Zedd: “Clarity” to “The Middle” Unlocking His Hit Song Production SECRETS

Introduction to Zed and His Impact on Music

Overview of Zed's Career

• Rick Biato introduces Zed, a Grammy-winning producer, DJ, and songwriter known for his significant influence in electronic and pop music.

• Zed's popular songs are highlighted, including a reference to the lyrics "If all is tragedy, why are you my remedy?" showcasing his lyrical appeal.

Discussion on Music Discovery

• The conversation shifts to how different demographics discover Zed's music; he notes that his 12-year-old daughter knows his songs despite not being part of the typical fanbase.

• Zed explains the diversity in his audience: fans from radio hits, EDM festivals like EDC or Ultra Music Festival, and those who connect with him through social media.

Platforms for Music Exposure

• He expresses curiosity about how younger audiences find music today, particularly noting that platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts play a role in music discovery.

• The discussion touches on Instagram as a tool for musicians but acknowledges its limitations in discovering new music compared to other platforms.

Insights into Personal Music Discovery

Sources of Musical Inspiration

• Zed shares that he primarily uses Spotify for listening but admits he doesn't actively seek out new music often; instead, he relies on recommendations from his manager.

• He recounts an experience where he discovered a song by the band Dolan through a recommendation from his manager during a long drive.

Emotional Connection Through Music

• Zed emphasizes the joy of finding unexpected musical influences that challenge personal preferences; he mentions loving something previously disliked (e.g., Irish music).

Role of Social Media in Discovering New Talent

• He discusses how DJs send him unreleased tracks as a primary source of discovery and highlights short-form content on social media as an effective way to find new artists.

Exploring Music Creation and Personal Journey

The Process of Song Development

• The speaker discusses their approach to working on songs, emphasizing the importance of sharing early versions for feedback and personal input.

• They reference Medion's perspective on listening to music as a necessary exercise, akin to going to the gym, highlighting the need for consistent musical input.

• The speaker expresses a desire for better music discovery tools, mentioning that AI could potentially assist in curating music tailored to their preferences.

Musical Background and Transition

• The speaker shares their musical beginnings with piano at age 12, transitioning from classical training to playing drums in a band against parental expectations.

• They recount how they quickly started playing in bands after picking up drums, influenced by family dynamics and the absence of a drum kit during childhood.

Evolution into Electronic Music

• A pivotal moment occurred when they first tried playing drums at a local store, leading them to realize their affinity for drumming over piano.

• They describe integrating electronic elements into their metal band’s music inspired by groups like Muse while learning programming techniques without using click tracks or playback.

Balancing Gaming and Music Production

• The speaker reflects on their passion for gaming alongside music production, initially purchasing a laptop intended for both purposes but ultimately focusing more on music creation due to hardware limitations.

• Despite not being initially invested in electronic music, they began creating it seriously after receiving positive feedback from others.

Return to Drumming and Live Performance

• As their career progressed with the Zed project taking off rapidly, drumming became less prominent until recently when recording needs reignited that passion.

Exploring Music Production Techniques

The Role of AI in Music Creation

• The speaker discusses the time-consuming nature of music production, emphasizing a week-long process for creating songs.

• They mention using AI to extract drum stems from tracks, allowing them to play live drums over different songs easily.

• By utilizing Moises for stem extraction, they can customize their performances with various languages and songs each night.

Memorable Performances and Artistic Freedom

• The speaker reflects on their experience at Coachella, highlighting it as a significant moment where influential figures in music joined them on stage.

• They describe performing rock songs with Incubus and incorporating an orchestra into their DJ set, which received positive audience reactions despite initial fears.

• This experience reinforced the idea that genuine artistic expression can lead to successful experimentation in music.

Technical Aspects of Music Production

• The speaker uses Cubase for production and ProTools for tracking vocals, noting the efficiency of both software programs.

• They highlight Cubase's powerful features, including built-in tools like Melodyne before other DAWs adopted similar functionalities.

Mixing and File Management

• Discussing vocal comping techniques, they explain how they cut every syllable and breath for precise editing using ProTools' advanced algorithms.

• When exporting files from ProTools to Cubase, they prefer 24-bit WAV format at 441 kHz due to manageable file sizes without sacrificing quality.

Templates in Music Production

• The speaker shares their approach to starting new projects without templates after finding them restrictive during creative processes.

Microphone Setup and Equipment Discussion

Microphone Choices for Vocal Tracking

• The speaker mentions the ease of using a microphone without extensive setup, simply selecting from an output list.

• A Sennheiser mic is highlighted as sounding amazing for various applications, although the exact model isn't specified.

• An engineer named Skinny manages equipment organization, making it easy to identify inputs and outputs in Cubase.

Plugin Usage and Sound Design

• The speaker utilizes numerous plugins beyond those included with Cubase, naming Serum and Gladiator as favorites.

• Gladiator's gentle high frequencies are praised for their presence without harshness, contributing to a specific track called "Sona."

Sound Design Techniques in EDM

Balancing Live Performance and Mobile Listening

• The importance of kick drum depth and attack is discussed regarding live performance versus mobile listening experiences.

• The speaker uses ATC in-wall speakers for monitoring but notes that freestanding versions do not suit their preferences.

Sampling and Frequency Management

• An example involving Martin Garrix's "Animals" illustrates how sampled kicks can be perceived differently across devices.

• On smaller devices, harmonics may sound distorted; however, on studio speakers or during live performances, they translate more effectively.

Challenges of Mixing for Different Platforms

Optimizing Music for Various Playback Systems

• When optimizing music for phones, removing unpleasant harmonics is suggested; however, overly clean mixes may feel weak in live settings.

• The discussion touches on the trend of maximizing frequency spectrum usage in genres like dubstep to enhance loudness perception.

Live Performance Considerations

The Evolution of Sound in Music Production

The Loudness War and Streaming Services

• The speaker perceives the loudness war as diminished due to streaming services, which have reduced the need for excessive loudness in music production.

• Streaming platforms like YouTube implement self-leveling features that enhance audio quality, a change the speaker appreciates.

Artistic Choices in Album Production

• The album "Telos" was intentionally produced with warmer tones and less emphasis on high frequencies to reflect musical influences from earlier eras.

• When performing live, the artist remasters tracks to ensure they sound impactful during performances.

Live Performance Techniques

• During live performances, such as at Coachella, the artist uses a filter to silence tracks temporarily, allowing audience participation by singing along.

• Adjustments are made based on crowd energy; if the audience is enthusiastic, low-end sounds are emphasized to encourage louder singing.

Technical Aspects of Performance Equipment

• The equipment used (CDJs) sends signals not only for audio but also synchronizes lighting effects with music loops during performances.

Insights on "Clarity"

• "Clarity" is highlighted as having one of the strongest melodies in recent years; its chord progression allows it to be played beautifully on guitar.

• The song's structure—from verse to pre-chorus to chorus—is praised for its impeccable melodic shape.

Song Development Process

• Initially intended as a collaboration with Porter Robinson, "Clarity" evolved over three days of studio work focused on creating engaging chords and melodies.

• A unique recording technique involved using an out-of-tune singer to create a more authentic crowd chant effect within the song.

Understanding EDM Structure

The Creative Process Behind "Clarity"

Understanding the Structure of Electronic Music

• The speaker compares writing electronic music to the climax of a song, emphasizing the need to redefine terms like verse, pre-chorus, and drop.

• Discusses the song "Lost at Sea," highlighting its simplicity and reliance on a strong vocal to carry the instrumental.

Collaboration and Vocal Selection

• The speaker sought Matthew Com's help for vocals on "Lost at Sea," which led to an unexpected journey with a vocal titled "Clarity."

• Although impressed by Com's vocal, the speaker felt it was too grand for "Lost at Sea" and decided to save it for another project.

Experimentation with Vocals

• After creating a drop for "Clarity," the speaker wanted to understand how vocals would fit before overproducing.

• They experimented with Com's vocal in a different key, leading to an emotional reaction that inspired further exploration.

Finding the Right Fit

• The combination of Com’s vocal and the instrumental created a magical moment that excited the speaker.

• Despite Porter's initial reservations about big pop vocals in EDM, he encouraged the speaker to pursue their vision independently.

Finalizing Vocals with Foxes

• Due to key constraints, they needed a new vocalist; Foxes was suggested as an option.

• The recording process involved meticulous attention to detail, especially regarding high notes that required multiple takes.

Exploring Vocal Techniques and Production

Vocal Layering and Effects

• The speaker reflects on the emotional connection to the lyrics, expressing a sense of longing and complexity in relationships.

• Discussion about layering vocals with background harmonies to enhance the song's depth, emphasizing moments like "Hold still right before we crash."

• Introduction of a plugin called Paul Stretch, which allows for infinite stretching of audio samples, creating unique vocal effects.

• Explanation of how each syllable was recorded individually and then manipulated using Paul Stretch to create a cohesive sound.

• The use of Paul Stretch adds stereo width to the vocals, enhancing their presence in the mix.

Instrumentation and Sound Design

• The bass sound is created using a plugin named Ace; the speaker prefers starting from presets rather than building sounds from scratch.

• Emphasis on adapting bass lines based on existing vocal melodies to ensure harmony within the track.

• Introduction to side chaining: when a kick drum hits, other elements momentarily reduce in volume (ducking), creating space for clarity in the mix.

• The speaker expresses a preference for subtle side chaining over extreme pumping effects often found in electronic music.

• Importance of allowing kick drums to maintain their impact by managing how other sounds interact with them.

Programming Techniques

• Discussion about programming MIDI instead of using arpeggiators; emphasizes personal creativity through manual note arrangement.

Understanding the Creative Process in Music Production

The Intent Behind Musical Composition

• The speaker discusses how writing music can sometimes appear unintelligent on sheet music, emphasizing a design choice to create unpredictability in note selection.

• During a performance with the LA Phil, the string players insisted on playing the piece as written, despite its intended unpredictability.

Balancing Elements in Music

• The speaker highlights a desire for variation in musical sections, avoiding repetition by making each iteration feel unique and exciting.

• Acknowledges that maturing as a producer involves leaving space for significant elements like vocals rather than overpowering them with synth sounds.

Vocal Performance Analysis

• The speaker praises the vocal delivery as stellar and reflects on their past struggles with perfectionism during production.

• They express that their earlier lack of experience contributed to capturing raw emotion in the vocal performance, which may not have been perfect but was impactful.

Key Choices and Emotional Resonance

• Discusses how maintaining a specific key (B flat minor 11) contributes to the song's emotional depth and melancholy vibe.

• Reflecting on common practices in EDM, they note that many songs are often composed in F minor due to its compatibility across various sound systems.

Technical Considerations in EDM Production

• The speaker explains considerations for mixing tracks, including ensuring compatibility for DJs transitioning between songs.

Understanding Chord Progressions and Their Emotional Impact

The Process of Writing Chords

• The speaker discusses their method of writing chords, emphasizing the importance of experimenting with different chord progressions to evoke various emotions.

• They note that not all musical intervals are equal due to discrepancies in tuning, which can affect how a key change feels.

• The choice of sound also plays a crucial role; some synths may not reproduce bass effectively, impacting the overall feel of the music.

Song Development Insights

• A specific track from the speaker's new record, "Out of Time," is mentioned as having started in C but ended up in D after development.

• The song features call-and-response elements that enhance its emotional depth and connection to the vocal melody.

Vocal Influence on Composition

• The speaker reflects on their long journey with this song, noting it took nearly a decade to complete. They attribute its completion to finding the right vocal element that unlocked energy in the chorus.

• They explain how they typically write chord progressions and save them for future use, indicating a collaborative process with another musician named Dave.

Musical Influences and Genre Blending

• The speaker describes "Out of Time" as an accumulation of various musical influences, including classical, jazz, EDM, and rock elements.

• They emphasize that it was ultimately the human voice that brought life to the song rather than just instrumental layers.

Mixing Techniques and Challenges

Mixing and Mastering Techniques in Music Production

Mixing While Producing

• The speaker emphasizes that they mix their tracks during the production phase, avoiding a separate mixing stage. They have only sent one or two songs for external mixing.

• Ozone is consistently used in their workflow since 2015, with the current version being Ozone 11. It has been crucial for live edits and quick AI mastering.

Clipping vs. Limiting

• The speaker uses a preset that includes a clipping stage followed by maximizing/limiting to achieve desired loudness. They prefer clipping for electronic music as it allows claps to be significantly louder without distortion.

• A balance between clipping and limiting is essential; while clipping can produce more radical results, limiting rounds off edges, affecting clarity.

Metering and Listening Practices

• The speaker notes that meter readings can be misleading; they often rely on listening rather than visual cues from meters to assess sound quality.

• They discuss how gain plugins can distort levels without audible issues, emphasizing the importance of trusting one's ears over meter readings.

Compression and Dynamics

• The dynamics of mixes are maintained through careful compression management. The speaker tends to push limits but then pulls back to ensure clarity.

• Their approach involves delivering files that may not adhere strictly to traditional dynamic range recommendations, based on past experiences with specific presets.

Lessons from Experience

• An anecdote about creating "Beautiful Now" illustrates how drastic presets can shape sound irreversibly, leading to unexpected outcomes when turned off.

• After realizing the potential of delivering less-than-clean files for mastering, the speaker found success in allowing mastering engineers to enhance their already compressed mixes.

Reflections on Mastering Quality

• The speaker shares experiences with subpar mastering services where mixes were simply made louder without significant improvement in quality.

Mastering Music: Insights from the Process

The Experience of Mastering

• The speaker reflects on the common experience of sacrificing certain elements in music production to achieve a polished master, emphasizing that this doesn't have to be the norm.

• Acknowledges the importance of finding a skilled mastering engineer, highlighting trust in their expertise allows artists to focus on their strengths rather than mastering.

Collaboration with Mastering Engineer

• Mike Marsh has been the speaker's mastering engineer since 2014, described as essential for understanding and enhancing the mixes.

• The speaker prefers remote collaboration with Mike, working late hours to send files and receiving mastered tracks by morning, which facilitates an efficient workflow.

Revision Process

• Typically undergoes three to four revisions with Mike until they reach a satisfactory final product; emphasizes detailed notes for clarity during revisions.

• Discusses complexities in mastering an album where songs are interconnected, requiring careful consideration of transitions between tracks.

Unique Production Techniques

• Certain elements like guitars are added during the mastering phase rather than production, as they serve more as transitional pieces than parts of individual songs.

Vocal Layering and Arrangement

• Transition into discussing a hit song featuring unique vocal arrangements; highlights how vocals can replace traditional instruments in sections.

• Explains using vocoders for bass and chord layers within vocals, creating fullness without needing additional instruments.

Frequency Spectrum Utilization

• Describes how electronic elements enhance vocal harmonics and sub-bass frequencies through vocoding techniques.

• Notes that despite being primarily vocal-driven, arrangements can still create impactful moments akin to traditional instrumentals.

Understanding Compression and Mixing Techniques

The Role of Compression in Music Production

• The speaker discusses the impact of compression on music tracks, emphasizing that it creates a more cohesive sound.

Bass and Kick Drum Dynamics

• A key technique for achieving a powerful bass and kick drum sound is side chaining, which allows both elements to work together rather than separately.

• The speaker mentions high-passing the kick or bass depending on their interaction, particularly when the bass plays specific notes while the kick serves as a pulse.

Frequency Management

• The speaker prefers not to low cut kicks but will adjust frequencies based on the desired attack and clarity in certain sections of a song.

• When mixing, it's important to visualize how the kick and bass interact; bouncing them as one file can help identify any frequency dips that need addressing.

Personal Mixing Philosophy

• The speaker contrasts their approach with that of Skrillex, noting that while they prefer a less pronounced pulsing effect from side chaining, others may use it creatively for different musical styles.

Layering Sounds for Optimal Results

• To create effective kicks, layering various sounds (like high-end attacks and sub-bass layers) is recommended. This method allows for greater control over each element's contribution to the final sound.

Vocal Processing Techniques

Distortion vs. Saturation in Vocals

• The speaker expresses concern about vocal distortion but acknowledges using saturation to enhance presence in dense mixes.

Plugin Recommendations

Exploring Music Production Techniques

Minimal Use of Effects

• The speaker emphasizes a preference for minimal effects in music production, opting for creative experimentation with multiple tracks.

• Introduces "Corrosion," a distortion plugin that enhances bass sounds significantly, likening its effect to holding paper in front of a woofer.

Plugin Insights

• Corrosion is noted for its ability to improve any bass sound by adding distortion primarily in the high mids and highs.

• The speaker mentions using "Tornado" when uncertain about what is needed in a mix, highlighting an experimental approach to plugin selection.

Bit Crushing Techniques

• Discusses "Decimore," a favorite bit crusher that adds warmth without sounding overly digital or cold.

• Suggests applying slight bit crushing to lead vocals to enhance clarity and presence without increasing volume.

Delay and Compression Tools

• Recommends "Timeless" for delay due to its effective ducking feature, which allows delays to be more prominent when the main vocal is quiet.

• Mentions using "Bloom" for squashing sounds and praises the "Pi compressor" for its warm compression on plucked sounds.

Advanced Compression Techniques

• Introduces "OTT" as an incredible tool and discusses another plugin called "Uber Loud," which offers visual feedback on compression levels.

• Compares Gulos to AI technology, noting how it adjusts frequency responses dynamically, enhancing sound quality without manual intervention.

Mixing Strategies

• Describes using plugins like Gulos before finalizing mixes to identify areas needing improvement by cranking settings high temporarily.

Creating Dynamic Music Projects

Embracing Natural Sound in Music Production

• The speaker emphasizes a shift in their approach to music production, allowing each project to develop its own unique sound rather than adhering to high-end or loud standards.

• They suggest that using golf as a metaphor can help achieve clarity in sound by adjusting frequencies without overcompensating with excessive highs.

Techniques for Filling Frequency Gaps

• Instead of simply boosting high frequencies, the speaker recommends identifying musical gaps and creatively filling them with elements like shakers, synths, or white noise.

• They introduce Synaptic's Adaptive Verb plugin as a tool that intelligently adjusts reverb based on the pitch of notes played, enhancing the overall mix.

Utilizing Adaptive Verb for Enhanced Mixing

• The speaker describes how Adaptive Verb allows for seamless integration of long piano notes with appropriate reverb without manual adjustments between notes.

• By bouncing chords at 100% wet and utilizing pitch tracking, they create pads that fill empty spaces in the mix while maintaining harmonic integrity.

Streamlining Workflow and Organization

• The discussion shifts to workflow challenges faced during music production, particularly regarding managing stems and various software versions over time.

• The speaker expresses frustration with outdated plugins and emphasizes the importance of having an efficient setup to focus on creativity rather than technical issues.

Collaboration and Stem Management

• Skinny is mentioned as a collaborator responsible for organizing stems—labeling tracks by BPM and key—and ensuring everything is stored online for easy access.

Understanding the Creative Process in Music Production

The Evolution of a Song

• The speaker discusses how a song can evolve into different versions, including becoming a theme song for a show and losing its original context over time.

• They express frustration at not having an overview of all the versions created, highlighting the complexity of managing multiple iterations.

Preparing for a Show

• The speaker explains their workflow for preparing music for performances, using software called "record box" to organize songs onto USB sticks.

• They emphasize the importance of sticking to prepared playlists during shows to maintain synchronization with light shows and other elements.

Technology in Music Production

• A comparison is made between older technology ("the cheese grater") and newer equipment, noting that advancements have significantly increased efficiency.

• The speaker appreciates the return of essential ports on new devices, which enhances functionality and user experience.

Challenges with Specific Songs

• The speaker mentions difficulties with playing back "Out of Time," due to its tempo changes affecting real-time playback within sessions.