52 Cues - A Production Music Podcast
Your weekly insight into all things production music, library music, and sync licensing!
Hosted by Dave Kropf, a production music composer, podcaster, and educator based in Orlando, Florida.
His credits include CBS Sports (NFL, PGA, NCAA and more), NFL Network, The Golf Channel, FOX Sports, ESPN, ABC, Netflix, Sony, Amazon, Showtime, Disney, Discovery, Animal Planet, OWN, TLC, The History Channel, USA, TBS, E!, Bravo, TNT, TruTV, and many others.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 49 minutes
- Episodes
- 262
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Answering More of Your Industry Questions
On this week's super-sized vlog check-in, I answer more of your questions about the production music industry, then I unpack my Week 38 cue which features sounds recorded from kitchen utensils!
Watch …
The One Thing I Do To Add Realism To All My Cues
On my Week 37 vlog check-in, I talk about the one thing I do to add realism to nearly every cue, and I unpack a dramedy tension cue!
Watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Y7s7WfAcVkc
00:00 - In…
Get It In Writing: Work-For-Hire and Co-Writer Contracts
It’s a supersized vlog check-in for Week 36 as I unpack, line-by-line, the Work-For-Hire and Co-Writer contracts I use for my cues. Plus, I go over a recent Donnie Wayne Smith rock collaboration cue…
How to Find the Right Sounds Fast!
On my Week 35 vlog check-in, I answer a viewer question about how to best go about finding the sounds you need for your cues. Then I unpack another intrigue tension cue written during last week’s pre…
How Many Hats Do Production Music Composers Wear?
As production music composers, we're often forced to wear many hats. On my Week 34 vlog check-in, I discuss all of the various aspects of this career that have little to do with actual composition. T…
How Many Hats Do Production Music Composers Wear?
As production music composers, we're often forced to wear many hats. On my Week 34 vlog check-in, I discuss all of the various aspects of this career that have little to do with actual composition. T…
Honesty Is the Best Policy (Duh!)
On my Week 33 vlog check-in, I share a story of having to disappoint a client but still deciding that being honest is the best way to maintain the professional relationship. Plus I unpack an intrigue…
Honesty Is the Best Policy (Duh!)
On my Week 33 vlog check-in, I share a story of having to disappoint a client but still deciding that being honest is the best way to maintain the professional relationship. Plus I unpack an intrigue…
Where do ideas come from?
On this week's check in, I talk about sustainable creativity and where most of my ideas come from. Plus, I unpack a drumline-infused high energy hip-hop cue which was inspired by the strangest of pla…
Where do ideas come from?
On this week's check in, I talk about sustainable creativity and where most of my ideas come from. Plus, I unpack a drumline-infused high energy hip-hop cue which was inspired by the strangest of pla…
Why Should I Be Using a Template for My Cues?
On this week's 52 Cues check-in, I talk about how I use templates to streamline my composing process, plus I unpack a cue featuring all Omnisphere sounds chosen at random!
Watch this episode on YouTub…
Why Should I Be Using a Template for My Cues?
On this week's 52 Cues check-in, I talk about how I use templates to streamline my composing process, plus I unpack a cue featuring all Omnisphere sounds chosen at random!
Watch this video on YouTube
h…
What’s the one thing I wish I'd known about having a career in music?
On this week's 52 Cues check-in, I answer the question, "what the one thing I wish I'd known about having a career in music?" Then I unpack a brooding light tension cue from Week 30!
Watch this episo…
What’s the one thing I wish I'd known about having a career in music?
On this week's 52 Cues check-in, I answer the question, "what the one thing I wish I'd known about having a career in music?" Then I unpack a brooding light tension cue from Week 30! (And yes, that's…
Don't Throw Away Your Unused Cues!
On my week 29 vlog check in, I discuss what to do with unused/unpublished cues, and I unpack a hip-hop tension cue from a recent livestream.
Watch this episode on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?…
What's the Best Mouse for Music Production?
On this week’s 52 Cues Check-In, I discuss which is the best mouse for use in the DAW. Then we look at an urban contemporary hip-hop cue from Week 28.
Watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/9H9…
How Do You Battle Imposter Syndrome?
On this week’s 52 Cues Check-In, I discuss imposter syndrome and why it might not be a bad thing! Plus, we look at the EDM cue that sent me on a spiral of self-doubt.
Watch this episode on YouTube!
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Do You Have to End Your Cue on the I/i Chord?
I talk all about buttons and cue endings on today's 52 Cues vlog check in. Plus, I unpack my recent lo-fi (ish) hip hop cue!
Watch this episode on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tiu16R1aciQ
00…
3 Tips for Realistic Drum Programming
I talk all about drum programming on this week’s 52 Cues Check-In and three ways you can make your MIDI drums sound as realistic as possible. Plus, I take a close-up look at the drum programming on a…
How To Handle Rejection From a Publisher
On this week’s 52 Cues Check-In I discuss how to handle rejection, avoid feeling like a failure, and overcome that dreaded imposter syndrome. Plus, we take a look at my rejected pop/EDM/hip-hop cue!
W…