The 13 Yuletide Tips of Music Production

Published: Mon, 12/12/16

For the next 13 days you'll be in for a fun treat.

For the holidays we do things a little bit differently in Iceland.

We don't have one jolly Santa Claus bringing gifts one day a year.

Oh no, we have 13 of them!

They're called Yule Lads and they're all brothers that live in the highlands of Iceland. Thirteen days before Christmas they come down from the mountain, one by one, bringing the children gifts.

Like Wikipedia says (and I've verified it and it is correct)

The Yule Lads, or Yulemen, (Icelandic: jólasveinarnir or jólasveinar) are figures from Icelandic folklore who in modern times have become the Icelandic version of Santa Claus. Their number has varied throughout the ages, but currently they are considered to be thirteen. They put rewards or punishments into shoes placed by children in window sills during the last thirteen nights before Christmas Eve. Every night, one Yuletide lad visits each child, leaving gifts or rotting potatoes, depending on the child’s behavior throughout the year.

They're a little terrifying to look at but don't worry, they've been domesticized over the years:

Credit: http://www.iceland.is/images/the-icelandic-yule-lads.jpg

Each Yule Lad is different and will be bringing you a short audio tip each day for the next 13 days, ranging from pre-production to mastering. These are small food for thought nuggets you should keep in mind for your next productions.

I started this series last year so if you've been on this list for a while you might be familiar with it. However, I'm changing things around a little bit and adding some new tips to mix (pun intended!).

Yuletide Tip #1 - Preparing for a Session

The first Yule Lad to come down from the mountains is Stekkjarstaur.

The English translation of his name is Sheep-Cote Clod and "he harasses sheep, but is impaired by his stiff peg-legs."

The gift he leaves you is this:

Be prepared for every recording session. Have your session laid out on your computer and your tracks ready to record. Know which microphones you're going to use and which parts you are going to record. Part of your plan is to make sure the musician is comfortable. Create a comfortable area for the musician to record and give them anything necessary to create a great performance. Give inpute on performance when it's needed and give production ideas when you think you can enhance the song.

How's that for some food for thought?

Check your inbox tomorrow for the next Yule Santa.

While you wait you might want to read my free humorous eBook about their 10 cousins, the 10 Yuletide Tricksters of Audio: