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.
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Have You Outgrown Your Composer Workflow?
6d ago00:39:20Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dave talks with Pibox founder and CEO Ivan Talaichuk about the point where Dropbox, email, and spreadsheets stop being enough and what production music composers can learn from the way professional music teams manage feedback, revisions, cue versions, and collaboration.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5p2apQqacwUFind out more about Pibox:https://pibox.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 →What's going on this week at 52 Cues? | 2026 Week 31
1w ago00:04:15Tap to summarizeWeekly Feedback - Week 31https://my.52cues.com/posts/weekly-feedback-weekly-feedback-week-31Office Hourshttps://my.52cues.com/posts/103906733Orchestral Chat Clubhttps://my.52cues.com/posts/102528677Live Feedback and Critiques (Tuesday)https://my.52cues.com/posts/103575429A Little Chat with Shannon and Davehttps://my.52cues.com/posts/87969750Live Feedback and Critiques (Thursday)https://my.52cues.com/posts/103575252Hip-Hop Tension | Composing Livestreamhttps://my.52cues.com/posts/103492316Uplifting Indie Pop Tasking | Revision Roundhttps://my.52cues.com/posts/104143305Join 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 Production Music Worth It in 2026?
3w ago01:07:20Tap to summarizeIn part two of their response to Anne-Kathrin Dern's brutally honest career advice, Jeff and Dave look at the money, the workload, the lifestyle, and the growing guru culture, to answer the question every production music composer eventually has to face: is production music worth it?Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L9gJYZC8330A 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 29
3w 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?
4w 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
Jul 1300:11:17Tap 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
Jul 900:42:50Tap 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
Jul 201:02:26Tap 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
Jun 2500:49:03Tap 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 →