Reach out! Let us know your questions & comments.Join me for a special episode marking my 50th birthday, where I reflect on my journey from aspiring band director to becoming a production music composer and educator. I share insights about my 30-year marriage with Shannon, my career transitions, and the lessons I've learned about maintaining work-life balance and embracing personal growth.Watch this episode on YouTube!https://youtu.be/VNGMWz4vdgo00:00 - Intro & welcome02:40 - Am I whe...

I Just Turned 50 and I'm Just Getting Started!

A weekly podcast dedicated to all things production and library music where we talk about industry topics and take deep dives into the different aspects of being a working production music composer.&nbsp;

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Reach out! Let us know your questions & comments.Now, I know what you're thinking—you’re probably sick of hearing about AI. I know I’m sick of talking about AI and the constant handwringing about it, but recent events have brought AI screaming to the forefront. During a recent live stream, I used Sumo AI to generate a custom reference track, but after the session, I was hit with not one, not two, but four copyright notices for the same section of the AI-generated drum loop.Yeah, we've got...

I Got Copyright Notices for Using AI Loops

Reach out! Let us know your questions & comments.In this episode of the 52 Cues Podcast, Dave continues his interview with Roy Matz of the Sync Gems podcast and Roy discusses the challenge of overcommitting and the importance of authenticity in the sync industry. He shares how his passion for superhero movies fuels his music career and reflects on balancing creative expression with commercial demands. Watch this episode on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/gItND8GfkRMSync Gems Podcasthttps://roymat...

Sync Gems, Part 2 (with Roy Matz)

Reach out! Let us know your questions & comments.In this episode of the 52 Cues podcast, we chat with Roy Matz of the Sync Gems podcast about his transition from beatboxing to music production and the importance of authenticity in the industry. We explore personal growth, recognizing when to move on from past identities, and the significance of setting goals.Watch this episode on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/8XJwSmHrxeQ00:00 - Intro & welcome02:23 - Weekly check-in06:32 - Main Topic: Mutua...

Sync Gems, Part 1 (with Roy Matz)

Reach out! Let us know your questions & comments.In this live Q&A episode of the 52 Cues podcast, Dave tackles questions on the importance of reference tracks, offering tips on using them creatively while analyzing harmonic structures, instrumental textures, and rhythmic languages. He also talks about LUFS targets for quiet music, layering strategies for various cue types, managing low-end frequencies in hip-hop, the impact of AI on music, and the evolving role of analog vs. digital e...

Production Music Q&A LIVE!

Reach out! Let us know your questions & comments.In this episode, Dave Kropf explores lessons from Star Wars that can be applied to production and library music. He discusses the importance of using references effectively, the developmental journey from novice to expert, and the balance between artistry and commercial viability.Watch this episode on YouTube!https://youtu.be/7yFNZFZ7uqk00:00 - Intro & welcome01:28 - Weekly check-in08:03 - Main Topic: 5 Career Lessons I Learned From Sta...

I Just Turned 50 and I'm Just Getting Started!

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