Hey a,

What if I told you that the way you use reference tracks might be killing your creativity and ruining your mixes?

Sounds brutal, I know, but hear me out.

If you're using reference tracks like 99% of producers, you're subconsciously sabotaging your productions.

But does that mean I'm against references?

Not at all!

In fact, if done right, working with reference tracks is the best thing since the invention of DAWs.

Let's talk about two pieces of common advice I strongly disagree with and what to do instead:

Misleading advice #1: "Arrange your song with the help of a reference track."

This is the fastest way to sound like everyone else.

You can't separate sound design and composition from arrangement. 

Even mixing decisions heavily depend on arrangement choices.

Arranging with reference tracks open is like trying to write a novel while constantly reading someone else's book. You inevitably absorb their voice, pacing, and style, making it nearly impossible to discover your own unique storytelling approach.

Alex, one of our coaching students, was arranging alongside his favorite tracks for months. 

His productions were technically solid but sounded like a mediocre copy of his idol. 

When he stopped using reference tracks during arrangement and used our blueprint-method instead (more on that below), his unique style emerged almost immediately.

Try the "blueprint-method" instead:

Study arrangements of your reference tracks and create your own "track blueprints" that are stripped down to the essentials. 

You just want to capture the structure of your references without being distracted by everything else that's going on.

These blueprints can be as simple as a few track markers plus differently colored MIDI clips that represent key elements of the production like kick, bass, drum tops, and lead synth.

Study the structure, then close the reference and build your track on this foundation – without the constant comparison.

Misleading advice #2: "Use reference tracks to balance your mixes."

On the surface this sounds smart. In practice, it's a trap.

Producers get fixated when their track looks different on an analyzer compared to the reference. 

But here's what everyone forgets:

In music production, everything influences everything else.

Your kick doesn't need to match the reference if your hi-hats are different. Your bass might sound thin compared to the reference because it serves a different musical purpose.

These false comparisons create a loop where your music never feels "good enough."

Try the "sonic territory map" instead:

I came up with a referencing method for my mixing and mastering studio that has been a game-changer for the quality of my work. 

After sharing it with our coaching members and seeing them get immediate results, I decided to formalize it into what I call the "sonic territory map".

Here's how it works:

Pick 4-6 references that define different boundaries of your sound. Some bass-heavy, some bright. Some compressed, some dynamic. Some spacious, some dry-sounding. 

You get the idea...

You have to know these tracks intimately so you can then use them to triangulate your target sound rather than chasing after a specific reference.

Think of it as creating a sonic territory with boundaries. Your references define the edges, but you define the path you want to take with your sound.

The ultimate reference strategy

You can take this further by creating a "Personal Sound Identity Document" that defines:

• The emotional responses you want your music to evoke
• Key sonic characteristics of your sound (texture, space, density)
• Your unique production principles that help define your signature sound

Over time, this becomes your true reference – a vision of your sound, not someone else's.

The artists in our coaching program who've adopted this approach have developed a signature sound that keeps evolving but still sounds uniquely like them.

References are powerful, so use them wisely.

Your music matters. Let's make it count.

Philip

PS: Want to develop your own unique sonic identity? In our coaching program, we help you develop a clear vision for your music beyond copycat-referencing. Book a free discovery call here to see how we can help you achieve that.