Change is difficult. Especially in an area like production, which tends to lend itself to establishing a set routine and workflow.  While what we call “beginner’s luck” exists in almost every field, the advances in production technology have made it almost impossible to turn on an unknown piece of gear and make a great beat your first time out.  Producers have to get their study on nowadays.  Mastering their craft requires them to not only read those boring manuals nobody else wants to read, it also requires them to sacrifice a great deal of their social lives.

So it should come as no surprise that most producers are very hesitant to move away from the workstations they’ve had success with.  Just the thought of not using their favorite machine is enough to make some producers tense up.  For some guys, changing gear is as easy as learning how to drive on a stick shift and switching to an automatic; for others, it’s like learning how to drive in America, but suddenly being forced to drive in England on the opposite side of the road (and car).

But as uncomfortable as it sounds, I’ve had to do it several times.