@audiohaze @finneasofficial I didn’t understand clearly- with the “glossy, perfect production value” of the vocals, are all 100 vocal tracks LAYERED over each other? Or only the best 1 or 2 are kept, and we’re just saying it takes 100 takes to get the ones that sounds perfect?
@@artisans8521one of the best mics ever, period. Not for a budget or beginner. It's just a good mic. I'm still have my first from 20 years ago and bought the USB 2020 this year for me and my son to use on the tablet.
Comments like these is how you can tell who is a musician and who isn't here. That is genuinely cheap for a mic. Professional mics cost 10-20K more than that. Music equipment is expensive, even DIY music is VERY expensive.
The intimacy of Billie’s whispered vocals was really fresh. Until technology enabled kids to have studios and condenser mics in their bedrooms, artists didn’t have an opportunity to experiment with that. Billie and Finneas developed their art in symbiosis with the bedroom studio in a way that was impossible for previous generations, as teenagers did in the 1960’s with electric guitars and the 1980’s with synths. Great video!
The way Billie used these kind of vocals in arrangements like this was not done a lot before, certainly not in mainstream. Trent Reznor for example will also whisper a lot on NIN songs (Downward spiral, Fragile records) but it is completely different intention and context. Same with Björk on Medulla which is mostly vocal arrangements, or some of Kate Bush'es stuff (I admire Kate a lot but I personally can't stand it as it always sounds like she is all over my personal space). I think the magic here is that the quiet vocals make her voice sound relax and very balanced in tone. There is a sweetness to it which makes it pleasant to the ears and that is important if you are going to base most of your track around that. One element kind of overlooked is the relationship between Billie and Finneas. They seem to have such an intimate bonding which no doubt affects the way they write, experiment, and approach music because I think they both allow themselves to be totally vulnerable to each other. That is a kind of thing which producers and/or artists usually are not able to cultivate to this degree (irregardless if they are family or not).
You mentioned a few of these things, but here is what really stands out to me: 1) Finneas's mastery of low end 2) The intimacy of Billie's vocals. You can hear every breath and mouth noise 3) The use of space. The arrangements are very minimal. There often isn't much in the midrange besides Billie's vocals, allowing them to shine and to flesh out the harmonic content 4) The songwriting. It's sad how rare it is in contemporary pop to use actual chord progressions. Everything now is based on sound design and rhythms. People have moved away from the fundamental principles of songwriting. Billie and Finneas manage to sound modern while bringing that stuff back. I'm not saying it's the most complex music in the world, but the melodies have real contours and songs are structured as more than an endless three-chord loop. I think the reason people connect with it is because they can tell it was made by humans rather than by committee
I would say their music is mostly overhyped shit. I think their biggest strenth is their marketing not in the last place due to billies large breast and young age
Great points. She's really good. They both are. What blows my mind is how other artists like Tori Kelly for instance are so underrated in comparison. Who in my opinion has blindingly good vocal technique, range, and creativity. Plus performs better live than in the studio.
The final mixing and mastering of the songs did not happen in Billie's and Finneas's bedroom studio. Instead, this work was done by Rob Kinelski, a noted mixing engineer. Rob's credits include Alessia Cara, Ariana Grande, Beyonce, and Ed Sheeran, among many others. Billie's songs were mixed in a studio featuring gear worth well over $100,000. The songs were also professionally mastered - to make sure they would sound good on all types of speakers - by Grammy-winning mastering engineer John Greenham, on equipment worth tens of thousands.
Oh, wow!! I had no idea... I'm surprised no one is talking about that. I guess what people are really trying to highlight is that the album was RECORDED in a bedroom studio, not that it was FULLY produced and mixed in their bedroom.
Thank you for bringing this up! It's kind of obvious, but I don't think a lot of people realize that, obviously by the comments. Of course the final track isn't mixed on HS8's in a bedroom by them! LOL.
If you can write on HS8s in your bedroom studio, you can also mix and master. It's not that hard. If it's not pop music and you're not expecting radio airtime or a commercial rampage then there's really no pressure to have guns blazing in the loudness wars.
@@spiritlevelstudios "It's not that hard." It is when you're home schooled and raised by two classically trained musicians but don't have genuine talent instead relying on just regurgitating what you know without having any real understanding of it.
Billie Eilish and Finneas came by our school several days ago and I was fortunate enough to listen to their master class. They said they don’t like studio spaces and really love the basement they record their music in, especially with the windows that let light in. Their sibling chemistry was great to see as well
I can't say I'm really into Billie, but I have mad respect for their recording techniques. It's super cool that they recorded that at home. Keep on rocking weekend warriors!
@@adamsuffi.5028 yea i was kinda just being a jealous dick my bad, but she also had two musician parents who supported her so thats even better than a mansion
One thing that needs to be said is that Billie and Finneas have parents that are well connected and they were able to pull strings and get their music on Netflix before even the first album was released. They also had about a $100k or so to invest in PR, creating an image and things like that. Without that, it's highly questionable that they would have made it, even with the great music they've made. Edit: I'm not judging. I'm just saying that some have the privilege of major opportunity.
@@cannedpineapple2702 Her song "Bored" was made for the show "13 reasons why" and that was before her first album. Her debut single and EP got her a bit of attention but she wasn't mainstream at all
where did you get that from? cause as far as everyone is aware, her dad is a failed actor turned construction worker and her mom is a failed actress turned songwriting teacher lol
I really don't listen to all that much in the way of mainstream. Usually I dismiss pop as the product of 200 producers messing with the 5 or 6 takes they get from a vocalist. Looking behind the curtain like this has helped me gain a greater respect for all types of music and also to appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into all the songs we encounter day to day.
There is a lot of great songwriting in pop music. You might not like the music, but the songwriting is oftentimes great. However... There is also a lot of crap, meaning boring repetition and cliches, because the investors want hits in the vein of whatever worked yesterday.
Totally :) I think we'd all learn a lot specifically about collaboration, one of those soft skills that seems simple on paper but takes a lot to get right
One thing I'd like to add is that being a great songwriter and finding the perfect collaborator helps a lot. They are such a great team. Great video and breakdown. Thank you!
"Create a space that you're comfortable with, with people that youre comfortable with" this really stood out to me. im also homeschooled, so im home all the time, but i dont feel like i really have a safe space to be creative- thats one of the main reasons im afraid/hesitant to start recording stuff, or even just playing around with my guitar. The walls of my house are pretty thin and theres not a single room i feel is "safe enough" to be in if that makes sense. especially since my family often doesnt understand, or care about my interests.
Besides the very interesting details of her production, there is a beautiful message in this video: *It doesn't matter what gear you use, just "Come Out and Play"*
Hey... They had connections, that's clear, but why doesn't anyone recognize how impeccable it is to get this level of production (Finneas) and vocal technique (Billie) with no specific music education?? I mean, at the time of their first album, they obviously learned most of what they know from the internet and mostly through intuition... This is what's amazing about these guys. There are a lot of great producers and great singers out there, but few seem to be so naturally talented. I mean I've been producing since I was in high school (not as intensively) and I never got to this level at the age of 18 or 20, at 28 I'm still not there (not my main job, but still!!!)
BAH...BILLIE IS SERIOUSLY UNDERTALENTED & OVERHYPED. SHE IS A MUSIC INDUSTRY PRODUCT CHEAPLY PRODUCED FOR MCDONALDS TYPE MASS CONSUMER CONSUMPTION. SHE ONLY HAS 2 GOOD SONGS LOL.
their parents are both classically trained and they were homeschooled...the level of music these kids are producing for that kind of upbringing is objectively woeful. But the standards of today aren't exactly high.
These 2 are the wonder twins. They def got the nurturing side down in the artist development phase of their story. And, I really love that Ocean Eyes came as a stock Logic project. Lots to be learned from cracking open someone else’s session to see exactly how the magic happens. Great video!
Hey Im not a musician or recording artist of any kind, but found your content intriguing even motivating so just wanted to pass on my compliments and encouragement - well done
I've learned enough about recording and production to say that every single thing you said here sure seems exactly right. I learned some stuff and I thank you for that. I also had some of my understanding reaffirmed. One more thing: you are as humble as both Billie and Phineas, and man oh man, that sure goes a long way.
This is my first time coming across a channel like this where instead of telling the viewer the knowledge that is to aimed to gained from the video in a way that feels like you're sitting in history class waiting for the bell to ring on a tuesday fall morning. No, this channel is different whereas instead of making the videos atmosphere feel unwelcoming, it feels rather that the viewer is being talked to and having a conversation with. And that, feels awesome. This is possibly going to be one of my favorite channels now.
I sub and watch your vids cause they are good, informative, and you’re passionate as all get out. You inspire. Great job R! I captured all the instruments and vocals for Mysti Mayhem’s “Diversity” record in a mobile home in the middle of the desert in New Mexico. When we took it to Chris Stamey to mix and produce he was floored at how good everything already was….so, yeah, it can be done.
Just stumbled across this video - very well put together. Research, scripting (if you do script) and editing are next level. This is pretty much the same type of content I want to put out on my channel. I’ve actually got one scheduled today that’s in a very similar format 😆 Thank you for giving me some revived inspiration!
Hi there! Killer video!! Sooo motivating, I will definitely use some tips shown here!. Also i would really like to point that there are sooo much people making *good* music (don't care the genre), but the difference between an artist and an amateur is the amount of money invested in marketing, appearence, and all that making the crowd empathy happens. Music is only one thing more
We used Neumann TLM103 in 1999 on our most popular song "Flying High", it's a "one bedroom 100 million+ streams" style of a story. The mic has gone through some changes in 2000s (or 2010s?) and it's the old models that sound better I heard.
Beautifully done video my brother. I usually dont watch much of music production content neither am a musician by any means but I love the way you edited the video the energy you put out keep doing what you are doing you're going places
This was one of the most entertaining videos about audio that I ever watched and wow I knew that ocean eyes was recorded with an AT2020 but 1billion streams??? I didnt even know that lol and Ocean Eyes is literally my favorite song by her since it came out when Blackbear did a remix on that song haha Finneas and Billie are truly insane 🤩 and this video was amazing!!! keep it up Ricky!!!
I think Finneas is a great producer, no doubt in this. But you mentioned audio enginery as well and I think we cannot forget their mixer Rob here. He is often overlooked in their story and, being a beginner sound engineer myself, I believe his work should be appreciated.
@@majasobiech1258 I’m only new to the industry but from what I’ve found people tend to not mention their mixers or their photographers. We’re all creatives we gotta help each other is how I feel
Oldschool people keep repeating me, that you need a big studio for big records. Some people still have difficulties understanding the world really changed. And this is the perfect example. THank you for the video!
Lastly, it is worth noting as well that the final mixing and mastering of the songs did not happen in Billie's and Finneas's bedroom studio. Instead, this work was done by Rob Kinelski, a noted mixing engineer. Rob's credits include Alessia Cara, Ariana Grande, Beyonce, and Ed Sheeran, among many others. Billie's songs were mixed in a studio featuring gear worth well over $100,000. The songs were also professionally mastered - to make sure they would sound good on all types of speakers - by Grammy-winning mastering engineer John Greenham, on equipment worth tens of thousands.
@@BlackRoomBeats yes! Thank you for mentioning that. It is truly important who does the mixing and how. But i got to know people who didnt have the best recording in the world. Still it was an amazing song and they brought their project to a new level with “not the best sounding recording” but with an amazing song. Artists should do whatever they have in their power to do it the best way possible but not get limited by that. And todays world makes it easier for everyone🥳 now if you have the money or the contacts, go ahead and mix it master it even record it with them!
as much as i love her debut album, her first ep will always be close to my heart. that second to last track, hostage, is my absolute favorite of all time. Something about it gives me chills without fail.
What an amazingly informative channel. Only just come across it. The whole episode is thought out and put together beautifully. I know just how much time these videos take to make. Well done! I love it!
I'm a lil confused, if you have a professional daw, expensive(ish) mic, years of musical experience and already touring, what difference does it make what room you record it in? Soundproofing foam? You can get that in a bedroom. I tried with each point to think why that's harder or more impressive in a bedroom than in a stu and I couldn't see it. Maybe it's the novelty of the word "bedroom"? Because it seems they use that word every chance they can get lol
I immediately subscribed after this video. Thank you so much, it was so, so full of useful information and extremely well done in terms of scripting & editing.
These are so gooood! I don't even listen to the music of Billie and Finneas and I came away inspired and with some new ideas (like, how bad of a room can I make a good quiet singer sound good in?!)
The tracks might have been produced in a bedroom but the mixdowns where done by the biggests names in the game The mastering was also done by the top enginners too Then dont forget ... marketing ... There are aome amzing un-sung heros out there that create and make amzing music that will never see the light of day because of being able to get it heard but the right people . It is a case of who you know im afraid...
Also, I completely agree you do not need expensive gear to make great music, this message is extremely important. However, it does not change the fact the gear Finneas uses is more on expensive side. Neumann mic, roli, op1, they are not cheap. Still, I think they could make record on any gear, I have heard how Finneas played an acoustic piano and sang, I know he can. I just wanted to notice that their example is more visible in acoustic environment cause as far as their home studio goes, it certainly is not so cheap anyway. :) I would love to have a neumann or roli controller.
My starting gear, and what will probably my only gear for the next four years is an iPhone, garage band, a tonor-777, an electric piano my dad bought from someone else, the electric guitar I don’t even know when was first released that I bought from the pawn shop while broken and had to repair it for an extra $150, a $35 amp also from the pawn shop, a dynamic microphone and stand from the pawn shop, again, which both ended up costing me around $50. And in addition to that, I plan on getting a couple of pedals for my guitar, a sustain petal for my piano, an electric drum set that I can try to connect to my phone, and the irig 2.
@@AudioHaze I’ve literally just spent the last 3 hours watching your videos. Really, good stuff and you deserve MANY more subscribers for the top quality content. It makes me realize that I know nothing about mixing besides winging it 😂 And omg I’m so down
This video makes a very important point; that making great music no longer requires a multi-million dollar studio. In the 1990's there was an artist by the name of White Town who recorded an entire album on 4 track cassette and the song "Your Woman" charted and became a minor hit. It was mastered in a professional studio before release, and apparently took a great deal of work before it was deemed ready, but it did get released. So it goes to show that it isn't necessarily the equipment. A great song is a great song. That being said, having a connection to a major record label probably had something to do with it too. Now with the availability of exceptional technology within a fairly reasonable price range there's no longer a technological limitation to what someone can do. Thank you for another clever and insightful video!
A point thats been made millions of times for years now. A house in LA with a MacBook and time to do a hundred takes.that’s what most musicians need. great gear that may not be what the mic locker at Abbey Road has currently but is still quality?. And nobody is splicing tape with a razor blade either. It’s Logic Pro. Half the industry uses it. This site is a buzz feed article for peoole who got interested in recording music in the last week. Fine. You’re not on your way to a billion streams once you discover what an audio interface is.t though. No more than finding an iPhone will turn your first effort into Sex Lies and Videotape. It’s not and never was about the gear.
One of the most successful punk / ska albums of all time was done on a 4 track tape machine too. Operation Ivy who later became Rancid who saw a lot of radio play in the 90s.
I just finished converting my bedroom into a home studio. Acoustic treatments all up and im running a sweet and cheap set up too. A Scarlett 2i2 with a Aston Spirit mic (such a killer mic for the price). Going to be slowly adding more mics and instrumentation as i go. I only do acoustic guitar and vocals so its nothing requiring and fancy stuff.
Real equipment of billie and his brother: UAD Neve 1073 , Neumann TLM 103 , Telefunken M80 , Telefunken ELA M 251E , ams NEVE 1073 mic preamp & equalizer , Rupert Neve Designs 5211 2-Channel Microphone Preamp, Nord Stage 3 88-Key Keyboard Red, ah.. and a IMAC 5K 27'' inches + Universal Audio Interface. well, here we have more than $10,000. so your video is a complete fantasy, which only serves to give false hope to people who make music in their bedroom. have something clear, in the audio world, money does buy opportunities, if you don't learn it now you will learn it suffering. Life is not as rosy as it is painted on UA-cam and I believe that in most parts of the world investing $10,000 in your room is completely insane and not possible for everyone.
I know this sounds like a new thing but many of the greatest rock records where recorded in a guy's basement, livingroom, large foyer with a winding staircase, barn, this goes back to the late 60's and early 70's. And a few of these albums are the basic standards for well recorded albums. For example Boston was one guy with a singer, and they had to hire a drummer. No amplifiers were used, yet it set the guitar sound that everyone wants right up to today. I just noticed that my sig line on here is not mine. Great.
Excellent video. I have been recording for 20 years. In expensive studios but now mostly from a home studio. We have reached the point where musicians ( that learn their equipment) can create quality recordings if they can perform at the required level.
Not even related to the content of the video but the sponsor advertisement was genius. that's the first one I haven't scrolled passed. a+ for creativity lol
I've always admired her and Phineas for their dedication to creating such unique and captivating music. One fascinating aspect that often goes unnoticed is their use of ASMR techniques in Billy's vocals. By singing softly and up close to the microphone, they achieve that intimate and soothing quality in her voice, adding a whole new layer of connection to their songs. It's like a hidden gem in their production process that contributes to their signature sound. Kudos to them for proving that you don't need a fancy studio to create chart-topping hits. 🎶💯 #MusicMasters
I see negative comments here and acknowledge they contain kernels of truth. That said, I believe you produced this video in good faith and intended a promising message for your viewers. Some people truly believe a lack of connections is why their talent isn’t recognized. And hell they may be right. But there’s undeniable talent on Billie and bro’s end. Regardless of her marketing campaign, the fact that ANY of her main vocals were done in a bedroom on a TLM103, which people like to hate since it doesn’t sound ‘vintage’, should be a positive. Honestly, I wasn’t that surprised. Do I personally get those results? Lol no. I have however heard lots of bedroom produced albums that sound phenomenal. They sound huge. ESPECIALLY if the sole acoustic element is vocals. As long as the mixing is well done I can’t claim to be able to spot which in the box made beat was done at home or a studio. I could only guess on a vocal if it has glaring issues like mud from standing waves. We can always get better without a more expensive piece of gear (and GOD I’d love for the gear to fix everything lol). Great video, my man!
Yo great comments here! Yeah I think taking away someone’s legitimacy just because if industry connections is only have the story. Even if they do have connections (which I don’t know), from a production and musicology standpoint it’s hard to deny the effect of the record, regardless if it was recorded at home or not ya know :) thanks for checking out the vid dude! Hope to see you around the comments
People always use the "industry connections" excuse. They don't realize that you still have to be at least mildly talented to even get the attention of these "industry people" lol
True story for you: I just read this and thought, hell yes, and gave it a like. Then I looked to see who commented, and hah! it's my pal the wolf! Of course I agreed with you. This has been a blind scientific test. No one reading this besides wolf daddy will know what the hell I'm talking about, carry on.
@@cyrusjohari6605 Welcome to the system but on that note, whisper vocals are really bad for the voice. Try it. Over and over and over. You will dry out your voice and start coughing. The point I really want to get to is this: she is not a good singer. It's all simple whispers which sound louder due to a microphone. She, and I quote said 'oh, why is belting so hard'. Yet, she wasn't belting at all. She has no concept of what belting is, she doesn't have it in her to do that , it's just whisper, whisper, whisper. Talent ? I don't think so. Vocal talent ? Absolutely not. Doubling and tripling vocals a thousand times over and over ? The worst singer in the world can do that and sound good. You've heard a festival crowd, where they all sound roughly on pitch ? Same result. There are millions of talented musicians out there, yet this one breaks through with ASMR. Makes you think . .
real equipment of billie and his brother: UAD Neve 1073 , Neumann TLM 103 , Telefunken M80 , Telefunken ELA M 251E , ams NEVE 1073 mic preamp & equalizer , Rupert Neve Designs 5211 2-Channel Microphone Preamp, Nord Stage 3 88-Key Keyboard Red. well, here we have more than $10,000. so your video is a complete fantasy, which only serves to give false hope to people who make music in their bedroom. have something clear, in the audio world, money does buy opportunities, if you don't learn it now you will learn it suffering. Life is not as rosy as it is painted on UA-cam and I believe that in most parts of the world investing $10,000 in your room is completely insane and not possible for everyone.
Love your work my friend
@audiohaze @finneasofficial I didn’t understand clearly- with the “glossy, perfect production value” of the vocals, are all 100 vocal tracks LAYERED over each other? Or only the best 1 or 2 are kept, and we’re just saying it takes 100 takes to get the ones that sounds perfect?
@@willfrancescofinithe vocals are layered. doubles, harmonies, doubles of the harmonies…
each one has multiple takes and is comped and then layered. 100 layers x the amount of takes
@@willfrancescofini
Iloveyuo so much ❤❤❤💛
I like how the first piece of gear is a $1200 mic
secret to success (see billie + finneas, willow smith, domi + jd beck)
step one: be a nepo baby
step two: be incredibly talented
step three: ????
step four: profit
@@artisans8521one of the best mics ever, period. Not for a budget or beginner. It's just a good mic. I'm still have my first from 20 years ago and bought the USB 2020 this year for me and my son to use on the tablet.
They started out with a $100 mic
@@nrgao😭
Comments like these is how you can tell who is a musician and who isn't here. That is genuinely cheap for a mic. Professional mics cost 10-20K more than that. Music equipment is expensive, even DIY music is VERY expensive.
The intimacy of Billie’s whispered vocals was really fresh. Until technology enabled kids to have studios and condenser mics in their bedrooms, artists didn’t have an opportunity to experiment with that. Billie and Finneas developed their art in symbiosis with the bedroom studio in a way that was impossible for previous generations, as teenagers did in the 1960’s with electric guitars and the 1980’s with synths. Great video!
Yo great comment! Yeah they really showed everything you can do with a home studio :)
The ADAT in 1994 was the game changer. A lot of home studios started then, including mine. Things have only gotten better since.
The way Billie used these kind of vocals in arrangements like this was not done a lot before, certainly not in mainstream. Trent Reznor for example will also whisper a lot on NIN songs (Downward spiral, Fragile records) but it is completely different intention and context. Same with Björk on Medulla which is mostly vocal arrangements, or some of Kate Bush'es stuff (I admire Kate a lot but I personally can't stand it as it always sounds like she is all over my personal space).
I think the magic here is that the quiet vocals make her voice sound relax and very balanced in tone. There is a sweetness to it which makes it pleasant to the ears and that is important if you are going to base most of your track around that.
One element kind of overlooked is the relationship between Billie and Finneas. They seem to have such an intimate bonding which no doubt affects the way they write, experiment, and approach music because I think they both allow themselves to be totally vulnerable to each other. That is a kind of thing which producers and/or artists usually are not able to cultivate to this degree (irregardless if they are family or not).
Great video thanks!
Yeah, I can't imagine how the whispered vocals can sound good live. I mean, they can't.
You mentioned a few of these things, but here is what really stands out to me:
1) Finneas's mastery of low end
2) The intimacy of Billie's vocals. You can hear every breath and mouth noise
3) The use of space. The arrangements are very minimal. There often isn't much in the midrange besides Billie's vocals, allowing them to shine and to flesh out the harmonic content
4) The songwriting. It's sad how rare it is in contemporary pop to use actual chord progressions. Everything now is based on sound design and rhythms. People have moved away from the fundamental principles of songwriting. Billie and Finneas manage to sound modern while bringing that stuff back. I'm not saying it's the most complex music in the world, but the melodies have real contours and songs are structured as more than an endless three-chord loop. I think the reason people connect with it is because they can tell it was made by humans rather than by committee
Great takeaways here! Arrangement in their songwriting is definitely huge, really natural incorporation of some strange song structures.
I would say their music is mostly overhyped shit. I think their biggest strenth is their marketing not in the last place due to billies large breast and young age
I feel that the guy did mention at least the first three things on your list, just didn't do it in those words.
Great points. She's really good. They both are. What blows my mind is how other artists like Tori Kelly for instance are so underrated in comparison. Who in my opinion has blindingly good vocal technique, range, and creativity. Plus performs better live than in the studio.
@@JamieRsame with Miley Cyrus
The final mixing and mastering of the songs did not happen in Billie's and Finneas's bedroom studio. Instead, this work was done by Rob Kinelski, a noted mixing engineer. Rob's credits include Alessia Cara, Ariana Grande, Beyonce, and Ed Sheeran, among many others. Billie's songs were mixed in a studio featuring gear worth well over $100,000. The songs were also professionally mastered - to make sure they would sound good on all types of speakers - by Grammy-winning mastering engineer John Greenham, on equipment worth tens of thousands.
Oh, wow!! I had no idea... I'm surprised no one is talking about that. I guess what people are really trying to highlight is that the album was RECORDED in a bedroom studio, not that it was FULLY produced and mixed in their bedroom.
Thank you for bringing this up! It's kind of obvious, but I don't think a lot of people realize that, obviously by the comments. Of course the final track isn't mixed on HS8's in a bedroom by them! LOL.
If you can write on HS8s in your bedroom studio, you can also mix and master. It's not that hard.
If it's not pop music and you're not expecting radio airtime or a commercial rampage then there's really no pressure to have guns blazing in the loudness wars.
No one wants to talk about the fact that Billie Eilish's entire career is literally down to nepotism and family connections.
@@spiritlevelstudios "It's not that hard." It is when you're home schooled and raised by two classically trained musicians but don't have genuine talent instead relying on just regurgitating what you know without having any real understanding of it.
Billie Eilish and Finneas came by our school several days ago and I was fortunate enough to listen to their master class. They said they don’t like studio spaces and really love the basement they record their music in, especially with the windows that let light in. Their sibling chemistry was great to see as well
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
I can't say I'm really into Billie, but I have mad respect for their recording techniques. It's super cool that they recorded that at home. Keep on rocking weekend warriors!
at her mansion home studio
@@blinkerz4676 her parents didnt live in a mansion it's literally documented haha
@@blinkerz4676 can see their house its not even big house its just normal middle class house, doesnt even have a mansion
@@adamsuffi.5028 yea i was kinda just being a jealous dick my bad, but she also had two musician parents who supported her so thats even better than a mansion
@@GoodChicken u right my b
One thing that needs to be said is that Billie and Finneas have parents that are well connected and they were able to pull strings and get their music on Netflix before even the first album was released. They also had about a $100k or so to invest in PR, creating an image and things like that. Without that, it's highly questionable that they would have made it, even with the great music they've made.
Edit: I'm not judging. I'm just saying that some have the privilege of major opportunity.
no one talks about privelige
True
damn i had no idea could u elaborateo n the netflix thing
@@cannedpineapple2702 Her song "Bored" was made for the show "13 reasons why" and that was before her first album. Her debut single and EP got her a bit of attention but she wasn't mainstream at all
where did you get that from? cause as far as everyone is aware, her dad is a failed actor turned construction worker and her mom is a failed actress turned songwriting teacher lol
I really don't listen to all that much in the way of mainstream. Usually I dismiss pop as the product of 200 producers messing with the 5 or 6 takes they get from a vocalist. Looking behind the curtain like this has helped me gain a greater respect for all types of music and also to appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into all the songs we encounter day to day.
That's awesome to here! Yeah I totally get where you're coming from, Billie and Finneas definitely seem like the exception to that rule in this case.
There is a lot of great songwriting in pop music. You might not like the music, but the songwriting is oftentimes great. However... There is also a lot of crap, meaning boring repetition and cliches, because the investors want hits in the vein of whatever worked yesterday.
"Investors" basically ruin all art IMHO.
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
So interesting. I would love to be a fly on the wall during a recording session with these two.
Totally :) I think we'd all learn a lot specifically about collaboration, one of those soft skills that seems simple on paper but takes a lot to get right
Can see a lot of their process for her first album in her documentary "the world's a little blurry" if you are interested
@@hittnau5 Sweet! I'll check it out. Thank you!
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
One thing I'd like to add is that being a great songwriter and finding the perfect collaborator helps a lot. They are such a great team. Great video and breakdown. Thank you!
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
"Create a space that you're comfortable with, with people that youre comfortable with"
this really stood out to me. im also homeschooled, so im home all the time, but i dont feel like i really have a safe space to be creative- thats one of the main reasons im afraid/hesitant to start recording stuff, or even just playing around with my guitar. The walls of my house are pretty thin and theres not a single room i feel is "safe enough" to be in if that makes sense. especially since my family often doesnt understand, or care about my interests.
This is my issue.
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
@@highestpeeqs9532 im a christian my dude lol
Besides the very interesting details of her production, there is a beautiful message in this video: *It doesn't matter what gear you use, just "Come Out and Play"*
Totally!
Love this!
Mmm some people just shouldn’t
Including u.
@@lenyg7920 ❤️
Hey... They had connections, that's clear, but why doesn't anyone recognize how impeccable it is to get this level of production (Finneas) and vocal technique (Billie) with no specific music education?? I mean, at the time of their first album, they obviously learned most of what they know from the internet and mostly through intuition... This is what's amazing about these guys. There are a lot of great producers and great singers out there, but few seem to be so naturally talented.
I mean I've been producing since I was in high school (not as intensively) and I never got to this level at the age of 18 or 20, at 28 I'm still not there (not my main job, but still!!!)
I know what you mean. Feels kinds frustrating right? Because you ask yourself: „What am I doing wrong?“
you WILL get there soon, if it’s something you really want and choose
BAH...BILLIE IS SERIOUSLY UNDERTALENTED & OVERHYPED. SHE IS A MUSIC INDUSTRY PRODUCT CHEAPLY PRODUCED FOR MCDONALDS TYPE MASS CONSUMER CONSUMPTION. SHE ONLY HAS 2 GOOD SONGS LOL.
their parents are both classically trained and they were homeschooled...the level of music these kids are producing for that kind of upbringing is objectively woeful. But the standards of today aren't exactly high.
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
And remember to find someone who would love to deeply work with you and your art, artisticly and technicaly 💫
Totally true :) you need peeps just excited about your art as you
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
I loved this video, you're explanation, the cutting, just everything
These 2 are the wonder twins. They def got the nurturing side down in the artist development phase of their story. And, I really love that Ocean Eyes came as a stock Logic project. Lots to be learned from cracking open someone else’s session to see exactly how the magic happens. Great video!
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
Hey Im not a musician or recording artist of any kind, but found your content intriguing even motivating so just wanted to pass on my compliments and encouragement - well done
Aw that means so much thank you! Maybe this inspires you a bit to pick up an instrument then :)
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
@@highestpeeqs9532 yeah nah Im good
I've learned enough about recording and production to say that every single thing you said here sure seems exactly right. I learned some stuff and I thank you for that. I also had some of my understanding reaffirmed. One more thing: you are as humble as both Billie and Phineas, and man oh man, that sure goes a long way.
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
Brilliant video essay - love the work here sir 👊🏽
really loving these videos,exactly what i'm looking for. the bon iver one was perfect
Thanks man :) the Bon Iver one started it all!
the quality of your videos is astounding. love it!!
This is my first time coming across a channel like this where instead of telling the viewer the knowledge that is to aimed to gained from the video in a way that feels like you're sitting in history class waiting for the bell to ring on a tuesday fall morning. No, this channel is different whereas instead of making the videos atmosphere feel unwelcoming, it feels rather that the viewer is being talked to and having a conversation with. And that, feels awesome. This is possibly going to be one of my favorite channels now.
I sub and watch your vids cause they are good, informative, and you’re passionate as all get out. You inspire. Great job R!
I captured all the instruments and vocals for Mysti Mayhem’s “Diversity” record in a mobile home in the middle of the desert in New Mexico. When we took it to Chris Stamey to mix and produce he was floored at how good everything already was….so, yeah, it can be done.
Wow super cool to hear! Who knows maybe mobile homes have "the sound" lol
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
Just stumbled across this video - very well put together. Research, scripting (if you do script) and editing are next level. This is pretty much the same type of content I want to put out on my channel. I’ve actually got one scheduled today that’s in a very similar format 😆 Thank you for giving me some revived inspiration!
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
You killed this video, great editing too!
Thank you just found you great break breakdown. Subscribed immediately can't wait to see your other videos
Wonderful, thank you for making this vid! Very inspiring for home recorders!
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
Love these new videos! Their vocal production is truly inspiring!
Absolutely! The production value on their vocal work is just insane
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
Great video dude. I've been into audio since the 80s. Always cool hearing how others record. subbed
Hi there! Killer video!! Sooo motivating, I will definitely use some tips shown here!. Also i would really like to point that there are sooo much people making *good* music (don't care the genre), but the difference between an artist and an amateur is the amount of money invested in marketing, appearence, and all that making the crowd empathy happens. Music is only one thing more
it feels so good to know that other people do a billion takes to get the right one .. especially billie
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
This is an excellent video. Awesome work dude! You earned a sub x
We used Neumann TLM103 in 1999 on our most popular song "Flying High", it's a "one bedroom 100 million+ streams" style of a story. The mic has gone through some changes in 2000s (or 2010s?) and it's the old models that sound better I heard.
Beautifully done video my brother. I usually dont watch much of music production content neither am a musician by any means but I love the way you edited the video the energy you put out keep doing what you are doing you're going places
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
@@highestpeeqs9532 Hope you have a peaceful and wonderful day ahead.
Definitely not a cheesy note in the end lol… I appreciate you for making these videos they’re so inspiring ❤️ I needed this
This was one of the most entertaining videos about audio that I ever watched and wow I knew that ocean eyes was recorded with an AT2020 but 1billion streams??? I didnt even know that lol and Ocean Eyes is literally my favorite song by her since it came out when Blackbear did a remix on that song haha Finneas and Billie are truly insane 🤩 and this video was amazing!!! keep it up Ricky!!!
Thank you my friend! Appreciate you sticking around for this long through all the content styles, means a lot :)
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
Great video. I have seen this done before on them, but this was a great break down of the album. They are amazing artist at several different levels.
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
hey man, well written video, well executed-- and home recording is something close to my heart. T H A N K S !!👍💕
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
I'm so glad i found your channel, this video was great! Keep it up!
This album really changed the game. Thanks for the video
dude. besides your videos being very interesting, the editing is insane.. very interesting and enjoyable video:) thanks!
I think Finneas is a great producer, no doubt in this. But you mentioned audio enginery as well and I think we cannot forget their mixer Rob here. He is often overlooked in their story and, being a beginner sound engineer myself, I believe his work should be appreciated.
Man the mixer is always forgotten istg rip
@@dylanagoblin9298 Haha, usually, you are right.
@@majasobiech1258 I’m only new to the industry but from what I’ve found people tend to not mention their mixers or their photographers. We’re all creatives we gotta help each other is how I feel
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
Great video and great song man! Hope the depression has gone away. Wishing you all the best!
Oldschool people keep repeating me, that you need a big studio for big records. Some people still have difficulties understanding the world really changed. And this is the perfect example. THank you for the video!
Lastly, it is worth noting as well that the final mixing and mastering of the songs did not happen in Billie's and Finneas's bedroom studio. Instead, this work was done by Rob Kinelski, a noted mixing engineer. Rob's credits include Alessia Cara, Ariana Grande, Beyonce, and Ed Sheeran, among many others. Billie's songs were mixed in a studio featuring gear worth well over $100,000. The songs were also professionally mastered - to make sure they would sound good on all types of speakers - by Grammy-winning mastering engineer John Greenham, on equipment worth tens of thousands.
@@BlackRoomBeats yes! Thank you for mentioning that. It is truly important who does the mixing and how. But i got to know people who didnt have the best recording in the world. Still it was an amazing song and they brought their project to a new level with “not the best sounding recording” but with an amazing song. Artists should do whatever they have in their power to do it the best way possible but not get limited by that. And todays world makes it easier for everyone🥳 now if you have the money or the contacts, go ahead and mix it master it even record it with them!
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
as much as i love her debut album, her first ep will always be close to my heart. that second to last track, hostage, is my absolute favorite of all time. Something about it gives me chills without fail.
What an amazingly informative channel. Only just come across it. The whole episode is thought out and put together beautifully. I know just how much time these videos take to make. Well done! I love it!
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
I'm a lil confused, if you have a professional daw, expensive(ish) mic, years of musical experience and already touring, what difference does it make what room you record it in? Soundproofing foam? You can get that in a bedroom. I tried with each point to think why that's harder or more impressive in a bedroom than in a stu and I couldn't see it. Maybe it's the novelty of the word "bedroom"? Because it seems they use that word every chance they can get lol
This was a breakdown beyond my expectations. Respect, bravo 👏
We try our best :) glad you liked it cheers!
loved it brother. The timing of this video, in my life's choices right now is spot on. call it the universe. thanks man.
I immediately subscribed after this video. Thank you so much, it was so, so full of useful information and extremely well done in terms of scripting & editing.
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
These are so gooood! I don't even listen to the music of Billie and Finneas and I came away inspired and with some new ideas (like, how bad of a room can I make a good quiet singer sound good in?!)
Hahaha that's awesome my friend! Literally couldn't ask for anything more when it comes to these vids :)
@AudioHaze How long until the first Platinum record made entirely in a shower? Hahaha
The tracks might have been produced in a bedroom but the mixdowns where done by the biggests names in the game
The mastering was also done by the top enginners too
Then dont forget ... marketing ...
There are aome amzing un-sung heros out there that create and make amzing music that will never see the light of day because of being able to get it heard but the right people .
It is a case of who you know im afraid...
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
@@highestpeeqs9532 amen
love your content a lot keep making man !
Also, I completely agree you do not need expensive gear to make great music, this message is extremely important. However, it does not change the fact the gear Finneas uses is more on expensive side. Neumann mic, roli, op1, they are not cheap. Still, I think they could make record on any gear, I have heard how Finneas played an acoustic piano and sang, I know he can. I just wanted to notice that their example is more visible in acoustic environment cause as far as their home studio goes, it certainly is not so cheap anyway. :) I would love to have a neumann or roli controller.
This video is really well made, hope your channel gets more recognition
Thanks man!
I've never clicked on one of your titles as fast as I rushed to this one lol, a banger as expected!
hahaha GOOD, I was worried this artist wouldn't be up the community's alley so that's a good sign lolll
Love your videos bro, thanks for putting so much effort on them :)
Thanks dude that means a lot, seriously :)
My starting gear, and what will probably my only gear for the next four years is an iPhone, garage band, a tonor-777,
an electric piano my dad bought from someone else, the electric guitar I don’t even know when was first released that I bought from the pawn shop while broken and had to repair it for an extra $150, a $35 amp also from the pawn shop, a dynamic microphone and stand from the pawn shop, again, which both ended up costing me around $50. And in addition to that, I plan on getting a couple of pedals for my guitar, a sustain petal for my piano, an electric drum set that I can try to connect to my phone, and the irig 2.
SO glad I found your channel, great stuff!
whhhhaaatt dude that's so cool, love your vids!! You're welcome to be the vocal talent for a vid if you'd ever want to :)
@@AudioHaze I’ve literally just spent the last 3 hours watching your videos. Really, good stuff and you deserve MANY more subscribers for the top quality content. It makes me realize that I know nothing about mixing besides winging it 😂
And omg I’m so down
This is a greatly produced analyst, and I respect the work you put into these, man
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
This video makes a very important point; that making great music no longer requires a multi-million dollar studio. In the 1990's there was an artist by the name of White Town who recorded an entire album on 4 track cassette and the song "Your Woman" charted and became a minor hit. It was mastered in a professional studio before release, and apparently took a great deal of work before it was deemed ready, but it did get released. So it goes to show that it isn't necessarily the equipment. A great song is a great song. That being said, having a connection to a major record label probably had something to do with it too. Now with the availability of exceptional technology within a fairly reasonable price range there's no longer a technological limitation to what someone can do. Thank you for another clever and insightful video!
A point thats been made millions of times for years now. A house in LA with a MacBook and time to do a hundred takes.that’s what most musicians need. great gear that may not be what the mic locker at Abbey Road has currently but is still quality?. And nobody is splicing tape with a razor blade either. It’s Logic Pro. Half the industry uses it. This site is a buzz feed article for peoole who got interested in recording music in the last week. Fine. You’re not on your way to a billion streams once you discover what an audio interface is.t though. No more than finding an iPhone will turn your first effort into Sex Lies and Videotape. It’s not and never was about the gear.
One of the most successful punk / ska albums of all time was done on a 4 track tape machine too. Operation Ivy who later became Rancid who saw a lot of radio play in the 90s.
You are such a great teacher...! Thank you for your education
Dude, your production quality slays ❤️ thank you for that 🦦
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
Thank you so much for this video. It has inspired me a bunch
Great video. Love your breakdowns man :)
I just finished converting my bedroom into a home studio. Acoustic treatments all up and im running a sweet and cheap set up too. A Scarlett 2i2 with a Aston Spirit mic (such a killer mic for the price). Going to be slowly adding more mics and instrumentation as i go. I only do acoustic guitar and vocals so its nothing requiring and fancy stuff.
Real equipment of billie and his brother:
UAD Neve 1073 , Neumann TLM 103 , Telefunken M80 , Telefunken ELA M 251E , ams NEVE 1073 mic preamp & equalizer , Rupert Neve Designs 5211 2-Channel Microphone Preamp, Nord Stage 3 88-Key Keyboard Red, ah.. and a IMAC 5K 27'' inches + Universal Audio Interface.
well, here we have more than $10,000.
so your video is a complete fantasy, which only serves to give false hope to people who make music in their bedroom.
have something clear, in the audio world, money does buy opportunities, if you don't learn it now you will learn it suffering.
Life is not as rosy as it is painted on UA-cam and I believe that in most parts of the world investing $10,000 in your room is completely insane and not possible for everyone.
I know this sounds like a new thing but many of the greatest rock records where recorded in a guy's basement, livingroom, large foyer with a winding staircase, barn, this goes back to the late 60's and early 70's. And a few of these albums are the basic standards for well recorded albums.
For example Boston was one guy with a singer, and they had to hire a drummer. No amplifiers were used, yet it set the guitar sound that everyone wants right up to today.
I just noticed that my sig line on here is not mine. Great.
Excellent video. I have been recording for 20 years. In expensive studios but now mostly from a home studio. We have reached the point where musicians ( that learn their equipment) can create quality recordings if they can perform at the required level.
Great work, man. Thanks.
Not even related to the content of the video but the sponsor advertisement was genius. that's the first one I haven't scrolled passed. a+ for creativity lol
I just found this channel, and have only watched two videos yet. I'm subbing
Really interesting video man. THank you for the research!
Thanks for checking it out!
You should definitely do a video on Steve Lacy . He created his first LP/Demo all on his iphone. I’d love to see you pick apart his methods n craft.
This was so informative and inspiring!!! Thanks for making this video :)
Thanks for checking it out!
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
Hey dude I absolutely love your channel!!!
Youve got a great voice for podcasting!
Another great vid in the series! Love Billie and Finneas. A very inspirational video. Thanks!
Glad you liked it :)
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
Great video! Congrats!!!
That was a good, well put together video
I'm not an audio person but I love this thank you for a well researched well produced piece
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !!!
even the way you insert the sponsors is top tier
Great video man
I'm genuinely an artist out here trying to do this, so thanks for the video.
I've always admired her and Phineas for their dedication to creating such unique and captivating music.
One fascinating aspect that often goes unnoticed is their use of ASMR techniques in Billy's vocals. By singing softly and up close to the microphone, they achieve that intimate and soothing quality in her voice, adding a whole new layer of connection to their songs. It's like a hidden gem in their production process that contributes to their signature sound.
Kudos to them for proving that you don't need a fancy studio to create chart-topping hits. 🎶💯 #MusicMasters
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
Rad dude, just rad.
Nice breakdown. You earned a subscription. Enjoying your work.
Thanks man! Really means a lot to get supportive feedback like this :)
Love your channel. Keep that fire going.
I see negative comments here and acknowledge they contain kernels of truth. That said, I believe you produced this video in good faith and intended a promising message for your viewers. Some people truly believe a lack of connections is why their talent isn’t recognized. And hell they may be right. But there’s undeniable talent on Billie and bro’s end.
Regardless of her marketing campaign, the fact that ANY of her main vocals were done in a bedroom on a TLM103, which people like to hate since it doesn’t sound ‘vintage’, should be a positive. Honestly, I wasn’t that surprised. Do I personally get those results? Lol no. I have however heard lots of bedroom produced albums that sound phenomenal. They sound huge. ESPECIALLY if the sole acoustic element is vocals. As long as the mixing is well done I can’t claim to be able to spot which in the box made beat was done at home or a studio. I could only guess on a vocal if it has glaring issues like mud from standing waves. We can always get better without a more expensive piece of gear (and GOD I’d love for the gear to fix everything lol). Great video, my man!
Yo great comments here! Yeah I think taking away someone’s legitimacy just because if industry connections is only have the story. Even if they do have connections (which I don’t know), from a production and musicology standpoint it’s hard to deny the effect of the record, regardless if it was recorded at home or not ya know :) thanks for checking out the vid dude! Hope to see you around the comments
People always use the "industry connections" excuse. They don't realize that you still have to be at least mildly talented to even get the attention of these "industry people" lol
True story for you: I just read this and thought, hell yes, and gave it a like. Then I looked to see who commented, and hah! it's my pal the wolf! Of course I agreed with you. This has been a blind scientific test. No one reading this besides wolf daddy will know what the hell I'm talking about, carry on.
@@cyrusjohari6605 Welcome to the system but on that note, whisper vocals are really bad for the voice. Try it. Over and over and over. You will dry out your voice and start coughing.
The point I really want to get to is this: she is not a good singer. It's all simple whispers which sound louder due to a microphone. She, and I quote said 'oh, why is belting so hard'. Yet, she wasn't belting at all. She has no concept of what belting is, she doesn't have it in her to do that , it's just whisper, whisper, whisper.
Talent ? I don't think so. Vocal talent ? Absolutely not.
Doubling and tripling vocals a thousand times over and over ? The worst singer in the world can do that and sound good.
You've heard a festival crowd, where they all sound roughly on pitch ? Same result.
There are millions of talented musicians out there, yet this one breaks through with ASMR.
Makes you think . .
real equipment of billie and his brother:
UAD Neve 1073 , Neumann TLM 103 , Telefunken M80 , Telefunken ELA M 251E , ams NEVE 1073 mic preamp & equalizer , Rupert Neve Designs 5211 2-Channel Microphone Preamp, Nord Stage 3 88-Key Keyboard Red.
well, here we have more than $10,000.
so your video is a complete fantasy, which only serves to give false hope to people who make music in their bedroom.
have something clear, in the audio world, money does buy opportunities, if you don't learn it now you will learn it suffering.
Life is not as rosy as it is painted on UA-cam and I believe that in most parts of the world investing $10,000 in your room is completely insane and not possible for everyone.
Excellent man
As an alternative rock artist, Billie is a big inspiration to me. I listen to her music daily.
Jesus loves yall and died for us! Jesus calls for all of us to repent!! !
Smoothest sponsor scene
Love your channel, I also record in my bedroom (basement), and it sounds pretty good if I don't say so myself :)
Sooooo f**king inspiring! Thank you for making this 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
It's also about who you know she had connections that took her talent places
best breakdown i ve seen. thanks dawg
Amazing video man!
Thank you, brilliant content! I love it, wonderful things happen with little or no expense at all
Thanks Lea glad you liked it!!
Thanks!
this inspired me so much, thank you ❤