Music Production & DJ Diploma

Music Production (Ableton)

This module aims to develop your fundamental understanding of contemporary music production. You will learn technical production skills within a DAW that are central to the realisation of musical ideas: recording and editing MIDI and audio, pre-production considerations, drum programming, mixing, audio effects processing, automation and arrangement techniques. You will have the opportunity to conceive and execute a production project, applying creative, technical, project management and reflective skills to aid your development as a producer and for professional life beyond.

• The Production Process
• Ableton Live Overview
• Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony Production
• Drum Programming
• Pre-Production and File Management Techniques
• MIDI and Audio Processing Techniques
• Warping
• Introduction to Synthesis and Sampling
• Track Arrangement & Automation
• Mixing & Exporting
• MIDI Controllers and MIDI Mapping

Music Production (Logic)

This module aims to develop your fundamental understanding of contemporary music production. You will learn technical production skills within a DAW that are central to the realisation of musical ideas: recording and editing MIDI and audio, pre-production considerations, drum programming, mixing, audio effects processing, automation and arrangement techniques. You will have the opportunity to conceive and execute a production project, applying creative, technical, project management and reflective skills to aid your development as a producer and for professional life beyond.

• The Production Process
• Logic X Overview
• Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony Production
• Drum Programming
• Pre-Production and File Management Techniques
• MIDI and Audio Processing Techniques
• Flex Time & Flex Pitch
• Introduction to Synthesis and Sampling
• Track Arrangement & Automation
• Mixing & Exporting
• MIDI Controllers and MIDI Mapping

Compositional proficiency is a core skill for contemporary producers and artists, equipping them with the ability to realise their creative ambitions and make more informed production decisions, whilst helping them become professionally competitive. This module will explore the core elements of musical composition: rhythm, harmony, melody, structure, and arrangement. You will develop compositional techniques through practical application of music theory using music software. This module focuses explicitly on commercial western popular musical styles, genres and their aesthetics. You will have the opportunity to investigate technical and stylistic aspects of these styles and genres, developing their confidence and abilities in composition. You will gain experience in composing original musical elements and arranging these elements into a full composition.

• Commercial composition techniques
• Use of rhythm in drum beats and melodies
• Key, modes, and scales
• Use of harmony: chord sequences and modulation
• Use of melodies
• Writing basslines
• Composing musical ‘hooks’
• Form, structure and arrangement
• Listening and analysis

This module aims to provide an overview of the music industry: what are the different components and how do they operate and interlink? You will develop an awareness of different revenue sources, analysing areas including record labels, publishing, independent artists, digital distribution, and the varied ways that money flows through the industry. The importance and value of copyright will be explored, along with different music industry deals and agreements. The knowledge, skills, and understanding developed in this module will provide you with the foundation for a successful and sustainable career within the music industry.

• Introduction to the music industry
• Music copyrights
• Major and independent record labels
• Music publishers
• Music distribution and consumption
• Music streaming
• The independent artist route
• Artist management
• The live sector
• Contracts & agreements
• Negotiation skills
• Synchronisation

Technical proficiency is an important part of being a successful DJ as it allows creative ideas to be implemented effectively. This module aims to develop you into a competent DJ with a sound knowledge of mixing techniques and equipment. You will develop knowledge of a range of fundamental DJ concepts and principles. Practical skills such as beat matching, equalisation, and recording will be explored, and you will be able to apply music theory concepts in a DJ context. You will develop confidence in the live performance of music using a range of industry-standard DJ hardware/software and refine skills that can be used in your professional career.

• Equipment & Connections
• Cueing
• Drop Mixing
• Analogue Turntables
• Beat Matching
• Equalisation
• Transforming
• Back to Back Mixing
• Rekordbox (Export Mode)
• Music File Formats
• Programming Mixes
• Recording a Mix

This module will encourage creativity and experimentation in the approach to DJ-ing and equip you with performance and editing skills for a range of scenarios. You will be encouraged to develop a critical understanding of a range of creative DJ techniques and principles. You will develop knowledge of audio effects, harmonic mixing, and acapellas, as well as practical skills in the application of these in a DJ context. You will develop confidence in the live performance of music using a range of established creative DJ techniques. The module will introduce key creative DJ concepts and allow you to enhance your existing practical skills using industry-standard DJ hardware. You will also develop transferable skills in recording and editing using a DAW, as well as critical listening skills, which will be relevant to a range of professional scenarios.

• Harmonic Mixing
• Looping
• Backspinning
• Finger Drumming
• Hot Cues
• Effects
• Acapella Mixing
• Digital DJ Tricks
• Scratching Techniques
• Creating DJ Drops/Idents
• Audio editing
• Producing a Mix

This module aims to develop your understanding of how successful music is created through a process of analysis, research and practical application. You will develop an informed awareness of key movements and developments in music production and artistry through culture and technology. Analysis of landmark recordings, genre and production process will facilitate your ability to create authentic musical examples which adhere to specific industry briefs. What are the landmark production styles that underpin genres, how do they influence musical innovation and what can be learnt from this?

• Production roles and artistry
• Landmark productions study
• Development of music technology
• Genre studies
• Framework for music analysis
• Underground and mainstream culture
• Production aesthetics
• Creative sampling and interpolation
• Cultural recycling and referentiality

Creative Production & Remix aims to encourage you to start developing a signature sound whilst working with a top-line vocal. This module will give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to production. How can different creative approaches be combined with technical skills to develop a unique style? The concept of remixing is explored, both as a music industry practice and in the wider cultural context as a means of creative recycling. How does ‘remixing’ manifest in both music and other creative mediums and how can we utilise this as a source of inspiration? As a professional producer it is common to be asked to provide production or remix services for other artists whilst meeting a creative brief and deadline. This module is designed to prepare you for this scenario.

• Active listening and analysis
• Remix culture
• Production aesthetics and creative intention
• Production strategies
• Writing with vocals
• Advanced drum programming
• Creative effects, automation, sampling and resampling
• Form and structure
• Finalising a production

Mixing is a crucial stage in the production process and this module aims to develop your skills as a competent mix engineer. What are the processes, equipment, considerations, and techniques involved in creating professional-sounding commercial mixes? Critical listening will be developed alongside technical and creative skills which are essential to successful mixing and production. Mixing is a key skill for producers and offers a variety of potential career paths.

• Mixing Procedures and Techniques
• Critical Listening
• Signal Paths and Routing
• Aux Sends vs. Insert Processing
• Stereo Width
• Dynamic Processing
• Corrective and Creative Equalisation & Filters
• Timbre and Harmonics
• Creating Depth through Reverberation and Delay Effects
• Modulation Effects & Distortion
• Creative Mixing techniques

The Sound Design module is designed to facilitate your understanding of synthesis and sampling techniques through a practical exploration of modular software instruments. The module will provide a solid grounding in the principles of sound creation integral to all aspects of electronic music production and will also build the knowledge and skills that are necessary for those aiming to work within a range of digital audio and media environments. You will learn how to build your own modular software instrument, before using these to create a range of sounds that will be demonstrated within a compositional context.

• Physics of sound
• Signal flow and connectivity
• Synthesis types (subtractive, FM, Wavetable, Additive, granular)
• Sampling and resampling
• Use of effects
• Creation of sounds that are representative of a specific type
• Terminology

This module is designed to help you transfer your existing music production skills into a performance context to potentially increase the value of your artist profile and brand. It will explore the various methods for designing and creating a bespoke system that facilitates an engaging, fluid, and technically creative performance. You will explore the integration of hardware devices and controllers to manipulate sound and musical structure, working with a blend of prepared material and improvisation. The module seeks to introduce a further degree of musicianship and improved workflow back into existing studio-based practices. There are further vocational benefits to possessing technical knowledge and the ability to problem solve. Live performances can include edited online video presentations, a live-streaming concert or a gig at a music venue/club/festival.

• Session View in Ableton Live
• Live Loops area in Logic Pro X
• Multi-channel playback
• Live remixing
• Liveset design concepts
• Adapting production work for a performance
• Custom audio effects and instruments
• Live looping and composition
• Planning a set of music
• Working with hardware
• Building a show – use of technology and video
• Collaboration with other musicians/artists/techs

Mastering is the final stage before commercial release and this module will give you a perspective on these processes through the lens of a mastering engineer – how this process has developed in the digital age and the considerations across different audio platforms. You will develop knowledge of digital audio processes to maintain the highest sound quality throughout the various stages of the production process, gaining an insight into the requirements for producing suitable mixes ready for mastering. Critical listening skills which are crucial to every stage of the production and mixing process will be further developed.

• The role of the mastering engineer
• The physics of sound
• Monitoring
• Basic acoustics
• Critical listening
• The role of the mastering engineer
• The physics of sound
• Monitoring
• Basic acoustics
• Advanced dynamic processing
• Mid/side techniques
• Mastering for Streaming Platforms
• Audio Restoration Techniques

This module will enable you to develop a critical understanding of advanced DJ techniques, software applications, and performance hardware. The skills learned will enable you to perform confidently and creatively using a range of DJ systems. You will develop stylistic performance skills and the ability to apply these appropriately in a range of contexts. Knowledge will be developed that will enable critical evaluation of DJ technology and performances and prepare you for professional performance scenarios. You will be equipped with valuable transferable skills that can be utilised in a range of future music-based career paths.

• Rekordbox Performance Mode
• Traktor Pro
• Serato DJ Pro
• Sampling & Sequencing
• Live Remixing
• DJ Performance Hardware (DJS 1000, RMX 1000)
• Finger Drumming
• Promotion Tips
• Performance Preparation
• Advanced Scratching Techniques