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A guitarist practices scales. A singer warms up their voice.
But what about producers?
Your main instrument is your ears — and like any muscle, they can be trained.
You don’t need hours of classes or expensive software. With just 15 minutes a day, you can dramatically improve how you hear EQ changes, compression artifacts, and stereo width.
Here’s how.
The 15-Minute Daily Routine
Set aside a short block of focused listening — ideally before mixing or when your ears are fresh.
Each drill below takes about 5 minutes and builds core skills every producer needs.
Drill 1: The EQ Guess Game (5 minutes)
Train your ears to recognize EQ shifts at key frequencies.
How to do it:
-
Load a loop you know well.
-
Boost or cut one frequency band by around ±3 dB.
-
Try to guess which band you changed before checking visually.
Common frequency checkpoints:
- 60 Hz → Sub thump
- 120 Hz → Warmth/body
- 400 Hz → Mud
- 1 kHz → Mid clarity
- 4 kHz → Presence
- 8 kHz → Air/sparkle
💡 Pro tip: Use a sweep EQ plugin like Puncher 2’s multiband section or any parametric EQ.
Once you can identify ±3 dB consistently, lower the difference to ±2 dB — that’s where true accuracy develops.
Drill 2: Compression Artifact ID (5 minutes)
Learn to hear what different attack/release settings actually do — not just see them.
How to do it:
-
Use a short loop with strong transients (like drums or plucks).
-
Apply compression with different settings:
- Fast attack / fast release: pumping
- Slow attack / medium release: punchier, more transient snap
- High ratio / low threshold: dull and squashed
-
Listen for:
- Pump (the volume rhythmically breathing)
- Grab (the compressor clamping down on transients)
- Dullness (over-compression smearing the top end)
💡 Pro tip: Try this in WA Production’s Puncher 2, which combines compression, transient shaping, and multiband control in one module.
Drill 3: Stereo Image Spotting (5 minutes)
Many mixes collapse in mono because producers can’t yet hear how wide elements actually are.
How to do it:
-
Load a full mix or a wide pad.
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Toggle between stereo and mono.
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Notice what disappears — those are phase-heavy elements.
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Practice identifying:
- True center (kick, vocal)
- Hard-panned elements (hi-hats, FX)
- Mid-sides (pads, reverbs, wide synths)
💡 Pro tip: Use your DAW’s mono switch or a mid/side plugin. Then narrow your stereo bus by 10–20% and listen again — this builds awareness of width.
Bonus: Printable Daily Drill Card
Create a simple daily checklist you can print or pin near your monitor:
| Day | EQ Guess | Compression ID | Stereo Spotting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Tue | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Wed | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Thu | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Fri | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
This tiny ritual keeps your hearing sharp — just like doing reps in the gym.
Suggested Assets
Include short embedded A/B audio players on the blog page:
- EQ cut/boost demo (±3 dB at 1 kHz)
- Compressor fast vs. slow attack
- Stereo vs. mono pad comparison
These quick clips help readers hear each concept immediately.
The Takeaway
Ear training isn’t abstract — it’s practical.
After a few weeks of 15-minute drills, you’ll start hearing mix problems before you see them on a spectrum analyzer.
Try It with WA Tools
Re-test your perception using your favorite WA plugins:
- Puncher 2 – for dynamic balance and compression control.
- ImPerfect - tweak highs and mids while training EQ sensitivity.
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