Most engineers fire up their DAW and dive straight into client work.Your ears aren't ready. Your brain isn't focused. You're about to make decisions that affect someone's music without preparing the most important piece of equipment: your ears.Every workday, I spend 10-20 minutes on a simple routine before starting client work.

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Here's what I do: analyze a track mastered by a world-class engineer, master it myself quickly, then compare the results.

Last week, I used a track that'd been mastered by one of my mentors, Vlado Meller.

My instincts told me to beef up the bottom end.

Vlado had done the opposite.

He tightened the low end, which helped the vocal cut through more clearly. When I A/B'd our versions, his approach was clearly better for this particular song. The vocal sat perfectly. Mine sounded muddy in comparison.

Without my morning routine, I likely would have made the same mistake on a client project that day. Sure, I probably would have caught it eventually—I always step away and listen with fresh ears before sending masters out. But that takes crucial time. And our ears only stay fresh for so many hours each day.

In mastering, protecting your listening time is essential.

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The routine saves me time, even though it takes time upfront.

When I skip it—and I can always tell when I do—my masters take longer to dial in. I second-guess decisions. I make moves, then undo them. The flow isn't there.

Twenty minutes of preparation prevents hours of inefficiency.

Athletes and musicians warm up before training. Yet most audio engineers think they can jump straight into critical listening work without any preparation.

Like many professional practices, I borrowed this idea from outside our industry. Michael Phelps didn't miss a morning practice from age 11 through 16—even now, years after retirement, he still makes sure to squeeze in a workout before getting down to work making phone calls or answering emails. Tim Ferriss writes extensively about morning routines. Daniel Coyle explores deliberate practice in "The Talent Code." High performers in every field understand that consistency comes from systems, not inspiration.

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You don't need my exact routine to benefit from this principle.

Simply listening to music for 10-20 minutes before working will help tune your ears for the day. Critical listening is better, but even passive listening works.

The key is intentionality. You're not just killing time or checking email. You're preparing your most important tools—your ears and your judgement—for the work ahead.

Professionals approach their workday like a job. You need to deliver top-notch results every day, regardless of circumstances, mood, or how you're feeling. Routines make that consistency possible.

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Start tomorrow morning. Pick a reference track. Listen critically for fifteen minutes. Then begin your day.

Your clients will hear the difference.