Guides to make music, practise and progress
General guides Rehearsal Recording & production DJ
You learn music by making it. Whether you’re a DJ, musician, singer, producer or simply curious about getting started, you’ll find advice, ideas and resources here to help you start, practise and progress at your own pace.
Because you don’t need to be a professional, or even experienced, to make music. Sometimes, you just need to start.
General guides
Do you need to prove anything to make music?
Skill, technique, performance, other people’s opinions… Why should you have to meet certain conditions before simply making music and giving it a place in your life?
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What really makes a good music studio?
Acoustics, soundproofing, equipment, lighting, comfort… A good studio is about much more than gear. Discover what really helps create an environment where you can focus and make music.
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How do you keep making music?
Progress, other people, practical constraints, breaks… Music doesn’t always have the same place in your life. How do you keep making music without always having to do it the same way?
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Rehearsal guides
First rehearsal, sound balance, organisation… Learn how to play better with other musicians and help your band progress from one rehearsal to the next.
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Your first band rehearsal: how to prepare
How many songs should you prepare, how much time should you allow and how can you start genuinely playing together from the very first session?
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How to hear each other in rehearsal
Volume, musician placement, amp direction, vocals and frequencies: how do you build a clear band sound without getting into a volume war?
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How to rehearse effectively as a band
Plan the session, work on difficult sections, organise your time and prepare for a live show without losing the enjoyment of playing together.
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Recording & production guides
First recording, music production, mixing, mastering… Learn how to capture clean source material, build a track and make its individual parts work together through to the final stage.
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How do you record your first song?
Microphone, audio interface, software, first tracks… See how a first recording actually works and why the first steps are much more accessible than they may seem.
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Music production: how do you produce a track as a beginner?
Tracks, audio, MIDI, arrangement, recording, EQ, compression… Learn how to bring different elements together and gradually give them a place until they form a complete track.
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Mixing and mastering: what’s the difference?
Individual tracks, levels, EQ, compression and the stereo mix… Understand what really separates mixing from mastering and the role of each stage in finishing a track.
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Home studio or recording studio: which should you choose?
Gear, acoustics, budget, final result… Compare both approaches and find out when a home studio is enough and when a studio really makes the difference.
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DJ guides
Mixing fundamentals, set building, equipment and the move to CDJs… Learn to DJ, develop your track selection and gradually prepare for a club setup.
How do you become a DJ?
Where do you start, what do you need to learn, what equipment do you need and how do you progress? Explore the main steps from your first mixes to developing your DJ skills.
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What equipment do you need to learn to DJ?
Controller, headphones, speakers, XDJ or CDJs… Find out what a beginner DJ really needs and why you don’t necessarily need to own everything to start.
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How do you learn to DJ?
BPM, beatmatching, phrasing, headphones, gain, EQ and transitions: the fundamentals you actually need to start.
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How do you build a DJ set?
Track selection, order, energy, preparation and improvisation: turn individual tracks into a set that actually develops.
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From controller to CDJs: what really changes?
USB, navigation, waveforms, controls and workflow: find your way around a club setup without feeling as if you are starting again.
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