Making More Time For Music
Recently I found myself not making time for music and I noticed that my output was slowing down. This is a roadmap to getting MYSELF back on track, and I hope it helps you too as I work through some of the things that I have already put into place and some of the things that I will implement in the future.
Turning Loops Into Songs
This blog aims to discuss turning loops into full songs. Covering some ideas, suggestions and practical tips for electronic music producers who want to make basic loops into full songs. Ideally, you will have a some grasp of the basics of musical production before reading this, the topics discussed are focused on developing a rough structure from a loop for electronic music and some specific practical techniques for breaking out of the loop. With most advice around this kind of thing, I am hoping that this could be a toolkit, not all of the suggestions will be good all of the time, but you can bring out the tools you need when they are applicable.
Best Vocal Plugins
This blog focuses on the current favourite plugins for processing vocals, with more of a narrowed focus on Electronic Music and Pop. The aim is to break the plugins down into categories for Correction, EQ, Compression, Saturation and Space.
Exploring Michael Brauer’s ‘Brauerize’ Mixing Technique
This blog discusses Michael Brauer’s mixing technique which has been coined as ‘Brauerize the Mix’. This technique has multiple specialised bus compressors for subgroups of the mix. To differentiate this blog from other posts about this topic online, the aim will be consider ways that this could be modified for engineers and producers working inside the DAW and looking for ways to be a little more experimental in their process.
This blog builds on information from Tiki Horea who wrote about Brauer on the Sonarworks Blog.
Classic Hardware-Inspired Music Production Techniques
This blog explores classic studio production techniques, which involve the creative use and misuse of hardware. Some studio techniques have been used for years to make records sound exciting, interesting and give them something a little extra. This blog looks at Abbey Road Reverb, All-Buttons In, Push-Pull Ep and more.
Mind Map for Music
This blog is about discovering your creativity in writing through inspiring mind-maps that blend genres, environments, emotions, games, and sound-design techniques. These mind-maps are ways to spark ideas, break creative blocks, and explore unexpected connections in your music production process by creating some problems and solving them musically.
How to be More Creative in Music Production
This blog provides useful insights and tangible methods for developing creativity in music production.
Drum n Bass Drum Patterns
Drum n Bass Drum Patterns - This blog explores some patterns for programming solid drum parts. The end of the list includes patterns using rarer 5/4 time signatures, allowing for experimentation with some interesting ideas around syncopation and space.
Overcome a Plateau in Music Production
We all have times when we feel like our music production development has plateaued. Praxis Theory can be boiled down to three areas: action, theory and reflection. This blog explores these areas in music production, breaking down the three elements and discussing them in the context of music production practice. Arguing that a balanced approach with Praxis can be one method to help music producers break through plateaus.
How to Find Your Sound as an Artist
Finding your own signature sound and musical identity. This blog covers stripping back the arrangements, refining your tools, being careful with samples, doing case studies on artists with a strong signature sound, and some of my takes on the classic advice for defining your own sound in music.
How to Sign to a Record Label in Drum n Bass
This blog is a discussion around signing music to record labels in the drum and bass scene.
Recently, I was asked about how I signed music to underground labels and the process. To provide some context, my experience is mainly in the UK Drum & Bass scene, and I have been signing music to labels since 2011. This is not an exhaustive guide, just my thoughts on the topic.
I discuss my process for signing music to labels such as Metalheadz, Dispatch and Flexout Audio and a bit about my thoughts on the process.
Songwriting Ideas - The Final 12
Songwriting Ideas - The final 12 prompts for starting new music to help break out of writer’s block for music producers and songwriters.
Songwriting Ideas for Creatives - Pt 3
Songwriting Ideas - This blog is the third instalment of 12 experimental ways to start new music in innovative and interesting ways.
Songwriting Ideas and Prompts - Pt 2
Songwriting Ideas for electronic musicians - 12 more experimental ways to start new music and create new avenues for creativity.
Songwriting Ideas - Overcome creative block
Songwriting ideas - This blog is all about ideas to help inspire your music and songwriting. With some different ideas that should help to spark creativity and give a new source of inspiration when you are struggling with creative block. Including 12 experimental ways to start new music to help with creative block
Services
This is for 1-to-1 online Music Production Tuition.
It will be an online session where my screen and audio will be shared with you, and the session will mainly focus on demonstrating music production, skills, techniques and ideas using Ableton Live (Logic Pro and Pro-Tools can also be requested). However, it doesn’t matter what DAW you use. The session(s) will focus on the ideas and principles behind the techniques as well as DAW specific ideas. However, DAW specific sessions can be arranged.
If needed, I can record the call as a video, so you get a copy to watch back after the session.
I am a university lecturer during the day, so evenings and weekends are times when I can be free (also happy to do super early morning sessions too). My time zone is GMT/UTC. However, we can make it fit around your schedule as long as I’m also free.
In terms of what I offer, I make each lesson focused on one topic, or we can do a deep dive into a topic and split it over multiple lessons if required. For example, if you pick 10+ hours, I can design a full program to suit your needs, and we could explore many factors of sound design or mixing. Below are some of the topics that are frequently requested, but the list is not exhaustive:
Synthesis, Sampling and Creative Processing
Drums Programming and Breakbeats
Building Ideas / Song Starters
Sound Design
Technical & Creative Mixing
Specific Plugins & Virtual Instrument Deep-dive
Advanced Electronic Music Production
Introduction to Ableton, Logic Pro, Pro-Tools
Arrangement Techniques & Breaking out of the loop
Basic Maths and Calculations for Music Production
Reference Songs, How to Reference and Analyse Productions
Sound Fundamentals
There is an option below to have a 15-minute online call with me to discuss what you want to learn and to see if this is something I can provide. Feel free to use this if you have any questions at all.
When you get to the checkout, there will be a form that asks you a few questions. I want to find out a bit about you and listen to your music. I can suggest some areas to work on or options for your lessons.
My background is both a Music Artist and a Teacher. I have been teaching since 2011 and have a PGCE qualification in education. I have also been making and releasing music for about the same amount of time. However, despite all of this, my approach to learning is collaborative and looking to help each other develop.
Hopefully, this tells you enough to get started. If you are still unsure, you can check out my testimonials or see the FAQ area to read more.
I am looking forward to working with you.
You can expect a response within 1-2 working days when purchasing this service.
This is for mixing and mastering services combined
You will send me your song (as multi-tracks, stems or audio files) and I will deliver a final stereo mix and master which you can use as the final release for your music.
You can also provide 1-2 reference tracks of pro songs similar to the final result you want to achieve. This will help to guide the type and style of final result that you are looking for.
The main styles that I mix are Pop, Electronic Music, Dance, R&B, Hip-Hop, Experimental, Ambient, Folk, Blues and Spoken Word.
If you want someone who will mix and master your track with professionalism, care, attention to detail and excellent sonic results. Look no further.
My approach is to be as conscientious as possible, letting your music be the focus. Mixing techniques and processes are used to highlight the ideas, narratives and concepts in your music and present them to a sonically high standard.
Balancing creativity and technicality is an important part of my process and a rare combination of skills. A blend of both has stood the test of time. Sometimes you need to throw caution to the wind, other times you need careful millisecond-accurate processing. Each track is an individual piece of work which contributes to the final project and should be treated as such.
Mix translation onto different systems is another key aspect of my workflow, to check that your idea translates on as wide a range of sound playback devices as possible.
A final area of concern for my work is creating dynamic music that keeps life and groove in the music.
When you purchase this service, there will be a form to complete. This will ask for some details, links to the audio files required, and possible references. There will also be a space to communicate your ideas for the song(s). If you are not sure, let me know and I will be happy to help to get the deliverables I need so you can get a great final result.
Each mix can be revised twice; after 2 revisions, more revisions can be purchased, if required, for a small fee.
Hopefully, this gives you enough information to get started. If you have any questions about the mixing and mastering process, please use the FAQ section, which has more information.
Delivery time for the mixes will depend on the amount of work I currently have and also the size of the song/project. Larger projects will take more time. Approximate delivery times can be provided. Please get in contact for more information.
You can expect a response within 1 working day when purchasing this service.
This is for mastering of your music, song, album or experimental audio.
You will send me a final stereo mix, and I will provide a final stereo master for your music that is release and distribution-ready.
You can also provide 1-2 reference tracks. This will help to guide the type and style of mastering that you are looking for.
I am happy to master any style of music. However, I specialise in Electronic, Pop, Experimental and Ambient Music.
If you want someone who will master your track with professionalism, care, attention to detail and excellent sonic results. You are in the right place.
My mastering style is as balanced as possible. Sometimes you need loudness and sometimes you need dynamics, but a balanced approach has stood the test of time. Translation onto different systems is another key aspect of my workflow, to check that your idea translates onto as wide a range of sound playback devices as possible.
Each master can be revised twice; after 2 revisions, more can be purchased if required.
Hopefully, this gives you enough information for us to get started. If you have any questions about the Mastering process, please use the FAQ section.
Delivery time for the masters will depend on the amount of work I currently have and also the size of the song/project. Larger projects will take more time. Approximate delivery times can be provided. Please get in contact for more information.
You can expect a response within 1-2 working days when purchasing this service.