// Use when the user references another track they want to emulate the vibe/sound of. Examples - "make this sound like Ólafur Arnalds", "I want a Tame Impala vibe", "match the mix of Kendrick's Money Trees". Translates artist/track references into actionable production decisions.
| name | reference-match |
| description | Use when the user references another track they want to emulate the vibe/sound of. Examples - "make this sound like Ólafur Arnalds", "I want a Tame Impala vibe", "match the mix of Kendrick's Money Trees". Translates artist/track references into actionable production decisions. |
Translate a reference track or artist into concrete production choices. We do not download or analyze copyrighted audio. We use known sonic signatures and the user's own ears.
Ask if not given: "Which track or artist? And which aspect — the arrangement, the mix, the sound design, or the overall vibe?"
Map the reference to its known characteristics. Examples:
| Reference | Signature |
|---|---|
| Ólafur Arnalds | Felt piano, string ensemble (often Spitfire), tape saturation, slow tempo (60-80), minor key, sparse arrangement, long reverb tails, microphone proximity sound |
| Tame Impala (Currents-era) | LinnDrum patterns, OP-1 synths, heavy chorus on guitar, vocoded vocals, sidechained bass, 60-90 BPM, vintage drum saturation |
| Bonobo | Live percussion + electronic drums, jazz harmony, vinyl crackle textures, mid-tempo (90-110), wide stereo, heavy use of sample chops |
| Burial | Vinyl/cassette texture, rain/atmosphere, pitched-up vocal samples, sub bass, garage-2step rhythm, lo-fi hihats, minor 7 chords |
| Kendrick (DAMN era) | 808 sub, trap hi-hats, jazz samples, vocal layering, heavy compression, mid-side EQ for vocal width |
| Billie Eilish (early) | Whisper vocal up close, sparse 808, finger snaps, sub-heavy mix, heavy automation, breath sounds intentionally left in |
| Skrillex | Heavy modulation on bass (vocal-formant LFOs), drops with stutter edits, 14k+ shimmer on leads, super-wide stereo, side-chained pump |
| Hans Zimmer | Massive low brass (often layered with synth), Trinity choir (low + bright), pulsing ostinatos, slow chord swells, 1-second+ reverb tails |
| Lo-fi hip hop (Lofigirl-style) | Wurlitzer/Rhodes, jazz chords, vinyl crackle, tape saturation, 70-90 BPM, 50% wet drums, swung 16ths |
For each aspect the user cares about, propose moves:
Don't apply everything blindly. Pick the 3 most distinctive elements of the reference and propose them first:
"Top 3 Ólafur signatures I'd start with: (1) felt piano via Spitfire Originals or stock Grand Piano with the lid closed setting + tape sat; (2) slow swelling string pad with 2-second attack + reverb send 40%; (3) tempo 70 BPM, minor key, 4/4 but with rubato feel via velocity-driven micro-timing. Apply these first, listen, then iterate?"
After the user listens, refine based on what's still wrong. References are inherently approximate — embrace the iteration loop.
If you don't know the reference: ask the user to describe what they like about it. ("Is it the drums? The vocal effect? The arrangement?") Then apply the technique that matches their description — you don't need to know the artist to translate "warm, lo-fi, jazzy chords" into action.
Use when the user has recorded vocals and wants a processing chain set up. Examples - "set up my vocal chain", "process this vocal", "make the vocal sit in the mix", "give me a pop vocal chain", "make this rap vocal aggressive".
Use when the user is unsure about tempo, time signature, or rhythmic feel choices. Examples - "what tempo should this be?", "should I switch to 3/4?", "is 95 BPM right for lo-fi?", "how do I make this feel less stiff rhythmically?".
Use when the user wants to set up sidechain compression - typically kick → bass, kick → pads, vocals → music bed. Examples - "sidechain my bass to the kick", "make the synths duck under the vocal", "add pumping to the chords".
Use when the user wants drum patterns by genre - kick, snare, hi-hat, percussion. Examples - "give me a trap beat", "house drum pattern", "DnB drums at 174", "lo-fi drums with swing", "boom-bap pattern".
Use when the user wants to generate, voice, or modify chord progressions. Examples - "give me a sad chord progression in C minor", "voice these chords for piano", "what's a good progression for cinematic music?", "extend this progression with more color tones".
Use when the user is finishing a track and wants to check it's ready to send to a mastering engineer or for self-mastering. Audits headroom, peak levels, mono compatibility, frequency balance, LUFS. Examples - "is this ready to master?", "audit my mix before export", "check my levels".
