YouTube music tutorial channel The Cosmic Academy have just dropped 5 essential tips to help you improve the sound and quality of your productions. In their words – 5 ways to prevent you from sounding CHEAP and AMATEUR. Here’s what they suggest…

1: Kick Length

In EDM production, the interplay between the kick and bass is crucial, and Cosmic Academy emphasizes the importance of selecting the right kick from the start. They highlight a common issue—longer kicks tend to carry most of their low frequencies in the tail, which can clash with the bassline and create a muddy mix. Instead of choosing a long kick and trimming it down, they recommend using kicks that are naturally short and punchy. These kicks often concentrate more low-end weight in the initial transient, helping to maintain a cleaner, more impactful low end.

2: Create Change

A dynamic track keeps listeners engaged, and Cosmic Academy stresses the importance of introducing variation throughout your production. Repeating the same loops, sounds, and patterns without change can make a track feel static and uninspired. Cosmic Academy provide a number of suggestions to help you add change throughout a track. These include…

  • Thinking about song arrangement using dynamics and melodic differences to create distinct sections.
  • Introducing different instrumentation.
  • Building melodies with different synths playing the same melody throughout a track.
  • Using automation to control volume and effects parameters.

3: Drum Programming

Drums play a defining role in most genres, and in tip three, Cosmic Academy highlights the importance of strong drum programming. If drum programming isn’t your strong suit, they recommend using high-quality drum loops instead of struggling to create engaging rhythms from scratch. By incorporating professionally produced loops, you can naturally learn from them over time. By studying well-crafted loops you can improve your understanding of drum sounds, groove, and programming techniques.

4: Correct use of Sidechain Compression

Sidechain compression is one of the most effective ways to create space in a mix and allow competing frequencies to coexist. It’s also a key technique behind the signature “pumping” effect heard in many EDM tracks. However, while sidechaining is powerful, it must be used correctly. The length and intensity of compression should serve a clear purpose—too much squashing can weaken the mix, while too little may not achieve the desired clarity. Thoughtful application ensures the effect enhances the track rather than overpowering it.

5: Mix Lacking Focus

Finally something that all the top engineers talk about but few of us put into practice. The art of focussing on specific elements in a mix and prioritising them. Too often our idea of a good mix is to balance all the levels so that everything can be heard. Instead of levelling everything equally, identify the core sounds that define your track and emphasize them. Adjusting volume strategically breathes life and movement into the track, reducing the need for excessive processing like EQ and compression. A well-balanced mix isn’t just about clarity—it’s about impact.

To see these 5 key principles in action, watch the video below.

video courtesy of the Cosmic Academy

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