Advanced Beats Production and Sound Design

Drums are at the heart of almost every electronic music production, so having a thorough understanding of how to create and process them is essential for achieving professional-sounding results. On this course, experienced producer and sound designer Seppa takes an in-depth look at drum production, covering everything from the fundamental characteristics of individual hits through to advanced synthesis, layering, processing and mixing techniques.

The course begins by breaking down the anatomy of a drum hit, exploring the transient and sustain portions of sounds and showing how envelopes can be used to control their dynamics and shape. Seppa then moves into a series of drum synthesis lessons, demonstrating how to create kicks from scratch using Serum and Kick Ninja, before constructing snares, claps and hi-hats with Serum. Along the way, he explains the different synthesis and processing techniques required to give each sound the desired punch, weight and character.

Once the core synthesis techniques have been covered, Seppa moves onto more advanced approaches to drum design and processing. A lesson on composite snares demonstrates how multiple samples can be carefully layered and shaped into a powerful, cohesive sound, using tools such as envelope shapers, clipping and saturation. This is followed by an extensive session on generating weird percussion, where Seppa builds a complex modular processing chain in Phase Plant, incorporating random modulation and effects to transform source material into a wealth of unique percussion. The resulting audio can then be recorded, edited and chopped into entirely new sounds and rhythms.

The final part of the course looks at working with drums in a broader production context. Seppa demonstrates techniques for chopping and layering loops to add detail, movement and texture to existing beats, before finishing with an extensive three-part module on fitting drums into the mix. Across separate Drum & Bass, Bass Music and House examples, he explores the different processing and mixing considerations required to make drums cut through with maximum clarity and impact in each style.

Signing up to the course gets you instant access to the streamed tutorials, along with the Serum presets from the lessons. Enrol today to learn Seppa’s tried-and-tested approaches to drum synthesis, sound design, processing and mixing, and start creating more distinctive and powerful drums of your own.

Course Breakdown

Module 1 – Transient and Sustain

Seppa breaks down the anatomy of a drum hit, exploring transient and sustain portions and showing how envelopes can be used to shape dynamics, punch and character.

Module 2 – Kick Drum Synthesis

Learn how to synthesise powerful kick drums from scratch using Serum and Kick Ninja, with techniques for controlling the different elements of the sound.

Module 3 – Snare Drum Synthesis

Seppa constructs a snare from scratch in Serum, before applying additional processing to shape and enhance the finished sound.

Module 4 – Clap Synthesis

A concise guide to synthesising claps in Serum, using envelope shaping and effects to create the desired character.

Module 5 – Hi-Hat Synthesis

Learn how to create hi-hats with Serum, before using additional DAW processing to further shape and refine the sound.

Module 6 – Composite Snares

Seppa demonstrates how to layer multiple samples into a full and powerful composite snare, using envelope shaping, clipping, saturation and other processing.

Module 7 – Generating Weird Percussion

Discover how to build an advanced modular chain in Phase Plant, using random modulation and effects to transform source sounds into unique percussion that can be recorded, chopped and incorporated into beats.

Module 8 – Chopping Loops

Learn techniques for chopping and layering loops with existing drums, adding extra detail, texture and movement to create fuller and more interesting beats.

Module 9 – Fitting in the Mix

Across three lessons covering Drum & Bass, Bass Music and House, Seppa demonstrates different approaches to processing and mixing drums so they punch through the mix with clarity and impact.