Lesson 1 - Getting Started

Cubase is a powerful DAW for any genre but just like any other DAW it has it's own unique quirks and workflow to master. With guidance this process is made a lot easier. So 'let's do this!'

After a quick intro and setup, Lesson 1 of this beginners tutorial will see you start making a drum beat almost straight away. We'll start to explore this massive and very powerful DAW as we bring in our first sounds and get used to the main functions of Cubase.

Lesson 4 - Layering

Layering is a vital skill to master in any electronic genre. Making your music sound fuller and texturally interesting is essential for today's producer.

In lesson 4 you'll be learning more about the Sampler Track and how to use it to make your own playable musical instruments. Using layering to enhance one sound with another by adding layers of texture will make your tracks sound lush and full and will help them stand out.

Module 1 - Drums & Chords

After a short setup, your tutors Jay & Jon take you through where to find drums samples within Cubase 10 and exactly how to program an interesting down tempo drum loop from scratch. You'll learn all about the Sampler Track and how to keep this drum loop interesting for the listener throughout the track.

In the 2nd part, Jon shows you how to program a chord structure using chord pads, which doesn't require any musical theory knowledge whatsoever but still allows you to program awesome chord progressions.

Module 2 - Fleshing out the Track

In this module you'll really flesh out the track and learn to layer sounds together to create unique and luscious textures using a variety of techniques using Cubases powerful built in tools. Making a pad with synthesis in Retrologue 2 and expanding on your knowledge of the Sampler Track and making the track sound fuller. Bass is a vital part of any electronic genre. It brings warmth, adds low end energy and makes the dance floor erupt if done correctly. Using Cubase's in built Retrologue synth, you'll learn all about synthesis and how to create and program a fat bass line.

Module 3 - Plug in FX

Now we have all of the musical content we need to build our track it's time to sweeten up the sounds and help them fit in the mix better. You're going to learn all about how to give each element space using tools like EQ for corrective measures, reverb to generate a sense of depth and delay to widen and smear sounds together to help them blend into the track. You'll even learn advanced techniques like 'side chaining' which is vital to getting your track to sound good.

After learning how to use these tools, you'll understand when and where to use them in your own productions.

Module 4 - Arrangement

Giving your track a good arrangement is vital to keeping the listener engaged in your song from start to finish. So in this module we start programming a breakdown section to introduce tension and release. Dropping out instruments and filtering them back in is just part of it. Learning how to program an effective snare roll is another along with blending in sound FX samples like risers. Automation is the key to all this and you'll learn exactly how and when to use this vital tool.  

Module 5 - Vocals

This module is all about setting up, recording and editing live vocals. We briefly show you our vocal booth and how it can be made. We then show you how to set up Cubase in preparation for the singer's arrival ensuring the correct routing and levels. After recording several takes, Jon shows you how to easily 'comp' the best bits of each take take to make one final version. To polish the performance further we use Cubase's in built tools to correct the timing and the pitch, of course we EQ and compress and also add depth with delay.

Module 6 - Mixing & Mastering

Of course no one is going to want to listen to your track if it sounds like a mess. This is where learning to mix comes in. Luckily Cubase comes loaded with great plug ins that can help you get good results and make sure that the elements of your track are balanced and pleasing to listen to. Jon shows you the basics and what to look out for. Mastering is the final stage in the production process. Jay does a basic master to ensure the overall level is up to commercial standards and then renders out the track to be shared with the world.

Module 1 - Drums & Chords

After a short setup, your tutors Jay & Jon take you through where to find drums samples within Cubase 9.5 and exactly how to program an interesting down tempo drum loop from scratch. You'll learn all about the Sampler Track and how to keep this drum loop interesting for the listener throughout the track.

In the 2nd part, Jon shows you how to program a chord structure using chord pads, which doesn't require any musical theory knowledge whatsoever but still allows you to program awesome chord progressions.

Module 2 - Fleshing out the Track

In this module you'll really flesh out the track and learn to layer sounds together to create unique and luscious textures using a variety of techniques using Cubases powerful built in tools. Making a pad with synthesis in Retrologue 2 and expanding on your knowledge of the Sampler Track and making the track sound fuller. Bass is a vital part of any electronic genre. It brings warmth, adds low end energy and makes the dance floor erupt if done correctly. Using Cubase's in built Retrologue synth, you'll learn all about synthesis and how to create and program a fat bass line.

Module 3 - Plug in FX

Now we have all of the musical content we need to build our track it's time to sweeten up the sounds and help them fit in the mix better. You're going to learn all about how to give each element space using tools like EQ for corrective measures, reverb to generate a sense of depth and delay to widen and smear sounds together to help them blend into the track. You'll even learn advanced techniques like 'side chaining' which is vital to getting your track to sound good.

After learning how to use these tools, you'll understand when and where to use them in your own productions.

Module 4 - Arrangement

Giving your track a good arrangement is vital to keeping the listener engaged in your song from start to finish. So in this module we start programming a breakdown section to introduce tension and release. Dropping out instruments and filtering them back in is just part of it. Learning how to program an effective snare roll is another along with blending in sound FX samples like risers. Automation is the key to all this and Jon explains exactly how and when to use this vital tool.  

Module 5 - Vocals

This module is all about setting up, recording and editing live vocals. We briefly show you our vocal booth and how it can be made. We then show you how to set up Cubase in preparation for the singer's arrival ensuring the correct routing and levels. After recording several takes, Jon shows you how to easily 'comp' the best bits of each take take to make one final version. To polish the performance further we use Cubase's in built tools to correct the timing and the pitch, of course we EQ and compress and also add depth with delay.

Module 6 - Mixing & Mastering

Of course no one is going to want to listen to your track if it sounds like a mess. This is where learning to mix comes in. Luckily Cubase comes loaded with great plug ins that can help you get good results and make sure that the elements of your track are balanced and pleasing to listen to. Jon shows you the basics and what to look out for. Mastering is the final stage in the production process. Jay does a basic master to ensure the overall level is up to commercial standards and then renders out the track.