I hail from India and I'm a doctor (Interventional Radiologist) by profession. I am a big fan of EDM and started making music as a hobby post my medical graduation from 2015. Though I have started a few years back, only the past two years have I involved myself more into music production by learning from web sources (especially YouTube tutorials) and trying out various things in process of knowing the nuances. I was able to produce more tracks in the recent past due to the pandemic lockdown.
I use Logic Pro X for production, the workflow in it feels easy and comfortable to organise everything on a single window. I did try FL Studio, but it wasn't my calling. At the end whichever DAW we use, most of the plugins work across all platforms and all in all, comfort is important.
To be very open, my MacBook Pro along with any pair of ear or headphones (Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO - especially for mixing and mastering) do the job for me and gives me the freedom to work on production anytime, anywhere. Apart from these, I don't use any specific gear.
As I am still growing in production, I haven't purchased any plugins to date. Almost all the plugins and synths I use are free. The stock plugins and synthesizers in Logic are pretty good. I am planning to get Serum or Nexus in the future as it gives me choice to explore multiple variations in the form of packs and sound design. Creativity can also improve with new software plugins when the basics are strong.
I am more of a melody person, I like to create a rhythm first and add other elements later. Sometimes it depends on the mood, I start off with drum beats and then the rest.
I created tracks across multiple genres to see my liking over the years and currently concentrating to develop a style of music between tropical/melodic and EDM/Big Room.
Learning is a continuous process and YouTube is my Wikipedia and library for learning from basics to advanced techniques. I am amazed how there are answers to almost all my queries when I have a track idea in mind but don't know how to produce that particular sound or effect. As DAW specific tutorials can be searched, it benefits all.
I do Google for specific technique or tips from time to time during the process of creating until I feel satisfied with the final output (one better technique over the other).
I learned most of my production skills from Alex Rome tutorials, I would highly recommend people to watch his channel.
Use sample packs, they save a lot of time. Time is precious, but perfection takes time. Hard work never fails, try to be better than your last production.
As I have mentioned earlier, I am a doctor by profession. My medical professionalism comes first in the line of duty. Whenever I get free time in the evening or weekends, I indulge myself into music production and it's a gateway to relaxation for me. As I approach it with passion, joy and happiness, it feels like more of a fun time.
Sometimes I get stuck with finishing songs and I start off with another track. After taking some time off, I come back to the previous track and finish it with a specific set of ideas.
This may sound basic:
Always organise (stack) your elements in the track! It will save you a lot of time.
Always side chain elements to get the elements in the mix cut through.
I use sample packs to finish up my songs faster, it saves lots of time (I group my best samples of each instrument in a folder for easy viewing within the DAW).
Avoid audio clipping (red zone) and over compression.
However good the track is, try to highlight the catchy elements to get the maximum output from the listener's point of view.
I do mixing and mastering mostly by myself! As I am not good at it yet, recently I tried using the SoundCloud mastering tool for a track.
Sometimes I use Splice for samples, it has a wide library of samples and is almost popular with a lot of producers worldwide.
Yes, almost all the time! I hit up the track with uploaded private SoundCloud links to my friends and family who give their honest opinion. Participating in SKIO Remix Contests also helped me in knowing the areas I am lacking through their feedback.
I am liking the new feedback campaign feature in RepostExchange. I feel it as a useful tool for the betterment of music production in a constructive way, serving members of the whole community.
I haven't produced my proudest song yet. I am happy about my first whole album 'The Beginning' which is a mix of various genres.
RepostExchange made an impact on my musical journey. It got me to reach producers from different nations worldwide with whom I can exchange ideas.
It gives me a chance to share my music as well as explore the music of different artists across the globe, with a good number of increasing SoundCloud followers over time with each production. Also, the rating system incorporated allows me to reassess and modify my work for betterment.
My big heartfelt thanks to RepostExchange and the team. You will always be remembered as a part of my musical journey.
Connect with Sandeep Botcha on SoundCloud, Instagram, and Spotify.
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This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
