Getting Feedback On Your Sync Track Is NOT Hard Anymore
What 90 minutes of sync-focused feedback feels like. đ
FROM THE DESK OF GRAHAM BARTON
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
Hey Beast,
Havenât written a blog post in a bit â Been releasing podcast episodes instead. But I can't stay quiet about something I did last month (August) that helped 18 people actually increase the syncâability of their tracks⊠and they werenât even in the SBA.
âCan I get some feedback..?â
This is the bravest question you can ask in sync licensing. As Sync Beast grows, I hear it more and more.
Since the pandemic, 69 producers + songwriters have joined Sync Beast â each committed to crafting music that has a fighting chance in big brand ads. They all share one thing: the courage to seek feedback.
Feedback is the heart of the Sync Beast Accelerator â The only program that gives producers + songwriters 1:1 feedback in a strong, supportive community. Outside the SBA, making music for sync can feel like shouting into the void. But some refuse to let it stop them.
I've watched people outside the SBA apply the Sync Beast strategy to their music. But at some point, they still need support. Their character shines in their willingness to ask for potentially painful feedback, knowing it leads to growth.
As feedback requests flood my DMs and inbox, I face a challenge. With 51 tracks in production as of mid-September, my capacity, time, and energy is limited. But I don't want to turn away those brave enough to ask for feedback on their music. So, I found a new way to give people direct access to me and the Sync Beast methodology, first handâŠ
The best feedback is âimmersiveâ
In August, we launched our first Immersive Feedback Session, offering those outside the SBA a chance to receive sync-focused feedback in a powerful group setting. But first, real talk:
Outside the SBA, the sync world can be harsh and judgmental. Constructive feedback is rare, with most gurus offering surface-level, irrelevant opinions about âwhat works for syncâ. It makes you feel locked out of sync even more.
I designed the Immersive Feedback Session to do the opposite. It offers only constructive feedback on music, following each critique with concrete advice to improve syncâability. Here's how it worked:
Expert Panel: Seasoned Sync Beast producers + songwriters who genuinely care about your music's performance.
Live Review: Rapid-fire, gems-only evaluation of 13 tracks on Zoom.
Safe Environment: Anonymous track submissions to ensure openness, honesty, and zero bias.
Constructive Approach: Applying proven SBA feedback methods and lexicon, focusing on solutions, not just problems.
Targeted Insights: Relevant feedback on songwriting, production, mixing, performance, and strategic market positioning.
Immersive feedback beats the hell out of traditional courses and groups: more engagement, more context, instant clarification, and a distraction-free, judgment-free zone. People show up because they want to â Thatâs the kind of room to be in.
The Immersive Feedback Session gives actionable insights for improving your music's sync potential in a supportive community setting â a 180Âș from the often cold, confusing world of sync licensing.
đ Click here to watch a highlight reel of the first session.
The courage to seek feedback
Asking for feedback is terrifying if you're not used to it. It can feel like standing naked in front of a crowd, all eyes on you. Those who showed up to the feedback session? Real MVPs. They pushed through fears, submitted tracks, and came ready to grow.
Alex joined feeling like a small fish in a big pond. "I was somewhat confident in my track, but still felt out of my depth." That changed fast. The supportive feedback pushed him out of his comfort zone, lighting a fire in him to implement. "It's incredibly instructive and insightful. You can bring your best and still grow." Stoked for Alex.
Danelle battled serious self-doubt before submitting her track. It worked for the client she made it for, but would it hold up under scrutiny? The feedback both helped and validated her. "Hearing how people liked the vocals was really encouraging, and gave me a boost of confidence." Sometimes you just need expert ears to silence your inner critic.
Jason didnât realize how deep the feedback would go. "I now know what to address, not just with my song, but with the rest of my current projects." To use the feedback on the track he brought is one thing. Using it on future tracks is growth on a new level.
Samâs take hit home for a lot of people. Sharing an unfinished track had him sweating. "Us producers live in bubbles, and can be quite removed from the outside world." Makes sense. The feedback was a breath of fresh air, offering that crucial real-world perspective to boost his music's value.
The truth: growth lies just outside our comfort zone. These folks stepped right over that line. Some wanted to make the right moves in their music. Others wanted to break creative bubbles. And a few just needed a clue about where to take their tracks next. They all faced fears head-on, emerging stronger, smarter, and more confident about how their music fits into the sync machine.
As Sam put it, "If you want focused, succinct feedback to improve your tracks on multiple levels, dive in." Sync Beast feedback lifts you up, one insight at a time. It's why I'm so damn passionate about the power of feedback. It doesn't just make our music better â it transforms how we create it.
Announcing: the next Immersive Feedback Session
Immersive Feedback Session #1 was a hit. Everyone's positive attitude made for a helpful, engaging experience. It proved what I say in my content: Getting actionable, relevant, no-BS feedback on your music from people who do this every day is the silver bullet.
That's why Iâm hosting the next Immersive Feedback Session on October 1, 2024 @ 2pm ET. It's not just about polishing one track - it's about gaining strategic tools and confidence to create for sync going forward.
You've got the talent and commitment â We've got the feedback and space for you. Tickets are $50. Click below to submit a track for feedback.
Stay hungry,
Graham Barton
Executive Producer @ SBA
Dude, found you through phoebe. A gem, thanks for the value!!! Lets get synced