phrasing and pitch, as well as to thicken the lead vocal. He also shows you how to create vocal harmonies and import and edit female vocal tracks to your project.
Time to mix! Eli now begins the mix with the drums, explaining the routing and plug-ins he uses on the multi-track drum mix, and then moves onto how he enhances the bass and keyboard tracks.
Eli now demonstrates how he shapes the tone of the guitars during mix down, and shares his vocal processing secrets. Then he sweetens the entire mix with automation, and then reviews the series and plays back the completed song.
If you’re new to songwriting and arranging, or are looking for new ideas to make your productions pop, watch “Singer / Songwriter Production & Arranging” today!
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Reviews
Submitted 4 months ago
simply awesome
simply awesome
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 5 months ago
A well produced and arranged series.
I do like Eli's work. Not everyone is pleasant and easy to listen to, but Eli is. He has a nice presentation manner, and I have worked my way through a few sets of Eli's tutorials at Groove 3 now. Interesting to see a song production and arrangement explained and laid out in this way, also interesting to see Eli's use of a wide range of various plugins on that arrangement. I like to watch these comparative masters to my own limited digital ability, then experiment in my own way, after taking a few notes en route. Usually something interesting sticks, or is found anew. Quite a few notes taken during this 1.5 hours, no doubt will pop back in at some future time to take another look. Recommended.
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Logic Pro
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 8 months ago
Very informative!
As usual, a very clear and informative course by Eli Krantzberg. If I had one comment to make, it's that I love the fact he A/Bs settings a lot (whether on/off or between different plugins), but I sometimes wish there would be a bit more time allowed to hear the difference before moving on. Like the Master Bus processing, for instance.
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
More than I expected!
There is a lot of information in this video, and much to be learned from the judicious use of various plugins, each performing sometimes fairly subtle changes. I was particularly intrigued by the use of time expansion to audition different tempos and rhythm patterns in order to find the "right" groove for the song.
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
It was a well presented and compiled series
I watched the whole thing. It was well-paced with enough info to keep juiced and enough techniques to make you think again.
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Cubase, Digital Performer, Studio One
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 3 years ago
Very Good
I really enjoyed this tutorial. I always enjoy seeing how others go about arranging a song and the decisions they make to get more ideas for my own stuff.
I am a: Beginner, Hobbyist, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Studio One
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 4 years ago
Great
Only just started this but it looks to be really good - dissecting raw material and building it into a finished song should greatly help me
I am a: Student, Hobbyist, Musician, Logic Pro
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 4 years ago
beautifull work, all video to see
Good example where take ideas and professional work, To see.
I am a: Hobbyist
Value of Training
Submitted 4 years ago
More Arranging videos please.
More Arranging videos please. Workflow is more important than those Plugin promotion videos.
I am a: Professional, Producer, Cubase
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 4 years ago
Really Clarified the Process of Producing/Arranging a Song
I'm thrilled by what I learned in this video! I have really struggled with what to do to take my new song to a fully-realized production. Being able to follow Eli on all the decisions he makes and get some insight into how he thinks about the arrangement will totally help my next song.
I am a: Professional, Musician, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Reviews
Submitted 4 months ago
simply awesome
simply awesome
Submitted 5 months ago
A well produced and arranged series.
I do like Eli's work. Not everyone is pleasant and easy to listen to, but Eli is. He has a nice presentation manner, and I have worked my way through a few sets of Eli's tutorials at Groove 3 now. Interesting to see a song production and arrangement explained and laid out in this way, also interesting to see Eli's use of a wide range of various plugins on that arrangement. I like to watch these comparative masters to my own limited digital ability, then experiment in my own way, after taking a few notes en route. Usually something interesting sticks, or is found anew. Quite a few notes taken during this 1.5 hours, no doubt will pop back in at some future time to take another look. Recommended.
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Logic Pro
Submitted 8 months ago
Very informative!
As usual, a very clear and informative course by Eli Krantzberg. If I had one comment to make, it's that I love the fact he A/Bs settings a lot (whether on/off or between different plugins), but I sometimes wish there would be a bit more time allowed to hear the difference before moving on. Like the Master Bus processing, for instance.
Submitted 2 years ago
More than I expected!
There is a lot of information in this video, and much to be learned from the judicious use of various plugins, each performing sometimes fairly subtle changes. I was particularly intrigued by the use of time expansion to audition different tempos and rhythm patterns in order to find the "right" groove for the song.
Submitted 2 years ago
It was a well presented and compiled series
I watched the whole thing. It was well-paced with enough info to keep juiced and enough techniques to make you think again.
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Cubase, Digital Performer, Studio One
Submitted 3 years ago
Very Good
I really enjoyed this tutorial. I always enjoy seeing how others go about arranging a song and the decisions they make to get more ideas for my own stuff.
I am a: Beginner, Hobbyist, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Studio One
Submitted 4 years ago
Great
Only just started this but it looks to be really good - dissecting raw material and building it into a finished song should greatly help me
I am a: Student, Hobbyist, Musician, Logic Pro
Submitted 4 years ago
beautifull work, all video to see
Good example where take ideas and professional work, To see.
I am a: Hobbyist
Submitted 4 years ago
More Arranging videos please.
More Arranging videos please. Workflow is more important than those Plugin promotion videos.
I am a: Professional, Producer, Cubase
Submitted 4 years ago
Really Clarified the Process of Producing/Arranging a Song
I'm thrilled by what I learned in this video! I have really struggled with what to do to take my new song to a fully-realized production. Being able to follow Eli on all the decisions he makes and get some insight into how he thinks about the arrangement will totally help my next song.
I am a: Professional, Musician, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools