Electronic Music Production

Learn the art and science of creating your own electronic music.

Create and shape sounds to build your own tracks through this introduction to sound manipulation and production. Nick will take you through the basics, from using hardware like synthesisers, microphones and guitars, to the software beat-making using Ableton Live. Get a foundation in sound production knowledge and techniques, then get hands-on with making your own beats and sounds.

You’ll learn how to record samples; create analogue and digital beats, melodies and basslines; explore effects, and work with vocals.

It’s a course for beginners – you’ll get across all the fundamental skills of creating electronic music, as well as a lot of tips and techniques to take home and continue making your own sounds.

Enrol

Course Info

It is essential that students download and install the thirty-day free trial version of Ableton Live 11 from ableton.com

This needs to be done a week before the Camp, so they have time to explore the software through the tutorials in the help menu.

Day One

  • What is sound production? How is it done?
  • Record some basic samples using various instruments
  • Review our samples

Day Two

  • What is beat making? How is it done?
  • Compare traditional beats to modern electronic beats
  • Create a beat pattern using an existing electronic drum kit
  • Modify the beat pattern
  • Swap out samples to change the beat
  • Sculpt the beat with effects

Day Three

  • What is a bassline? How is a bassline made?
  • Compare traditional basslines to modern electronic basslines
  • Create a bassline using a digital synthesizer
  • Create variations of your bassline
  • Change the synth parameters to change the bass sound
  • Exploring presets

Day Four

  • What is a melody? How are melodies made?
  • compare traditional melodies to modern electronic melodies
  • Create a melody using a digital synthesizer
  • Modify your melody to create variations
  • Change the synth parameters to change the sound of the melody
  • Exploring presets

No experience required

To be supplied by participant
Essential

Students must download and install the thirty-day free trial version of Ableton Live 11 from ableton.com. This needs to be done a week before the Camp, so they have time to explore the software through the tutorials in the help menu.

  • Headphones of reasonable quality are required – preferably not earbuds.
  • A 1Tb hard drive to store your musical creations 
  • Students need to bring a laptop with the following minimum performance specifications:
Windows
  • Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10
  • 64-bit Intel® or AMD multi-core processor. Intel® Core™ i5 processor or faster recommended.
  • 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
Mac
  • OS X 10.11.6 or later (see compatibility notes on macOS Mojave here)
  • Intel® Core™2 Duo processor. Intel® Core™ i5 processor or faster recommended.
  • 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)

Note: While these are the absolute minimum requirements to run Live 11, you may need higher specifications to work most efficiently.
Nicholas Gilchrist
Course Tutor

Nicholas Gilchrist

Nick is a multimedia developer and teacher, specialising in sound production. Creating under the alias “phortah“, he is also the founder of Nekawa, a regional collective that organises conscious dance events.