In The Studio

In the studio with Scafetta

This week, we catch up with Buffalo, NY-based DJ and producer Scafetta!

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Jaz from the RepostExchange Team

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

I have been producing music for about three years now. I learned through trial and error, and YouTube tutorials.

What DAW(s) do you use and why?

I started with GarageBand, but then moved over to Logic Pro X. After a year or so of using that, I moved over to Ableton Live, and I haven’t looked back since; it's very user-friendly and awesome to use.

What are your favourite pieces of gear and why?

My favorite pieces of gear are more so software rather than hardware. I use Serum religiously and lots of quality plugins to achieve the sound I want.

What are your favourite software plugins and why?

Favorite plugins are love Serum and Ozone 9. These two programs combined with Splice is a life/time saver.

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

Sometimes I start with the drop and finish that first, then move on to melody and everything else thereafter. Sometimes it can be the reverse of that and I start in the beginning with a drum pattern or so, and work up from there.

What resources do you use to improve your craft?

The resources I use now are mostly YouTube, some highly knowledgeable friends and just trial and error methods.

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

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

The knowledge I wish I had back then was how to use shortcuts for Ableton. By this, I mean learning all the ideas to make your life easier such as simple things on the keyboard for copy and pasting, as well as just moving around the daw at a much quicker speed.

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

Writer's block comes and goes for everyone. The best approach I recommend Is taking a quick break and doing something else for a bit. Come back to the music when you’re ready, don’t force it.

Can you share any killer tips or techniques?

My special tips are mostly, use automations - they are key with doing almost anything to your track. Experiment with all types of plugins and don’t be scared to leave your comfort zone.

Do you use any online tools to assist with the production process?

I typically chat with other bigger producers and see what tips they can share to me, and always send my tracks out for feedback. YouTube is also a great tool to use as you can find just about anything there.

Do you try and get feedback or suggestions to improve your music? If so, how?

I try to get feedback on all my tracks because if I don’t, how will I progress in my career as an artist?

Which track are you most proud of and why?

G1tch is probably my favorite track and the reason being is because it’s so different from a lot of the music today. That track took me on and off, about 5 months to complete.