Jame’s Patrick just announce that he’s closing Slam Academy here in Minneapolis. The reason he is doing so me because a chorus of former students and employees speaking of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment at the school have reached a critical mass here in Minneapolis that was unable to be ignored.

It’s not clearly stated in this statement, so to be perfectly clear, the “inappropriate behavior”, the “conduct falling short of professional boundaries” and the “failure” is all James Patrick.

I’m sharing this here simply so that it is on record. As of right now Slam Academy (James Patrick) is still offering a retreat for students to his family’s Mexican home/compound in Cozumel (they recently moved there), and he surely will be continuing to stay active as a teacher in this community under the Slam Academy umbrella. There has not been any indication given to this Minneapolis community that this behavior will continue, nor has there been any accountability taken with the community the victims of his and his wife’s behavior and actions.

So, a few months ago, I decided I wanted to try and create my own Serum 2 skin (mostly inspired by seeing ones included in sample and preset packs and whatnot). After a bunch of google searching, it seemed like the whole process was honestly kind of tedious for what I felt like should be a relatively simple procedure. I tried out a few resources made by other community members, but to be honest the interfaces were overwhelming and the workflow just wasn't really any less tedious than editing each asset on its own.

Anyway, one thing led to another and I basically ended up making my own editor which was originally intended just for personal use and some friends who make sample and preset packs, but I've been adding little things here and there and am super happy with where it's at right now and the depth and detail it allows you to personalize. As a producer myself, I obviously love personalizing my tools (guitars, amps, stickers, slapping my logo on just about anything, etc.) and making things feel personal to me is a big part of feeling connected to my brand identity, so I wanted to share that with y'all <3

I finally got around to putting it up for download; it's called Skynthesis (Skin + Synthesis lol). You can download it for free at skynthesis.app

• the editor is completely free, so go crazy with it <3
• there is a feature that takes your inputted assets (or can pull from copyright-free online sources) and will use those to create a skin for you. i've put a lot of time into trying to make sure color palettes stay within visually appealing bounds and pictures are placed somewhat logically, though it's not perfect yet by any means. you can freely adjust anything you don't like after the rendering job is done to better suit your design preferences though. i'm fronting each install with 3 Skynthesize runs, as it does cost me money to personally keep it running the way it's designed, but if you'd like to support the app you can get the "Pro" (i didn't know what else to call it lol) version which unlocks unlimited renders and also gives the app a bit of a makeover
  • see attached photos for examples of skins made with Skynthesize

I programmed most of it myself in python, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get some help from Claude (mostly on tedious repetitive shit i don't want to spend half a day doing, or when I got stuck on something and needed some technical assistance). I'm not like a cracked programmer or anything so it's not what I'd call "optimized", but I'll keep working on making that better over time.

Some things I'm pretty proud of are of course the Skynthesize feature, but also figuring out how to get the knob-faces to spin along with the values. I noticed this didn't really work in other skins, but it felt like a no-brainer for things like wheels, discs, whatever other circular design you can think of, that should be able to spin. Also getting everything to crop cleanly for editing was a pain, but I think I did a pretty solid job tbh. I can go more into how I ended up working any of that out if anyone's interested!

Please let me know if you have any questions or just wanna chat about it, I'd be more than happy to! Can't wait to see what cool designs y'all come up with!

- chendrix

Just hit 10 months of learning production and I feel like I’m hitting a point where multiple skills are coming together at once and it’s a really cool feeling.

A few months ago I struggled with pretty much everything. Arrangements didn’t really flow, filling the spectrum was something I had to actively think about, it was easy to overcrowd everything, I didn’t understand how to space sounds out at all, didn’t know which notes to play the bass in to have it translate well. Drums were difficult to figure out. Just every part of it was pretty difficult.

Last couple weeks everything is just sort of clicking at the same time. Arrangement is now intuitive and probably one of my strongest skills, finding space for sounds isn’t nearly as hard, drum variation feels more intuitive. Sound design while composing the song feels so intuitive. Idk I’m just at a really fun point and I hope to keep hitting points like this as I improve.

I think the main thing was I stopped thinking I needed permission to do things in a certain way. There isn’t a black and white wrong or right way for a lot of things. Just takes time experimenting.

Anyone else experience this? I assume this is a normal progression of your skills and taste starting to align. I hope I get this feeling over and over.

Heres the song that made me realize I’m actually improving a bit

https://on.soundcloud.com/pzbaZUfQ1JFfDud5Pp

There’s a saw(?) lead in the first drop starting at around 1 min (https://youtu.be/gkz2l2khcHE?is=a0Te-XR6MGqKno7w ) and plays throughout the first drop. It’s not a typical supersaw but has more of a humming characteristic and a phaser/freq shift effect on top. I can’t figure it the lead out in serum. It sounds way more buzzy/hummy than a typical supersaw, which I don’t think it is. Any helps appreciated on this bc it’s nasty

I know it’s simple, I just can’t get close and it’s driving me insane. Calibre is a mad genius

This recurring thread is where you may share or request services you have to offer to the edmproduction community. Post your programs and plugins, your mastering/teaching/coaching/artwork services, your website/tutorials, your preset/sample packs, your labels- anything but actual music itself.

Rules:

1. No posting music. No posting your soundcloud when you're looking for labels, no ghost production; nothing that constitutes you selling or sharing your own created tracks.
2. Spam will not be tolerated. Repeated postings for the same product/service in the same thread will not be allowed, but you are welcome to post again in newer threads.
3. Mark very clearly whether you're requesting or offering services, and if you're offering them, whether those services are paid or free.

As with the rest of the subreddit, final decisions over what constitutes an acceptable posting here will be at the sole discretion of the mods.

So I’ve never made edm music before but I have been writing music for 8 years, guitar and vocals. I have a microphone and was recording independently on my computer a while ago but I stopped eventually because I didn’t want to release a song that’s only guitar and vocals, I want them to be complete.

I started listening to EDM this year and it’s quickly become some of my favourite music. I really want to try to make a song and translate parts of my existing songs into edm, I think it would be a blast and I honestly think I’ll fall in love with it.

What equipment and software would I need to get started? As I said I already have a microphone and I also have a pretty beefy gaming computer if that’s at all relevant. I can also share a couple inspiration songs if that helps too.

Thank you to anyone taking their time to help me out :)

I am wondering about the wide stereo bass that starts at 45 seconds. First I would like a help with analyzing it and then about creating it. It feels a bit "machine" like to me. Is there a term for that kind of bass or something, some youtube videos? I'm not even sure how are the notes.. are they 1/16th, or sustained notes with autiomation.. not sure. Ty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgtYUuoMcyE&list=RDMgtYUuoMcyE&start_radio=1

This is going to be long but I first got into house and EDM when I was 12 and I knew this is what I wanted to do. I live in the south so it’s not often creativity is supported. My friends and family were always discouraging me about it and telling me it wouldn’t go anywhere and I thought maybe they were right so I didn’t touch it for 9 years. Now, at 21, I am done giving a fuck. I got a ddjflx4, I’m mixing, and am currently working on a track in GarageBand but I just started so I still suck lol. Is there anyone in this subreddit that is willing to take a young buck like me under their wing? 😆

So I use splice pretty exclusively for vocals, drum samples and presets to re-work. I like skimming through presets on splice until I find a sound I like. I almost always re-design the presets to the point they are un-recognizable. The preset just gives me inspiration and vison. Landr does not have presets like that, so that is my biggest drawback of canceling splice. I do like the idea of moving away from Disrokid. I just want some input from others that know the difference or which is better as a whole for distribution. I do like that landr is less saturated. Maybe I keep splice for presets, landr for vocals and lose distro? Lets hear opinions. Maybe there's other options. My biggest need here are better vocals. I'm a solo hobby producer. I'm not willing to pay a bunch of money to record vocalists or spend 50$ on a accapella vocal recording to make a song. I just want options for vocals, and not have to Frankenstein different short vocal samples into something cohesive. I want full length vocals for an actual song. Not just a beat. Any tips, ideas or suggestions? Appreciate it!

Please post any and all [Feedback] or [Listen] type threads here. Any standalone threads that belong in this weekly post will be removed.

This thread is for works in progress only. It is not a place for self-promotion.

Rules:

1. Works in progress only. Do not post finished or released tracks. No links to Spotify, Bandcamp, SoundCloud profiles, or any other streaming/distribution platforms. Share a direct link to your track (e.g. an unlisted SoundCloud or YouTube link).
2. No self-promotion. Do not include links to your social media, artist pages, or any other promotional material in your post.
3. Make an effort to comment on other people's tracks. Others are much more likely to help you if you help them first.
4. Be specific when asking for feedback. Examples: "What do you think about this kick sample?" "How's the mix?" "The last measure feels a little off, any ideas?"
5. Be descriptive when giving feedback. Use timecodes to highlight specific moments.
6. Link to the feedback you've left in your top-level comment. This keeps the thread accountable and cooperative. Comments not following this format will be automatically removed.

Format your top-level comment like this:

Feedback for user1: [link]

Feedback for user2: [link]

Feedback for user3: [link]

Here's my track: [link],

I'm looking for feedback on x, y or z.

Hey All!

If I am new getting into this... does it really matter what kind of keyboard/pad hardware I get?

I am looking at used AKAI, Arturia... etc etc.. 37 / 49 etc keyboard, drum pad, other knobs, sliders kind of keyboards.

In 2026 is that still the move? What should I get for a good mix of being able to just WORK and make songs, but maybe also the equipment is useful for "live" play?

I appreciate you. Thank you.

Hey everyone!

I'm relatively new to music production and currently learning Ableton Live 12.

I'm looking for some genuinely good, high-quality tutorials (YouTube or paid courses) that walk you through the entire process of producing a track from scratch to a finished song.

I'm mainly interested in melodic techno, melodic house, progressive trance, ambient electronic music, or similar genres. Nothing too hard, aggressive, or overly commercial. I prefer melodic, atmospheric, and emotional electronic music.

I've already come across quite a few tutorials on YouTube, but honestly, a lot of them seem pretty low quality. Many just show someone clicking around, throwing samples together, or making a quick loop without really explaining the creative process or why they're making certain decisions.

What I'm looking for:

• A complete track produced from start to finish, not just an 8-bar loop.
• Clear explanations of sound selection, arrangement, melodies, harmonies, transitions, mixing, etc.
• Someone who actually teaches music production rather than just showing off what they can do.
• Ideally something beginner-friendly, but with enough depth to develop proper production skills.
• Free or paid tutorials are both fine, as long as the quality is worth it.

I don't mind spending several hours following a tutorial. In fact, I'd prefer something detailed where I can follow along and actually understand the process.

My goal isn't just to copy someone else's track, but to understand how electronic music is built so I can eventually produce my own music.

Any recommendations for YouTube channels, specific tutorials, or structured courses would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

On some serious discussion, how are you guys using minimeters in your production and using it as a tool? Lets leave out the "oh it's just for aesthetics" comments.

I have a Serum patch using Cmb Square wave and it sounds good but there’s abit of a harsh buzz at around 10k range. Ableton’s built in EQ isn’t fine enough to get rid of it without taking away from the sound and I can’t really buy something as good as ProQ4 right now. Have you guys got any free alternatives that will be able to punch out the harsh frequencies?

Hi everyone! I produce music in the Indie Dance genre.
How can I make a kick drum sound more focused? I’ve noticed that in other tracks, the main punch sits in the lower-midrange - though I can’t pinpoint exactly where - even though I’ve always assumed the focus should be on the 55-70 Hz range. I typically apply a high-pass filter at 40 Hz (24 dB/octave). Also, in other tracks, the core impact area of ​​the kick seems to be "inflated" or pushed forward- even when heard in mono. What could be causing this?

Curious to see the range of musical "imagination" here, I've heard of there being people who can hear orchestras in their head, and I think it's an interesting topic

I've always had a suspicion mine is pretty low but last night kinda proved it for me. I'm away from my gear for another few days and in the meantime I've just been trying to create in my head to see how far/detailed I can get with an idea. And it's not very far lol

I've always been lucky if I can even get a chord progression or melody in my head before I touch a daw or instrument. What I found in my "experiments" is that no matter how hard I try, that still holds true. Despite that, my musical memory, like being able to "listen" to a song in my head is pretty stellar, which conflates the process because if I do come up the smallest bit of an idea, it'll immediately default to a song I've heard before.

This isn't really something that holds me back, not something I believe can be changed, I just use an instrument or the DAW to shape my song as I go. Interestingly, if I can hear a progression playing, it is very easy to create a melody in my head over it.

Anyway, I thought it'd make for an interesting discussion. One thing I also considered is how most people process a song as a sum of its parts and if we choose to want to isolate an instrument or part, we lose clarity of the other parts.

Also makes me wonder if something like this could be trained.

I I met a guy last week who runs a fairly big label and he told me that if they detect even the slightest use of AI in the demos they receive, they’ll block the artist. Fair enough imo but later that night I started wondering how you could actually prove to a label that no AI was used in your demos.

Because if one false assumption by someone listening to your tracks could get you flagged for AI usage, potentially across multiple labels, I’m obviously keen to find a way to prove that I don’t use it.

But how? Unfortunately, I didn’t think to ask the label boss about this during our conversation.

Please post any and all [Feedback] or [Listen] type threads here. Any standalone threads that belong in this weekly post will be removed.

This thread is for works in progress only. It is not a place for self-promotion.

Rules:

1. Works in progress only. Do not post finished or released tracks. No links to Spotify, Bandcamp, SoundCloud profiles, or any other streaming/distribution platforms. Share a direct link to your track (e.g. an unlisted SoundCloud or YouTube link).
2. No self-promotion. Do not include links to your social media, artist pages, or any other promotional material in your post.
3. Make an effort to comment on other people's tracks. Others are much more likely to help you if you help them first.
4. Be specific when asking for feedback. Examples: "What do you think about this kick sample?" "How's the mix?" "The last measure feels a little off, any ideas?"
5. Be descriptive when giving feedback. Use timecodes to highlight specific moments.
6. Link to the feedback you've left in your top-level comment. This keeps the thread accountable and cooperative. Comments not following this format will be automatically removed.

Format your top-level comment like this:

Feedback for user1: [link]

Feedback for user2: [link]

Feedback for user3: [link]

Here's my track: [link],

I'm looking for feedback on x, y or z.

Hey guys! So, I just curious about wich DAW everyone uses and why

I been producing for some years now and I used 4 DAWs so far, Fl Studio, Ableton, Pro Tools and Reaper

Being Ableton My favourite of them all

I wanted to know wich daw do you use and why you choose that one, what it gives to you that the others don't. Is because of the Workflow? the visuals? the native plugins?

Let me know :)

This seems too good to be true. Has anyone tried one of these? How the hell are they not getting latency?

This song really captures the kind of sound I’m going for but hard to find YouTube tutorials for it so hoping anybody can point me in the right direction. Thanks!

The song

Please post any and all [Feedback] or [Listen] type threads here. Any standalone threads that belong in this weekly post will be removed.

This thread is for works in progress only. It is not a place for self-promotion.

Rules:

1. Works in progress only. Do not post finished or released tracks. No links to Spotify, Bandcamp, SoundCloud profiles, or any other streaming/distribution platforms. Share a direct link to your track (e.g. an unlisted SoundCloud or YouTube link).
2. No self-promotion. Do not include links to your social media, artist pages, or any other promotional material in your post.
3. Make an effort to comment on other people's tracks. Others are much more likely to help you if you help them first.
4. Be specific when asking for feedback. Examples: "What do you think about this kick sample?" "How's the mix?" "The last measure feels a little off, any ideas?"
5. Be descriptive when giving feedback. Use timecodes to highlight specific moments.
6. Link to the feedback you've left in your top-level comment. This keeps the thread accountable and cooperative. Comments not following this format will be automatically removed.

Format your top-level comment like this:

Feedback for user1: [link]

Feedback for user2: [link]

Feedback for user3: [link]

Here's my track: [link],

I'm looking for feedback on x, y or z.