Go Pro Sign In
Sign Up
X
Sign Up
X

Tips & Tricks for Creating Kicks and Basslines w/ ShadowStar

Tips & Tricks for Creating Kicks and Basslines w/ ShadowStar

X

Course Lessons

Course Preview

Introduction

Finding the Right Kick

How to Programme Basslines in the Style of Michael Bibi

Sound Selection & Post Processing

Recap & Live Q&A

About This Course

DJ and Producer Shadowstar shares his approach to finding and programming the right sounds for your track in Ableton Live. In this tutorial he covers the fundamentals of creating a kick and bassline, using a 909 and 808 as an example.

He teaches you to train your ear by relying on how a sound ‘feels’ within the mix, in turn allowing you to problem solve and figure out what your track is missing. He also answers your questions from the Facebook Community Inquiry.

You will learn how to:

  • Choose the right kick for your track.
  • Mix your kick and bass.
  • Select sounds and samples. 
  • Problem solve in figuring out what your track needs.
  • Program punchy basslines in the style of Michael Bibi. 
  • Build syncopated rhythms. 
  • Write a bassline using a 909 kick. 
  • Layer sounds to create impact. 
  • Use post-processing and ADSR to shape a sound. 
  • Use vinyl distortion as ‘glue’. 
  • Test different samples out in your track. 
  • Kick and Bass sound design.

Lessons: 

1. Introduction

Dylan goes over what he will be covering in this webinar. He takes a more philosophical angle in explaining how to connect with your sound and overcome any fears or anxieties you might have when starting off.  He discusses using a technique of active listening, where you focus on one sound and how to study it. Once you understand the characteristics of the sound and how to achieve them, you’ll be able to adapt it for use in your own music.

2. Finding the Right Kick

The kick is the driving force that provides a dictatorship towards your bassline. When deciding on what kick to use, Shadowstar covers using the ‘feeling’ vs. technical approach of choosing the right sound for your mix. He guides us through using a 909 sample as both the bass and the kick, as well as how to use transient shaping to get the sound you want and make sure the kick is cutting through your mix.

3. How to Programme Basslines in the style of Michael Bibi

Dylan goes through his 3 rules when it comes to creating a bassline: MIDI programming, sound selection and post-processing. He starts off with building a simple rhythm using 16th notes and a 909 kick to create a punchy bass sound. Finally, he talks about how you can layer sounds to create impact, as well as how to use additional elements in your track to create syncopation.

4. Sound Selection & Post Processing

Dylan helps you answer the question: What does my mix need? He goes through a variation of the first track, using an 808 kick this time. He discusses how sample selection plays an important role in the style of your track, going through an exercise where he tests different samples on his track to see which ones fit within the mix. He explains his process of sound selection which begins with: deciding what characteristics you’re looking for, testing out different samples, then using tools such as envelope shaping and filtering to achieve the sound you want.

5. Recap & Live Q&A

To recap and finish off, Dylan goes over the 3 main questions he answered in this lesson: Choosing the right kick -  why, when and how: how are we going to use the kick, why are we going to use that kick and when will it be played? How do we program music like Michael Bibi? And how do we choose the right sound that does the right job?

Q&A

  • Why, when and how  are we going to use the kick?
  • Why are we going to use that kick and when will it be played?
  • How do we program music like Michael Bibi?
  • How do we choose the right sound that does the right job?

Meet Your Teacher

ShadowStar

ShadowStar weaves dreamy melodies of deep house and shamanic like entrancing rhythms in his soundscapes with contemporary performances in central Texas. Living in the live music capital of the world influenced him greatly with a diverse and often southern style that reflects in his music today. 

One side of his music complements the emotive aspect of the Progressive House genre, while the other side will take you into a psychedelic trance with the versatile bass grooves of Deep Techno infused with UK Garage influence.

Discussions

Dream of finally finishing that draft or launching that side-hustle? Make your next creative project your best yet, with simple steps from creative superstar Emma Gannon!

Discussions

Dream of finally finishing that draft or launching that side-hustle? Make your next creative project your best yet, with simple steps from creative superstar Emma Gannon!

About This Class 

Dream of finally finishing that draft or launching that side-hustle? Make your next creative project your best yet, with simple steps from creative superstar Emma Gannon!

In this new class, Emma shares the framework that allowed her to overcome self-doubt and carve her own path as an author, broadcaster, and podcast host. The secret to her success? Fed up with feeling afraid—of failure, of not being good enough, even of success—Emma dug into the science behind self-sabotage and learned exactly how to get out of her own way.

Now, Emma is sharing what she’s learned so that you can do the same: unlock your creative potential while feeling energized and empowered! 

Together with Emma, you will:

  • Identify the patterns in your life, and let go of habits that don’t serve you
  • Cut out comparison to figure out what you really want and need
  • Silence your inner critic by talking back to negative beliefs and behaviors
  • Own your success and vulnerability—both go hand-in-hand with creativity

Packed with insights and examples from Emma’s personal journey, this class is designed for every creative who needs a pep-talk or extra push to get started—and includes five exclusive downloadable worksheets to support you along the way.

Whether you’re looking to break through block, remove self-imposed pressure, or simply approach each new project with intention, this 45-minute class will unlock your confidence as a creative. Get started and celebrate taking the first step!

______________________________

All you need to follow along is a pen and paper. Download the worksheets to follow along with Emma’s exercises, or jot your thoughts in a notebook.

Resources

  • Introduction
  • Week one

Why Join Mixmasters?

Live, weekly Zoom classes with industry experts

Unlimited production & marketing coaching with track feedback

Access hundreds of expert-led courses, instantly

Download thousands of exclusive royalty-free samples

Get Started For Free
X

Other Courses You Might Like...

Solid Grooves: Energy, EQ & Arrangement w/ Ramin RezaieRamin gives us a breakdown on how he arranges and invokes energy in his tracks with Ableton Live. Walking us through one of his latest releases, the Solid Grooves label boss answers any of your questions along the way, with a bonus track preview at the end. In this course, Ramin places focus on musical depth rather than genre boundaries. Being influenced by everything from Funk and Hip-Hop to House and Techno, there will be so much to learn no matter what genre you work with. You will learn how to: Use EQ to gain more control over your sound. Build energy in your tracks. Get your drums and bass sounding good together. Arrange a loop into a full track. Use a drum buss. Layer sounds to create a groove. Create atmosphere with pads and background noise. Use compression. Process vocal samples. Be original in your productions. Lessons: 1. Building a Groove Ramin starts off by talking through each of his drum channels - he demonstrates how he uses a drum buss along with EQ, compression and further processing to gain more control over the sound. He then shows us how he layers his elements, such as using modulating synths as part of the groove and building atmosphere with pads. 2.The Arrangement Ramin usually starts his arrangement process with a 6 - 18 bar groove and builds from there by adding and subtracting. He gives us a run-through of his track, explaining how he layered sounds and created energy in each section. 3.Track Preview Ramin gives us a quick preview of another one of his tracks and then goes on to answer questions from the Mixmasters community. 4. Live Q&A How long does it take you to finish a track, including mixdown and/or master? How do you balance the need between trying to make a track DJ friendly and trying to make it interesting from the start to catch the attention of labels and A&R people? Do you do the final mix & master of your tracks? How do you sample your vocals? Do you have any tips on creating original intros? Where do you start with hardware?
Finding Your Sound w/ ShadowstarMixmasters Production coach ShadowStar shares his strategies on how to develop your own unique sound in Ableton Live. In this course, he focuses on breaking down the fundamentals of a kick. By focusing on one sound and how to study it, you can apply these skills to any sound you want to create. Building awareness and practicing active listening as a musician helps you recognise subtleties in music and what you like about it. No matter what stage you’re in, these fundamental practices and skills will drastically expedite the process of discovering your own unique sound. you will learn how to: Identify core kits and samples used for specific genres. Find your sound through active listening. Build your own unique sample library. Reduce, reuse and recycle sounds. Design and shape samples through sound design. Use audio and MIDI racks. Use session view. Work with templates. Lessons: 1. Finding Your Sound Dylan goes over what he will be covering in this webinar. He takes a more philosophical angle in explaining how to connect with your sound and overcome any fears or anxieties you might have when starting off. He discusses using a technique of active listening, where you focus on one sound and how to study it. Once you understand the characteristics of the sound and how to achieve them, you’ll be able to adapt it for use in your own music. 2. Kick Drum Fundamentals In a short exercise, Dylan shows you how to identify the difference between an 808 and 909 kick. He also shows you how to design and shape a kick sample depending on the context of its use. 3. The 808 and 909 Kick Dylan delves further into this exercise to help you answer the question: What is happening in this sound? He plays through a range of different kick samples to identify and understand the characteristics of each sound. 4. How to Process your Kick From the big and boomy kicks in Techno, to the short and punchy kicks in Tech-House, Dylan breaks down the waveform of a kick into frequencies and transients to help you understand the sound. 5. Using Templates Using templates is a great way to ensure everything you need to work is set up and ready to go beforehand, so that you can focus when you need to. Dylan covers using a project template, audio/MIDI racks, as well as master chain templates. Q&A Does side-chaining make a big difference to the bass and kick?
Track Breakdown: "Tranquility" w/ Tommy Vercetti In this course you will get to see Tommy's style and systems using FL Studio- he walks us through his process when creating one of the tracks on his latest EP, while doing a live Q&A to answer any questions you have. He takes us step-by-step through each of his elements from drum programming, to creating pads, melodies and basslines, as well as how and when to process each of them. Tommy shows you how to bring your tracks to life and create drum grooves that will crush the dance floor, in this rolling-style minimal house demo. You will learn how to: Get that professional UK ‘Minimal House’ sound. Create drum grooves. Write catchy riffs and motifs. Use processing to achieve certain sound characteristics. Use buss processing. Create a punchy kick. Bring warmth and ‘roundness’ to your bass. Use transient shaping to create sharp and punchy drum sounds. Layer pad sounds and samples. Use compression and limiting. Add texture with loops. Use multiband saturation. Balance your bass and kick. Lessons: 1. Drum Programming and Processing Tommy gets stuck in immediately and starts off by showing us his drum programming process to create that groovy ‘minimal’ sound. He shows you how to group your elements into different drum busses, layer samples to create impact, as well how to process drum sounds and loops for added texture. 2. Writing Riffs and Motifs. Moving on to his musical elements - Tommy covers his sampling process when creating pads, moving on to how he brings presence and warmth to his bass. He then goes over any additional melodic elements, such as processing vocal samples and creating acid-style arpeggios. 3. The Drum Buss Finally, Tommy goes through his drum buss on FL Studio and the processing he uses - from multiband saturation to overdrive, compression and limiting. 4. Live Q&A Do you EQ away the frequencies in the kick that are in the bass? What is a limiter and do you put it on every channel? How do you get your snare sound? What plug-ins do you run on your master?
Tips & Tricks for Creating Kicks and Basslines w/ ShadowStarDJ and Producer Shadowstar shares his approach to finding and programming the right sounds for your track in Ableton Live. In this tutorial he covers the fundamentals of creating a kick and bassline, using a 909 and 808 as an example. He teaches you to train your ear by relying on how a sound ‘feels’ within the mix, in turn allowing you to problem solve and figure out what your track is missing. He also answers your questions from the Facebook Community Inquiry. You will learn how to: Choose the right kick for your track. Mix your kick and bass. Select sounds and samples. Problem solve in figuring out what your track needs. Program punchy basslines in the style of Michael Bibi. Build syncopated rhythms. Write a bassline using a 909 kick. Layer sounds to create impact. Use post-processing and ADSR to shape a sound. Use vinyl distortion as ‘glue’. Test different samples out in your track. Kick and Bass sound design. Lessons: 1. Introduction Dylan answers questions that had previously been asked in this tutorial. He discusses topics from a more philosophical angle that can help you along your way in the production process: problem solving when it comes to finding the right samples for your mix, recreating music/elements ‘in the style’ of another producer, using an intuitive approach to deciding elements that ‘feel good’ within the track vs. using a more technical approach. 2. Finding the Right Kick The kick is the driving force that provides a dictatorship towards your bassline. When deciding on what kick to use, Shadowstar covers using the ‘feeling’ vs. technical approach of choosing the right sound for your mix. He guides us through using a 909 sample as both the bass and the kick, as well as how to use transient shaping to get the sound you want and make sure the kick is cutting through your mix. 3. How to Programme Basslines in the Style of Michael Bibi Dylan goes through his 3 rules when it comes to creating a bassline: MIDI programming, sound selection and post-processing. He starts off with building a simple rhythm using 16th notes and a 909 kick to create a punchy bass sound. Finally, he talks about how you can layer sounds to create impact, as well as how to use additional elements in your track to create syncopation. 4. Sound Selection & Post Processing Dylan helps you answer the question: What does my mix need? He goes through a variation of the first track, using an 808 kick this time. He discusses how sample selection plays an important role in the style of your track, going through an exercise where he tests different samples on his track to see which ones fit within the mix. He explains his process of sound selection which begins with: deciding what characteristics you’re looking for, testing out different samples, then using tools such as envelope shaping and filtering to achieve the sound you want. 5. Recap & Live Q&A To recap and finish off, Dylan goes over the 3 main questions he answered in this lesson: Choosing the right kick - why, when and how: how are we going to use the kick, why are we going to use that kick and when will it be played? How do we program music like Michael Bibi? And how do we choose the right sound that does the right job? Q&A Why, when and how are we going to use the kick? Why are we going to use that kick and when will it be played? How do we program music like Michael Bibi? How do we choose the right sound that does the right job?
Arranging and Workflow Techniques w/ Carl BeeGetting from a ‘loop’ to a ‘song’ is a difficult process, both technically and conceptually. Carl Bee breaks down the arrangement process as simply as possible in Ableton Live; teaching you to kick the habit of being stuck in a loop and improve your workflow. He shares his ‘live’ approach to arranging, treating the track as if it were a live set by automating parameters in real-time, and then using subtraction to build around the sections. If you find that you’re often stuck at the arranging stage, this will be a great session to learn and adapt faster workflows. Overall, Carl shows you how to stay creative and use your intuition to finish your tracks. You will learn how to: Create an arrangement from a loop. Improve your workflow. Commit to ideas and work with what you have. Use automation and filtering. Arrange as a subtractive process. Use loops in a creative way. Consolidate MIDI and audio. Create build-ups and breakdowns. Lessons: 1. The 4-Bar Loop Carl starts with a classic 4-bar loop and talks you through each of his elements. He talks about how he starts thinking about the arrangement process early on by choosing his sounds based on the parameters of the plugin, and how he can evolve and automate them throughout the track. 2. Building the Arrangement Now that he has a solid foundation for the bassline, drums and mids. Carl begins by duplicating his loop for the estimated length of the track. The key is ‘to get out of the loop’ as fast as possible and fill the empty space. He goes through each channel and automates elements such as the filter cut-off and envelope based on how he feels his arrangement should go. 3. Arranging by Subtracting Now that Carl has filled the timeline, the process of building the arrangement becomes one of subtraction rather than addition. He uses trial and error by playing around with removing elements, this method allows you to be creative and hear what each section needs, which can be hard to do if you’re stuck in a loop. 4. Live Q&A Carl recaps his tutorial, going over his technique to get arrangements done quickly. He states this process of using subtraction allows you to ‘fill in the blanks’ and add elements based on feeling, where you will naturally start to notice things compared to being stuck in a loop. Do you re-edit your recorded audio? Will you be doing another class? What synth did you use on your last track ‘Trains’? What is your approach to staying in key?
Track Breakdown: "Tribal Bizniz" w/ AndThenIn this workshop you will get to see Mixmasters community manager, Luke AKA AndThen’s system of how he composed, arranged and polished his track "Tribal Bizniz" in Ableton Live. He walks you through the elements of his process - answering any questions you have, whilst giving you some helpful tips and tricks along the way. You will learn how to: Structure your tracks. Build an arrangement from a loop. Process your elements. Create grooves with percussion loops. Layer samples. Get your kick and bass to sound good together. Mix as you go along. Use and process vocal samples. Create energy in build-ups. Use a reference track for mixdowns. Create synth arps and melodies. Organize your project. 1. Starting a Track AndThen introduces himself and starts off by explaining what he will cover in this tutorial. He plays through his track and briefly covers how he lays tracks out - starting with a 16/32 bar loop, then building from there. 2. The Drum Groove There are innumerable approaches to getting a good kick, however Luke shows you how he begins by getting his kick sounding right. He then builds the drums by layering samples and loops, using the kick as a foundation and making sure to mix as he goes along. 3. The Bass and the Kick as a Single Unit Getting your kick and bass balanced relative to each other is crucial for setting the foundation of a solid mix. Luke shows you how he writes his bassline to compliment the kick, as well as how he processes it. 4. Adding Synths and Vocals Moving on to the musical elements in his track, Luke talks through what synths he used. He demonstrates using an arpeggiator with Sylenth and how he automates that to build tension. He also gives a demo on how to make samples your own, whether that be a groovy synth melody or a vocal chop. . 5. Creating Energy in Build-ups Luke briefly goes through the breakdown sections in his track, talking through how he created energy using tools such as automation and silence. 6. Live Q&A Finally, Luke gives a recap of everything he covered in the webinar, as well as additional advice on how to use a reference track for mixdowns. What was the auto-pan on your percussion? What's the automation on the ceiling of the limiter doing?
Track Walkthrough: "Das Boot" w/ Lee PenningtonIn this workshop Riff Raff founder Lee Pennington shows you a track breakdown/walkthrough of his monster of a tune 'Das Boot'! You will get to see him dive deeply into his process and sound selection on Cubase. He will be going through his elements from the kick, to the percussion and the saxophone samples, as well as how and why processes each of them. This session will be a great way to learn how to get your track to stand out and climb the charts of Beatport like Lee has done time and time again! You will learn how to: Compose and Arrange. When to process and what to process. Sidechain Your Bass and Kick Sample Select. Use a Sequencer To Create A Melody. Create Depth With Distortion and Saturation. Use EQ. Use Effects on Send Channels. Cut and Manipulate Samples. Create Call and Response. Program Drums. Create Space For Your Mix. Make Loops Your Own. Using Automation. Lessons: 1. The Kick and Drums Lee starts off with the kick, talking through how he processes it and each plug-in he uses in the chain. He moves on to the percussion sample that forms the backbone of the groove, as well as some helpful tips on how to incorporate loops into your tracks and make them your own. 2. The Melody Lee walks through how he created the main melodic riff of his track, starting off with a chord and then using a sequencer to create an arpeggiated rhythm. He then duplicates the sound and layers it an octave higher to add more presence. 3. Bass Programming Lee uses two Bass synths to layer the sound and make it cut through the mix. He discusses how to make room for the bass and use side-chain compression to achieve clarity and definition. 4. Working with Samples Finally, Lee goes through his sampling process. He shows us how he layers and processes his sounds - from using send effects such as reverb and delay to bring his samples to life, to incorporating a ‘brass section’ that forms the hook of the track. 5. Live Q&A What was the synth called again? How do you translate the pan trumpets to mono, will they come out centered if you do?
Not Just a Number! How To Get Noticed By Labels w/ Tony AllenEven if you are a beginner or an experienced producer, you will know how difficult it is to get your music in front of the right people and get your tracks signed to the big labels. Tony Allen is the founder of Undrtone industry services, managing ang helping artists to get exposure and signings. In this course, he gives you his expert tips on how to best present your music and stand out from the crowd. You will learn how to: How to make your demos stand out from the crowd What labels look for in their artists Practical tips of how artists can improve the image and presence to increase being noticed and heard by labels Lessons: 1. Intro Tony introduces himself, what he will be covering in this webinar and how his advice will help you get more from your music and socials. 2. How to Make Your Demos Stand Out Tony starts off by giving you some tips on how to make your music stand out and factors you should consider when sending out demos. He talks through how to properly structure and send your demos to prospective labels, ensuring you have the best chance of getting noticed. 3. How to Correctly Target Labels ‘Relativity’ is everything when it comes to sending your music to the right labels. The key to getting your music heard is doing your homework on what sounds the label is known for and what is currently successful in the charts. 4. Generating an Online Presence When it comes to getting your music signed, having an engaged following and online presence can drastically help your chances. In this chapter, Tony covers creative strategies, content hacks and more. 5. Live Q&A How long do you wait to reply after not hearing back about a demo? Do you think it is better to have separate accounts or one account for your artist instagram? Do you need to DJ as well to be a successful artist? Do independent artists make it on platforms like Beatport?
How to Build a DJ Streaming Community on Twitch w/ Amber D Are you brand new to Twitch or are you looking to create a better-looking stream? In this course, Amber D shows you how to get the best from your livestreams; covering everything there is to know about twitch, what you need to consider when starting off and how to use customisation to increase audience engagement. You will learn how to: How to gain a following How to set up alerts How to make the stream look the best it can by creating overlays and customising channels Lessons: 1. Your Twitch Channel Amber D introduces herself and talks through how she built her following on Twitch. She gives you a preview of her Twitch profile, talking through the different elements in the layout. 2. Customising Your Channel Amber shows you how she customises her channel, including pages that show up on her profile and how she edits them. Twitch allows for a high degree of personalisation, overall adding value to your twitch community by offering unique and custom content. 3. Creating a Community with Audience Engagement You can customise elements of your channel which help you increase audience engagement, these include Twitch emotes, overlays, stream extensions, stickers and more. It can be pretty overwhelming at first but Amber D breaks down each element step by step. 4. Stream Elements StreamElements is a one-stop tool helping live streamers with any challenges they might face. Amber D shows you how she integrates this tool with twitch to create overlays, widgets, games and tune ID’s to improve user experience. Stream Elements: streamelements.com 5. Live Q&A Why do you use Streamlabs over OBS? Does twitch allow you to keep live streams as videos on your page you can rewatch?
Creating a Professional Sound w/ Jack WoodLearning how to make your music sound professional does not have to be a lengthy process. If you’ve spent hours tweaking the mix of your latest track and it still doesn't bear comparison with your favourite releases, this course will give you the help you need to take your productions to the next level with Ableton Live. You will learn how to: Pro grade mixing template Why sound/ sample selection is key Gain staging strategy Basic EQ for a clean sound Sidechain compression Identifying issues in the mix EQ and compression How to make something quieter but sound louder Advanced Bus Processing Lessons: 1. Introduction Jack introduces himself and what he will be covering in this webinar. He talks about problems he faced when starting off and what he did to overcome them to achieve professional sounding tracks. 2. Organising Your Project Using templates to mix your tracks is key to saving time and staying consistent from track to track. Alex gives you some simple tips on setting up your project for easy and convenient workflow, from pre-loading samples into your instrument racks to using reference tracks to help your mix. 3. Making a Sound Louder Without Affecting the Mix Jack shows you how to get the most out of your sounds without having to turn the volume up in the mix. He demonstrates how he uses basic mixing techniques such as EQ and Compression to create space in the mix for each element and let the samples shine through. 4. Stem Mixing the Drums Jack demonstrates a ‘stem mix’ of his drum buss channel, going through each track in the group and what processing he would use to make it sit better in the mix and drum groove. 5. Live Q&A Would you suggest not to exaggerate with the stereo expander as it may make your tracks sound worse in clubs? Can you give some tips on panning on drums, synths and vocals? Why or why not? The majority of your track is in MIDI, would you recommend this over audio files and what is the reason why? Can you show how you would go about mixing kick and bass as these are the areas I struggle with when pushing the volume for the final mix? I see you mix a lot in session view, do you use automation for your affects and mixing?