Recommendations on where to go to better your knowledge in music production?

For the last 4 years I've been a ghost writer for a few different Russian and Dutch 'buyers'. I don't care to ever be Mr. Billy Coolguy and have any involvement in the marketing or "performing" side of EDM. In fact this is the only time I've ever even mentioned it to anyone outside my real life friends... I'm not an expert, but my tracks are purchased immediately for anywhere between $200-$1000. Ghost writing is not my full time job and rather then fill my Soundcloud with a few hundred mediocre and unoriginal tracks-- I prefer just sell my work and forget about it. I see it as making some money for learning how to mix/master. My ego doesn't need to be attached to a 4 minute regurgitated banger.

To all the less-than-amateurs saying-- "Finish every track you make!" You're literally giving newberts the absolute worst advice possible. In fact, some of you that have posted this nonsense have Soundclouds literally filled with what we call 'finished-unfinished' tracks... The notorious "EDM producers" with 70 tracks, all with 25-100 plays... If that's your idea of successful progression then keep doing your thing. I like to see my creations hit 100-200k plays regardless if my name is anywhere near it or not.

Listen, you'll only learn how to mix something properly from trial and error-- and critical listening/referencing. You don't get an ear for mixing/mastering by focusing on arrangements/composition. If your goal is to only 'finish every track' then you are likely just polishing turds over and over again.

Mixing is purely context related. Mix everything around your percussion and bass. There are so many techniques and so many different ways to reach the same result. I would suggest spectrum matching with something like Izotope Ozone to get an idea of what your target goal is. I used a few Knife Party tracks during the course of 2 years. I don't even think they have that great of mixes, but for what I was making it was an appropriate reference. Eventually you won't need the aid of anything but your ears.

Learn to group/bus your tracks properly.

Buy decent monitors and treat your room. Make sure your tracks sound good on everything between iPhone earbuds, to Beats, to a nice car stereo. Listen to your mix on what music is generally consumed on by the general public (reason I mentioned Beats).

Organize your samples meticulously and buy a record/use your phone to capture random melodies/rhythms/etc that pop into your head.

Every legitimate artist (which I'm not) has more unfinished work than finished. Every wanna-be artist has a soundcloud filled with 'finished' work.

And last. Get off this subreddit. I unsubbed years ago and have no idea why I happened to visit today. This place is rarely visited by real professionals. All you'll find is the advice and general egotism of amateurs who have never had their music played in a club yet give advice as though they just released a beatport top 10.

Good luck.

/r/edmproduction Thread