Ever find yourself staring at your DAW, wondering if your track will ever reach the elusive status of “finished”?
You’re not alone. Many producers hit that dreaded wall where perfectionism, indecision, or just plain burnout sets in.
But fear not, for there’s hope on the horizon!
In this article, we’re going to take a look at five game-changing ideas to help you wrap up your track with style and confidence.
Table Of Contents:
- From Start to Finish: 5 Ideas to Help You Wrap Up Your Track
- Essential Tips for Music Producers to Improve Efficiency
- Mastering the Art of Music Production: Key Points to Remember
- Conclusion
From Start to Finish: 5 Ideas to Help You Wrap Up Your Track
You’ve been working on this track for days, weeks, maybe even months. You’ve poured your heart and soul into it, but now you’re stuck. You’re not sure how to finish it.
The difference between successful and not-so-successful music producers often comes down to persistence. So, if you find yourself facing a creative dead-end, don’t curse your skill. The greatest failures can sometimes lead to the most groundbreaking innova
Here are 5 ideas to help you wrap up your track and take your music production to the next level:
Learn your DAW
Your DAW (digital audio workstation) is your best friend when it comes to music making. The better you know it, the faster and more efficiently you can work.
Get to know your DAW like the back of your hand. Pour over the manual, scour online tutorials, and experiment until you’re proficient. Trust us, the more familiar you are with your tools, the easier it will be to realize your creative vision.
I remember when I first started using Ableton Live. I was overwhelmed by all the options and had no idea where to start. But I forced myself to sit down and learn one new feature every day. Before I knew it, I was flying through my productions and finishing tracks faster than ever before.
Focus on finishing
It’s easy to get caught up in the details and spend hours tweaking a single sound or drum loop. But at some point, you need to step back and focus on the big picture.
Set a deadline for yourself and commit to finishing the track by that date. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does need to be done. You can always go back and make tweaks later, but getting that first version out the door is crucial.
I like to set aside a specific block of time each day just for finishing tracks. During that time, I’m not allowed to start anything new or get sidetracked by other projects. I’m solely focused on wrapping up what I’ve already started.
Change it up
If you’re feeling stuck, try changing up your approach. Use a different synth or sample pack. Collaborate with another producer. Or even switch to a completely different genre.
There’s something special about shaking things up and approaching problems from a fresh angle. Who knows what creative breakthroughs might be lurking just around the corner? Take the leap and get a little adventurous with your ideas.
One of my favorite tricks is to take a break from the track and work on something else entirely. When I come back to it with fresh ears, I often hear things I didn’t notice before and have new ideas for how to move forward.
Don’t overcomplicate things
It’s tempting to keep adding more and more elements to a track, but sometimes less is more. A simple, well-crafted melody can be just as powerful as a complex arrangement with dozens of layers.
Before adding something new, ask yourself if it’s really necessary. Does it serve the song or is it just clutter? Be ruthless in your editing and don’t be afraid to cut things that aren’t working.
I once spent weeks working on a track that just wasn’t coming together. I had so many different parts and sections that it was a jumbled mess. Finally, I stripped it down to just the bare essentials – a simple beat, bassline, and chord progression. Suddenly, the whole thing clicked and I was able to finish it in just a few hours.
Know basic theory
Singing your tune without knowing when to apply dynamics and how to spice up your syllables will leave your music unbalanced. Even those without extensive experience can create an aural treat by soaking up the fundamentals of music theory. You know what says professionalism? Being attentive to time signatures, the placement of instrument breaks, and how notes resonate with one another.
Learning about scales, chords, and song structure can give you a framework for your productions and help you make better musical decisions. It can also help you communicate with other musicians and understand what’s going on under the hood of your favorite tracks.
For a few hours of dedication, you can boost your music production skills and perhaps stumble upon a hidden passion for the technical aspects of creating beats.
Check out our Harmony Course for more!
Essential Tips for Music Producers to Improve Efficiency
As a music producer, the resource we manipulate most dearly is time. The more efficiently we work, the more music we can create, and our skills and careers will flourishes as a direct result.
What sets the masters of their craft apart is the harmonious coexistence of passion and organization. Unstructured chaos is beautiful, but it’s the curated chaos that birth true masterpieces.
Optimizing the function of your creative sanctuary is key. Refrain from poor time management, instated strict schedules and rules, then evaluate your routines regularly. Simplify, and concentrate efforts precisely, eliminating time-wasting doze tasks, and task on vital tasks assignments only
Have a plan
Before you even open up your DAW, take a few minutes to think about what you want to accomplish in your session. What’s the goal for today? Are you starting a new track from scratch? Working on a specific section of an existing project? Mixing and mastering?
Raise your hand if you’ve ever found yourself derailed by the allure of new plugins or experimental sound design. It’s okay, it happens to the best of us. The trick is to recognize the difference between productive side roads and time-wasting detours, and stick to the path that takes you where you need to go.
I like to keep a running list of tasks and priorities for each of my projects. That way, when I sit down to work, I know exactly what needs to be done and can dive right in without any hesitation.
Be adaptable
Imagine creating a masterpiece without a set plan. It sounds chaotic, but sometimes it’s the complete surrender to spontaneity that yields the most unexpected, yet beautiful, results. This carefree approach can lead to those eureka moments that reshape the direction of a song.
The sweet spot in creative production lies in the harmony between structure and creativity. With a solid plan in place, allow yourself the freedom to deviate when unexpected sparks of inspiration strike.
Some of my best tracks have come from moments when I allowed myself to just play and experiment without any specific goal in mind. It’s in those unstructured moments that true magic can happen.
Use online resources
Music producers are spoiled for choice when it comes to finding information and resources online. With tutorial videos, articles, and sample packs at their fingertips, they can honed their skills and stay up-to-date with the latest trends.
If you’re eager to enhance your musical abilities, tune into the free resources available online.
Mix Elite has endless courses, blogs, and tutorials, and free YouTube tutorials to get you started!
I’m constantly bookmarking new tutorials and articles to check out later. Whenever I have some downtime or feel stuck in a rut, I’ll dive into my bookmarks and learn something new. It’s an easy way to keep growing and evolving as a producer.
Take everything with a grain of salt
While online resources can be incredibly valuable, it’s important to remember that not all advice is created equal. What works for one producer may not work for another, and there’s no one “right” way to make music.
Take in information from a variety of sources, but ultimately trust your own instincts and do what feels right for you and your music. Don’t feel like you have to follow every trend or use every plugin that’s hyped up online.
At the end of the day, the only opinion that really matters is your own. Spend time actively listening to your tracks and trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to scrap it and start over. The beauty of music production is that there are no rules – only what sounds good to you.
By eliminating social distractions and refining your ideas, you can significantly enhance your productivity.
Mastering the Art of Music Production: Key Points to Remember
As a music producer for over a decade, I’ve learned that mastering the art of music production comes down to a few key points. It’s not just about having the latest gear or the most expensive plugins. It’s about consistency, attention to detail, focusing on your strengths, and having a solid foundation.
Be consistent
One of the most important things I’ve learned is the power of consistency. When you’re working on a track, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and spend hours tweaking every little detail. But the truth is, the more consistently you work on your music, the faster you’ll improve.
I try to set aside dedicated time for music production every day, even if it’s just for an hour or two. I’ll set small goals for each session, like finishing a drum pattern or coming up with a new melody. These small wins keep me motivated and help me stay focused.
Mastery in music production doesn’t come from sprints, but from a steady pace. Simply put, your consistent effort will yield better results than spending a single long day in the studio.
Don’t cut corners
Another important lesson I’ve learned is to never cut corners. It’s tempting to take shortcuts when you’re working on a track, especially when you’re feeling stuck or frustrated. But taking the time to do things right always pays off in the end.
You don’t get “finished” just by adding more stuff.
It’s about mastering the intricacies, understanding how each setting, every setting, weaves together for a compelling narrative. Better precision leads to fewer tweaks, ultimately making for a top-notch final product.
Focus on your capabilities
One of the biggest mistakes I see new producers make is trying to do too much too soon. They think they need to have every plugin and piece of gear under the sun to make great music. But the truth is, you can make amazing tracks with just a few basic tools.
When I first started producing, I had a basic setup – a laptop, a MIDI keyboard, and a few free plugins. But I spent hours learning how to use them inside and out. I experimented with different techniques and pushed myself to create unique sounds. And you know what? Some of my best tracks came from that simple setup.
Get dependable basics
A strong foundation is built on reliable skills and the right tools. Take the time to find and master a few premium plugins that you can trust, such as an effective EQ, a compressor, and some reverbs and delays.
In mixing, the basics are paramount. Mastering the art of balancing levels and using panning to create sonic distance gives you a solid foundation for tackling any creative challenge.
I have a few go-to plugins that I use on almost every track. They might not be the flashiest or most expensive, but I know them inside and out and can always count on them to get the job done. Having that dependable foundation allows me to focus on being creative and experimenting with new ideas.
Show up regularly, even if it’s just for an hour or two, and set small goals for each session to stay motivated and focused, making consistent progress on your track and polishing your music production skills over time.
Conclusion
Creating music is a deeply personal and rewarding experience, but it can also be frustrating when you can’t seem to finish what you start. By implementing the ideas above, you’ll be well on your way to completing more tracks and achieving your musical goals.
The art of music production is a highly personalized process. While producers may start with similar techniques, each one eventually develops their own distinct style and approach. Embracing this diversity is crucial to creating innovative and captivating music.
Here at Mix Elite, we understand the importance of individual teaching, which is why we’ve created a number of specialized courses to turn the overwhelming thought of learning how to create professional music from home into a structured, easy-to-follow system.
If you really want to level up your mixing and production skills, we urge you to join Mix Elite Academy, where you’ll get access to over 500 lessons on every topic imaginable, as well as 1:1 feedback and expert coaching!
Now go forth and finish those tracks!