Music Arranging
Producertech
Beginner's Guide to Music Production in Ableton Live
Ableton Live is one of the most popular DAWs around, loved for its flexibility and intuitive workflow. On this brand new course from Senior Tutor and Ableton Certified Trainer Rob Jones, you’ll go from first steps with the software right through to exporting a final arrangement, and everything in between!
The course is suitable for all ages and abilities, taking students through all of the main areas of the software slowly and clearly, to help forge a thorough understanding of the different ways music can be made. Once setting up the software has been covered, Rob embarks on two hour-long lectures focussed purely on working with audio samples in session and arrangement view, respectively, showing how to lay out simple song structures in each. He then moves onto MIDI, explaining the fundamentals of working with instruments and demonstrating the numerous ways of producing melodic accompaniment.
The subsequent lessons then develop skills for editing and track building in the arrangement, as well as teaching how to create beats with Drum Racks, how to record audio and the basics of mixing, covering balancing, panning and applying a number of different effects. Other topics featured include using 3rd-party plugins, sampling with Simpler, assigning MIDI controllers, and even some bonus tutorials on working with Loopmasters Loopcloud.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to confidently work with audio samples and MIDI instruments in Ableton, whether making simple backing beats for performing with session view or more fleshed out songs in the arrangement.
The 10 hours of streamed tutorials come with the projects from the modules, plus written notes providing a neat summary of the content of each lesson, along with a bonus 500MB pack of samples from Loopmasters to kick start your personal sample library! In addition, there are assignments at certain stages throughout the course, with extra materials provided for practicing all of the different techniques learned in the tutorials.
Check out the sample module for an example of the teaching style and course content, so you can see for yourself how much there is to learn from Rob’s experience and software knowledge, which will have you on the road to becoming a serious music producer in no time!
£
99
.95*
Seppa
Advanced Bass Music Production Techniques 2
With its gigantic basslines and seriously heavy beats, Bass Music is regarded as amongst the most challenging genres to produce, requiring a substantial amount of knowledge and technical precision. Thankfully, one of the top producers in the field, Seppa, has returned to the Producertech community to deliver his second set of tutorials on Advanced Bass Music Techniques, sharing his accumulated experience from the last 12 years of producing professionally, so help is very much at hand!
The course begins with a series of sound design tutorials, showing how Seppa creates his varied palette of melodic and textured sounds from which the bulk of his tracks are constructed. These include 2 serious bass patches, both built from scratch with Serum and then processed with a wide range of 3rd-party and factory DAW plugins, as well as a custom delayed and pitched FX composition, which uses a default synth patch used as the basis. The final sound design session then shows how to transform an old vinyl sample into digital gold!
In the next section, Seppa moves onto beats, beginning by designing the main kick and snare, then combining them with an assortment of percussion samples, which are sequenced into a trio of solid breaks. The beats are mixed and laid out in the arrangement, forming the backbone of the first main drop section.
The last part of the course sees Seppa guiding through a lengthy series of arrangement tutorials, starting by building a fat drop and 2 accompanying variations. Textures are applied from the sound palette, as extra layers for the drums and bass, whilst melodies are added to the last passage, to form the beginnings of the first breakdown. This is then developed into a second drop, which extends the ideas from the first half, and the arrangement is then completed and any mixing issues and improvements addressed.
Signing up to the course gives you immediate access to the streamed tutorials, as well as the Ableton Live project created on the course and a 100MB bonus pack of Bass Music samples from Loopmasters. Check out the sample module before signing up and listen to the arrangement from the course, both embedded on the course page, so you can see and hear for yourself the quality of Seppa’s music and broad depth of knowledge imparted in his tutorials.
Producertech · Seppa Advanced Bass Music Production Techniques 2 - Course Track
£
29
.95*
Producertech
Producing Liquid D&B - Creatures Pro Tips
Creatures returns to Producertech for his second Drum & Bass Course, this time focusing on the ever popular subgenre of Liquid, and he’s gifted us with a plethora of tips and tricks for taking tracks to a professional level. This is an intermediate to advanced course, for those who are already well versed in music production and Drum & Bass; a straightforward course focused on providing the producer with a variety of techniques for embellishing and improving their tracks.
The course consists of four lessons, centred around four key areas: Musicality & Theory, Sampling & Sound Design, Developing the Track and finally the Arrangement. Combining all the knowledge from these modules leaves the producer with a fully formed and professional track.
Creatures kick-starts the course by explaining the importance of melody in Liquid. The eponymous rhythm section of Drum & Bass are not the main focus here! After a quick guide to the drums so far, he then walks through the two main melodic sounds - the sub bass and hook/chords chops - before going on the hunt for supporting melodic material in the same key. Samples are introduced to the groove, which are processed with chorus, delays, reverbs and pitch-shifters, to help the sample fit sonically with the rest of the track.
After discussing the benefits of finding your own samples as opposed to sourcing them from sample packs, module 3 continues with refining and improving the samples from the second module, with further processing and creative FX tips. Creatures then finishes up the course with a lengthy look at the arrangement, implementing the structure of the track, including an intro, outro and breakdown sections, while using filters and other FX to transition between these sections smoothly. He finishes off the track with some EQing, compression and some groove-inducing sidechaining.
Enrolling provides instant access to the 1.5 hours of streamed lessons, along with the stems from the track made on the course, in addition to a bonus pack of Liquid D&B samples for trying out the techniques learned in the lessons; a wealth of information and materials to get you well on the road to producing your first Liquid D&B anthem!
£
12
.95*
Producertech
Beginner's Guide to Song Arranging
Making loops and jamming with musical ideas, although fun, can be a trap we get stuck in all too often, sometimes finding it hard to get out of ‘loop mode’ and start putting an actual track together. On this course, you’ll be provided with the knowledge required to gain a good understanding of how music is arranged, from how and why song sections are structured, to specific techniques for improving the arrangement.
The course begins with a detailed look at 2 successful tracks in varying styles, one a vocal-based pop track and the other a Tech House banger! The arrangements are completely broken down and scrutinised, then a summary of the main similarities and differences is given, with an explanation of why each song is arranged the way it is.
The subsequent modules then show the main stages of building up an arrangement, starting with the beats and creating drum fills, then introducing melodic parts and discussing the hierarchy and placement of each. Introduction, breakdown and drop sections are then laid out, showing the main concepts behind a breakdown and different methods for achieving it. Sections are then bolstered with additional layers to support the melodies and create more engagement, including vocal textures and chords.
The latter part of the course focuses heavily on FX, starting with samples that are used to enhance definition and flow, and then moving on to devices like reverb and delay, used to add character and depth, as well as improve transitions. More advanced techniques like automation and send effects are covered that, although technically more challenging, are explained slowly and clearly so that even those with little experience should be able to follow along without issues. There is also some focus on tonality and tuning, working out the key of parts and the track, and exploring other keys to move to temporarily during the arrangement.
By the end of the course, students should have a good idea of the necessary considerations and different approaches to arranging a track, ultimately helping construct clear goals to work to when making music. Signing up grants immediate access to almost 3 hours of tutorials, plus supporting materials like written guides and software projects, providing all the teachings and support needed to start arranging quality music of your own.
£
19
.95*
Jafunk
Pro Arranging Masterclass
Once you’ve got a fully-fledged groove locked down, the ability to expand it out into a complete arrangement can sometimes seem a challenging process. In this course from Producertech resident tutor and professional producer Jafunk, you’ll learn a multitude of concepts for how to approach this task, from the development of harmony, to the flow of energy and everything in between.
Jafunk uses his recent, popular release ‘Nightlife’ as the example for the course, where he fully breaks down every aspect of the track. The first lesson provides an explanation of the concepts covered on the course, followed by an overview of how the track is structured. Subsequent to this is a detailed exploration of the theory and instrumental arranging, showing how every part in the song is carefully orchestrated into its own space in the mix.
Once a thorough outline of the musical composition of the track has been provided, Jafunk shows how the initial loop was conceived by the building up of individual components, and then how each of those parts is developed through the arrangement. Certain sections are constructed so as to tell a particular story or paint a scene, whilst others are led by harmony and musical ideas.
As well as garnering a good understanding of how to structure a vocal pop or dance track in terms of sections, the course helps with learning about energy management throughout a song and how to successfully transition from one section to the next. The latter goes into both textural and classic dance techniques, such as the use of FX and automation, as well as more musical approaches, with certain instruments also helping to build and release tension.
Enrolling on the course gives you instant access to over an hour of concise and technique-rich, streamed tutorials, in addition to the project from the course and MIDI files for the track, and even a bonus pack of Jafunk’s samples to add to your collection - the perfect set of lessons and materials to help inspire and guide you to making solid arrangements of your own.
£
12
.99*
Producertech
Pro Remixing Techniques #2 - Future Funk Squad
Remixing is a central feature of music production, allowing songs to be reshaped into completely different genres from their own. The art form requires a lot of consideration and can be a delicate balancing act between new and existing material, in the attempt to stay faithful to the original track whilst creating something with your own unique sound.
In the second course of the series, Glen Nicholls aka Future Funk Squad returns to the Producertech community to share his wealth of knowledge on the topic, having remixed the likes of The Prodigy, The Crystal Method, Nine Inch Nails and many more. On the course, he works through all of the main areas of focus, as he reworks the stems from Surround Me by Franky Scarlet featuring Ruth Royall into a driving Synthwave track.
Glen begins with a play-through of the original, then a look at the various stems, explaining which ones he plans to use and why. Then, he dives straight into the arrangement, beginning by creating the main groove, with a chunky drum break and classic Moog bassline. The original parts are chopped up to accompany the groove, with the vocal leading the different sections of the track.
In the subsequent production sessions, the chorus is beefed up by shifting to faster rhythms and additional melodies, whilst new synths are used to make background pads, old school arps and plucky leads. Choruses are separated by a breakdown and the arrangement is fleshed out with extra fills for definition and percussion to fatten up the main groove.
Throughout the modules, Glen mixes continuously as the track develops, processing sounds with EQ, compression, reverb, delay and more, directly on channels as well as via send effects on auxiliary tracks. The last module finishes off the mixing with a final review of the levels and frequencies in the mix, to make sure everything is hitting where it needs to.
Enrolling on the course provides instant access to the streamed tutorials, as well as a bonus 100MB pack of Synthwave samples from Loopmasters, providing the skills and materials you need to get making quality remixes today!
Before enrolling, check out the final release of the track on Spotify...
£
19
.95*
Singo Psy
Singomakers Complete Psytrance Production
Singomakers are one of the leaders of the Psytrance Music industry - their samples have been used in tracks of legendary artists like KSHMR, Marnik, Berg, Billx & Mat Weasel Busters, Blastoyz, Omiki and released on a world’s leading Psytrance labels like Iboga Records, DHARMA, Iono Music, TIP Records, Dragonfly Records, HOMMega Productions and performed at the biggest festivals around the world! Now, Singomakers are very proud to share with you their experience and knowledge.
This unique and absolutely exclusive Complete Psytrance Production Course contains more than 5 hours of videos, consisting of 37 lessons: the first 35 being sound design and mixing techniques for creating different psy elements, culminating in the final 2 lessons that show how to build a Psytrance track from scratch using those elements and then mix and master it. Learn the secrets of Mixing, Mastering, Sound Design, Creation of a Track From Scratch, Ideas for Inspiration and more!
In these tutorials you'll find many 100%-exclusive tips and tricks from the best Singomakers sound engineers, that you won’t find anywhere on the internet for free! You will also discover many tricks for how to make your sound Fat and Dynamic, Present and Powerful but Super-wide at same time; Loud, Clear, Diverse and Professional!
All chapters are available to purchase and ready to stream instantly directly from your account. Don't miss this ultimate chance to push your Psytrance music production skills and step up to the NEXT LEVEL!
ENJOY!
**In these videos Singomakers are using plugins from Sonic Academy, Voxengo, Fabfilter, A.O.M. Factory, Xfer Records, Valhalla, Cableguys, Izotope, Reveal Sound, U-he, Native Instruments, Waves, Singomakers, Vital Audio, Ben Schulz, MeldaProduction, Vengeance Sound, zplane, SoundToys, A1AUDIO, Lindell audio, Sugar Bytes, Lexicon, Oeksound, MathewLane, Soundtheory but all this settings and tricks can be applied in any DAW to any other plugins.
Any references to any brands on this site/page, including reference to brands and instruments, are provided for description purposes only. For example references to instrument brands are provided to describe the sound of the instrument and/or the instrument used in the sample. Loopmasters do not have (nor do they claim) any association with or endorsement by these brands. Any goodwill attached to those brands rest with the brand owner. Loopmasters or its Suppliers do not accept any liability in relation to the content of the sample or the accuracy of the description.
£
49
.95*
Producertech
Lofi Hip Hop Production Techniques
UK Producer El Train has been making big waves in the Lofi Hiphop scene in recent years, with his fusion of Hip Hop, Soul, RnB and Trap landing him releases on labels like Kitsuné, Darker than Wax and Jakarta Records. On this course, he shows how to build up a quality arrangement from scratch, using samples from his Loopmasters pack and working mainly with factory instruments and effects in Logic Pro, with all techniques being easily transferrable to other DAWs.
El Train begins the course by explaining the importance of using templates to improve workflow and creativity. He then jumps straight into creating the drums, using samples and quantisation to keep them free, loose and organic sounding. He then embellishes this rhythmic basis with live-recorded percussion, as well as showing the effectiveness of using background atmospherics.
Moving on to the melodic elements of the track, El Train explores chord progressions and layering to build the harmonic backbone of the arrangement. He then records live bass, and discusses the best ways to create a convincing but interesting bassline. He continues the live recording process with some short and simple vocals, and explains how to transform and mould them into musically significant points in the track.
The course ends with a lesson on arrangement, showing how to keep your music interesting and evolving, how to pick out key moments in the track and when to use them.
Signing up gets you immediate access to the streamed tutorials, plus the project from the course and a bonus pack of samples from Al Train’s label Tone Kitchn. Check out the sample module before signing up for an example of El Train’s laid back and informative style, imparting valuable techniques and inspiration to kick start your own Lofi Hiphop production journey.
Producertech · Lofi Hip Hop Production Course Track Bounce - El Train
£
19
.95*
Producertech
Breakbeat Production Techniques with Future Funk Squad
Future Funk Squad (AKA Glen Nicholls) is a Dance Music and Sound Design icon and has been in the industry for over 20 years. He has released 3 albums to date: Audio Damage (2006), Disorders of Skill (2009) & the award-winning Darker Days (2014), and has remixed the likes of The Prodigy, Massive Attack, UNKLE, Nine Inch Nails, The Crystal Method, Hybrid to name but a few. Alongside this, he is a Sound Designer working in TV & Film, having produced music & sound for such projects as TNT’s The Alienist and many independent films, and frequently collaborates with Composer Rupert Gregson-Williams, who has scored many Hollywood blockbusters.
Joining us at Producertech for the first time, Future Funk Squad has created an all-encompassing crash course in writing, producing, mixing and mastering, that will take you from the drawing board to a professional arrangement in just a few hours.
Kicking off proceedings with some heavy break samples, chunky drums and funky basslines, he then begins to build out the track. Slowly adding more and more elements to enrich the music, he explains along the way when and how to use certain elements, like atmospherics, transitional risers, and what sort of frequencies these elements should be occupying.
He then begins to arrange the individual elements into something that resembles a track, experimenting along the way, and trying out a number of different options to optimise the impact and pacing of the song.
Future Funk Squad’s sound design and mixing expertise comes to the fore when he explains and demonstrates his mixing process, which involves committing to the arrangement by working with exported stems. He then finishes up with a quick-fire mastering tutorial and leaves you with a fully-finished, release-standard track.
Enrolling on the course gets you immediate access to the streamed tutorials, plus the Logic project from the lessons and a bonus pack of Breaks samples from Loopmasters. Enrol now to join Future Funk Squad in his studio and acquire fresh production knowledge and materials to start making quality Breakbeat tracks today!
£
29
.95*
Simon Shackleton
Pro Remixing Techniques #1 - Simon Shackleton
Remixing is a central feature of music production, allowing songs to be reformed into completely different genres from their own. The art form requires a lot of consideration and can be a delicate balancing act between new and existing material, in the attempt to stay faithful to the original track whilst creating something with your own unique sound.
In the first course of the series, Simon Shackleton joins the Producertech community to share his wealth of knowledge on the topic, having remixed the likes of Grandmaster Flash, Groove Armada and many more. On the course, he works through all of the main areas of focus, as he reworks the stems from Ellie Dixon’s Alt Pop Production Techniques course into a slamming House track.
After discussing a bit of history and some of the main objectives, Simon briefly reviews the provided material, before starting to work on the initial core of the remix. One of the bounced stems is used as the cornerstone, which is timestretched, reversed and processed with effects, to help mould it into suitable foundations for the groove. This is then enhanced with kick and bass layers to fill out the rhythm section and create the main drop section of the track.
Subsequent modules then look at how various melodic parts are treated, with vocal backing and piano lines becoming sweeping textural layers that seamlessly weave the original stems into the arrangement whilst adding the necessary stabs and FX. The main vocal also becomes the central idea in one section, with the remix’s intelligently selected tempo allowing for more options when it comes to time stretching and repitching.
The course ends with an explanation of how additional instruments can be incorporated, to deliver new melodic ideas and atmospheric content that improves flow and fills out the mix, before some final words of advice from Simon to wrap things up.
Enrolling on the course provides instant access to the streamed tutorials and the course project, as well as a bonus 100MB pack of House samples from Loopmasters; everything you need to get making quality House remixes today!
Before enrolling, take a listen to the track from the course...
Producertech · Pro Remixing Techniques #1 - Simon Shackleton Course Project Bounce
£
19
.95*
Paul Maddox
Raw Techno Production Techniques
Techno legend Paul Maddox, one half of Spektre and resident course creator, returns to deliver a new set of tutorials on producing raw Techno in Ableton Live. With a wealth of production and teaching experience combined with an extensive knowledge of the software, these tutorials are a must-have for anyone wanting to learn the essentials for making heavy Techno tracks of their own.
On the course, Paul shows the fundamentals for building up a techno track, through 2 separate groove examples, with increasing intensity. The first groove has a deeper and dubbier vibe, with a hypnotic, tribal bass and filtered piano stab, whilst the second is an even more full-on, super high energy track with a wonky synth lead line driving the groove.
All the parts are made using factory samples from Live’s library, mostly 707s, with an additional foley recording from Paul’s collection, whilst melodic parts are designed from the ground up using Sampler and Wavetable. As well as learning how to design and sequence parts, you’ll acquire a wealth of mixing knowledge and some different approaches to creating an arrangement, with both manual layout and timeline recording included.
Signing up to the course gives you immediate access to over 2 hours of streamed tutorials, along with the projects made and a 100MB bonus pack of Techno samples from Loopmasters. Check out the free sample lesson before signing up, for an example of Paul’s clear teaching style and technique-laden video content, which will enrich your production skillset and have you making Techno bangers in no time!
£
19
.95*
Producertech
Keeping Production Simple - Advanced D&B Masterclass
With many of the more technical genres being known for their complexity, newcomer to Producertech Creatures is aiming to help simplify the methodology involved by sharing his concise and relatively minimal approach to production. Although the techniques covered aren’t suitable for complete beginners, and some software and production knowledge is required to follow along, his clean and straightforward workflow offers an inspirational approach to making electronic music.
The course consists of three half an hour lessons, exploring the construction of beats, bass and FX, in order to create a meaty 48-bar drop. In the first session, he outlines his template project, highlighting several time-saving features with regards to track grouping and send effects, before putting together the drums. Samples are combined and edited, as well as processed with various effects, and a number of grooving, pulsing cymbal layers are applied for additional textures and energy.
The second lesson sees Creatures getting more into sound design, showing how a cool sub patch can be made from scratch and then used to underpin the beats. He then shows how distortion and reverb can be used to create the characteristic bass sound, splitting parts into different frequency bands so that parallel effects processing can be carried out. As an alternative suggestion to purely working in MIDI, he provides another method involving resampling and audio editing, which is an even easier but just as effective way of working, offering maximum control and great results.
Finally, there is a deep dive into FX layers, looking at how additional samples or existing sounds in the track can be used to add the necessary textural layers and tension management required for this kind of arrangement.
Enrolling on the course gives you immediate access to 90 mins of tutorials, along with the project from the lessons and a bonus pack of D&B samples from Loopmasters, so you’ll have a fresh set of inspiration and some extra materials to add to your library.
£
12
.95*
Producertech
Tech House Production with Loopcloud Part 2
Continuing on from Part 1, this set of tutorials aims to take you from a basic knowledge of Loopcloud and song arranging to a much improved level of understanding, empowering you to produce quality House music of your own.
Picking up from where the last course left off, senior tutor Rob Jones starts the ball rolling with an in depth look at the basic arrangement and a discussion about how to take it to the next level, explaining concepts like anticipation and release, and how different effects can be used to embellish the arrangement, improve definition in the overall structure and manage expectations. A set of goals for how to proceed is then laid out.
The subsequent lessons then show how to use Loopcloud to add the necessary components, either by searching and previewing readymade loops, creating custom loops from oneshots with factory presets, or making totally unique patterns from scratch. Techniques increase in complexity as drum fills are added, along with impacts and risers of various kinds.
By the end of the course, you’ll not only have a thorough grasp of what makes an engaging House arrangement, but also how to use Loopcloud to quickly and easily make the necessary FX layers to achieve it.
Signing up gets you immediate access to over 2 hours of tutorials, as well as all the Loopcloud presets from the lessons, plus a bonus pack of House samples from Loopmasters.
£
14
.95*
Simon Shackleton
Essential Beats Production Techniques Part 2
Drums lay at the core of every good track, providing the rhythmic energy and beating heart of the music. Making sure that those drums are solid and satisfying is therefore an essential part of producing high quality tracks. On this in-depth course, experienced producer Simon Shackleton will take you on a journey as he builds up a number of complete grooves from the ground up, explaining every decision meticulously along the way.
This second part of the course moves onto 2 new genres, looking this time at Nu Disco and Electronica or Breakbeat. Like the first part, the lessons go in detail through each process of constructing the beat with a large palette of samples, beginning with a core loop or main drums like kick and snare. Individual drums are designed by layering of numerous oneshots, carefully selected and then blended, using different processing to ensure each part fits together seamlessly and adds its own unique elements into the mix.
Straight and top loops are made, through the skilful combining of loops, chopped up initially to select only the desired segments and then inserted into 2- and 4- bar phrases, to create the backbone of the drums, as well as higher frequency textures to add pace and excitement. Send reverb is employed, which is also automated to create occasional ‘spot FX’ that permeate and spice up the break.
All sounds and groups are meticulously mixed and mastered as the drums develop, with complex effects chains utilised to shape and polish the sound. Devices include regular, dynamic and mid/side EQ, parallel compression, saturation and width control, all used to ensure every part of the break has the required substance and isn’t adding any unwanted components into the mix.
Once you’ve enrolled on the course, you’ll have instant 24/7 access to 4 hours of streamed tutorials, as well as downloads of the projects from each module, and finally a bonus pack of drum samples from Loopmasters. Sample modules are available as examples of the course style and content, so you can see how articulate and engaging a tutor Simon is before signing up. Enrol now to start learning from a master in the field and turbo charge your beats production knowledge today!
£
29
.95*
Singomakers DnB
Singomakers Presents Drum & Bass Production Course
Producertech are happy to present another course from quality label Singomakers, on ADVANCED Drum & Bass Music Production!
5 Hours of Secrets and Tips for Mixing, Mastering, Sound Design, Creation of a Track From Scratch, Ideas for Inspiration and more!
Here you will discover many tricks on how to make your sound Fat and Dynamic, Present and Powerful, how to create Catchy Arrangements and unique and interesting Sounds!
In these videos Singomakers are using plugins from Sonic Academy, Voxengo, Fabfilter, A.O.M. Factory, Xfer Records, DMGAudio, Sample Magic, Valhalla, Softube, Audified, D16, Cableguys, Eventide, Arturia, Izotope, Camel Audio, Kush Audio, UVI, Reveal Sound, U-he, IK Multimedia but all this settings and tricks can be applied in any DAW to any other plugins.
In detail expect to find 33 Episodes – 5 hours of video tutorials, including:
26 Sound Design Videos (creation of Basses, Leads, Pads, Kicks, Snares, FX and more)
3 DNB Drops & Track Arrangement from Scratch videos
Phat Bass Processing Video
Mixing DNB Basses
Drum & Bass Beats Dynamics
Drum & Bass Mastering Video
Don’t miss this ultimate chance to improve your Drum & Bass music production skills and step to the NEXT LEVEL!
REQUIREMENTS/PREREQUESITES:
• Serum (for all sound design modules) - a good knowledge of the synth is recommended
• a DAW e.g. Ableton Live or Logic Pro - a competent ability is recommended so techniques can be easily replicated
Sample Module - Bass Sounds Design 01
£
39
.95*
Producertech
Beginner's Guide to Beats Production
If you’re wanting to produce beats but clueless about where to start, this course is for you! In a little over 90 minutes, you’ll be taught all the basics of beats production and acquire a bonus pack of drum samples to kick off your collection.
The course starts with lessons on the kinds of sounds or individual instruments that make up a beat, and some of the fundamentals when it comes to the theory side, covering all things tempo and timing. After the main principles of rhythm have been outlined, the subsequent modules go through each of the most popular methods for producing beats, from working with samples to playing various instruments.
The first process shows how beats can be made with simple placement of oneshots along the arrangement timeline, whatever music software you use, following basic guidelines of alternating kicks and snares. Loopcloud is then demonstrated as a way of simplifying the process further, with its built-in pattern presets for creating instant loops for you.
Once sampling techniques have been covered, the lessons turn to MIDI, looking at the differences and similarities to producing beats with a drum instrument, such as the factory devices that come with virtually all music software. Taking this a stage further, 3rd-party plugins are then incorporated, with Loopcloud Drum being an example of how their included kits and ability to sequence drums within the instrument provide instant options for creating beats.
By the end of the course, you can expect to have a decent understanding of the main ways of producing drums and can start to make more educated decisions about which direction to go in. You’ll also have a bonus pack of samples to put your newly-acquired knowledge to use!
£
9
.95*
Producertech
Tech House Production with Loopcloud Part 1
Loopmasters’ award-winning, cloud-based sample curation and sequencing software Loopcloud makes producing music in a particular genre, such as House, easier than ever! In this short tutorial series, designed for complete beginners to production, you’ll learn how to use Loopcloud to create all the building blocks you need to produce a quality Tech House track in your music software.
The course runs through setting up Loopcloud in the DAW then some of the basics when it comes to sample browsing, showing how to quickly and easily find relevant drum oneshots for making House. This is followed by a demonstration of how to take those oneshots and instantly sequence them into loops in the player, so they can be exported as custom-made samples into your music software.
After a guide to using multiple tracks in the player, which shows how different samples can be combined together to form comprehensive musical ideas, the included course session files for beats and melodies are opened up in Loopcloud, then fully explained, before loops are exported and laid out to form an 8-bar groove.
The course ends with an introduction to track arranging, showing very simple techniques for using the exported loops to build up the different sections like intro, breakdown and drop. Although the tutorials use Ableton Live, all techniques are very straight forward and easily transferable to any other music software.
Enrolling on the course gives you immediate 24/7 access to an hour of streamed tutorials, plus the Loopcloud session and pattern files from the course. With Loopcloud being completely free software, everything shown in the course can be done simply by downloading the installer and following the instructions in the tutorials. Sign up to kick off your music production journey and start making banging House music with Loopcloud today!
£
9
.95*
Simon Shackleton
Essential Beats Production Techniques Part 1
Drums lay at the core of every good track, providing the rhythmic energy and beating heart of the music. Making sure that those drums are solid and satisfying is therefore an essential part of producing high quality tracks. On this in-depth course, experienced producer Simon Shackleton will take you on a journey as he builds up a number of complete grooves from the ground up, explaining every decision meticulously along the way.
The first part of the course focuses on a Jackin’ House or Tech House beat, starting with the kick, which is designed using a combination of samples and sub bass, before moving on to the accompanying hats and snares. A large selection of loops are hand-picked, chopped-up and artfully combined, using effects within custom-made channel strips to carry out the various processing required.
Claps are then added to the groove, with 2 different workflows demonstrated. The first is a simple but highly effective do-it-yourself approach that includes recording claps, then editing the clips together to form a multi-layered, continually varying clap. The second meanwhile, shows a quicker technique that involves a 3rd-party plugin.
Additional layers of percussion are then incorporated, with a jackin' loop initially to add syncopation and interesting textures, followed by high frequency shakers and tambourine, designed to be used in isolation or combination as desired. The final module then delves into methods for applying ‘layers of intrigue’, meaning extra samples for fills and breakdowns, and various ways of using both insert and send effect processing to create depth, anticipation and much more!
Once you’ve enrolled on the course, you’ll have instant 24/7 access to 4 hours of streamed tutorials, as well as downloads of the projects from each module, and finally a bonus pack of drum samples from Loopmasters. Sample modules are available as examples of the course style and content, so you can see how articulate and engaging a tutor Simon is before signing up. Enrol now to start learning from a master in the field and turbo charge your beats production knowledge today!
£
29
.95*
Producertech
Complete Guide to Loopcloud 6
Loopmasters award-winning free software suite Loopcloud has garnered ever increasing amounts of attention since its release in 2017. With updates coming regularly and bringing with them huge new feature additions, the main Loopcloud app has gone from a sample library manager to a powerful tool for building musical ideas. This new course from Senior Tutor Rob Jones is a detailed guide to using the app to make music, which covers both the basics and advanced operation, so that beginners and more experienced users can learn ways of using Loopcloud most productively.
The course begins with a walkthrough of the app interface, to help cement the core functionality and basics of sample searching, before providing a quick intro to the player and the full extent of its reach. In the next module, Rob then goes back to basics with a slow workflow that builds up a groove by finding various loops, which are exported individually from the player into the DAW. He ends the module by showing the benefits of working in multitrack mode, where loops can be combined within Loopcloud to get further in the creative process before spending any points!
To further develop an understanding of the player’s multitrack feature, Rob embarks on 2 pattern editing modules that show how to create beats and melodic ideas, respectively, increasing in complexity as the lessons progress. These modules look at many of the editing tools in the player, showing how to customise pattern presets as well as create your own from scratch, and even start to delve into how to apply automated effects. Module 5 then takes this a stage further with a number of inspirational examples of advanced pattern creation, showing how the player can be used as a tool for making instant loops, whether they’re traditional FX fillers or more experimental, glitchy phrases.
The course ends with an example of how Loopcloud can be used to make more complete arrangements, when pushed to its limits! Although not something that’s recommended or certainly its intended use, it’s an interesting way of summarising everything covered on the course, showing some additional techniques for working in the player and also throwing in some bonus arrangement tips too.
Signing up to the course provides immediate access to nearly 7 hours of streamed tutorials, along with the Loopcloud presets from the lessons and a bonus set of patterns for manipulating bass samples. Sample modules are available so you can check out the content and teaching style in advance, before enrolling and learning to master Loopcloud for yourself.
And for an example of how much can be achieved in Loopcloud alone, check out the track Rob builds purely in the app in the last module of the course....
Producertech · Bass House Arrangement - Full Track MADE PURELY IN LOOPCLOUD!
£
29
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Ellie Dixon
Alt Pop Production Techniques
2-time winner of the NMG Best Female Solo Award Ellie Dixon has been featured on BBC 6 Music, ITV News and Glamour Magazine YouTube Channel. With recent singles garnering hundreds of thousands of plays on Spotify and social media channels blowing up, her ability to make Alternative Pop that captures the minds and hearts of the masses is undeniable! On this course, Ellie takes you through the main steps to producing a magical Indie Pop chorus from scratch.
The course starts by putting together the main hook and beats, to establish the foundations of the track, before a bassline is created by combining guitar with a synthesized layer from Logic’s Sculpture. The beats are then bolstered and processed with various effects to fatten up the groove. Following this, Ellie incorporates percussion sounds from multiple objects in her immediate environment, to add quirky rhythms and identifiable textures into the track.
Once the basic architecture of the chorus is in place, various melodic elements are incorporated using instruments in the DAW. These include electric and grand pianos, as well as a bell sound, which is shaped with effects and woven into a retro pop leadline. Parts are played in using a MIDI keyboard and some are bounced to audio so that additional editing and more precise arranging can be carried out.
The final 3-part module sees Ellie constructing each vocal track, beginning with the main vocal and then adding layer after layer of additional harmonies, using doubling and panning techniques to fill out the sound. Each part is edited and processed with effects to form a unified sound and sit comfortably in the mix.
Signing up to the course gets immediate access to the 2.5 hours of streamed tutorials, plus the project from the lessons and a bonus pack of Indie Pop samples from Loopmasters. Check out the sample module before signing up for an example of the course content and Ellie’s inspirational teaching style.
£
24
.95*
Producertech
Track Production in Maschine MK3
Now in version 2.13, Native Instruments Maschine has seen improvements that have taken it from the humblest beginnings when it comes to song arrangement, to a flexible and fully-featured timeline. Following on from the Complete Guide to Maschine MK3, which covered all of the basics of working with the software/hardware combo, Producertech Senior Tutor Rob Jones now returns to use the latest version to produce a Future Funk track from scratch.
Rob begins the course by building up the beats, which are created using a combination of step and 16-velocity modes, editing events and processing sounds with insert and send effects entirely from the hardware. He then works his way through all of the melodies, starting with the main chords progression, played with a Vintage Organs preset, and then adding pads, leads, arps and bass.
Percussion and Vocal samples are then sourced from Loopcloud to show how easily the free app integrates with Maschine, and how sounds can be imported and worked into patterns using Maschine’s Audio device. All parts are then woven together into an arrangement, starting by creating scenes in ideas mode, before moving into song mode to lay them out into sections along the timeline.
Rob also shows how patterns can be converted into clips, the most recent big addition to Maschine, making arranging even more flexible and intuitive. The course finishes up with a look at the next steps, whether that’s exporting audio to obtain a completed track or stems, or routing sounds into the DAW.
Signing up to the course provides immediate access to the streamed tutorials, as well as the project made along the way and even a bonus Maschine Kit made exclusively for the course. Check out the sample module before signing up for an example of the course style and content.
£
29
.95*
Producertech
Creating Future House & Pop
Ukrainian duo Cyborgs have returned to Producertech.com to share their techniques for creating Future House & Pop anthems, this time in Ableton Live. In this 5-hour tutorial series, they go from an empty project to a mastered track, ready to be sent to a label or uploaded to SoundCloud.
Cyborgs have been producing professionally since 2014 and had releases on huge labels like Sony and Armada Music, with support from Tiesto and many other international DJs. Their sound encompasses many styles of popular dance music, from heavy Bass House to mainstream Pop.
The course begins by constructing beats using a number of loops from one of their Loopmasters sample packs. They then add the main chords hook and design a bassline from the ground up with Xfer Serum. Once all of the main elements are in place, they embellish the intro, break and drop sections with a plethora of melodic accompaniment, including guitar, strings, piano and various pads. Finally, a multitude of FX and additional percussion are used to add the necessary dressing.
After the initial arranging is complete, the duo embark on a trilogy of detailed mixing modules, working on drums, drop melodies and then sounds from the intro and break. Techniques include shaping frequencies with EQ and filtering, and adding multi-band compression and saturation. The course ends by tweaking the arrangement to add fills and automation that improve the flow and keep things interesting, before providing a comprehensive mastering module working with iZotope Ozone.
Signing up to the course grants immediate access to 5 hours of streamed tutorials, as well as links for downloading the project and track from the course plus a bonus 50MB pack of Future House samples from Loopmasters. Check out the free sample module before signing up for an example of the course content and listen to the completed arrangement on the Producertech SoundCloud page embedded below.
Producertech · Future House & Pop Production by Cyborgs - Course Arrangement
£
29
.95*
Jafunk
Future Funk Production Techniques
Combining the best elements of Funk, Neosoul and Disco, Future Funk is a highly engaging style of music that delivers a deeply human touch, whilst also satisfying the need for an electronic punch! Hailing from Australia but now residing in Berlin, producer Jafunk not only captures the true spirit of the style but also possesses an innate ability to describe his music making process in an accessible and captivating way. In his debut Producertech course, he takes you through a workflow where he builds up beats and melodies using sampling and synthesising techniques, to create a Future Funk arrangement from scratch.
Jafunk has been producing music for over a decade, bringing out numerous releases on Unity Records and working with artists like Mark Knight, Chromeo and Fabich. Many of his tracks have accumulated millions of plays on Spotify, with his uplifting style creating buzzing tracks with mass appeal. Alongside this, he has produced a number of sample packs for Loopmasters and even found time to teach as well. As is obvious from the course, he’s a natural teacher and has no problems communicating his workflow, despite delving into some of the more theoretical sides of production.
The course begins with a look at how Jafunk makes beats, as he builds up all of the main drums and percussion. Particular attention is paid to the sequencing, as he applies subtle randomness and variation, whilst multiple layers are used to create a massive sound. He then moves onto the melodies, describing some of the fundamental aspects of coming up with a Funk or Soul chords progression, and how all of the different accompanying instrumental parts are made from that. Once all of the sounds are in place, he uses a subtractive process complete with various automation to create the arrangement.
Signing up to the course provides immediate access to over 2 hours of streamed tutorials, along with a download of the course project and even a bonus samples pack from Loopmasters. For more info, check out the sample module from the course, as well as a bounce of the arrangement, which can be found on the Producertech SoundCloud page. Furthermore, the Producertech Membership provides access to this course as well as all others on the Producertech site, in addition to weekly livestreams from tutors including Jafunk, and lots more!
Producertech · Producertech Course Demo Track
£
24
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Producertech
Pro Electropop Tips - Breaking Down 'Best Laid Plans'
With a huge amount of music production experience, including being the engineer behind legendary band Submotion Orchestra, Producertech are very happy to welcome Dom Howard to the community, as he offers a glimpse at his working methods in this series of tutorials. On the course, Dom walks through one of the tracks on his 2020 solo album ‘Songs for the Time Being’, released under his artist name ‘Ruckspin’, in which he uncovers the techniques used to create and mix the different melodic and percussive elements within it.
After providing an overview of the artistic goals and structure of the arrangement, Dom starts to dissect the various parts in the song, beginning with the string quartet, which forms the backbone of the intro and lays down foundations for the overall harmony. He then moves on to the huge JP synth in the chorus and other complementary leads, as well as describing the way sub and bass layers are handled. Following this are lessons that outline the treatment of vocals and drums, with a thorough explanation of the many busses used to add extra textures and professional touches to the mix.
Once all the main parts have been covered, Dom returns to the main strings to provide a deeper exploration of the music theory behind them, then explaining how all of the melodic sounds are sequenced, from long, sustained notes to brief, pizzicato arpeggios. As well as getting more technical with the melodies, there are tips on recording percussion, and how to edit and arrange parts to create a more organic drum break.
Signing up to the course provides instant access to 90 minutes of streamed tutorials, in addition to a bonus collection of samples from Loopmasters, taken from the Submotion Orchestra sample pack. Check out the free excerpt from the course for an example of Dom’s style and delivery, which is packed full of pro tips to inspire and help with creating stunning Electropop tracks of your own.
Listen to 'Best Laid Plans' by Ruckspin using the embedded player below...
Ruckspin · Best Laid Plans (feat. Ruth Royall)
£
14
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