Production Certificate

Modules

• Lesson 1

  Artistic Identity & Sound Choice

  During the first week we cover some topics that are often overlooked in many production schools and discuss key issues that producers should be thinking about before they even get started; Thinking about your artistic identity, exploring your creativity, understanding sound choice and hooks are all crucial areas for artists to understand in able to move forward with their careers. • Developing individual artistic style and sound • Identifying & understanding hooks • Harnessing your tastes and creativity • Understanding the importance of sound choice
• Lesson 2

  The Groove Part 1; Building Your Drums

  Here we will demonstrate building your drum loop using various methods, looking at using out the box samples alongside creating your own through midi programming and using audio, whilst demonstrating the importance of sound choice and placements to create your groove. • Identifying the various drum & percussive elements in a groove • Understanding the correct syncopation of drums for Tech House • Techniques on combining both Audio samples & midi drums utilising Drum Rack & Simpler
• Lesson 3

  The Groove Part 2; Introduction to Basslines

  The Bassline is one of the most important key parts to your track, here we cover some theory on understanding the job of the bassline and the variance in style within Tech House – from rolling, simple note patterns, low-end subs, or more melodic, synth led basslines. We explore using out-the-box sample loops and how they can be manipulated and also demonstrate how to create your own unique bassline through both sampling and using one of Ableton’s VST’s. • Understanding different forms of bass lines and how they work • How to manipulate sampled bass lines • Creating your own bass line using Ableton’s built in synths alongside Audio effects • Making the bass line work with your drums
• Lesson 4

  Identifying & Creating your Hooks: Vocals

  Now the backbone to your track has been created with the drums and bassline we look to take things further by adding new hook elements in various forms. In this session we demonstrate how to create vocal hooks and the variance within this, we will show what to look for when sampling vocals and the techniques used for this and how to get creative when manipulating vocals into a new and unique hook to suit your track. •Techniques on manipulating vocal samples and what to look for •Cutting vocal samples within Ableton to create unique hooks •Understanding the different types of vocals that will work in your track
• Lesson 5

  Identifying & Creating Your Hooks: Musical Hooks

  In this session we demonstrate how to create new musical hooks using both audio samples and building something original through VST’s and Midi, focusing on how to build melodies & stabs into your track to create unique musical hooks to fit your style and work with your vocals. • Manipulating Melody audio samples to create something new • Creating original hooks & melodies using Ableton’s built in synths • Understanding the different types of musical hooks that will work in your tracks
• Lesson 6

  Introduction to Automation & Developing Your Idea

  At this stage we take your loop so far and teach simple techniques to develop it further into a simple intro, breakdown and drop in order to evaluate how your track will work. Here we will be able to identify what other elements are needed to support your key parts so far. An introduction to Automation will show how this affects key moments in your track, things like adding energy to build ups and drops. • Master preliminary arrangement techniques to test and develop your ideas further • Introducing Ableton’s Audio FX and using Automation to control them focusing on creating energy for breakdowns & drops • Identifying space within your groove to add extra elements