I’ve been producing music for a long time, going on about 10 years. I first got interested in music by playing the guitar and then started messing around with FL Studio right about the same time that I found dubstep in the early 2010s.
I use Ableton Live because the workflow is unmatched. Outside of music, I do software development, and one of my main takeaways is that anything you can do to streamline your workflow will pay off heavily.
For producing, I would say my favourite piece of gear is my Beyerdynamics DT 1990’s. I have monitors as well but I find myself always reaching for these headphones because they replicate stereo space so well. I also use SonarWorks' Reference to tame the high end because they can get pretty harsh.
The plugin that has helped my music the most is Voxengo Span. It helps me visualize my mixes and compare them to reference tracks. As you learn to produce, your ears aren’t quite adjusted to all the aspects of a good mix, so having visual feedback is super important.
Sometimes I have an idea that I set out to create, but most of the time I start by trying something new and different in Vital or Serum. When I have a piece of sound design that I really like, building a whole track out of it becomes the easy part.
I watch a lot of YouTube videos and streams. For example Ahee, Mr Bill, and Decap. Also, I’m subscribed to other producer’s Patreons which have been super helpful! I recommend Infekt’s Masterclass because it’s very organized and detailed.
I would recommend Ahee’s walkthrough of his track 'Dungeon Master' which won Subtronics's Splice contest.
I wish I would have learned how to effectively use reference tracks and how important it is in getting competitive mixes! This tutorial helped me a lot.
My main challenge is simply not having enough time to invest in making music. Working a full-time job, playing shows, and having a social life all eat away at creative time. I’m working on setting boundaries and dedicating a little bit of time every day to being creative.
Resampling to audio and then post-processing in Ableton is so clutch. Most of my sound design these days is happening outside of the synth because I love messing with the warping modes, chopping, and stretching audio.
I use Splice which helps a lot when looking for inspiration. Sometimes I’ll just scroll through a list of samples on there and come up with an idea for a track.
Yes! I always try to get feedback and really internalize the feedback, positive or negative. I mostly use Discord and Twitter to reach out to other producers or friends who I know would give honest and constructive feedback.
It’s not released yet! But the track I’m most proud of that is released is probably 'Blunt Force' because it always gets a big reaction when I play it out.
I think it has made me more confident in my production skills. Before promoting my tracks, it often felt like they were going unnoticed even though I put a ton of work into them. It’s really satisfying to hear peoples comments and see that your work is being appreciated!
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This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
