We're aiming for feel

Here's something to consider about making music: you're not trying to get it perfect. 

Indeed: there is no "perfect." So it's literally impossible to get there! 

What you're actually trying to do is to capture a feeling. 

You're trying to make your recording "do something." 

You're trying to make yourself bounce in your seat. Or cry. Or swoon. Or close your eyes and smile.

And when you've accomplished that – you should stop! Immediately!

You should not continue tweaking. Not even just one more little tweak.

You should set it aside for a week. 

Anything that actually needs changing will still need changing in a week. 

But you'll lower the temperature on your compulsive urges to keep changing things. 

And that would be a good thing. Because otherwise, what you risk is spending unnecessary time and effort — in service of making your own recording less good! And that doesn't seem like a good use of your time, does it?

With feeling — jamie