So… this whole project took me about a month to finish, and honestly? It turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in this course. When I first introduced myself at the start of the trimester, I said I’d always wanted to try recording covers but never really had the push, and the technical know-how to actually begin.

I went in expecting the class to be difficult, maybe even a little overwhelming, but I also secretly hoped it would give me the excuse I needed to finally dive in. And… that’s exactly what happened! :D 

Instead of just jamming along to songs on my drum kit like I usually do, I found myself staring down audio software, and asking “why does this snare suddenly sound like it’s inside a cave?”, and discovering a whole new level of respect for anyone who makes music production look easy.

Playing along with pre-recorded tracks on my drums has always been fun, but creating a cover completely from scratch? It's a different story. 

Suddenly it wasn’t just about keeping time, it was about patience, trial-and-error, and the kind of attention to detail that makes you hear every squeak, buzz, and awkward silence you never noticed before.

There were plenty of “why is this happening” moments: 

1. Trying to layer instruments without it turning into chaos

2. Struggling to figure out mixing basics, like why the drums suddenly drowned everything else out

3. Realizing I had to redo the same part ten times because the mic caught some random background noise, or because I played a beat wrong. 

But there were also those little victories, when my sister’s vocals sat nicely in the mix, or the moment I hit play on the final render and thought, “Wait… did I actually pull this off?”

I’m nowhere near professional level, but the fact that I managed to create something listenable as a complete beginner makes me proud. It’s proof that even when the process feels like controlled chaos, pushing through is worth it.

Back in my Midpoint Blog, I wrote about wanting to be more intentional with my creative choices, and I really carried that through here. Instead of just finishing the cover for the sake of ticking off a requirement, I kept asking myself the same questions I noted back then: 

What story am I trying to tell?

Why does this matter to me? 

Those guiding questions helped the way I approached recording and editing, reminding me that this project wasn’t just about sound, but also about expression.

Now that I’m done, I can say the final product isn’t flawless... but it’s mine. (Hopefully) you can hear the effort, you can hear the expression, and for me, that’s exactly what I was aiming for.

Looking at the bigger picture, this course has been one of those experiences I won’t forget anytime soon. Audio production might not be the main thing I’ll do as a BAMS/AADDA graduate, but it’s definitely a skill that will make me more capable) in my future projects.

Being able to create, edit, and refine audio can open so many doors. I’m talking beyond just music covers, I can see myself using these skills for future video projects, podcasts, digital art presentations, or even collaborating with friends and classmates on something completely unexpected. Basically, if there’s a sound involved, I can probably figure out how to make it work… eventually, and hopefully! 

Even if I don’t end up chasing audio production as a professional career, this course gave me a toolkit I didn’t have before. I now know my way around mixing, layering, and editing, which means I can add another layer of polish to whatever I create! 

Plus, it gave me confidence, if I can survive figuring out why my snare keeps disappearing in the mix, I can survive almost anything the creative world throws at me.

One of the best parts of this course was seeing what everyone else was up to. Honestly, scrolling through discussions, ePortfolios, and final projects was like peeking into a secret world of creativity, and sometimes feeling either slightly intimidated, or really impressed. 

It was inspiring to see how diverse everyone’s approaches were. Some people leaned into storytelling, others went all-in on technical polish, and a few just completely surprised me with ideas I hadn’t even thought of. I learned a lot from seeing how they tackled the same assignments differently, and it made me reflect on my own choices. 

Sometimes it pushed me to try harder; other times it reassured me that there’s no single “right” way to create.

As for where I stand… well, I’d say I’m somewhere in the middle of the pack. I’m definitely not the most polished, but I put in effort, experimentation, and persistence, qualities I think matter just as much as skill. Watching my classmates grow alongside me also made me realize that everyone’s journey is different, and progress isn’t a straight line. So while I might not be the top audio guru, I can confidently say I gave this project my all, and I learned a ton in the process.

That said, I definitely see myself continuing to chase this little audio adventure. I’d like to make more covers, try genres I’ve never touched before, just to see what happens when I throw myself into chaos on purpose. I will also definitely collaborate with friends who play instruments.

My plan is simple (on paper): keep practicing, watch tutorials, slowly upgrade my setup when I can afford it, and stay consistent. In reality, this will probably involve a lot of late-night experiments, muttering at my laptop about why the snare sounds like it’s trapped in a tin can, and learning the fine art of “good enough for now” before I go insane.

I also hope to keep learning more about mixing and mastering, because there’s something weirdly satisfying about making a track sound polished rather than like a blender accidentally collided with my drum kit. 

And who knows? Maybe one day I’ll feel brave enough to try original compositions instead of just covers… or at least see how far I can push my creativity before the software files an official complaint.

Ultimately, I want to treat this as a personal playground for experimentation. I might not go pro, but I do want to keep growing, keep trying, and, most importantly, keep having fun while I do it!! Because if this course taught me anything, it’s that figuring out audio is equal parts chaos, problem-solving, and small victories that make you grin like a mad scientist.

I think I can say with full confidence: this is not the end of beginning, (pun-intended, again).

It’s just the beginning of the beginning. Time to keep drumming, experimenting, and seeing where this chaotic, fun journey in audio takes me next.

To anyone reading this, no matter who you are or what you’re working on, just trust me, you’ll be fine. Life doesn’t hand out perfect instructions. You’ll fumble, you’ll fail, you’ll improvise, but in the end, those messy, unpredictable steps are exactly what make you grow. 

Much like my journey in this course, it’s been full of surprises, mistakes, little victories, and lessons I’ll carry forward.