#213: Finish Tracks Faster - Workflow Hacks Every Producer Needs (feat. John Kunkel)

Music Production and Mixing Tips Podcast for DIY Producers and Artists | Inside The Mix

Have you ever felt stuck in an endless cycle of tweaking, adjusting, and second-guessing your music production decisions? Producer John Kunkel (aka John Grand) reveals the counterintuitive truth that many of us miss: working smarter, not harder, is often the key to finishing more tracks and creating better music.
John shares his game-changing approach to using reference tracks as structural blueprints rather than just mixing guides. By importing a track you love and mapping out its arrangement, you immediately transform that intimidating blank DAW canvas into manageable building blocks. This simple technique has helped John slash his production timeline from weeks to days, and it might just revolutionise your workflow too.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when John explains why your sound selection decisions matter far more than your processing skills. "Your track is only going to sound as good as the choices that you make in sound selection," he explains, likening poor sound choices to painting with incompatible materials. This insight challenges the common tendency to reach for EQ and compression when the real solution might be choosing a different sample entirely.
Perhaps most thought-provoking is John's psychological observation that constantly adding layers often indicates a lack of confidence in your original ideas. Drawing inspiration from artists like Eric Prydz, he advocates for focusing on fewer, higher-quality elements that evolve through automation rather than overwhelming arrangements that exhaust listeners' cognitive capacity.
Whether you're just starting or looking to break through a creative plateau, this episode offers practical strategies to finish more music while keeping the joy in your production process.

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1. Introduction to Working Smarter (00:00:00)

2. Workflow Optimization with Reference Tracks (00:04:44)

3. Sound Selection vs. Processing (00:10:19)

4. Sound Design and Synthesis Tools (00:21:47)

5. Knowing When a Track is Finished (00:26:25)

6. Upcoming Projects and Where to Connect (00:34:04)