Click here to view the embedded video.

In the lower left corner of Live’s interface you can enable the Info View which will display information about whatever your mouse is hovering over at the time.  This is very helpful when you are approaching a new instrument or effect for the first time.  But wait there’s more…

What I didn’t know was that you can actually write your own notes in the Info View. You can right-click on a clip or track and select Edit Info Text from the contextual menu, which allows you to type your own notes that will be displayed in the Info View whenever someone hovers their mouse over that particular clip or track. This can be very useful if you are sharing your Live sets with other people. For example, let’s say you need someone else to mix a song for you; you can write little notes about the tracks or individual clips and all of that info will be saved with your set and displayed in the Info View for your mixing engineer’s reading pleasure (but of course that’s just one application).  Yet another feature that is conveniently hidden… haha! – Thavius Beck

Our music production program is custom-tailored to fit your musical style. You can choose from several Digital Audio Workstations including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, or Propellerhead’s Reason.

After completing this program, you will leave with 4 completed tracks (EP), a remix entered in an active contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.

What’s Included:

• Ableton Live Level 1: Shake Hands with Live
• Ableton Live Level 2: Completing Your First Track
• Ableton Live Level 3: Production Essentials
• Ableton Live Level 4: Sound Design & Instrumentation
• Ableton Live Level 5: Advanced Composition & Production
• Ableton Live Level 6: Taking Your EP Global

“So far the experience through Dubspot is incredible, and I can’t wait to go through the next levels. It’s just getting better each week, and I can not wait to start putting an EP together, not just being able to put a successful track together!” - Dan Carter, United Kingdom

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Ableton Live is one of the most flexible, capable, and robust pieces of software I’ve ever been lucky enough to use on a day to day basis. But even as an Ableton Certified trainer and daily user, there are still a few easter eggs that I stumble upon and think, “Wow, had I known that last year I would have already gone platinum by now!” Haha! Not quite, but I think you get the idea.

Inspired by the tip that you all are about to learn in the following video, my fellow Dubspot colleague Steve Nalepa suggested that a video tutorial series be done about all of the hidden things in Live that can be revealed by a simple Right-click of the mouse. After giving that a bit of thought, I tweaked the initial idea and decided to focus on a handful of things that all users, no matter how novice or advanced, may have never known was possible in our beloved piece of software. Thus the brand new video tutorial series entitled, “Did You Know?” was born! I hope you enjoy and continue to be creative!” – Thavius Beck

Our music production program is custom-tailored to fit your musical style. You can choose from several Digital Audio Workstations including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, or Propellerhead’s Reason.

After completing this program, you will leave with 4 completed tracks (EP), a remix entered in an active contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.

What’s Included:

• Ableton Live Level 1: Shake Hands with Live
• Ableton Live Level 2: Completing Your First Track
• Ableton Live Level 3: Production Essentials
• Ableton Live Level 4: Sound Design & Instrumentation
• Ableton Live Level 5: Advanced Composition & Production
• Ableton Live Level 6: Taking Your EP Global

“So far the experience through Dubspot is incredible, and I can’t wait to go through the next levels. It’s just getting better each week, and I can not wait to start putting an EP together, not just being able to put a successful track together!” - Dan Carter, United Kingdom

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Propellerhead Reason 6 Workshop with Hank Shocklee & Falty DL

Propellerhead Software’s Reason audio production platform made a massive leap in 2011. Reason 6 brought features such as the integration of Record (the acclaimed recording and mixing software), new instruments, new effects, a new mixer, and a sexy new audio interface called Balance. Add to this list a pay-what-you-want upgrade option for owners of Reason and Record and you’ve got an impressive music production platform that hit many best of 2011 lists in recent weeks. Reason 6 is a totally new beast.

To help you understand the depth and possibilities of this new production platform we are pleased to preset a special Reason 6 workshop at Dubspot NYC on Monday January 30th from 7-9pm EST. The event will feature production luminary Hank Shocklee (Bomb Squad, Public Enemy, Def Jam), dubstep / bass producer FaltyDL, and vocalist Cody Geil. Dubspot’s Chris Petti and Propellerheads’ James Bernard will host a series of discussions and demonstrations that will introduce you to new workflow and features in Reason 6 using the Balance Controller (read more on Balance below). James Bernard and Hank Shocklee will kick off the event with a short discussion on effecient production methods with Reason and they will quickly segue into producing a track from scratch in front of the audience. If you’d like to join us for this discussion and workshop, please RSVP on our Facebook page. In addition, we will be streaming the workshop live on out site, so bookmark this page if you’d like to catch the workshop online!

Click here to view the embedded video.

About Hank Shocklee

Hank Shocklee is one of the godfathers of hip hop and modern music production. Through his early work as a DJ on Adelphi University’s 90.3 FM radio station and as a nightclub manager, Shocklee started to meet the individuals who would later be transformed into the groundbreaking group Public Enemy. As Shocklee’s work with Public Enemy started to gain momentum and airplay, a then lesser-known Russell Simmons summoned Shocklee to work on remixes for artists on his Def Jam roster. It was Shocklee’s creative vision and energy that landed him a position with Def Jam Recordings where he served as Vice President of A&R and staff producer from 1986-1988, while he was still developing the Public Enemy Concept. Shocklee also eventually became the Publicity and Marketing point person for Rush Artist Management and handled touring projects for artists such as Run DMC, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. With the signing of Public Enemy to Def Jam Recordings and the group’s rise to stardom, Shocklee’s efforts shifted to full time studio work. He served as Producer and Executive Producer for the group and led them to the success of 1 Double Platinum, 4 Platinum and 2 Gold Albums. Shocklee also managed Public Enemy along with Russell Simmons and Public Enemy soon became Def Jam’s biggest global act and went on the road for a series of successful world tours.

Click here to view the embedded video.

About FaltyDL

Drew Lustman’s releases as FaltyDL encompass IDM, drum’n’bass, hardcore techno, house, garage, and dubstep. Full of abstractions and abrupt changes, the majority of his output was nonetheless intended for active dancefloors. The New York-based producer debuted “FaltyDL” in 2007 but gained serious traction in 2009 with a pair of singles on Ramp, as well as an EP and an album — titled Love Is a Liability — for Planet Mu. More short-form releases on Rush Hour, Planet Mu, Ramp, and Swamp81 were issued across 2010 and 2011. You Stand Uncertain, a second album, was also released on Planet Mu in March of 2011.

Balance Audio Interface

• 2-in by 2-out audio interface
• USB 2.0 – bus powered
• Hi-end pre-amplifiers
• Hi-end 24-bit ADC/DACs, 44.1 to 96kHz
• Low latency design
• Clip Safe —  “built-in recording engineer” automatically heals any clipped recordings.
• Mac OS class compliant (no driver on Mac OS).
• ASIO drivers for Windows.
• Built-in Propellerhead Ignition Key
• Direct monitoring (for stand-alone or DAW use)
• Two XLR microphone inputs w. 48V phantom power
• Two 1/4″ guitar inputs with padding
• Four 1/4″ line inputs (two stereo pairs)
• One 1/4” headphone output
• Two 1/4″ TRS balanced main outputs
• Hardware input source selection
• Input level control
• Separate output and headphone level control
• Output muting

Links : Balance and Reason – Propellerhead – Balance and Reason Essentials
Balance Design and Features – Propellerhead – Balance – Design and Features

Master Reason & Record with our complete program of courses culminating in a four track EP ready for release.  In addition to achieving a complete overview of the composition process in Reason & Record you’ll also earn the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Reason & Record. After completing this program, you will leave with a new EP, a remix entered in an active remix contest, a Refill ready to share, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Reason & Record.

• Reason Level 1: Sketches, Beats, and Remixes
• Reason Level 2: Dissect and Reconstruct
• Reason Level 3: Sound Design
• Reason Level 4: Advanced Sound Design
• Reason Level 5: Recording and Mixing
• Reason Level 6: Beyond the Rack

This program is about learning Reason by going through the entire process of being an artist, from developing your sound through a series of sketches while getting familiar with the application to creating a fully-fleshed out four song EP. You will create a remix and submit it to an active remix contest, create a refill, and learn valuable insider tips and techniques.

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

First, we’ll connect the iPad to the Lemur Daemon using an Ad-Hoc WiFi network. After both the iPad and computer are connected to the same network, the Lemur Daemon is relatively simple to use. The Daemon will translate incoming Lemur messages from your iPad to MIDI that can be used in your DAW.

In Ableton’s MIDI preferences, select the appropriate Daemon Input. Enable MIDI Learn by hitting cmd+M on your keyboard. Now click on a parameter in Live, and move the object on the Lemur you’d like to control it. For faders, this is a relatively straightforward process, but for Lemur’s Multiball object, it can be helpful to move the ball to the bottom left corner so that you can be sure and learn only one axis at a time.

The Effects Rack in this Ableton Live set features Redux, two Auto Filters, Corpus, Chorus, Frequency Shifter, Beat Repeat, and Auto Pan. Additionally, there is a Reverb on Send A, and a Granular Delay on Send B. Many of the effects are set so that when the relevant fader is moved, the effect is engaged. When the fader for any of the effects is set to zero, the effect is bypassed.

Once all of your controls are set up, it’s time to get busy.

- Dubspot Instructor Evan Sutton

Evan Sutton is an electronic music producer, sound designer, and audio engineer. He is an instructor of Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, as well as a Curriculum Designer and Developer of the Sound Design Program at Dubspot. You can hear music, and find more about him at his outfit, Astrolith.net and SoundCloud.com/Astrolith.

Become fluent in the language of sound design with this comprehensive program. This six-level Sound Design program uses Native Instruments’ Komplete as a platform for learning synthesis and sampling techniques. Starting with an introduction to the properties of sound, this comprehensive series of courses covers most common synthesis methods available for music production in the DAW of your choice.

Discovering the right sound is like finding a needle in the digital haystack. Learn the fundamentals to make this easier, and gain the depth of knowledge to make a good sound better. Factory content is great, but everyone has it – your mix needs something special.

What’s Included:

• Sound Design Level 1: Introduction to Komplete 8
  
• Sound Design Level 2: Synthesis with Massive, FM8 and Absynth
• Sound Design Level 3: Sampling with Kontakt and Battery
• Sound Design Level 4: Advanced Sound Design
• Sound Design Level 5: Reaktor Ensembles and Instruments
• Sound Design Level 6: Reaktor Programming

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the latest episode of Dubspot’s Wireless interview series, instructor, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Raz Mesinai (also formerly known as Badawi) catches up with a long time friend, Max Glazer of the New York City-based dancehall sound system Federation Sound. Max founded Federation Sound with Kenny Meez and Hot97’s Cipha Sounds in 1999. Max grew up listening to a great deal of Jamaican reggae and dub; at home, his father played artists such as Trinity, Dillinger, U-Roy, Peter Tosh. He fell in love with hip hop and house listening to influential radio DJs like Red Alert, but his appreciation for Jamaican music culture endured over the years. Today, Max Glazer is an international dancehall DJ; he spent years as music director and tour DJ for music superstar Rihanna. There was a lot to discuss between these two old friends; Raz and Max talk about a wide range of topics, from their early days as DJs in New York City (the lineup for one of their first gigs was Badawi, Max Glazer and DJ Spooky) to dubplate culture to maintaining a unique voice and staying true to yourself.

Related Dubspot Courses Starting Online & in New York City:

Digital DJing w/ Traktor Pro 2 Program starts February 5th Online.

DJ Extensive Program

Immerse yourself in the complete art of DJing from beatmatching to stage presence. Whether you’re a beginner in search of the fundamentals or a seasoned pro looking to take your talent to the next level, our curriculum is designed to accommodate all skill levels and styles of music. This comprehensive DJ program covers everything from basic mixing to advanced digital DJing. Learn more about our DJ courses and programs.

What’s Included:

• DJ Level 1: Rookie Sessions | Essentials I
• DJ Level 2: Phrase Mixing | Essentials II
• DJ Level 3: Beyond The Blend | Intermediate Skills
• DJ Level 4: Preparation | DJ Psychology
• DJ Level 5: Classroom to the Club | Advanced Techniques I
• DJ Level 6: Club to the World | Advanced Techniques II

“I love the class, and the content! Shiftee and Endo are very funny, and very clear, so the material is easy and fun to follow! I wish my college   teachers  were more like these two!” – Leandro Martinez, Chicago IL

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

In the final installment of our three-part video tutorial series exploring the creative production and performance possibilities of Native Instruments versatile groovebox Maschine, Justin Aswell of innovative Charlotte, North Carolina-based hip hop group Mr. Invisible offers some practical live performance advice, tips and tricks for DJs, musicians and performers. This is an essential video tutorial if you’re looking to incorporate Maschine into your live setup. Justin Aswell explains and demonstrates ways to avoid common pitfalls many electronic musicians face when they are playing live; from using a delay effect to maintain a consistent BPM to triggering multiple hits and samples on a single to help you become more efficient when playing live.

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Native Instruments MASCHINE redefines hardware and software integration for music production and creative performance. Upon completion of this program, you will have written a full original track using multiple plug-in instruments and effects, produced a remix based on rearranged source material with your own musical additions, and made recordings of yourself improvising with both projects while creating break downs, build ups, and effect manipulations.

What’s Included:

• MASCHINE Level 1: Programming and Beat Making Basics
• MASCHINE Level 2: Sampling, Slicing and Composing
• MASCHINE Level 3: Advanced Production and Performance Techniques

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Did you know that there are three distinct types of musicians in today’s global music scene? These types of musicians direct their attention to different aspects of the compositional process: one is focused primarily on pitch/melody, another on rhythm/beats, and the last on timbre/sound design. Today, the well-rounded musician will be well versed in all three of these areas and that is the main idea behind Dubspot’s Music Foundations program.

Using material from Music Foundations Level 2: Keys and Melodic Theory, Mark de Clive-Lowe focuses on pitch and melody with the goal of using a set of pitches to improvise over a two chord progression, namely the Pentatonic scale (a common five note scale). The said progression goes from a C Minor chord to an F Minor chord, and that fits nicely underneath the C Minor Pentatonic scale. WIth the addition of some tension filled note choices, such as the #4/b5 “blue note”, more melodic variations can quickly be created. By the end of this video we see all of the elements put together in two musical examples in different genres and at different tempi. This is a small taste of what you will learn in the Music Foundations program at Dubspot. Be sure to check out other music theory related articles here in the Dubspot Blog.

Written by Patrick Cupo, Director of Curriculum Development

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Unravel electronic music’s origins, build your chops, learn the language and theory, and make and play music the way you want. Students will develop a deeper understanding of the roots and lineage of a variety of electronic and dance music, strengthen their keyboard skills, and learn valuable music theory skills, deepening their creative practice and facilitating effective collaborations with musical partners.

What’s Included:

• Essential Music Foundations Level 1: Electronic Music Appreciation
• Essential Music Foundations Level 2: Keys & Melodic Theory
• Essential Music Foundations Level 3: Pads & Rhythmic Theory

This course exceeded my expectations. I went through everything I needed to have a solid knowledge of basic music theory.
- Jonathan Crespo, Miami

EMF (Music Foundations) has been an amazing experience! I didn’t realize I was going to learn so much about electronic music history, something my generation missed.
- Yianno Koumi, United Kingdom

Click here to view the embedded video.

In this new video, Dubspot instructor and course designer Chris Petti offers a preview into Dubspot’s revamped Reason curriculum, and shows you how to create a Wavetable based synth lead sound from scratch using Propellerhead Reason’s powerful polysonic synthesizer Thor. In a step by step process, he explains and demonstrates how you can design unique bass sounds while exploring the creative possibilities of Reason’s versatile Thor; from a basic explanation of Wavetable synthesis and adding oscillators and combining wave sounds and effects to adding real-time controls and engaging Thor’s WaveShaper, which is usually used to alter and twist sounds for dramatic results. For further exploration of Propellerhead Reason’s  Thor and Wavetable synthesis, be sure to check out our Reason & Record Program.

Master Reason & Record with our complete program of courses culminating in a four track EP ready for release.  In addition to achieving a complete overview of the composition process in Reason & Record you’ll also earn the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Reason & Record. After completing this program, you will leave with a new EP, a remix entered in an active remix contest, a Refill ready to share, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Reason & Record.

• Reason Level 1: Sketches, Beats, and Remixes
• Reason Level 2: Dissect and Reconstruct
• Reason Level 3: Sound Design
• Reason Level 4: Advanced Sound Design
• Reason Level 5: Recording and Mixing
• Reason Level 6: Beyond the Rack

This program is about learning Reason by going through the entire process of being an artist, from developing your sound through a series of sketches while getting familiar with the application to creating a fully-fleshed out four song EP. You will create a remix and submit it to an active remix contest, create a refill, and learn valuable insider tips and techniques.

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Future Music Maschine Video Tutorial – Multi Effect Chain

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The original Lemur was a hardware unit, introduced back in 2004. Used by the likes of Björk, Richard Devine, and Modeselektor to name a few, it was one of the first multitouch touch screen controllers. After years of woe and longing, the legendary Lemur software is available for use on iOS devices. The main advantage of using a touch screen controller is the fact that you can create your own unique interfaces, full of buttons, knobs, pads, faders, or whatever else you’d like. The Lemur Editor (formerly called the JazzEditor), is software that runs on your computer, and is where custom interfaces are created for use with Lemur.

In part one of this two-part series, basic setup of the Lemur and Lemur Editor are explained. To start, an Ad-Hoc network is created. Once the iPad running Lemur software is connected, it will automatically update with the changes made in the editor. As far as objects go, we’ll start with the Fader and MultiBall. A great thing about the Lemur is its physics engine, which we can use with both objects. After MIDI is set up, it’s time to take a look at the Lemur Daemon. The Lemur Daemon brokers internal MIDI connections between incoming Lemur control signals and other programs running on your computer, such as Ableton Live. Here, we set up the connection manually.

Stay tuned for part two where Evan will put the Lemur to use with an Ableton Live set. Both the Lemur interface, and the Ableton Live Effects Rack will be available for download.

Evan Sutton is an electronic music producer, sound designer, and audio engineer. He is an instructor of Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, as well as a Curriculum Designer and Developer of the Sound Design Program at Dubspot. You can hear music, and find more about him at his outfit, Astrolith.net and SoundCloud.com/Astrolith.

Become fluent in the language of sound design with this comprehensive program. This six-level Sound Design program uses Native Instruments’ Komplete as a platform for learning synthesis and sampling techniques. Starting with an introduction to the properties of sound, this comprehensive series of courses covers most common synthesis methods available for music production in the DAW of your choice.

Discovering the right sound is like finding a needle in the digital haystack. Learn the fundamentals to make this easier, and gain the depth of knowledge to make a good sound better. Factory content is great, but everyone has it – your mix needs something special.

What’s Included:

• Sound Design Level 1: Introduction to Komplete 8
  
• Sound Design Level 2: Synthesis with Massive, FM8 and Absynth
• Sound Design Level 3: Sampling with Kontakt and Battery
• Sound Design Level 4: Advanced Sound Design
• Sound Design Level 5: Reaktor Ensembles and Instruments
• Sound Design Level 6: Reaktor Programming

Start dates and information about payment plans can be found here.

Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.

Click here to view the embedded video.