Halim Zeid’s a Cairo-based techno producer who only started making music in 2021, but you’d never know it from the quality of his tracks! He’s self-taught, super resourceful, and swears by YouTube tutorials over pricey courses. We caught up with him to chat about his go-to gear (shoutout to the Beyerdynamic headphones gifted by his wife), why he always produces based on mood, and how RepostExchange helped him level up his sound.

How long have you been producing music and how did you learn?

I have been producing music since 2021. I was too bad when I started, so, my actual 'good' first track was by the end of 2022. I self-learnt how to produce. I took a course on Udemy to learn a DAW, then a course for Music Theory for EDM. I still watch tutorials to improve my production skills.

What DAW(s) do you use and why?

I use Ableton. I did some research before I started music production, because usually DAWs cost a lot… So, I loved the serious UI! It makes you feel like you actually are working on something, not playing around!

What are your favourite pieces of gear and why?

Speakers and Headphones! You can do everything with a mouse and keyboard. Still, I have a few pads that help me with creating a more innovative atmosphere, tones and melodies. 

I changed my speakers once, the second time was a charm. I am very satisfied with my monitor's speakers now and I do not think I will upgrade them anytime soon. But, I had a longer journey with headphones. Until I received a gift from my wife that was, Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X! And these were the best headphones I have ever used!

What are your favourite software plugins and why?

I have two favourites: Serum and Diva.

I cannot choose a favourite. Because, Diva is the best plugin for having these subtle layers that would enrich your production. Muffled sounds that can be produced with analog plugins cannot be replicated digitally!

But, when it comes to the main melody and/or tone, I go for Serum! So, I always work with both. I used other plugins, but they are no match to both plugins in how frequent I use them.

How would you summarise your approach / workflow when creating a track?

I do not have a cookbook for production. Every tutorial would tell you, you need to have 'this and that', but I do not do it this way. The only thing that I am sure about when I start working on a track is my emotions! I create upon my current mood. If I am sad, it will be dark as hell! If I am happy, it will be groovy. So, every time I start producing, I really have no idea what will happen! And, this is what I love most about music production.

What resources do you use to improve your craft?

YouTube! This is the resource that you need! I paid hundreds of dollars for complete courses on PML and similar, but always felt this was a waste of time and money. YouTube is free and more to the point than any other resource. I do not want to watch a complete course that I know 90% of it! But, I can search on YouTube for whatever I want to know more about. It is more efficient and more fun.

What is the last YouTube tutorial you watched that you would recommend to other Re-Ex Members?

It was The Complete Guide To Master Serum by Zen World. Zen is a great instructor and he has the appeal to make learning fun. I also really rate EDM Tips on YouTube. However, here is the link for the latest tutorial I watched:

What knowledge or advice do you wish you'd learned earlier?

Vibes is a king. You choose the vibes, if it is dark, the whole track should be dark. If it is chilling, the whole track should be chilling… If it is happy, you see where it is going!

Second one, do not change your track’s melodies and tones frequently to make it sound more interesting. Stick to one melody or main theme, and add spices to it. Otherwise, it won’t be a track!

What challenges related to making music do you face and how do you overcome them?

Not finishing my track in one session! Keeping the same mood over multiple sessions is very challenging.
Feeling good about my track is another big challenge. I always do not like what I am producing! Like, what! This sounds like shit, even if everyone else praises it! If I do not link, I won’t publish it.

Can you share any killer tips or techniques?

Put your arp on the track. Change its frequency and pitch every now and then… This makes the track more dynamic.

Do you try and get feedback or suggestions to improve your music?

So, actual feedback? The only time I got negative feedback from a label that did not sound like a template was “your tracks are not on our label's level”. I swallowed it, and I insisted on getting better!

Which track are you most proud of and why?

Rabbit Holes… It is the most-selling for me on Beatport, and it won in Repost Exchange's #CertifiedFresh contest! ❤️

Has RepostExchange affected the way you make music?

I started my music career by making a few music sets. SoundCloud usually does not support any music sets. They never get amplified. So, the only way to get organic listens and comments is to use RepostExchange. All comments, likes and even rating on the platform itself received from RepostExchange’s community encouraged me to take my music to a newer level. 

Desert Island Gear (top 5 software or hardware)

Top left to right: iZotope Everything Bundle, FabFilter Pro-Q.
Middle: Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X.
Bottom left to right: Ableton Live 12, Diva.

Connect with Halim Zeid on SoundCloud and Instagram.

Want more? Sign up at RepostExchange.com.

This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity