What do you do if your music production process is not receiving valuable feedback?

Navigating the music industry can be challenging, especially when you're not getting the feedback you need to refine your music production process. Feedback is crucial for growth, but what happens when it's not forthcoming? You might feel stuck, but there are proactive steps you can take to break through the silence and improve your craft.

1 Seek Community

Sometimes, the key to unlocking feedback is to immerse yourself in communities where sharing and critiquing music is the norm. Online forums, social media groups, and local music collectives are great places to start. Engage genuinely with others' work and offer your insights. This reciprocity can encourage others to listen to and provide feedback on your productions. Remember, a community thrives on give-and-take relationships; by being an active participant, you're more likely to receive the valuable input you're seeking.

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Joel Felsenstein

Autistic — Different Not Less | Entrepreneur | Musician | Educator | Speaker | Songwriter | Gamer | Featured in Forbes | Neurodiversity Ambassador
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If your music production process isn't receiving valuable feedback, don't despair. Firstly, seek out a diverse range of listeners who can offer varied perspectives. Engage with online communities or forums dedicated to music production. Additionally, consider joining local music groups or seeking mentorship from experienced producers. Remember, constructive criticism is crucial for growth, so remain open-minded and receptive to feedback, using it as a tool to refine your craft and improve your music.

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2 Revamp Approach

If your current methods of soliciting feedback aren't yielding results, consider revamping your approach. Instead of broad requests for opinions, ask specific questions about elements of your music such as the mix, melody, or rhythm. This targeted approach can make it easier for listeners to provide constructive criticism. Additionally, ensure that you're reaching out to the right audience – individuals who are interested in your genre and have the knowledge to give informed feedback.

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3 Utilize Tools

Leverage technology to gather feedback. There are various tools designed to facilitate music collaboration and critique. These platforms often have built-in communities of producers, engineers, and fellow musicians who can offer valuable insights. By using these tools, you can receive structured feedback that's more detailed than general comments and that can directly inform your production decisions.

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4 Personal Network

Don't overlook the value of your personal network. Friends, family, or colleagues who know your musical journey can provide personalized feedback that external critics cannot. They may offer emotional support and encouragement, which is just as important as technical critique. Ensure you communicate what kind of feedback you're looking for – be it technical advice, emotional response, or general impressions.

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5 Professional Insight

Seeking professional insight can be a game-changer. Music industry professionals such as producers, sound engineers, and experienced musicians can offer a level of critique that goes beyond casual listening. Their feedback can be more technical, focusing on production quality, songwriting, and marketability. Although it may come at a cost, professional feedback can provide you with actionable advice that could significantly impact your music production process.

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6 Reflect and Adapt

Finally, use the feedback you receive to reflect on and adapt your music production process. This might involve taking a step back to critically assess your work, identifying patterns in the feedback, and determining which suggestions align with your artistic vision. It's essential to remain open-minded and not take criticism personally. Instead, view it as an opportunity for growth and a means to hone your craft to higher standards.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Ratul Vijh

Transforming soundscapes, one note at a time
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When it comes to feedback, you should keep one thing in mind, only choose feedbacks that align with your goals as a musician. If we break down the whole production process, there are a few things: - Your idea - Sound selection - Arrangement - Mix - Master You can ask for feedback on the arrangement, sound selection, the mix & the master. One thing that personally helped me was being part of beat battles, in which you were given a sample, & got an hour to make whatever you could out of the sample & then it was judged by the whole community and votes were given. You can take part in such challenges. - You can watch a ton of YouTube videos where people are speed-running the whole process of making a song from scratch.

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What do you do if your music production process is not receiving valuable feedback?

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1 Seek Community

2 Revamp Approach

3 Utilize Tools

4 Personal Network

5 Professional Insight

6 Reflect and Adapt

7 Here’s what else to consider

Music Industry

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