Music production syllabus

Basics

Extract a sample from a song and insert into our composition Simple sound like "ooh" workout stretching tempo. Done in "Tatu / influence of wine" remix.

Extract sample from a song and stretch tempo to match our composition. - Done in project where I had Damien Dempsey's bass riff with Kylie Manogue triplets.

Understanding

See if I have a tuner in Ableton. Update: It seems in Live 8 that I don't?

See if I have a spectrum analyser. Answer: yes, "Spectrum" (under "Audio effects") is part of Ableton Live ✅

Effects

Apply a low-pass filter to something

Apply a high-pass filter

Apply reverb

"pan to the sides" like the claps here https://youtu.be/O-Uw58Xfp8Q?t=268

Synth theory

Use automation to change the cut-off frequency of (low-pass aka “high cut”) filter (on synth), like at 4:44 ("Trick #4") leading up to a drop in https://youtu.be/1lkDCeh16tc, or at 6:00-7:00 in https://youtu.be/PHmDPEVKA-k

That's similar to @11:55-13:00 in this video, where Michael uses the LFO in Serum, instead of adding automation to the session view:

Sound Design and Synth Fundamentals

In this video I show you the fundamental basics of sound design and synthesis so that you can start creating sounds with confidence. I cover a wide variety of topics ranging from the basic starting blocks of sound to more complex sound design techniques and share some tips and tricks in the video too.

https://youtu.be/NJLIS2MkFe4

5 EAR CANDY TRICKS THAT WILL GET YOU SIGNED

https://youtu.be/PHmDPEVKA-k

Learn about FM synthesis. Like radio broadcasting carrier wave and modulating wave. Second oscillator modulates the frequency of our audible wave: result is overtones. Explained in Aus video, ansmad around 0:50-6:00 in this video:

Advanced Sound Design and Synths Tutorial

In this video I show you some more advanced sound design concepts and synthesis so that you can start creating sounds with confidence. Hopefully this will give you more topics and ideas for future study. I cover a wide variety of topics ranging from the FM Synthesis, Envelopes, Filters and Analogue synths, sharing sound design techniques and helpful tips and tricks.

https://youtu.be/tlygYWeOzTg

"Tape stop" = down-pitch = tip #3, around 3:00-4:00 here:

5 EAR CANDY TRICKS THAT WILL GET YOU SIGNED

https://youtu.be/PHmDPEVKA-k

Chords

Automate (low-pass) filter to increase cut-off frequency leading into a drop. Effect: sound “opens up”, “creeps up on you”, “builds (without increasing

Use arpeggiator

Drums

Make a looping drum beat using kick, snare and two hi hats (one open, one closed)

Shift timing slightly (almost randomly) to make sound more human, less robotic, like in mins 1-3 in this video: https://youtu.be/zOVSOvsTXto

Put drum kit on 16 pads. Example: recreate the drumbeat of "Into the Ether" (Spotify link) using drum pads, including the cymbals that come in later.

Different rhythms: https://youtu.be/GJ4Rce8QEs0

Bass

Create our own synth-based kick bass. Adjust "master tune" like at 4:00 here

Bass Sound Design: 808s, Plucks, Growls and Sub Bass

This is the 3rd video in my sound design series which will introduce common bass tones and show you how to create them in any synth. The synth I use in these tutorials is called Xfer SERUM - I use this because I find that it is one of the easiest to teach with.

https://youtu.be/H6i55lXAMh0

Create synth bass with two oscillators: one mono low and one higher frequencies stereo spread, as described here at 7:40

Bass Sound Design: 808s, Plucks, Growls and Sub Bass

https://youtu.be/H6i55lXAMh0

Create synth with second envelope controlling the filter (reduce cut-off frequency) to create a “plucked” sound, like around 9:00 in that same video (“essential Bass Theory”), or also around 7:00-8:00 in this video: https://youtu.be/tlygYWeOzTg

And the reverse of that: create synth with second envelope controlling the filter (“open up” = increase cut-off frequency), to create a “wah” sound, like quickly mentioned (in passing) here 4:20-4:28 https://youtu.be/R30L1fIKzpU

Create synth that “keeps going”, and slides between notes, like in Gosh (Jamie XX)

Create “lazy” sliding/detuned sound like in drops in last minute in “Push my Luck”

Push My Luck

https://open.spotify.com/track/4h8Pmw3RELdsanPjssyJoB?si=pciJw7b6QNCEFJbG8pjeUQ

Another example of pitch bend: lead in the drop of Memories by KSHMR https://open.spotify.com/track/5drBLK41GUnnWt32JPlexx?si=q-KJ2_AiR2mwXwy04pY6hA

Memories (feat. Sirah) - Radio Edit

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https://open.spotify.com/track/5drBLK41GUnnWt32JPlexx?si=q-KJ2_AiR2mwXwy04pY6hA

Using Ableton Live

Record live

Sampling

Slice recorded sound(s) to MIDI, then play with ADSR - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugxdBw-cXcs

Tune a sample to 12 notes so I can play an "instrument" using a recorded sound – like Ian did with Stu's voice (I think)

This is "Sampler" or "Simpler" under Instruments, built into Ableton Live