Working With Online Musicians

The ability to make music with online musicians has been a thing for many years now. More and more songwriters and musicians have been making use of the internet for music production services. Furthermore, the existence of online recording studios has made it easier for session musicians to offer their skills to the people who need help making music. From songwriters and composers to artists and producers, the use of online services has permeated much of the music industry. And many of these interactions have led to some good music, even hit records in some cases.

But while many music creators have embraced the use of digital platforms to produce songs and demos, others have largely ignored the concept. Whether due to mistrust of the internet or fearing loss of authenticity, some musicians still prefer going into physical studios, or at least working face to face with musicians they know.

This is not surprising. Some people simply don’t like change. It takes time for many to warm up to new ideas, even if there are real benefits to be had. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has put more emphasis on using online services for practically everything. And music has not been spared. This means music creators who have pretty much shunned online services are now left with little choice than to use them.

If you are a songwriter or musician who falls in this bracket, you are probably unsure of how to work with online musicians. And that’s understandable. After all, not every platform is user-friendly or staffed with the right talent to get the best out of your music. In addition, there are things you can do to ensure working with session musicians online works out in your best interest.

Use a secure and trusted collaboration platform

Perhaps the most important step you can take when working with online musicians is to ensure you find a reputable music collaboration platform. Such companies not only have transparent terms and conditions but they also only hire well-vetted session musicians who are highly trained and experienced. On top of that, they also have various services to suit your individual needs, whether you are looking to connect with one or more instrumentalists, vocalists, or seeking music and mastering skills for an already-recorded song.

It can be difficult to find trustworthy online music collaboration platforms. But if you are reading this, you are already on one. Feel free to check out Tunedly’s roster of professional session musicians if you want to start making music online and receive quality results.

Provide reference tracks

It’s true that musicians often like free reign when it comes on to having creative control. But if you only have lyrics and want to have a say in how your song turns out, it is a good idea to at least provide a few reference tracks. A reference track gives the online musicians working on your song an idea of the type of sound you are trying to achieve, as well as a starting point. Reference tracks can be actual songs or instrument tracks that represent your song’s vision.

Be responsive

For online music production to work, it requires communication between you and your collaborators. Session musicians may reach out to ask for files, make suggestions, or give updates. At the same time, they are usually working on stuff for other clients, so getting timely responses is useful for all parties involved. If you can’t respond to a request right away, it is probably helpful to at least reply with a brief note indicating that you have received their message and will reply at a later time when you can.

Be prepared to go back and forth

On top of being responsive, you may need to go back and forth with musicians throughout the duration of your project. As you can imagine, this is to ensure you are happy with each step of the music recording process. For instance, a musician working on bass guitar may send you their tracks to give the okay. If you also have another guitarist and other musicians working on your project, they will need to get your feedback as well, which can result in plenty of back and forth. Things can get a bit lengthy and maybe even annoying but at the end of the day, it will all be worth it if you end up with something that sounds great.

Label and prep all your files

If you are sending over more than just lyrics, all your files need to be in their correct formats and labeled correctly. This makes it easy for online musicians to work with your tracks and find the files they need. The less time spent trying to convert files or figure out what they are for, the less back and forth there will be, and the smoother the process of creating your song online.

Working with online musicians for hire can be intimidating, especially if you are new to the idea. Following some best practices, however, such as those listed above, can simplify the process and lead to stunning results.