Sampling, beat-making and synth programming
Choose a start date
- Course Code: MK603
- Dates: 25/06/24 - 16/07/24
- Time: 18:15 - 21:15
- Taught: Tue, Evening
- Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Max La Villa
Course Code: MK603
Choose a start date
Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
You will learn how to work with samples, beats and synth sounds to create your own original sounds and textures. Have fun creating music from existing sounds and your own recorded samples.
What will we cover?
Sampling:
• extracting loops, jamming and improvising with loops
• creating your own instruments
• creating your own multi-layered drum instruments
• patch phrasing
Beat- making:
• advanced quantising and manipulating velocities
• drum layering and replacement
• swing and shuffle
Synth programming:
• components and signal flow of a synthesiser
• programming commonly used basic sounds.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• extract and manipulate loops to create your own instruments and musical phrases
• work with your own recorded samples
• achieve a looser, more "human" feel
• add body and definition to drum sounds
• program basic sounds e.g. string pads, bass, electronic percussion.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You need basic computer skills: understand how to boot up your computer, find applications and files on your computer, use your mouse and keyboard, and use an internet browser.
You will also need to be able to read simple sentences and instructions without help and follow and contribute to basic discussions in English.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor demonstration and explanation, class discussion, followed by practical work on individual projects. You will present work in progress and receive feedback and support from your tutor and peers.
You will work in class on individual Mac workstations running Logic or GarageBand, but you will be able to export your projects to run on PCs and a variety of software. You will make best progress if you can work on your projects between sessions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Visit our Music technology: equipment advice page for more detailed information about hardware and software, so that you can ensure you have everything you need before you enrol.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Visit our Music production overview blog for a description of courses we offer during the year, and check our list of current courses. For further advice email the Music office .
Max’s musical training began in New York City where he was lucky enough to have major session musicians as neighbors in his building teaching him guitar as a child. By his early teens he was studying classical guitar, alongside theory and orchestration, at the High School of the Performing Arts. He relocated to Spain to further his classical guitar studies under the esteemed guitarist/ teacher Jose Tomas. While there Max ran a commercial recording studio, where he began immersing himself in the emerging digital technologies. After moving to London, he continued working as a session musician. He has recorded, toured and collaborated with artists including Kevin Ayers, Paul Weller, Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction), Jah Wobble, Carl Barat (Libertines) and Marc Almond. In 2011 he was commissioned to compose recitatives and an aria for a production of “The Coronation of Poppea” by the Théatre du Châtelet in Paris which centered around virtual instruments and sampling delivered by multiple computers live on stage with the players. Max continues working with artists of every genre in mixing, sound design, drum programming, bass and keyboards.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
