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Bundle - Ableton Bass Music Production Essential Collection

Bundle - Ableton Bass Music Production Essential Collection

Product information "Bundle - Ableton Bass Music Production Essential Collection"

This gargantuan 20-hour tutorial package brings you expert knowledge from some of today's most respected bass music producers, namely Icicle, Octane, Seppa and DJ Fracture. Each course takes you through their different approaches to creating a track with Ableton Live, including sampling, sound design, sequencing, arranging, mixing and effects processing. All courses include streamed lessons, downloadable Live sets and also bonus samples. Sign up to this package today to start learning from the pros and acquire new skills to take your music production to the next level.

genres: Drum & Bass
skills: Arranging
software: Ableton Live

Drum and Bass Production in Live by DJ Fracture

Course Contents

Briefly covers some tips for setting up, including the addition of certain effects to the master bus to help provide visual references whilst creating the mix.

Module 1 - Introduction and Setup

Shows how to construct a drum and bass break, by slicing samples, re-sequencing drums and editing velocities and timing to refine the groove. Then, processing each drum, as well as all drums together, to make the beats nice and chunky.

Module 2 - Beats

Shows how to create a fat bass line, beginning with sample selection and melodic composition, then moving through to processing with various effects. Also teaches a skillful technique of splitting the bass line across multiple tracks so that unique areas of the frequency spectrum can be isolated.

Module 3 - Bass

Demonstrates how to make a catchy hook, meaning a main riff that runs through the track to provide further melodic and rhythmic interest. A MIDI clip is created for the part, after which various MIDI and effects parameters are edited to radically alter the sound.

Module 4 - Making the Hook

Begins constructing the arrangement by recording in the main sections from session view and copying and pasting to get the basic song structure in place.

Module 5 - Arrangement Part I

Continues looking at arranging, by adding more percussion and SFX to sections to ease transitions and improve the mix. Also gets into parameter automation, to show how parts can be developed throughout the track.

Module 6 - Arrangement Part II

Shows how to create a breakdown, by adding new transitional lead parts and FX, then how these parts can be processed to create a contrasting spacious section, which builds towards the main drop.

Module 7 - Breakdown

Works on the beginning and end of the track, showing how various parts can be introduced and then used to take the track to its conclusion.

Module 8 - Intro and Outro

Shows some final checks for polishing the sound and making sure the mix is where it should be, in terms of levels, EQ and other effects.

Module 9 - Refining the Final Mix

Adding Foley and Developing the Drum & Bass Groove with colo[r]

Course Contents

In this module, colo[r] add additional bass samples to the groove, showing various editing techniques along the way and processing sounds with effects to maintain a cohesive and unified sound.

lesson 1 - finding additional samples to fill out bass
lesson 2 - adding samples to groove in the arrangement
lesson 3 - trying a second additional sample
lesson 4 - adding a final extra bass sample

This module starts with some project organising and micro mixing, focussing predominantly on the bottom end. The groove is then extended once again, this time with an extra drum loop shuffle.

lesson 1 - organising the project - creating a bass group
lesson 2 - sorting out the mix (bottom end) - applying a multiband comp
lesson 3 - adding automation to the bass sample
lesson 4 - finding extra drum loops/shuffles
lesson 5 - processing the additional drums with autopan and filter

The arrangement starts to take shape in this module, as colo[r] lay out a secondary groove section that incorporates the new drum loop. All parts are then edited and processed with different effects and automation, to add further character and interest.

lesson 1 - chopping up and arranging the extra drum loops
lesson 2 - adding extra effects and automation to the new drums
lesson 3 - organising the project and continued arrangement editing
lesson 4 - more edits to drums and bass parts to refine the arrangement

This module provides an overview of the foley recording, then spends some time reviewing the recordings and selecting suitable parts to use.

lesson 1 - recording foley in the field
lesson 2 - importing and chopping up audio
lesson 4 - chopping out the last clips

In this module, colo[r] add the new foley clips to the arrangement and show how to edit and process them to start building a cool intro.

lesson 1 - making a few more adjustments to the groove!
lesson 2 - arranging, editing and processing foley clips
lesson 3 - finishing the intro - adding more foley and bass

This module begins by working out and recording the main chords sequence, which is then used to trigger multiple chains in an instrument rack, containing various instruments that are processed in unique ways to create a blend of melodic elements for the intro.

lesson 1 - making the chords sequence
lesson 2 - adding extra instrument layers and processing
lesson 3 - adding width and legato

More editing and refining techniques are shown in this module, looking at how to retune and improve the sound of the lead, as well add width. Then, hats and foley are arranged to create an atmospheric start to the track.

lesson 1 - additional processing on the lead
lesson 2 - building the intro

In this final module, the bass is fattened with wave shaping and other effects, after which a vocal is sung by Liam, which is then edited and used to further embellish the intro. There is then a brief summary of the main achievements of this part of the course.

lesson 1 - more tweaks to the mix and arrangement
lesson 2 - developing the drop
lesson 3 - recording a vocal part

Arranging and Mixing a DnB track with colo[r]

Course Contents

Introducing the final installment of their course, Liam and Chris return to the track and start refining the main section. They tidy up the bassline, add new drum fills and improve the sound design.

Module 1: Refining the Main Section and Intro

Next, colo[r] create an FX sound from a vocal sample. They manipulate the original sound, utilise a vocoder and refine the automation, altering the interplay between the drums and the vocals in the main section.

Module 2: Creating FX sounds from vocal samples

In the third module, Chris and Liam add variations in the melodic and drum parts to the Main and Intro sections. Utilising Analog, they create a brand new sound before warping drum parts - demonstrating the importance of focusing on the fine details of your sound.

Module 3: Adding additional melodic sounds

Returning to the arrangement, colo[r] add drum fills to the end of the introduction. Utilising existing elements of the track, they create a fill that hints at future sections, sequenced using the Ableton Push. They then return to the drum fills in the main section, altering the timings.

Module 4: Creating drum fills

In this module, colo[r] add a new FM synth part using NI FM8, demonstrating how to manipulate the fine tuning by connecting multiple oscillators. They then add FX and processing, including the filtered HAAS effect setup from Part 1 and build it into a device rack.

Module 5: Adding a new synth part

In module 6, colo[r] extend the arrangement and move on to the breakdown section. Returning to the main part, they add additional bass melody variations using pitch shift automation and new atmospheric parts to create an evolving texture that builds suspense before the drop.

Module 6: Creating the breakdown

Returning to the introduction, colo[r] extend the length of the parts, slowly ramping up the texture - giving a sense of excitement that is enhanced by the reverberant and atmospheric sound that characterises the track. They apply filters and add new percussion and drum parts that further add to the timbre of the track.

Module 7: Revamping the Intro

In the final arrangement module, colo[r] finish refining the different parts before creating elegant filter sweeps on noise parts, contributing to the huge texture.

Module 8: Finishing the arrangement

Proceeding with a fast and efficient mix, colo[r] focus on the drums and bass. They add an EQ synced to different parts, altering the EQ in real time depending on what other parts are playing to create a hugely energetic sound. Homing in on individual instruments, they add compression and EQ to sit the parts together.

Module 9: Mixing

Completing the track, colo[r] demonstrate a quick home master using a harmonically exciting EQ from UAD before moving on to using iZotope Ozone 5 for multiband limiting and stereo width.

Module 10: Mastering

Part 1: Making a Drum & Bass Groove with colo[r]

Course Contents

Chris Octane and Liam O'Mullane introduce you to their plan for the session with a brief discussion about where to start the track.

Module 1: Introduction

colo[r] start by working on the synthesised elements of the main drums. Skilfully manipulating various oscillators, they create powerful artificial snare and kick drums sounds. These electronic sounds will be combined with acoustically recorded duplicates in the following section, to create realistic and powerful beats.

Module 2: Drums - Sound Design

In the second drums section, Chris and Liam map an acoustic kit to Push. They then combine this with the synth-drums, applying various processing including side-chain compression. Next, they set up a stereo image for the drums, including a novel technique that makes use of the HAAS effect. The combined processed synth and acoustic drums create a beat with tremendous depth.

Module 3: Drums - Acoustic Kits and Sequencing

colo[r] begin working on the bass by creating the super-low-frequency elements. Various processing is applied, including notch filters and an envelope follower working in tandem with EQ.

Module 4: Sub Bass

In this module, Chris and Liam begin work on the bass part. Using Analog, they synthesise the twisted bass sound that the genre is so well known for. They then manipulate the various controls to create the sound they want, before applying various effects including grain delay.

Module 5: Bass Design 1 Part 1

Continuing with the low end, Chris and Liam demonstrate how they use an iPad, mapped to an XY device in Ableton, to control multiple parameters from different plugins simultaneously. This enables automation to be written in a more performance-like manner, which is an integral part of their process for creating bass-lines.

Module 6: Bass Design 1 Part 2

In this section, you will see how colo:r use the arrangement view to perform slip editing, an extremely useful sampling-based technique.

Module 7: Slip Editing

colo:r return to the bass sound, to further refine it. After multiple automation passes and processing using parametric EQ and multiband compression, they show you how to freeze the sound and map it to the Push, before further manipulation of the sound using macro controls.

Module 8: Bass Design 2 Part 1

In this section, Liam and Chris use the step sequencer to create a bass-line. They make use of the touch sensitive fader on Push for automation passes and really begin to focus in on the DnB groove.

Module 9: Bass Design 2 Part 2

This section is all about refinement. Additional parts are recorded, filters and other processing are applied and automation is used on the drums.

Module 10: More Drums, More Bass

Module 11: Percussion

Drum & Bass Production and Sound Design

Course Contents

The course kick off with a look at the importance of using a spectrum analyser, specifically Voxengo's Span plugin, which is a free download.

Module 1 - Using an Analyser

Icicle teaches how to synthesise a punchy kick from scratch using Ableton's Operator synth, and then resamples it.

Module 2 - Synthesising a Kick

The kick drum from the previous module is processed using a selection of FabFilter plugins to create a powerful kick that will cut through the mix.

Module 3 - Kick Drum Processing

Icicle walks through the creation of a crisp DnB snare, synthesised from scratch with Native Instruments' FM8 plugin.

Module 4 - Creating an FM Snare

This video shows the construction and processing of a basic DnB loop, using the kick and snare from previous modules, along with some hi hats to add some high frequency elements.

Module 5 - Building a Drum Loop

Icicle shows how to slice the drum loop to a MIDI clip, that can be controlled by a variety of macros, and can also be saved to be used in other projects.

Module 6 - Slicing the Loop

Using FM8, Icicle walks through the principles of FM synthesis, before applying this knowledge to create a dark, warping bassline.

Module 7 - Making an FM Bass Sound

The bass sound from the previous module is further developed with some processing, and is the resampled, looped and further manipulated using Native Instruments Kontakt.

Module 8 - Processing the Bass

This module shows how to set up a bus in Ableton, that can be used to process the various elements of the track.

Module 9 - Bussing

Icicle shows how to use multiband sidechain compression to help each individual element cut through the mix.

Module 10 - Mixing Part 1

In this video, Icicle continues the mixing process, adding FabFilter's EQ plugin to clean up the overall mix.

Module 11 - Adding EQ

This module shows how to use a limiter to add gain while keeping the overall sound punchy and defined.

Module 12 - Limiting

Icicle shares some of his techniques for creating tension building moments in a track, including automating pads and creating a kick drum roll.

Module 13 - The Build Up

This module shows how to create your own pitch and noise risers from scratch, using Native Instruments' Massive plugin.

Module 14 - Creating Risers

Icicle adds some more layers of FX to thicken out the track, including manipulating the sounds made in Massive to create noise sweeps.

Module 15 - More FX

The course concludes with the addition of some crashes from Kontakt's sample library to fill out the intro and build up sections.

Module 16 - Finishing Touches

Advanced Bass Music Production Techniques

Course Contents

Teaser for Advanced Bass Music Production

Radical Sampling with Simpler

In the first module, Seppa dives straight into creating the bass sound using Operator.

Creating the Bass Sound

Next, Seppa demonstrates his high tech approach to processing, using multi-stage EQ and FX and frequency specific saturation.

Frequency-Specific Saturation
Multiple-stage EQ, Reverb and Limiting

To create a library of bass samples, Seppa records the bass synth whilst altering its parameters in real time, creating unusual and exciting sounds.

Bass Recording

In this module, Seppa shows you how to take an existing loop and alter it to create a range of twisted sounds using LFOs, and then capture the new samples.

Setting up the LFOs
Capturing Samples

In the final sound design module, Seppa first demonstrates how to prepare a clip for resampling. Next, he uses Serum to resample the clip, creating new sounds.

Extra Sound Design with Serum

In the second section, Seppa starts to create the track, beginning with the drum and percussion elements and a fuzzy sub.

Kick and Snare
Hats and High Frequency Layers
Fuzzy Sub

In this extensive module, Seppa creates the additional parts of the track, an arpeggiated melody, new bass sound and a break-down style section.

Adding Captured Sounds to the Core
Making an Arpeggiated Part
Creating a Variation
Another Variation
Adding a new Bass Sound
More Variations
Making a Breakdown-style Section

In the final module of the course, Seppa arranges the track and shows how to refine it through various mixing techniques.

Arrangement and Mixing Part 1
Arrangement and Mixing Part 2
Arrangement and Mixing Part 3
Arrangement and Mixing Part 4
Arrangement and Mixing Part 5