298: The Music Production Process (Step 1): Build a Rock-Solid Foundation Before You Record

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Episode show notes:

In this episode, Benedikt and Manel kick off a brand-new series where they break down the entire music production process from start to finish.

This episode covers Step 1: The Foundation - the most overlooked phase of production, and the one that determines whether everything later (recording, mixing, mastering) becomes smooth… or a constant fight.

You’ll learn why:

• Great mixes can’t fix weak songs
• Intentional decisions beat guessing every time
• Clarity early on saves hours later in production

This episode is long, deep, and practical - designed to give you a repeatable mental framework you can return to every time you start a new song or record.

What You’ll Learn

• Why vision and intention matter more than gear
• How to define what your record actually needs to sound like
• The difference between writing, arrangement, and production (and why it matters)
• How to avoid over-complicating songs with unnecessary layers
• Why “done is better than perfect” in the early phases
• How lyrics, melody, arrangement, and emotion work together
• How experienced producers think about groove, space, contrast, and impact
• Why clarity in the foundation makes recording and mixing faster and easier

Key Takeaway

If you don’t know what you’re aiming for, every decision later becomes a guess.

This episode helps you define the target before you hit record.

Listen / Watch

• Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, all major platforms
• YouTube: Full video version available

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For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/298

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If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com