Lesson 5: How To Make a Peak-Time Techno Kick

THE SONG YOU'LL BE CREATING

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MASTER CLASS TRAILER

Course Breakdown

Chapter 1: Intro To This Master Class + File Downloads

  1. Welcome To The Apollo Master Class
  2. How To Download Files

Chapter 2: Pre-Production Tips & Tricks In Ableton

1. File Organization & Saving Your Project The Correct Way (3:14)

2. Creating Your Roadmap (3:38)

3. How To Use A Reference Track (8:02)

4. Set Yourself Up To Be Creative (1:27)

Chapter 3: How To Make A Peak-Time Techno Kick

5. How To Make A Peak-Time Techno Kick

Chapter 4: How To Write Peak-Time Techno Drums

6. Writing A Techno Kick Pattern + Classic Hi Pass FX (6:55)

7. How To Write/Arrange Techno Hi Hats & Cymbals (12:03)

8. Adding Claps To Your Techno Drums (5:13)

9. How To Create Exciting Drum Fills To Enhance Transitions (7:49)

10. How To Add Groove To Your Techno Drums With Percussion Loops (8:41)

Chapter 5: How To Sound Design & Mix A Techno Rolling Bassline

11. How To Sound Design A Rolling Bassline In Serum (7:05)

12. How To Sidechain Your Rolling Bassline To Your Kick (6:50)

13. How To Mix The Low End From Your Bassline & Kick Together (5:10)

Chapter 6: How To Create An Exciting Breakdown/Buildup

14. Adding Drums To Your Breakdown To Keep The Groove Alive (11:13)

15. Adding Risers, Sweeps, Impacts to Breakdown (5:45)

16. The Art Of Creating A Techno Build Up (9:32)

Chapter 7: How To Write Emotional Breakdown Synths

17. Creating A Reese Bassline Pattern For Breakdown (4:57)

18. How To Write An Emotional Lead Melody For Our Breakdown (5:07)

19. How To Use Automation To Enhance Lead Melody For Our Breakdown (4:28)

20. How To Arrange & Automate Your Build Up Synths (8:29)

Chapter 8: How To Find & Incorporate Themed Vocal Samples Into Your Track

21. How To make An Epic Pre Drop Vocal Section (7:04)

22. How To Add The Pre Drop Vocal Into Your Verse (3:41)

23. Processing The Verse Vocal (Haas Effect, Telephone Effect, etc..) (3:59)

24. How To Craft A Dynamic Build-Up Vocal (4:02)

Chapter 9: How To Write An Acid Techno Drop

25. How To Write An Acid Pattern Using Serum (5:24)

26. How To Add Groove To Your Acid Pattern Using Delay & Reverb Throws (1:45)

27. How to Arrange and Automate Acid Patterns for Dynamic Progression (4:13)

28. How To Add Variation To Your Acid Pattern For 2nd Half Of Drop (3:42)

29. Introducing The Acid Pattern During The Pre Drop + More Automating (3:47)

30. Perfect Sidechain Compression for Acid Patterns in Techno (3:39)

Chapter 10: Filling In Your Drop With Synth Shots & Ear Candy

31. How to Spice Up Your Drop by Adding Synth 1 Shots (7:37)

32. How to Add Rhythmic Rave Stabs into Your Drop (8:05)

33. How to Reintegrate the Pre-Drop Vocal Back Into Your Drop (3:02)

34. Adding The Classic T99 Rave Stab Into Your Drop (2:35)

35. Crafting Ambient Space: Adding Synth Loops for Background Texture (1:54)

36. Elevating Transitions: Adding Reverse FX + Slight Mixing (5:09)

Chapter 11: How To Effectively Arrange A Techno Track

37. How To Use Elements From The Drop To Create a Cohesive Intro (15:37)

38. Arranging Verse: FX Addition, Synth Automation, and Pre-Drop Polish (12:23)

39. Crafting the Outro: How To Close Out Your Track (10:59)

Chapter 12: Mixing A Techno Track (My Favorite Method)

40. Using ADPTR MetricAB for Track Referencing in Mixing (2:18)

41. Rolling Bassline: Flattening Serum To Audio To Ensure Consistent Phase (5:48)

42. Adding Color with Ableton's Channel EQ: A Simple Approach (Intro) (4:26)

43. How to Add Kick Punch Using Multi-band Expansion (1:47)

44. Channel EQ for Verse, Build, and Pre-Drop Sections + Subtle Automation (3:08)

45. EQing Our Acid Bass to Help Fit In The Mix (2:17)

46. How To Get More Headroom By Clipping: Drums & Bassline (9:32)

47. When To Clip And When Not To Clip Your Vocal (0:58)

48. Clipping Drop Synths To Preserve Headroom (4:13)

49. Clipping Verse Synths To Control Peaks (And More Headroom) (1:58)

50. Referencing Our Final Mix: Reflecting On Our Improvements (4:30)

Chapter 13: How I Master My Techno Tracks

51. Mastering EQ: Enhancing Color and Character (3:16)

52. Utilizing Glue Compression in Mastering To Control Peaks + Soft Clipping (1:34)

53. Precision Mastering: Surgical EQ Techniques with FabFilter Pro Q-3 (4:53)

54. Experimental Left-Right EQ Techniques for Mastering (2:39)

55. Inject Life into Your Master with Multiband Expansion and Compression (2:57)

56. Clean Up Your Low End Mud With Izotope Low End Focus (1:24)

57. Oops, The Experimental EQ Isn't Working (1:26)

58. Mastering with Invisible Limiter + Reading Loudness Meters (LUFS) (10:18)

Chapter 14: Final Thoughts

See What Producers are Saying

Customer Reviews

Based on 312 reviews
96%
(298)
2%
(7)
1%
(3)
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(1)
J
John Nowlan (Denver, US)
Amazing sample pack

This pack is great. I’m amazed by just how many samples are in it. I highly recommend to anyone just starting out or wanting to expand their sound arsenal.

H
Hilario Bonilla (Santa Ana, US)
Awesome pack

Sounds are so clean and crisp, drums are bangers

D
Dustyn B (Pittsburgh, US)
Best samples ever

Some of the best samples I’ve ever downloaded…. Super high quality and consistent

T
Tomás Matos (Lisbon, PT)
Amazing Sample Packs!!

The samples were SUPER high quality, 10/10 did NOT disappoint at all!

R
Ryan Chappell (Dunfermline, GB)
Excellent

Awesome selection of sample packs to get your next track started or take an existing one to the next level!

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COMMON FAQS

How do I get access to the course?

After you sign up with your name and email, you will receive a link to access the download to your email.

What will I learn from this course?

You will learn the step-by-step process of creating a professional techno song from start to finish.

What sounds do I need to follow along?

I've included a compact sample pack featuring some of its samples and presets. But I strongly recommend purchasing the Divinity Techno Production Suite, as it includes all the sounds used to compose this track.

How big is the file size for the course?

It's about 13 gigs in total.

Do I need Ableton to learn?

The short answer is no! All of the techniques I use in this Master Class are applicable to every DAW.

Which version of Ableton do I need?

The Apollo Master Class Project file is designed to be compatible with Ableton Live Suite 11.3.10 and newer versions. However, if you're using Ableton Live Standard or Intro, we can't ensure full functionality of all components within the project.

What 3rd Party Plugins Do I Need?

Besides Xfer Serum, you won't require any additional third-party plugins. While I personally utilize other third-party plugins for mastering, they're not essential, and you can readily use the equivalent tools provided by your DAW.