An executive producer usually has limited input in the creative process; he is a financial investor and silent partner in the music production. An executive producer may be affiliated with corporations such as major recording labels, or he may be an individual who has no label affiliation.
All sound reproduction relating to the recording session is the responsibility of the technical producer, most commonly referred to as the sound engineer. Sound reproduction techniques, audio reproduction equipment, recording specifications of individual instruments, and vocal recording techniques are his responsibility. He must be knowledgeable about microphone selection, room acoustics, equalization and compression and be able to mix the recorded song down to a master recording.
The job of the creative producer is to take a song from its inception all the way through the production process. He is the creative force behind the song, often writing the arrangement, selecting the artists and musicians, and suggesting the artist's style of performance. The creative producer must be familiar with musical instruments and vocal performance, understand how they work together to produce styles, beats, grooves and rhythms,and possess a comprehensive understanding of mass market demand for various genres. Most successful creative producers are also trained musicians or vocalists.
The music production arena has expanded in recent years due to the creation of affordable music production software such as ProTools, Cubase and Nuendo. Many artists and songwriters are now assuming the responsibilities for producing their own music and recording in home studios; they're hiring independent producers who are proficient in the popular recording software programs, thereby eliminating their need for executive or technical producers.
All types of music producers must be familiar with legal issues such as song licensing, copyrights, publishing rights and artist's royalties. Training for producers that includes instruction in legalities concerning recorded music is offered at colleges, universities and at accredited online schools as part of a comprehensive degree program in music production.