At first glance, the title of this post might sound like a cliché—but trust me when I say: this might be the most important sentence in all of music production.
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 also talked about the importance of solid track construction. Today, I want to zero in on one golden principle I mentioned earlier:
When it sounds good, it is good.
The Hidden Trap Every Producer Falls Into
Here’s something every music producer has in common: when we’re working on a track, we end up listening to each part hundreds—if not thousands—of times. We know the track inside out, backward and forward. And that makes sense—we’re creating it with love and care. It’s our baby, and we want it to be the best it can be. Right?
But here’s where the problem begins.
As a listener, you might hear a favorite track maybe 100–200 times a year (unless you’re a superfan who can loop one song for months). Each time you hit play, your brain releases a little dopamine because it loves what it’s hearing. That’s what makes you come back again and again. Of course, the dopamine hit fades over time, and eventually, you move on to the next favorite. It’s a cycle—one song gives way to another, always chasing that same “first-time” feeling.
Now here’s the kicker: as a producer, you’re not hearing your track 100 times in a year. You’re hearing it 1,000 times in a week. Literally. Over and over. Every kick, every lead, every FX tail—again and again.
So what happens in your brain? The exact same thing that happens to fans, but sped up a thousand times.
How To Make Trance Like A Pro
From Magic to Mess: The Overproduction Spiral
Every producer knows this moment: you’re a few minutes or hours into a new track, and suddenly you’re like, “Broooo… this is EPIC!” And it probably is! That first dopamine hit feels incredible. But after 100 more listens, you start thinking, “Hmm… something’s missing.” Naturally, you do what producers do best—start tweaking.
Change this. Add that. Update the drop. Layer more synths. Introduce another melody. Boost this. Cut that.
You’re chasing that same high you had when the idea first hit. But guess where this road often leads?
Yep—overproduction.
You’ve lost the spark. You’re frustrated. You might even abandon the project entirely. Another brilliant idea, never finished.
The Simple Rule That Saves Everything
So here’s the fix:
When it sounds good, it is good.
When you create something and it feels amazing, do yourself a favor—write a note right there and say, “Do NOT touch this!” Seriously. When you’re in the zone, you’re using a different part of your brain. That’s your creative intuition firing on all cylinders. That’s your soul talking. That’s real art coming through.
And it will sound amazing—because it is amazing.
But after 100 listens, your brain will try to convince you otherwise. Don’t let it win. Trust that your first instinct was right. If it gave you goosebumps once, it can do the same for others too.
I know it’s easier said than done. I still catch myself making this mistake. And my students? Same thing. Just the other day, one of them said to me:
“You were right. I accidentally played the first version of my track at a gig, and it sounded so much better than the latest version.”
There it is—the truth, plain and simple.
In Conclusion: Lock It In!
So here’s your takeaway:
Next time you’re working on a track and something sounds epic to your ears—keep it.
Put a mental sticker on it. Lock it.
Don’t try to improve it. Don’t second-guess it. You might have just created a hit—don’t f**k it up by trying to make it “better.”
Thanks for reading. I can’t wait to share more with you in the next post, where I’ll dive into something I call:
The 1-Day Rule vs. the 14-Day Rule.
Until then—trust your ears.
Tibor / ReOrder
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