6 extreme sound design ideas
Get extreme with feedback loops, distortion chaining and misused convolution reverb
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MasterClass Direct Line lets you chat music production with Deadmau5, and ask Tom Morello how to play guitar
Your chance to speak directly to the MasterClass instructors
5 powerfully creative distortion tools
Wreak sonic destruction with five of the best ways to distort, degrade and defile your audio
James Hurr's top 5 house production tips
The house music maestro gives us 5 golden rules to follow when creating your next funky dancefloor stomper
4 ways to glitch out your productions
We take a look at the core techniques involved in getting the uniquely glitchy sound of Skrillex, Autechre and KOAN Sound
Ashibah: 5 things I've learned about music production
"I have a day a week I call nerd day, where I go deep diving into all kinds of things. New synths, podcasts, masterclasses and videos"
Studio hacks: 10 bullet-proof tactics for turning loops into finished tracks
Got a hard-drive full of 8-bar sketches that never quite get finished? Take some cues from our 10 productivity hacks
5 guitar tricks you can learn from Free's Paul Kossoff
We go Free-style in honour of the late bluesman, who would have celebrated his birthday today
6 things you need to think about before you rent a recording studio space
Don't sign on the dotted line until you've read this...
Topic - 5 things I’ve learned about music production: “Why do you even want to sound like anyone else?”
Fresh from success with Bebe Rexha, the German-Croatian producer on standing out and not staying in your lane
Songwriting basics: how to use repetition and variation to create melodic hooks
Repeating phrases doesn’t always make a song boring - in fact, the opposite can be true
How to create a PWM synth bass patch on a virtual Roland SH-101
Use Roland's Plug Out emulation to get your Pulse Width Modulation on
How to create a hefty synth bass patch on a virtual ARP Odyssey
Program an epic bass sound with GForce's ARP emulation Oddity
How to use Ableton Live's Note Chance feature to generate new musical ideas
Creating new ideas for chords and melodies can be challenging. This technique can help you find new ideas when you're stuck for inspiration
How to start a podcast: a beginner’s guide to podcasting
A step-by-step guide to launching your first podcast – from podcasting equipment and how to record, to where to host your pod
Why your mix sounds amateur - and how to make it sound pro
The tips and tricks you need to fix your mix when it just doesn't sound right
Overdrive vs distortion: explore the sounds, the players and the effects pedals to try
Add some extra dirt to your guitar sound with our deep dive into the world of overdrive and distortion
How to clean a microphone: keep your mics germ-free
Microphones can become germ motels if they're not looked after. Use our step-by-step guide to keep yours clean
The basic song arrangement template: the anatomy of a 'standard' layout
Plus! The club and dance arrangement toolkit laid bare
