Podcast
52 Cues - A Production Music and Sync Podcast
Hosted by Dave Kropf · EN
Hosted by working composer and long-time professor Dave Kropf, the 52 Cues Podcast takes you inside the real world of production music, library music, and sync licensing – breaking down cues, unpacking industry insights, and sharing candid conversations with fellow composers and publishers.
Weekly episodes deliver practical strategies, creative inspiration, and insider information to help you land more placements and build a sustainable career in sync.
40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
What's going on this week at 52 Cues? | 2026 Week 29
2d ago00:08:12Tap to summarizeWeekly Feedback - Week 29https://my.52cues.com/posts/weekly-feedback-weekly-feedback-week-29Office Hourshttps://my.52cues.com/events/office-hours-103906725How Hard Is it to Make a Living in Production Music? | 52 Cues Podcast #278https://my.52cues.com/posts/how-hard-is-it-to-make-a-living-in-production-music-52-cues-podcast-278Live Feedback and Critiques (2hr Session)https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-2-hr-session-100942269The NFL on CBS 2026 | Deliverableshttps://my.52cues.com/events/the-nfl-on-cbs-2026-deliverablesA Little Chat with Shannon and Davehttps://my.52cues.com/events/a-little-chat-with-shannon-and-dave-87969750Countdown Tension | Brief Info & Cue Review Sessionhttps://my.52cues.com/events/countdown-tension-brief-info-cue-review-sessionHip-Hop Comedy #2 (Part 2) | Composing Livestreamhttps://my.52cues.com/events/hip-hop-comedy-2-part-2-composing-livestreamUplifting Indie Pop Tasking | Submission Roundhttps://my.52cues.com/events/uplifting-indie-pop-tasking-submission-roundJoin the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →How Hard Is it to Make a Living in Production Music?
6d ago00:54:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dave and Jeff use Anne-Kathrin Dern’s recent composer reality-check video as a jumping off point to discuss how hard it really is to make a living in production music.Watch this episode on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/-owQEUH26jsA Rant About Brutally Honest Career Advice by Anne-Kathrin Dernhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y06R6sOc5bsSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →What's going on this week at 52 Cues? | 2026 Week 28
1w ago00:11:17Tap to summarizeWeekly Feedback - Week 28https://my.52cues.com/posts/weekly-feedback-weekly-feedback-week-28Free Workshop! From Sketch To Screen (with Jeff Hargrove)https://my.52cues.com/events/from-sketch-to-screen-with-jeff-hargroveLive Feedback and Critiques (Tuesday)https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-103575379A Little Chat with Shannon and Davehttps://my.52cues.com/events/a-little-chat-with-shannon-and-dave-87969750?instance_index=20260715T160000ZLive Feedback and Critiques (Thursday)https://my.52cues.com/events/live-feedback-and-critiques-103575202Hip-Hop Comedy #2 | Composing Livestreamhttps://my.52cues.com/events/hip-hop-comedy-2-composing-livestreamOrchestral Christmas | Results and Final Submissionshttps://my.52cues.com/events/orchestral-christmas-results-and-final-submissionsCountdown Tension | Brief Info & Cue Review Sessionhttps://my.52cues.com/events/countdown-tension-brief-info-cue-review-sessionUplifting Indie Pop Tasking | Submission Roundhttps://my.52cues.com/events/uplifting-indie-pop-tasking-submission-roundJoin the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →How Sketching Makes Writing Cues Easier
2w ago00:42:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode, community mentor Jeff Hargrove explains why a simple piano sketch can make writing cues easier before production takes over.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xXiCWzwo3TUBe sure to join us for Jeff's free Sketch to Screen Workshop, July 13 at 4p ET!https://my.52cues.com/events/from-sketch-to-screen-with-jeff-hargroveSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →Our Most-Used Plugins for Production Music
3w ago01:02:26Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dave and community mentor Jeff LaPlante share their most-used instruments, tools, plugins, and effects to help production music composers build a dependable toolkit without wasting money on plugins you might not really need.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_pIAgPHp760PLUGINS, SOUNDS, AND LIBRARIES DISCUSSEDSOUNDS AND LIBRARIESOmnispherehttps://www.spectrasonics.net/products/omnisphereThe Unfinished Omnisphere Soundsetshttps://www.theunfinished.co.uk/store/Splice https://splice.comSerato Samplehttps://serato.com/sampleThe Fame Series: Modern Pophttps://www.ilio.com/the-fame-series-modern-popProjectSAM Symphobiahttps://projectsam.com/libraries/symphobiaNative Instruments Kompletehttps://www.native-instruments.com/en/catalog/komplete/EFFECTSMelodynehttps://www.celemony.com/en/melodyneLogic Pro Sample Delayhttps://support.apple.com/guide/logicpro/sample-delay-controls-lgcef18b8738/macLogic Pro Stereo Delayhttps://support.apple.com/guide/logicpro/stereo-delay-controls-lgcef18b892f/macLogic Pro Compressorhttps://support.apple.com/guide/logicpro/compressor-overview-lgcead9636ef/macFender Studio Pro X-Tremhttps://www.fender.com/products/fender-studio-proHONORABLE MENTIONSVienna Synchron Stage Reverbhttps://www.vsl.co.at/products/software/synchron-stage-reverbWaves TrueVerbhttps://www.waves.com/plugins/trueverbSoundtoys Little AlterBoyhttps://www.soundtoys.com/product/little-alterboy/Soundtoys MicroShifthttps://www.soundtoys.com/product/microshift/The God Particlehttps://cradle.app/products/the-god-particleSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →How to Learn Orchestration Without Feeling Overwhelmed
4w ago00:49:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Philip Johnston returns to explain how Orchestration Recipes makes complex concepts more practical, what Volume 6 brings to everyday orchestral writing, and where AI may fit into the future of composition and virtual performance.Orchestration Recipes Vol. 6 is out now!https://orchestrationrecipes.comSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →Your Cue Got Accepted! Don't Blow the Deliverables.
Jun 1801:11:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode Dave and community mentor Jeff LaPlante break down production music deliverables, including mixes, stems, cutdowns, file naming, metadata, loudness, and the common mistakes that can make an accepted cue harder for libraries and editors to use.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yIXUIyolKRkSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →Dave Answers Your Production Music Questions
Jun 1201:13:15Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dave answers your production music questions including generative AI, following up with libraries, pitching albums professionally, recovering exclusive cues, building a sustainable sync catalog, and why the tools you use matter when revisions and deliverables are part of the job.Support for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →Inside a 52 Cues Cue Breakdown
Jun 400:34:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dave pulls back the curtain on 52 Cues with a look inside a cue breakdown, showing how composition, structure, arrangement, and production choices all work together in a finished cue.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YfOLFtiPIigSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →Is Using Loops "Lazy?"
May 2800:51:47Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dave and Jeff discuss whether loops and samples are lazy, how samples can be transformed into original production music cues, and why legal usage still doesn’t always protect you from Content ID headaches or library concerns.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PFoHpTAsHboSupport for the 52 Cues Podcast comes from ReelCrafter, the professional way to pitch your production music and know exactly when your cues are heard.Start your free trial at ReelCrafter.com/52Cues!Join the 52 Cues Community! – https://my.52cues.comIt's free to post your cues for feedback from the community, network with other composers, and ask questions about the industry!Plus, member subscribers get extra perks like workshops, livestreams, cue breakdowns, live feedback sessions, hundreds of hours of video archives, and opportunities to submit to real music libraries.One-on-one coaching sessions and video critiques also available at http://52cues.com/coaching!Note: Links may be affiliate links which generate a small commission but at no extra cost to you!
Transcribe →