Why Everything You Learned in Music Production Might Be Wrong

Let’s face it — the internet is full of tips, tricks, and hacks for music production. But what if many of the techniques you're following are actually setting you back?

In this video, I challenge the conventional wisdom that more plugins, more processing, and more tweaking automatically lead to a better mix. Spoiler alert: they don’t. In fact, in many cases, all that processing is what’s ruining your music.

We explore one of the most important — yet often overlooked — aspects of mixing: sound selection. Instead of forcing a weak sample to work with endless EQs, compressors, and enhancers, what if you started with better sounds in the first place? That’s the core idea behind this video. To demonstrate the point, I create two nearly identical beats — using the same notes, patterns, and structure — but with radically different results. Beat A is over-processed and still feels muddy and lifeless. Beat B uses strong foundational sounds and minimal processing… and it slaps. The difference is undeniable, and it has nothing to do with expensive plugins or a fancy mastering chain.

We also discuss the dangers of relying too much on tutorials. Many creators unintentionally teach you how to "fix" bad sounds instead of helping you avoid them altogether. That’s why your mixes still don’t hit — you’re working against the material instead of with it. If you’re serious about getting professional results, this video is a wake-up call. The real answer isn’t more gear — it’s better choices and sharper ears.

We open by questioning the “more is better” approach so common in the production world — especially among beginners trying to fix things with stacks of plugins.

The Real Problem: Overprocessing vs. Sound Selection
Instead of adding more tools, the focus should be on choosing the right elements at the start. Most muddy mixes aren’t solved with EQ — they’re solved with better samples.

Sound Selection Is the Foundation
We dig deeper into why 90% of your mix quality comes from what you choose to put in the session, not how you polish it afterward.

A/B Beat Comparison
Side-by-side beats reveal the truth: you can’t polish a bad sound. Beat A is busy and brittle. Beat B? Clean, focused, and punchy — with far fewer effects.

The Myth of “Fixing It in the Mix”
We expose how much time and energy gets wasted trying to force the wrong sound into a track, and how to save yourself hours by making smarter choices up front.

The Importance of Ear Training
No plugin replaces trained ears. Learn how developing critical listening will level up your mixes faster than buying new tools.

Habits That Actually Move the Needle
Less plugin hunting, more intentional listening. Less copying techniques, more understanding the “why” behind them.

At the end of the day, great mixes don’t come from stacking plugins — they come from smart decisions, intentional sound selection, and knowing when to stop tweaking. If your mix feels off, it’s probably not your compressor — it’s the sound you started with.

If this topic hit home, be sure to watch the full video and dive deeper with the members-only companion video, where I walk through additional examples and real-world strategies that didn't make it into the public cut.

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