Back when I first started making music, I kept falling into the same trap—a trap that cost me three very valuable things:
- Precious time
- Endless headaches
- An embarrassing number of unfinished tracks
In this ongoing series Mastering the Art of Rapid Music Production, I’ve already explained why setting your intention and laying down your ideas on day one is crucial. I’ve talked about solid track construction, and why “When it sounds good, it is good” matters so much. But today, I want to dive into one of my favorite principles—The 1 Day vs 14 Days Rule.
Why Day 1 Is So Important (And What It Actually Means)
Day one is the day—the moment you decide:
Today, I’m making my next hit.
You’ve set your intention. You’ve got a plan. You’ve got an idea. And you’ve sketched out the basic structure of your track.
So what now?
Now you execute. You take all the creative energy, emotion, and vision you have in that moment—and pour it into your DAW. Immediately. Because if you don’t, trust me:
That track you intended to create? It will never exist.
Why? Because tomorrow, you’re no longer the same person. Your mood, energy, thoughts—they shift. One day you’re inspired, the next you’re drained from work or recovering from a night out. You’re living different moments, so you’ll be hearing your track with different ears. And worse—you’ll start second-guessing everything. So when you start your track today, get to the end. I’m not talking about mixdown or mastering. I’m talking about finishing the core idea—the arrangement, the energy, the structure. Don’t stop. Don’t overthink it. Don’t get stuck tweaking a clap for 45 minutes. Just keep going.
What I Use on Day 1
To keep things moving fast, I only allow myself two tools on day one:
- EQ
- Sidechain
That’s it. Occasionally, I’ll throw in some reverb or delay—usually via send channels—but I keep it minimal. My goal is to get a fully drafted track out of my brain and into Ableton before the idea vanishes into thin air.
How To Make Trance like Above & Beyond
Now Comes the 14-Day Rule
Once I finish the track idea, I don’t touch it for 7 to 14 days. Why? Because I want to reset my ears. I want to forget the track completely so I can hear it fresh—like someone else made it. Only then do I know whether the idea still holds up. If it does, I’ll start finalizing the details:
- Mixing
- EQ tweaks
- Multiband compression
- Additional FX
- A bit of ear candy
But—and this is key—during those 7–14 days, I don’t listen to the track at all. Because if I do, I risk ruining it.
Here’s what usually happens if I do listen too soon: You’re still in “creator mode,” not “listener mode.” So you make changes—big ones—that feel right in the moment. Then, days later, you compare versions and realize… you actually made it worse. You wasted hours or even days, and now the track feels off. I’ve done this enough times to know: 99% of the time, the first draft—raw as it is—has the magic. The rest is just polishing.
Finish Fast. Come Back Later. Then Release.
So, here’s the deal:
- Day 1 = Capture the idea. Finish the sketch. No perfectionism.
- Day 14 = Polish. Mix. Finalize. Send to mastering. Done.
If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this, it’s this:
Finish your track on day one. Let it rest. Then, with fresh ears, refine it. You’ll thank yourself later.
P.S. Struggling with Your Mixdown?
Check out my Trance Mixdown Masterclass. It’s built to help you exactly at this stage—when your idea is solid and ready to shine.
