P.LAB NATION
MONTHLY Q&A
February 2025
Q&A - February 19
Improving quiet piano vocal songs @ 0:10
Noms is struggling to make his piano vocal songs sound less "quiet" and "lullaby-like". Katie advises him to communicate clearly with the mixer he plans to work with, providing reference tracks and explaining his desired sound. She suggests adding subtle elements like synth pads or harmonies to fill out the song without overpowering the piano and vocals.
Exporting tracks for mixing @ 8:37
Mia asks about the best way to export tracks from Ableton while retaining sound quality. Katie explains the importance of avoiding grouped tracks when exporting, as this can cause issues for the mixer. She recommends freezing and flattening any tracks with dynamic effects that may change on export. For individual tracks, Katie prefers exporting as 32-bit WAV files, reserving AIFF for completed songs being released.
Recap and next sync call @ 30:16
Katie reminds the group about the upcoming monthly sync call, which will be held on Tuesday, March 4th at 3pm. She notes that the previous sync call went well, with good questions from both experienced and new sync composers.
Action Items
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Communicate to mixer - want piano vocal song to sound bigger/open, not like lullaby; provide reference track; ask if MIDI file needed - WATCH (5 secs)
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Communicate to mixer - goal for refrain/chorus to sound fuller; provide reference track; ask about options to fill sound space - WATCH (5 secs)
January 2025
Plab Nation Q&A - January 13
Wildfire smoke and safety @ 0:01
Katie and Doug discuss the wildfires in the area and express concern for those directly impacted, noting that the situation seems to be improving but that the dry, windy conditions still pose a fire risk.
Mixing and mastering workflow @ 1:50
Mia asks about the most CPU-friendly way to mix and master a track with vocals. Katie recommends a multi-session workflow - production/editing, mixing, and mastering each in separate sessions. This allows for more efficient processing and flexibility in the mixing and mastering stages.
Recommended learning approach for beginners @ 12:40
Allida asks how much time per day beginners should spend watching P-Lab videos. Katie advises a focused, iterative approach - watching at high speed first, then rewatching and pausing to implement each new skill. She emphasizes the importance of not just passively watching, but actively practicing the techniques.
Using samples and loops ethically @ 17:21
Kandice and the group discuss the appropriate use of samples and loops, particularly from sources like Splice. The key is to avoid directly reusing recognizable melodies or chord progressions, and instead use the samples as inspiration to create something unique.
Music distribution recommendations @ 1:00:47
Katie recommends the music distribution platform Tunecore as a good option, highlighting its flexibility around cover song releases and royalty splits for collaborations.
Recap and next steps @ 1:07:02
Katie wraps up the meeting, thanking everyone for their participation and noting that the recording will be made available in the vault for all-access members. She looks forward to the next monthly Q&A session.
2024
December 2024
PLAB Nation Q&A - December 02
Overview of Bandcamp @ 0:00
Katie discusses the benefits of Bandcamp for artists, including the ability to sell music directly to fans, set their own prices, and offer discounts on full discographies. She explains how Bandcamp provides a free and easy-to-use platform for artists without their own website.
Comparison of Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and Disco @ 6:06
Katie compares the different platforms, noting that SoundCloud is more social and casual, while Disco is specifically designed for sync placements and providing detailed metadata to potential music supervisors. She highlights the pros and cons of each platform and when they may be most useful for artists.
Navigating Streaming Metrics and Suspicious Activity @ 27:01
Katie cautions artists to be wary of sudden spikes in streams from obscure locations, as these may be the result of "bot playlists" designed to generate fake engagement. She explains how Spotify delays payments for suspicious activity and advises artists to investigate any unusual streaming patterns.
Driving Traffic from Spotify to Artist Websites @ 46:18
Katie discusses strategies for directing Spotify listeners to an artist's own website, including using social media links and potentially running targeted Facebook/Instagram ads. She notes the challenges of keeping users on the artist's site rather than Spotify's own e-commerce platform.
Upcoming Produce Like a Boss Schedule @ 54:54
Katie provides an overview of the upcoming Produce Like a Boss event schedule, clarifying the differences between the PLab Live and All Access Pass options and when each type of session is offered.
November 2024
PLAB Nation Q&A - November 11
Technical issues and meeting format @ 0:01
Katie discusses some technical issues she's been having, including not having a phone and trouble with two-factor authentication. She explains the format of the meeting, inviting participants to ask questions about music production, DAW usage, plugins, and feedback on Produce Like a Boss courses.
Submitting questions and avoiding login requirements @ 2:08
Katie shares a form link for participants to submit questions, but notes that it requires logging into Google, which may be a barrier. She expresses surprise at this and says she will look into removing the login requirement.
Clarifying Produce Like a Boss offerings @ 5:31
Katie explains that Produce Like a Boss is a learning community, not a sync library or music representation service. She provides guidance on finding sync opportunities and libraries that don't require subscription fees.
Advice for pitching songs to publishers @ 15:12
Camille asks about courses covering pitching songs to publishers. Katie provides suggestions, including exploring the Sync Savvy Producer bundle in the All Access Pass and considering platforms like BeatStars that allow uploading full songs.
Troubleshooting Ableton automation issues @ 19:10
Alicia raises concerns about Ableton not maintaining consistent settings and volumes across projects. Katie provides guidance on identifying and resolving automation-related issues, including using the automation view, gain staging, and maintaining consistent mic distance.
Recommendations for content management and backup @ 31:52
Grant asks about best practices for archiving and backing up large music libraries. Katie suggests exporting stems and full songs, using both external hard drives and cloud storage for redundancy, and considering services like Backblaze for cloud backup.
Voiceover work opportunities @ 38:06
Salvatore inquires about websites similar to ACX for voiceover work. Katie suggests exploring platforms like Voices.com, Fiverr, and Upwork, and provides guidance on using filters to find relevant opportunities.
Marketing ambient music @ 39:24
John asks for tips on marketing his ambient music. Katie recommends leveraging social media, using platforms like Bandcamp and YouTube to share snippets, and engaging the audience through interactive polls and questions.
Balancing music production and parenting @ 1:11:59
Katie shares her personal experience of balancing music production with raising four children, emphasizing the importance of setting aside dedicated time for both and seeking help when needed.
October 2024
PLAB Nation Q&A - October 17
DAW Recommendations @ 0:00
Katie discussed the pros and cons of different DAWs like Logic, Ableton, and Cubase. She recommended trying out the "Intro to Different DAWs" videos to get a sense of the workflow and features of various options. She highlighted how Ableton's faders and timeline view make it easy for her to work on building up a full song.
Feedback on Song Submission @ 9:57
Katie listened to a song submitted by an attendee named Angela, who was looking for feedback on the mix. Katie provided suggestions, such as varying the kick drum pattern, adding more "ear candy" in the chorus, and potentially adding backing vocals to create a wider, more dynamic sound.
Upcoming PLAB Events @ 20:04
Katie mentioned the upcoming Collab Lab and Halloween-themed Community Campfire events, encouraging attendees to participate and potentially wear costumes for the campfire.
Terms of Service for Songwriting Services @ 20:52
Marcus asked about what to include in the Terms of Service section when offering songwriting and lyric writing services on platforms like Soundbetter. Katie shared the concise terms she uses, focusing on communication, permission to use her name, and flexibility around payment structures like buyouts or writer splits.
Wrap-up and Q&A @ 32:00
Katie answered additional questions from attendees, including thoughts on the Shure MV7 Plus microphone, advice for new platforms for custom songwriting, and recommendations for next steps after completing the "Voice Memo to Demo" course.
September 2024
PLAB Nation Q&A - September 09
Audiobook course launch @ 0:00
Katie announced the release of a new audiobook course for P-Lab members, which includes 4 videos covering various aspects of audiobook production. She encouraged members to provide feedback on the course and share their thoughts in the group.
Troubleshooting audio issues in Logic @ 6:38
David asked about why some audio files in Logic would "glitch out" with breaks in the waveform. Katie suggested it could be due to the audio files having a different tempo than the Logic session, causing warping issues. She recommended checking the file properties and trying to turn off warping for problematic samples.
Advice for a new producer @ 11:32
Pierre, a songwriter new to production, asked for guidance on getting started. Katie emphasized the importance of not getting overwhelmed, starting simple, and leveraging the P-Lab community for support and feedback. She recommended focusing on learning the basics of the DAW and virtual instruments before investing in more gear.
Using multiple guitar parts @ 58:21
Katie discussed the technique of using two slightly different guitar parts panned left and right to create a wider, more interesting stereo mix. She noted this can be a useful trick, but advised being mindful of not overdoing it and making the mix too busy.
Upcoming P-Lab events @ 1:04:15
Katie reminded attendees about the upcoming "Coffee and Coaching" call with Chris Bradley, which focuses more on business and mindset topics compared to the more technical Q&A. She provided details on how to submit questions for that call.
June 2024
PLAB Q&A - June 17:
Welcome and agenda overview @ 0:00
Katie welcomes the participants, notes the meeting is being recorded, and provides an overview of the agenda - going through pre-submitted questions and any other questions that come up during the session.
Troubleshooting guide vocal artifact @ 0:54
Katie reviews a pre-submitted question from Gary about an artifact in his guide vocal, listens to the audio, and provides suggestions. She recommends isolating the problematic section and using Melodyne's tools to smooth out any issues, but notes the guide vocal is likely good enough for the final song since a new vocalist will be used.
Recommendations for restoring old audio @ 10:16
Katie strongly recommends the iZotope RX 11 software for restoring old, degraded audio, citing its powerful noise reduction and other capabilities that have been invaluable for her audio book mastering work.
Plans for upcoming audiobook production videos @ 12:40
Katie discusses her plans to create a series of videos covering different aspects of audiobook production, including recording, editing, mixing, and the business side of getting hired as a narrator.
Feedback on song and quantization @ 15:38
Katie provides feedback to Amanda on her song, suggesting she experiment with different quantization settings to address any timing issues. She encourages Amanda to keep troubleshooting and not get discouraged.
Perspectives on AI and the future of music @ 20:25
The group discusses their views on the role of AI in music creation and production. Katie shares her perspective that AI is a tool to be used judiciously, and that human creativity and uniqueness will remain valuable.
Advice for transitioning to live solo performance @ 30:04
Melissa seeks advice on using looping pedals and other technology to perform solo. Katie provides recommendations on specific looping pedals to research, as well as tips for building up a live performance setup.
Marketing strategies for custom song commissions @ 1:00:12
Angela seeks advice on effective lead magnets and Facebook ad strategies for her custom song commission business. Katie provides suggestions on creating engaging content, leveraging Facebook ads, and monitoring performance metrics.
Troubleshooting muted audio in Logic @ 1:15:14
Nancy describes an issue where all audio suddenly became muted in her Logic project. Katie walks through potential causes, including plugin compatibility issues and problems with bus routing, and provides troubleshooting steps.
Best practices for layering and mixing multiple bass tracks @ 1:24:12
David asks about the optimal way to mix and pan multiple bass elements (sub bass, synth bass, electric bass) in a song. Katie recommends keeping the core bass elements centered, with potential experimentation on wider synth bass parts.
Wrap-up and next steps @ 1:31:48
Katie thanks the participants, encourages them to stay connected on social media and the Kajabi platform, and wishes everyone happy music-making.