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Ableton Live’s Meld device is a powerful bi-timbral synth that works slightly differently from other synths you might be familiar with. In this article, we demonstrate the fundamentals of Meld while recreating three classic electronic music sounds.

In this artist interview, we sit down with Gearmaster (FKA Abdul Raeva) to talk about the making of their Sample Market sample pack. It’s an insightful discussion, in which we also hear their use of samples in their own productions, favourite production tools, sound design processes, and much more.

Heard about sample layering but not sure how to get started? In this article, we take a look at four simple but effective sample layering techniques that will open up new sonic possibilities in your productions. Samples are a fundamental part of modern music production, and while there are countless high-quality samples available on the market, there are times when you may want to layer samples to create unique new sounds or solve common production problems. In this article, we'll explain why you might want to layer samples before demonstrating four sample layering techniques you can use to enhance your productions. We'll be using source samples from Sample Market's huge library of royalty-free samples. If you want to follow along, why not add some fresh samples to your collection before you get started?

Think you’ve perfected your Reese Bass sound design? Maybe you can still learn a thing or two from these advanced Reese Bass techniques. If you’ve listened to any electronic music over the past 30 years, you’ll have inevitably heard a Reese Bass. You may have even used the infamous bass sound in your own productions. There are plenty of Reese Bass samples out there, but you might want to take total control over your low end by synthesising your very own Reese Basses. In this article, we’ll dig into who made the first Reese Bass and how to create your own, before sharing four advanced Reese Bass techniques.

Are you missing out on microsampling? Whether you’ve never heard of microsampling or just aren’t sure where to start, you can check out the full article to brush up on your microsampling skills. In this article, we’ll explain what microsampling is and how it differs from the traditional sampling you might already be familiar with. We’ll then demonstrate four ways in which you can use microsampling to add life, texture, and interest to your productions. We’ll be using Ableton Live in this guide to microsampling, but you can use whichever DAW you’re most comfortable with. If you want to follow along with this microsampling guide, why not add some fresh new samples to your collection to get the inspiration flowing?

We’ve previously written about manually programming more groovy drums, but what if you want to use the power of MIDI to generate unique and interesting drum sequences that evolve over time? In this article, we’re going to explain what generative drum patterns are, and how you can start using them to add excitement and unpredictability to your productions.

In the world of electronic music, drums are widely regarded as one of the most fundamental components of a great record. Without properly selected, programmed, and mixed drums, there is a limit to how good a track can be. Groove is just one component of drum programming, but it can seriously make or break the overall feel and vibe of a track. With that in mind, we’ve compiled some top tips for getting more groove out of your drums.

For music producers and mix engineers of all skill levels and musical styles, getting your mix up to the appropriate loudness can be a complex and sometimes frustrating challenge. In this article, we’re going to discuss what loudness really means, and how you can use a few simple techniques to get louder mixes.

Whatever genre you’re working in and whichever DAW you use, the challenge of mixing bass to sound good on all speakers is probably familiar to you. As an electronic music producer, bass is arguably the most important element to get right, so it’s frustrating that it’s also one of the most difficult to nail.

In this article, we’ll discuss why mixing bass is so difficult, and what tools and techniques you can use to get your bass pumping on all speaker sizes and playback systems.

Stuck in the dreaded eight-bar loop? Got a five-minute track that gets boring after two? Improving your song arrangement skills is the cure. In this article, we cover ten top tips for more engaging song arrangements.