52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast

Does having the fanciest audio interface, most expensive mics, or nicest instrument have a real, meaningful impact on your production music process? I discuss this and unpack a Gypsy jazz dramedy cue on my Week 49 check-in! Watch this episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NblYB1sKtQI 00:00 - Intro 01:36 - How does nice gear impact the production process? 21:14 - Cue Breakdown 37:18 -...

I do the vast majority of my mixing and mastering with only a handful of plugins! On my week 48 check-in I talk about my simple approach to getting a good sound with less processing as I unpack a new swampy, bluesy cue featuring recorded bass, drums, and harmonica! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/QZ-mdWbBek0 00:00 - Intro 02:54 - How and why I mix using only a few plugins. 16:55 - C...

On my week 47 check-in, I discuss how I found myself over-promising and under-delivering when I allowed a lucrative new gig to create the perfect storm of commitments. Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/IY8g2z5_z-4 What if you could turn a simple piano sketch into a cue that's ready for production music libraries, trailers, promos, and television placements? In this free workshop,...

I quantize all of my MIDI, and I'm not ashamed to admit it! On my Week 46 check-in, I discuss quantization and how I keep things from sounding too mechanical as well as unpack a tension cue which incorporates Omnisphere sounds from The Unfinished (https://theunfinished.co.uk) chosen at random! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/nF9fLYWbfUA 00:00 - Intro 01:48 - Why I quantize all...

I was terrified of mastering until I embraced Izotope's Ozone mastering plugin. On my Week 45 vlog, I take you through my entire mastering process as I use Ozone to master my latest tension cue, "Focus on the Fingerprints." Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/eUg2Wyfd8VE Ozone Course from MacProVideo https://macprovideo.com/course/ozone-9-mastering-toolbox 00:00 - Intro 0...

On my week 44 check-in, I discuss why I use the same song form on nearly every production music cue, and I unpack that form on a recent flamenco-infused dramedy cue. Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/PM1slrenAHU 00:00 - Intro 01:54 - Form and Structure in Production Music 31:42 - Outro & Patreon Information What if you could turn a simple piano sketch into a cue that's ready...

Is production music art? I talk about that, discuss my guiding philosophy that helps to drive my output, and break down a trap-infused dramedy cue on my Week 43 check-in. Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/SInaooqYOQk 00:00 - Intro 01:38 - The “Artisan” approach 17:48 - Cue Breakdown 33:37 - Outro & Patreon Information Serato Sample https://serato.com/sample What if you could turn...

I'm talking all about samples on my Week 42 vlog check-in and discussing how the Serato Sample plugin allowed me to incorporate skills and techniques from my days as a DJ! Then I breakdown a sample-based hip-hop cue which has zero virtual instruments! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/erLDs7hSzI0 00:00 - Intro 01:43 - How Serato Sample redefined my use of samples 18:31 - Cue Brea...

On my Week 42 vlog check-in I go over how I organize my catalog and files, I discuss some tools I use to keep large projects organized, and I share a cautionary tale of what happens when the system breaks down!  Plus, I go over a recent pop/edm/synthwave cue! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/55qO-774nG4 00:00 - Intro 01:59 - A cautionary tale of what happens when the organizational s...

I'm exhausted after an intense Week 40 which found me working in a field I *thought* I wanted to explore more. Then I breakdown a recent dramedy cue that breaks not one, but TWO of my cardinal rules of production music. Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/vaby9UwrjKI Underqualified Advice: (and Other Amusing Diversions) by Drew Hayes https://amzn.to/3ool6tO What if you could turn a...

On my Week 39 vlog check-in, I discuss why we as composers need to think like an editor and the things we can do to make their life easier (and get us more placements!). Plus, I unpack a holiday-flavored dramedy cue which features the lydian dominant mode! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/efU3tUCSNzE What if you could turn a simple piano sketch into a cue that's ready for produc...

On this week's super-sized vlog check-in, I answer more of your questions about the production music industry, then I unpack my Week 38 cue which features sounds recorded from kitchen utensils! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/NK7xF55cl4w Note: Links to products here may contain affiliate links which generate a small commission. This helps to keep things cooking along on the cha...

On my Week 37 vlog check-in, I talk about the one thing I do to add realism to nearly every cue, and I unpack a dramedy tension cue! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/Y7s7WfAcVkc 00:00 - Intro 01:16 - The One Thing I do to add realism to my cues 12:06 - Cue Breakdown 22:49 - Outro & Patreon Information What if you could turn a simple piano sketch into a cue that's ready for p...

It’s a supersized vlog check-in for Week 36 as I unpack, line-by-line, the Work-For-Hire and  Co-Writer contracts I use for my cues. Plus, I go over a recent Donnie Wayne Smith rock collaboration cue, "Sturm Und Drang." Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/hbrkAMcx6W8 00:00 - Intro 01:48 - Why Use Contracts? 03:22 - Work-For-Hire Contract 13:46 - Co-Writer Contract 25:37 - Cue...

On my Week 35 vlog check-in, I answer a viewer question about how to best go about finding the sounds you need for your cues. Then I unpack another intrigue tension cue written during last week’s preview music production livestream. Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/xgpLKaJzy_Q What if you could turn a simple piano sketch into a cue that's ready for production music libraries, tr...

As production music composers, we're often forced to wear many hats. On my Week 34 vlog check-in, I discuss all of the various aspects of this career that have little to do with actual composition. Then I discuss a recent cue written in 7/4 which utilizes several sounds from the new Albion Solstice library from Spitfire Audio. Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/qn-LmEJTBb8 00:00 -...

As production music composers, we're often forced to wear many hats. On my Week 34 vlog check-in, I discuss all of the various aspects of this career that have little to do with actual composition. Then I discuss a recent cue written in 7/4 which utilizes several sounds from the new Albion Solstice library from Spitfire Audio. Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/qn-LmEJTBb8 00:00 -...

On my Week 33 vlog check-in, I share a story of having to disappoint a client but still deciding that being honest is the best way to maintain the professional relationship. Plus I unpack an intrigue tension cue written in the past week! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/pV4ctDGBFGU 00:00 - Intro 04:04 - Honesty is still the best policy! 18:17 - Cue Breakdown 33:26 - Outro & Patre...

On my Week 33 vlog check-in, I share a story of having to disappoint a client but still deciding that being honest is the best way to maintain the professional relationship. Plus I unpack an intrigue tension cue written in the past week! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/pV4ctDGBFGU 00:00 - Intro 04:04 - Honesty is still the best policy! 18:17 - Cue Breakdown 33:26 - Outro & Patre...

On this week's check in, I talk about sustainable creativity and where most of my ideas come from. Plus, I unpack a drumline-infused high energy hip-hop cue which was inspired by the strangest of places! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/J-WpcOZ5ZYQ “My Own Drum” (Remix) Music & Lyric Video ft. Missy Elliott | Vivo | Netflix Futures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRZvsm-SYYk...

On this week's check in, I talk about sustainable creativity and where most of my ideas come from. Plus, I unpack a drumline-infused high energy hip-hop cue which was inspired by the strangest of places! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/J-WpcOZ5ZYQ “My Own Drum” (Remix) Music & Lyric Video ft. Missy Elliott | Vivo | Netflix Futures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRZvsm-SYYk...

On this week's 52 Cues check-in, I talk about how I use templates to streamline my composing process, plus I unpack a cue featuring all Omnisphere sounds chosen at random! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/k-IxmnQIsUY My Logic Pro X Template https://bit.ly/dklpxtemplate 00:00 - Intro 01:59 - About Using Templates 07:26 - My Template 16:21 - Cue Breakdown 30:22 - Outro & Patre...

On this week's 52 Cues check-in, I talk about how I use templates to streamline my composing process, plus I unpack a cue featuring all Omnisphere sounds chosen at random! Watch this video on YouTube https://youtu.be/k-IxmnQIsUY My Logic Pro X Template https://bit.ly/dklpxtemplate 00:00 - Intro 01:59 - About Using Templates 07:26 - My Template 16:21 - Cue Breakdown 30:22 - Outro & Patreon...

On this week's 52 Cues check-in, I answer the question, "what the one thing I wish I'd known about having a career in music?" Then I unpack a brooding light tension cue from Week 30! (And yes, that's me at 4 or 5 years old in the thumbnail!) Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/-DGiILHMbZI Join the 52 Cues Community! http://52cues.com Support the channel on Patre...

On this week's 52 Cues check-in, I answer the question, "what the one thing I wish I'd known about having a career in music?" Then I unpack a brooding light tension cue from Week 30! Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/-DGiILHMbZI 00:00 - Welcome and Intro 01:35 - What the's one thing I wish I'd known about a career in music? 14:23 - Cue Breakdown 33:11 - O...