What is modulation in music production? Learn how the different modulation effects and techniques can make your music more interesting. What are Modulation Effects in Music Production? Modulation effects change the property of sound over time. Waveform properties include frequency, amplitude, timbre, wavelength, time, phase, and velocity. The modulation of these characteristics produces a sense of movement, dimension, and depth. Modulation alone is not an effect. It’s a process audio effects and musical instruments use to manipulate sounds. Modulation requires a source signal called a modulato ..read more

How well do you know Ableton Live? Test your music production knowledge with our 20-question quiz. Score 80% or higher to pass this quiz and prove you’re an Ableton Live Guru! Are you an expert at Ableton Live or a novice looking to improve your music production skills? Take the quiz to find out. Start quiz {{#if has_image}} {{#if image:description}} {{image:description}} {{/if}} {{/if}} {{$answers}} {{#if has_answer_with_image}} {{#if has_image}} {{#if image:description}} {{image:description}} {{/if}} {{/if}} {{/if}} {{answer_title}}  {{/answers}} {{/questions}} Continue ..read more

Learn how to make a hip hop beat in Ableton Live. This beginner’s guide to beat-making takes you through the steps. FREE Live project download included! TABLE OF CONTENTS What do I Need to Make Beats? How To Make A Hip Hop Beat? Conclusion Hip hop is one of the most popular music genres in the world. Here are ten hip hop production tips using Ableton Live. We’ve also provided an example Live 10 project containing the MIDI clips created in this tutorial. Download the project FREE. Download “Hip Hop Beat Project” Hip-Hop-Beat-Project.zip – Downloaded 1 time – What do I Need to Make Bea ..read more

This basic music theory guide looks at fundamental concepts musicians use to understand, analyze, and create music. TABLE OF CONTENTS What is Music Theory? How to Learn Music Theory? What Is Harmony in Music? What Is Melody in Music? What Is Rhythm in Music? The Benefits of Music Theory: Why Study Music Theory? The Fundamentals of Music Theory (Music Theory for Dummies) Conclusion What is Music Theory? Music theory is a practice musicians use to understand and communicate the language of music. Musical theory examines the fundamentals of music. It also provides a system to interpret ..read more

What is a hook in a song? Learn why hooks are effective and how to write a catchy hook for your song in this basic music theory guide. What Is a Hook in a Song? A song hook is a short lyrical line or melodic phrase used to catch the listener’s ear and make a song engaging. It’s attention-grabbing, catchy, and makes the song memorable. Musical hooks are most evident in styles like rap, hip-hop, R&B, pop, rock, and dance music. They’re typically four or eight bars in length and repeat multiple times throughout a song. Moreover, hooks can be lyrical, melodic, rhythmic, or instrumental. They s ..read more

What is mastering in music? Learn what audio mastering involves and why it’s essential to master your music. TABLE OF CONTENTS What Is Mastering in Music and Why Is It Important? Stereo Mastering vs. Stem Mastering Why Is Audio Mastering Important? What Is the Difference Between Mixing and Mastering? Mastering Yourself vs. a Mastering Engineer Common Misconceptions About the Mastering Process Conclusion What Is Mastering in Music and Why Is It Important? Audio mastering is the final step in the music production process. It’s the post-production process of optimizing music and prepari ..read more

Find ten of the best headphones for music production in this Icon Picks roundup. This buyer’s guide also explains the different headphone types to help you choose the right pair of cans for the job. Photo by Neumann What are Studio Headphones? Studio headphones are an essential monitoring tool for music production, recording, mixing, and mastering. However, there’s a difference between standard and studio headphones. Studio headphones are designed for accuracy, comfort, and durability. In contrast, consumer headphones accentuate frequencies, like bass and treble. They don’t give you an accurat ..read more

What is a diminished chord? Learn how to make diminished chords and use them to spice up your chord progressions in this basic music theory guide. Knowing how to use diminished chords will open creative doors and expand your songwriting. TABLE OF CONTENTS What is a Diminished Chord? How to Make a Diminished Chord? How to Use Diminished Chords in Your Progressions Where to Use Diminished Chords Diminished Chord Chart  Example of Diminished Chord Progressions Conclusion What is a Diminished Chord? A diminished chord is a triad built from the root note, minor third, and a diminishe ..read more

Learn how to build a DIY vocal booth that won’t break the bank. This step-by-step guide shows you how to make four cheap recording booths for your home studio. TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Cheap DIY Vocal Booth Options for Your Recording Studio 1. How to Build a Closet Vocal Booth 2. How to Build a Mattress Vocal Booth 3. How to Build a Blanket Vocal Booth 4. How to Make a Portable Vocal Booth Do I Need a DIY Vocal Booth? Conclusion 4 Cheap DIY Vocal Booth Options for Your Recording Studio Full-sized commercial vocal booths are expensive. That’s why many artists opt to build a DIY recordin ..read more

What is audio saturation, and what are the best saturation plugins? This Icon Picks roundup features 20 saturation effects that will harmonically enhance your music. What is Saturation in Music? Audio saturation is an effect that generates harmonics and applies soft-clipping compression. Saturation is also the essence of what makes analog hardware sound musical and pleasing. Driving sounds through tape, tubes, transistors, and circuits have long been an essential ingredient in great-sounding mixes. The effect originates from the analog days when audio recordings ran through various pieces of ..read more