by Tero Potila
The Power of Digital Collaboration: I’ve been involved in music in one way or another all of my life. For the past 15+ years, I’ve worked full-time in the music industry as a composer, producer, and songwriter.
Over the years, how we work and create music has undergone a seismic shift, with remote work becoming increasingly prevalent. One of the critical aspects of the creative process is collaboration. Traditionally this has required everyone to be in the same room.
Today we have digital tools that make remote collaboration almost as seamless as being there in person. I regularly do writing sessions with participants from all across the globe.
I recently did a session from my home studio in Florida, where one co-writer was in Los Angeles, CA, and another in London, UK. The vocals were recorded in Los Angeles while I produced the final music in my studio.
Today, we have access to many digital tools that have reshaped how we create music, opening the door to new possibilities.
There are now affordable options for all our creative tools: A home recording studio setup, the instruments for performing the music, and the software tools needed to deliver a broadcast-quality final product.
We also have emulation software that brings back the classic warmth of analogue into the digital world. In the past, only significant labels could access tools like these.
However, technology advancements have made it possible to record professional quality ideas even directly on your phone. In addition, you can have a pulsing metronome on your wrist that doesn’t distract the session with an audible sound.
As a result, online platforms deliver the music directly to the consumer. Furthermore, playlists with algorithms and curators help connect fans with themes that match their tastes in the ever-expanding catalogue available for streaming.
There’s a wide array of digital tools at our disposal. The more familiar tools include online repositories like Dropbox and Google Drive for file sharing and communication apps like Slack or Zoom. Combine these apps with a noise-cancelling microphone, and you have the perfect setup for collaborating remotely.
Beyond these traditional sharing tools, there are platforms tailored explicitly for live recording sessions. These platforms allow you to stream and record high-quality audio over the internet, and they combine screen-sharing capabilities and live video and audio chats.
One such platform worth mentioning is Listento; a plugin used directly within your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). It lets you send and receive audio over the internet ‘live’ within your DAW project. Listento makes it possible to stream, record, and collaborate in real time inside your DAW.
As we look to the future, it’s evident that remote work will continue to shape the music industry. No doubt AI technology will also bring us further advancements in digital collaboration. The digital tools at our disposal today enable live collaborations on a global level.
Tero is a professional music composer and producer. His career combining knowledge and experience from music, TV, film, ad, and game industries gives him a unique perspective that he shares through posts on teropotila.com.
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