EDM Songwriting & Production
Adam Pollard aka Multiplier returns with a powerhouse 3-hour tutorial series that teaches you the important fundamentals of EDM songwriting and production. Experience and learn how to create your own pulsing, grooving, and inspiring EDM Tracks!
Videos
• Introduction (00:53) - Introduction to the EDM-focused theory and practice that we’ll cover in this course.
• EDM Structure & Arrangements (04:16) - This video explores phrasing and how EDM tracks are structured.
• Locators & Color Coding (05:39) - You have many tools available to help with structure and arrangements, locators and color coding.
• Kick Drums Explained (08:45) - Kick drums are massively important in EDM, and this video explains the key components of those kicks.
• Using & Creating Kicks (13:38) - This video demonstrates using fades with kick samples, then how to make a kick drum from scratch.
• Writing Synth Parts (11:35) - We discuss creating melody variations, counterpoint melody, syncopation, and arpeggios.
• MIDI Writing Shortcuts & Arpeggiators (09:56) - This video covers the tools to help you write synth parts, demonstrates some midi writing shortcuts, and explores arpeggiators.
• Understanding Bass (07:31) - Let’s explore the kick-bass relationship, then how harmonics work and how this effects sound design and mixing.
• Bass Processing Tools (12:36) - You can use sidechain compression to control the kick-bass relationship, then distortion and filtering to shape harmonics.
• Builds Explained (09:50) - This video will teach you how builds work in terms of timing and tension.
• Let's Make a Build (10:56) - Let’s create a build from scratch using the theory outlined in the preceding video.
• Groove & Quantization (05:03) - This video shows you how to write parts ‘off the grid.’
• How to Apply Groove & Humanization (07:53) - There are different ways we can add groove, including drum loops, recording, midi editing, and effects.
• Reverb & Delay (07:36) - What are reverb and delay, and how do we use them in EDM?
• Reverb Workflows & Delay Types (09:45) - This video demonstrates how we can creatively use reverb, and also shows how to use two standard delay types.
• Sound Effects Explained (05:00) - Let’s explore the uses of sound effects in EDM music: guiding the listener, filling up the mix, and building anticipation.
• Using & Creating Sound Effects (10:03) - This video demonstrates some tricks when using sound effect samples, and how to make a sound effect from scratch.
• Understanding Dynamics in EDM (06:12) - This video looks at dynamics—and sometimes the lack thereof—in EDM.
• Dynamic Processing Tools (07:21) - We can shape dynamics using limiters and compressors.
• Stereo Width Explained (05:25) - Let’s talk about the stereo image, and how to approach it in EDM.
• Stereo Imaging Tools (05:14) - This video explores tools available to shape the stereo image, including panning and unison.
• Approaches to Songwriting (05:12) - There are two different approaches for songwriting in EDM.
• Automation Tricks & Audio Routing Options (10:52) - We end the series with a demonstration of useful automation techniques and audio routing workflows.