Maxinne identifies how she goes about finding the initial inspiration for a track, showing her formula and her approach to constructing a ‘hook’ through vocal production. You’ll watch her construct an effective 8 bar loop, layer different vocals and create atmospheric elements using effects.

The kick is the foundation of every good House mix. In this chapter, Maxinne demonstrates how to choose the right kick for your style of music, using Ableton’s in-built Sampler, and how to process a kick effectively. We cover the importance of curating your own unique kick collection to help develop your own sound.

Want to make a bassline that delivers punch while grooving well with your kick? In this chapter, Maxinne covers different bass production techniques, including sample manipulation and bass processing, and dives into the differences between using synths and samples.

Now we’ve got a good foundation for our low-end, we move onto building percussion. We explore layering percussion elements to fit your vibe, while maintaining space in the mix, using reverbs and delays to create movement. Maxinne also covers sample selection and the differences between using MIDI tracks and audio tracks.

Now the groove is rock solid, it’s time to add some musical elements to give the track its identity and unique flavour. Maxinne explores using a vocoder to make a lush pad sound, and demonstrates how she automates the synth paramaters to create a journey throughout the arrangement.

Want to know what makes a great track? Great transitions. It’s now time to break away from the dreaded 8-bar loop phase, drop the energy down using breakdowns, and then build the tension back up to a climax, by automating multiple elements, introducing unique sounds and using percussion to build energy.

Having now nailed the breakdown and the drop, Maxinne begins turning her focus to the beginning and end of the arrangement, gradually transforming the track from a simple drum beat into a full stack of elements. You’ll see how she ensures the finished track is DJ friendly and ready for club play.

It’s every DJ’s job to keep the crowd engaged and focused on the music, and FX and automation are the most effective way of doing this. To unlock the secrets of a great production, watch Maxinne automate FX, use filtering and spot FX, tweak unique percussion patterns and manipulate vocals to create hypnotic soundscapes.

No project is completed until it’s had its final layer of polish applied by a mastering engineer. But to keep your engineer happy, you need to follow some universal guidelines. Maxinne walks us through all the final steps she takes to ensure the finished product is as good as it can be, such as master buss processing, final EQ adjustments and levelling.

Maxinne is joined by Toolroom A&R and Academy mentor Pete Griffiths, as they discuss her journey as a breakthrough artist in the scene. You’ll learn about her tips for social media and networking, and how she build relationships with leading labels. Pete analyses Maxinne’s sound from an A&R perspective, giving a label’s perspective on why her sound has been so captivating.