The terms "beat maker" and "producer" are often used interchangeably, especially by aspiring artists, yet they often imply distinct roles and require different skill sets. We wanted to touch on this in our brief Q&A explainer and talked to Omito Beats, music producer and beat maker who shared his vision on the matter.
What does a beat maker do?
Beat makers, as the name suggests, create instrumental beats, which serve as the backbone of genres like hip-hop, rap, electronic, R&B, and pop music. Their primary focus is on crafting the rhythmic and harmonic foundation of a song.
Beat makers generate the core elements of a track—typically drums, basslines, and melodies, which are often the starting point for a song, later passed to artists or producers for further development.
While beat makers may occasionally add melodies, lyrics, and vocal lines to their beats, their main job is to produce a compelling beat that artists can build upon. They often work independently, selling or licensing their beats to artists who then complete the track.
What does a music producer do?
A music producer's job encompasses the entire production process, from the initial concept to the final mastered track. They ensure that the song aligns with their vision and meets the artist's expectations, so they often work closely with artists, helping shape the song's structure and overall direction. This may include instrumental elements, vocals, arrangement, mixing, and mastering.
Producers, unlike beat makers, are deeply involved in the creative process, making critical decisions about the song's arrangement and sound. Apart from just artists, they collaborate with co-writers, audio engineers, and other team members to bring a project to life.
Omito's vision: "I think a music producer needs to help shape the vision for the entire song. For example, when I’m making my 'beats' I always want to create some sort of emotion within the track. I want to add things like melodies, vocal samples, etc. so when an Artist hears my beats they automatically connect with it on an emotional level, and then the melodies or vocal samples might help give them ideas for lyrics."
What’s the difference between a beat maker and producer in 2024, with all that tech around?
Omito's vision: "To me, the difference between a beat maker and a producer is the amount of involvement within the final outcome of a song. I think that a beat maker creates the foundation of a song (drums, chords, bass, etc.) but a producer will create things that shape the song as a whole (assisting with song concepts/lyrics, assisting with vocal melodies, etc.)
"I think with all of the tech that we have access to, anybody can become a beat maker, but it takes more dedication and expertise to learn how to become a producer."
What are the essential skills for music producers that a beat maker might not need?
Effective communication with artists, engineers, and other professionals is crucial because producers must also manage various aspects of a project, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.
Audio engineering principles and recording techniques are those hard skills that can help producers select appropriate studios and optimise recording sessions. Proficiency in mixing and mastering is what ensures the final product is polished and professional.
Music producers should also know a thing or two about the songwriting process since that would let them contribute creatively to the development of songs, making them more versatile in guiding artists through songwriting. We're not even mentioning time management and ability to work with (sometimes, tight) deadlines if a producer runs multiple projects at a time and works with many artists.
Omito's vision: "To get started as a beat maker you’ll need some sort of DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) that would allow you to program drums, chords, bass, melodies, and more. The same applies for a producer. Examples of some are FL Studio (my personal choice), Ableton Live, Logic Pro, etc.
"Regarding the 'skills' I think that a music producer needs to have experience with working directly with a singer/rapper to learn how and what they need to make their songs. For example, from working one-on-one with many Artists over the years I’ve come to understand their workflow and what things in an instrumental stick out to them or help them come up with lyrics. All of these things I’ve then applied to my own instrumental beats to help Artists write songs easier."
Can a beat maker become producer with additional training?
They can if they dial up their communication skill set and get a deeper understanding of mixing, mastering, recording, and even some business knowledge.
Omito's vision: "I think a beat maker can definitely become a producer with more experience. I think that a producer is always technically a beat maker, but is usually just more involved in a project which gives them that separate title. I’d say the easiest way to accomplish this would be to connect with Artists who use the same types of beats you’re producing and learn more about their workflows. From connecting with some Artists who have used my beats over the years I’ve learned that they like intros to be a certain length, like a certain type of melodies, etc. Now when I’m creating beats, I take these things into consideration and try to make it as easy as possible for an Artist to create a song with my beats."
How does the role of a beat maker differ in independent music projects vs. major label projects?
The main difference is flixibility. Working with indies, beat makers and producers often have more creative control and collaborate closely with artists.
Beat makers may earn more through direct sales or licensing of their beats when they stay "indie", and when signed up with a major label, the compensation may be lower—often a flat fee.
When working with a major, however, producers and beat makers are usually part of a larger production team, with less control over the final product.
Omito's vision: "I think with independent music projects both the Artist and the beat maker/producer can have a lot more room for creativity and flexibility. Within major label projects you may have a team of producers, songwriters, pressure from the label, etc. and you may be working under stricter guidelines to produce a beat a certain way."
What does it take to be a great producer?
Omito's vision: "I’d say a few things! Creativity and uniqueness is always super important. You want to create something that people can’t get anywhere else. That way, Artists will keep coming back to you.
"Relationships are super important as well. I think that as much as an Artist wants a good beat to write and record over, what they really want is a producer to connect with and grow with."
