December 2020 - Pad Design

Inside this tutorial i will be going over how i make stabs and knocks using both synthesis and sample based techniques. Both are used heavily in my production from the knocks in my tracks Speed Shades and Magnum Meal, and are super fun to play around with.

Altering small settings each time can cause really interesting results that are perfect for adding rhythm to a track or emphasising a kick or snares power in the track

For this tutorial I wanted to create a drum beat from start to finish covering topics such as sample selection; picking out the right hits for tonality and layering, dynamics; how to humanise your drums, levelling and retaining transients; to make sure your drums are well balanced and peaking through the mix.

This tutorial is perfect for beginners and veterans who want to dig deeper into how i approach my drums

This tutorial is about making subs inside of Serum. Through a simple set up ill guide you on how to give your subs depth and warmth as well as layering the synth.

Altering the controls on the layered version will alter the timbre of your lower mid harmonics to create exciting new modulations and dynamics

For this month's tutorial I walk you through a simple pad layering technique to create rich and full music beds with interesting movement and dynamics using just one sample.

I use this technique a lot when building intro's and is a great way of adding complexity to an otherwise basic sound

This months tutorial is titled 'Glueing Sections' where i take you through 3 different simple but effective techniques to help seamlessly progress from one section to another using fills, risers, fx automation and adding space.

You can hear similar sounds and techniques across my music and are go to methods when stuck on how to progress my track and further develop my ideas.

For this month I go in depth discussing macro's and how to make simple things complex making a reverb / riser chain to create atmosphere and space with just one knob control.

This is an amazing workflow as well as creative tool offering the simplicity of being able to just automate one line for instant space, width and tension to your track.

For this tutorial I wanted to progress last months drum tutorial by creating a song from a simple idea and taking it all the way through to a full track.

You will see how I approach creating progressional ideas to keep the track interesting and evolving as well as arrangement to have clear and concise flow from start to finish

Following on from last months full track production video, I wanted to guide you through my mixdown process and how to get a cleaner final mix.

You will see my mixdown ticklist from cleaning low end bleed to sidechaining clashing mids all the way to my masterchain bus using EQ, saturation and compression.

In this months tutorial I show a mid bass resampling process to be used in tracks or when working on samples away from a writing session to inspire new and exciting dynamics, modulation and rhythm to your mids basses.

We've made it to Season 5, and this month we're bringing everything together.

In this session I'll be building a 16-bar loop from scratch, taking the sounds and techniques we've explored throughout the series and using them to start writing an actual track idea. The focus is on getting that initial groove down, finding the right relationship between the drums, bass, musical elements and textures and turning them into something that feels like a track.

We'll look at how I approach the writing process, making decisions as I build the loop and getting all the individual elements working together to create a solid starting point for the track.

2026 is the year we switch things up with a brand new format.

For years, I’ve created tutorials based on what I’m working on, what inspires me, or those essential tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way that I just have to share.

This new format takes things further. It’s a complete, structured journey through every stage of music production, designed to take your new ideas to finished tracks with clarity, depth, and a focus on developing your own sound.

Across 6 seasons, each lasting 2 months, we’ll dive deep into every part of the process, from building intros and crafting heavy basslines to programming detailed drums, shaping unique sounds, perfecting mixdowns, and finishing tracks that truly stand out.

By the end of the year, you’ll have the full toolkit to take your ideas and bring them to life. Whether you’re just starting or levelling up your experience, 2026 is your year to grow as a producer, season by season.

Kicking things off this January and February is everyones favourite topic - bass sound design.

This month I guide you on a Serum bass design session starting with simple to more advanced sounds, sub bass layering through to macros and fully controlling your sound.

We’re now diving into Episode 2 of Season 1 of the Framework series, continuing our journey into bass sound design. In this session, we’ll be exploring several advanced techniques to take your basses to the next level such as effects chains, parallel processing, automation, and blending multiple bass sounds together, all key tools to sculpt and shape your basses so they fit perfectly into your next track.

Every mid-bass sample included in this month’s sample pack was crafted using racks like the ones demonstrated in the tutorial. I also applied the same automation techniques and sound-blending methods we’ll be walking through today. By following along, you’ll get a detailed look at how to combine multiple layers, modulate parameters dynamically, and create rich, polished bass sounds that are ready for your productions.

With season 1's bass focused episodes complete, we move into Season 2 - Drums

Starting with a deep dive into kick and snare design using the exact techniques I rely on in my own sound design sessions. You’ll learn how to build powerful, weighty hits from the ground up, drums that feel solid, punch through dense arrangements, and sit confidently at the front of the mix.

For the kick, I break down my full workflow, covering synthesis, shaping, processing, and layering to achieve both low-end weight and midrange punch. For the snare, we explore transient design, body control, tonal balance, layering strategies, and tail shaping, so you can create snares that snap at the front, carry substance through the body, and decay cleanly without cluttering the mix.

I’ve leaned heavily into this for this month’s sample pack, with loads of kicks and snares created using these exact techniques.

In part two of the drum series, we go even deeper into building professional, groove-driven drums from the ground up, picking up right where we left off with last months kick and snare design.

In this session, I’ll guide you through the full process of creating a complete drum loop, covering a range of shuffle grooves, hi-hat patterns, and drum break variations to help your drums feel more dynamic and alive.

We’ll also focus on the finer details, dialling in timing and swing to get that natural groove before bringing everything together, gluing the drums and enhancing the final result with a polished drum buss.

Following on from last months Pad tutorial, we focus our attention to Leads.

I guide you on how to build powerful, distinctive leads from the ground up using Serum, covering everything from tight plucks to classic rave tones.

Discover how to add tension, layer bass and vocals, and resample creatively using granular synthesis. Rounded off with lush vocoder effects, this gives you everything you need to create unique  and exciting leads

This month we're diving into atmospherics. I'll cover everything from building drones from scratch using synthesis, transforming everyday samples into evolving soundscapes, capturing and reshaping moments with freezing techniques, and using resonance to create rich, tonal textures that sit deep within a mix.

We'll explore synthesis, sampling, freezing, feedback, and resonance, along with practical techniques for creating evolving atmospherics, layered ambience, noise textures, immersive backgrounds and movement to bring more depth into your productions.

Starting off the tutorials with a no talking video where I showcase a 'day in the life' style sound design session making all sorts of random samples to use in later projects.

For the second tutorial, as requested by so many of you, focusses on how to progress out of a loop. I talk about my theories and approaches when it comes to tension, fills, progression and energy as well as mid bass resampling and utilising the sound pallet already inside the project.

This packs tutorial focuses on creating simple but effective pads that add depth, space, and emotion to your tracks, and it marks the start of Season 3.

We begin with the fundamentals of pad creation and chord writing, showing you how to build solid harmonic foundations that feel full and musical. From there, we explore creative sampling techniques to add texture and character, helping your pads stand out while still sitting naturally in the mix.

Finally, we shape everything with effects and dive into more experimental approaches, giving you tools to push beyond the basics and develop your own sound. A practical, start-to-finish guide to making pads.

Two exciting tutorials this month looking at reclaiming, enhancing and processing classic drum breaks either bringing them back to life for a modern mix or pushing the levels for a future beat.

The second looks at vocal samples, something I haven't really touched on yet, and how to clean up poor recordings, problem areas to focus on then having fun creating edits with echos, time delays and pitching for those extra ad libs and fill sections

Two exciting tutorials this month looking at reclaiming, enhancing and processing classic drum breaks either bringing them back to life for a modern mix or pushing the levels for a future beat.

The second looks at vocal samples, something I haven't really touched on yet, and how to clean up poor recordings, problem areas to focus on then having fun creating edits with echos, time delays and pitching for those extra ad libs and fill sections

Two exciting tutorials this month looking at reclaiming, enhancing and processing classic drum breaks either bringing them back to life for a modern mix or pushing the levels for a future beat.

The second looks at vocal samples, something I haven't really touched on yet, and how to clean up poor recordings, problem areas to focus on then having fun creating edits with echos, time delays and pitching for those extra ad libs and fill sections

Two exciting tutorials this month looking at reclaiming, enhancing and processing classic drum breaks either bringing them back to life for a modern mix or pushing the levels for a future beat.

The second looks at vocal samples, something I haven't really touched on yet, and how to clean up poor recordings, problem areas to focus on then having fun creating edits with echos, time delays and pitching for those extra ad libs and fill sections

Two exciting tutorials this month looking at reclaiming, enhancing and processing classic drum breaks either bringing them back to life for a modern mix or pushing the levels for a future beat.

The second looks at vocal samples, something I haven't really touched on yet, and how to clean up poor recordings, problem areas to focus on then having fun creating edits with echos, time delays and pitching for those extra ad libs and fill sections

Two exciting tutorials this month looking at reclaiming, enhancing and processing classic drum breaks either bringing them back to life for a modern mix or pushing the levels for a future beat.

The second looks at vocal samples, something I haven't really touched on yet, and how to clean up poor recordings, problem areas to focus on then having fun creating edits with echos, time delays and pitching for those extra ad libs and fill sections