Sonic Pioneers
What makes this course different?
I'm not just going to show you "cool sound design tricks."Â Each session is focused on breaking down one of the tracks listed below and asks you to complete specific production activities as we go along.
1. SOPHIE - Faceshopping
2. Arca - SoichiroÂ
3. Four Tet - Love CryÂ
4. Oneohtrix Point Never - Zebra
5. Björk - An Echo a Stain
6. Aphex Twin -Â Bucephalus Bouncing Ball
7. Poetmistry - Automated Bridge De-icing & Fruit Salad
Each session, we will do a series of guided listening activities on musicality, production, and mix to help us understand WHY these tracks are so incredible.
Then, we'll dive into Ableton. You will receive a project file "worksheet" so you can follow along with me. The project file is filled with samples/racks/presets so you have everything you need to immediately start experimenting with what we're learning.Â
**Full Course Outline at the bottom of the page**
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What do you need?
We will be using the Ableton Live software, and although this course caters to a range of skill levels, you should have a basic knowledge of how to navigate and use Ableton.
The included project files will only be compatible with Ableton 11 & 12.
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What is included?
- 7 lessons including 68 videos (10+ hours of structured coursework)Â
- 8 Ableton Project File "Worksheets" with 20+ production activities
- 100+Â samples, effects presets, and instrument racks
- Poetmistry yelling encouraging things at you!
Course Outline
Session 1: SOPHIE's “Faceshopping”
Listening Activities
- Discussion on SOPHIE's “Uncanny Valley”
- Technical Listen on Identifying Instrument Layers
Production Activities
- Metallic Snares with Grain Delay
- Synth Lead with Phaser/Flanger & Hybrid Reverb
- Textural Growls with Vocoder & Wavetable
Session 2: Arca's “Soichiro”
Listening Activities
- Discussion on Arca's “Imperfect Beauty”
- Technical Listen on Song Structure & Mix
Production Activities
- Making a Layered Impact with Ableton Texture Mode
- Arca’s Iconic Shimmer Reverb
- Getting Woozy with LFOs
Session 3: Four Tet's “Love Cry”
Listening Activities
- Discussion on Four Tet’s Mastery of “Time"
Production Activities
- Layering Breaks to Find Groove
- Making a Textural Drone with Warp Modes
- Getting Dynamic with Sidechains & Vocoders
- Old School Vocal Chops (feat. Todd Edwards)
- Finally, the Classic Four Tet Ethereal, Plucky Thing
Session 4: Oneohtrix Point Never's “Zebra”
Listening Activities
- Discussion on OPN’s “Inside World”
- My Favorite Places to Look for Samples
Production Activities
- A Simpler Instrument with Arpeggiator + Random
- Granular Synthesis in Simpler
- Resampling for Arrangement
Session 5: Björk's “An Echo, A Stain”
Listening Activities
- Discussion on Björk’s “Toxic” Relationship
- Technical Listen on Microbeats: Creepy or Intimate?
Production Activities
- Clearing up Production Myths
- Let's Make Some Microbeats!
- Creating Dynamic Ambient Soundscapes
Session 6: Aphex Twin's “Bucephalus Bouncing Ball”
Listening Activities
- Discussion on Aphex Twin’s “Human in the Machine”
- Software Show & Tell on CDP & Soundthread
Production Activities
- Making Bouncing Balls with Arpeggiator
- Resampling Sound, Rhythm, and Automation
- Ableton Spectral Effects
- Ableton Idiocy: Randomly Applying Effects
Bonus Session: Poetmistry Project File Breakdown
“Automated Bridge De-icing”
- The Sample Journey of This Track
- Walking Through the Project File
“Fruit Salad”
- The Sound Design Journey of This Track
- Diving into the Project File