40 TIPS AND TRICKS TO FINISH YOUR TRACK

Music production workflows and tips to know when the track is ready:

1. Give yourself limitations

2. Time limitations > A month > Week > Hour > 1/2 hour

3. Equipment/gear limitations (for example: only use Simpler)

4. Time blocking > reserve time for your creativity

5. Prevent distractions (emails, phone notifications, don’t go to social media.. you will get hooked!)

6. Less is more. Avoid creative confusion by keeping it simple, especially if you don’t know what direction to
take. Concentrate on the sounds that already work.. make them more interesting!

7. Think about the process, not the outcome. Enjoy the sounds you are creating and concentrate on that, not
on how the song “should” sound. If you have a brief, give instrument limitations that suit the genre and just
explore and jam, without thinking about outcome.

8. Create a perfect foundation. For example: create a bass, drums and chord progression that you really love,
it’s easier to then decide what to add on the top of that.

9. Collaborate with other people.

10. Find a moderator. Let them decide when you track is ready.

11. Reference tracks. Don’t copy, but get inspiration!

12. Create limitations based on your referenced tracks. Use only the techniques you are hearing.

13. Listen to your track as small amount of time as possible.

14. Use already created workflows. Download my previous workflow PDF guides form my website.

When I know when my MIX is ready?

15. When you can hear evert element/instrument on your track clearly.

16. When you can hear the vocals and lyrics super clearly.

17. You have tidied all clicks, cracks, fade in/out and removed unwanted noise.

18. The mix has punch & groove > dynamics of the track has been defined.

19. Ending Routine for mixing:

1. Leave time (as much as you can)

2. Listen

3. Make notes

4. Do the changes

20. Repeat as long as you don’t have any notes anymore.

21. Ask feedback from trusty pair of ears.

22. Let them decide when the mix is ready.

23. Reference the track to another non-mastered track. Make sure to compare it on the same platform you are
working from.

24. Listen to the track with someone else in the room.. see how you react and what you feel like explaining.
Listen to yourself.

25. Sometimes less is more, especially when you are following a mixing brief. Don’t do more than asked.

26. Step away from the computer when you have finished the Ending Routine or it sounds ok. Sleep on it.
Stop tweaking the snare.. it’s not gonna get any better at this point anymore. How to know when the vocal
volume is good? Take the volume down > bring it in slowly > when you hear it’s too loud, bring it down just
a notch > that is the spot.

Written by LNA 2020

 When I know when my MASTER is ready?

27. When the master track is not clipping.

28. You have done the final quality check for cracks, clips, pops, fades. And when you have done some active
listening, defining what the track really needs. Learn to listen what it needs, not what you ‘think’ it needs.

29. Compare the mastered track to an another mastered track on the same platform.

30. Repeat the Ending Routine for Mastering:

• Leave time (as much as you can)

• Listen

• Make notes

• Do the changes

• Repeat as long as you don’t have any notes anymore.

31. Listen to the track in as many places as possible: different speakers, phone, laptop, car etc.

32. Learn about loudness and about standards. Google:

• LUFS

• LU

• Loudness standards for genres and platforms.

33. Ask again your trusty pair of ears if they think the master is ready. If they say yes.. then it’s ready.

34. If you are not sure, skip mastering, and give it to mastering engineer or use an online service.

35. Remember to add credits, different formats, metadata etc.

Most important tips so you can finish your tracks:

36. Be kind to yourself. It’s probably ready, it’s probably perfect, just trust your feeling.

37. Trust the process. Enjoy the process and don’t take pressure off the outcome.

38. DO NOT SEEK ANY VALIDATION! The most important tip I can give you. Do not let other peoples
insecurities and doubts affect the way you think about your ideas and art.

39. Avoid genre and industry pressures. Make the music you love, if your family and friends don’t like it..
that’s ok, just fin the people who do. Internet is full of people who love different stuff, find your music
family.

40. You do you.

Written by LNA 2020