Do you want to be a good producer, or an amazing producer?
This course is for those already making music at a confident level, who don’t want to learn to produce, but to produce better. To do that, you need to get serious about sound design and mixdown.
We’ll explore the finer details of sound design with Native Instruments Komplete. We’ll dig into Reaktor, Battery, FM8, Absynth, and Massive. Don’t reach for the sample packs, start to create your own trademark sound. Start at the sine wave.
We’ll also go into the dark art of mixdown. Make your kicks kick and your vocals punch. Put an end to flat mixes with this course.
If you achieve the learning outcomes of this course, you’ll finish delivering a 4 track EP that is of an excellent standard both musically and sonically, ready to send to record labels.
Producer? Go pro!
Raise your sound design and mixdown game to put you into another league. Start competing with the pros.
Learn in an environment that inspires
In addition to world class tuition, SEM hosts regular guest lectures. Delivered by leading music moguls, the insight gained into the industry is invaluable.
Not DAW Focussed
This course focuses primarily on 3rd party plugins and audio editing techniques rather than a specific DAW. Lessons are however delivered on Ableton Live to show examples. If you use a different DAW, we can provide online Ableton 101 training videos and Midi Lab access to familiarise yourself with Ableton before your course starts. It’s fine to complete your assignments in the DAW of your choosing, just OK this with your tutor first.
LECTURES
Music Production: 1x6hr daytime or 2 evening lectures weekly (6 months). Music Composition: 7pm-10pm lectures on Mondays or Wednesdays (3 months).
1-2-1 TECH SUPPORT
During your studio time, the tech team can provide additional 1-2-1 support, to help you further develop your production skills. They’re here 7 days a week. Make the most of them!
UNLIMITED ACCESS
Studios are available 10am – 10pm Monday – Friday, and 12 – 9pm on weekends. Use our online booker to plan ahead. SEM offer more practical time than any other UK equivalent.
Course Overview
NI Komplete
Battery Massive Reaktor FM8
Synthesis
Subtractive Frequency Modulation Wavetable Physical modelling
This module is only for those who already have a working knowledge of music production using a DAW. For this reason it is an ideal progression for those who have completed the Introduction to Music Production module, or for external applicants, you should ensure you are already confident at producing music in the DAW of your choice. We would recommend sending in some tracks, or coming in to meet with a tutor prior to application so we can try to ensure you’re joining at the right level.
The module is not DAW focussed, looking instead at transferrable music production techniques relevant for any platform. Lessons are however delivered on Ableton Live. If you are not familiar with Ableton Live, this is not a problem. We can provide you with free online Ableton 101 training videos, and access to our Midi Lab facilities and tech support staff prior to the course starting so that you understand the basics of Ableton Live for lessons. You do not need to necessarily purchase Ableton at home unless you choose to, as our facilities are available for you to use 7 days a week. When it comes to assignments, speak with your tutor, but the likelihood is you will be able to submit work using the DAW of your choice should you prefer not to use Ableton Live. We will expect you to be comfortable with the basics of Ableton before starting, and all external applicants will be required to sit in on an initial crash-lesson prior to the module starting.
Module description
Are you already producing, but often feel that something is lacking from your music? Then this is also the module for you.
Over 6 months you’ll study different types of synthesis (subtractive, wavetable, frequency modulation, granular, additive) and sampling techniques allowing you to confidently recreate the sound you’re looking for from your favourite track – or to create something unique to you: no more presets! We’ll break down a range of different tracks to see why they work allowing you to incorporate these proven techniques into your own productions.
Finally, you’ll learn in depth mixdown and mastering techniques using a range of high-end processors and effects from manufacturers like Native Instruments, UAD and iZotope. Give you music clarity, punch and depth, and make it stand out in a crowded marketplace. You’ll be learning in a creative environment, from industry active producers who have a string of releases and remixes to their names. school of electronic music is a Native Instruments Education Partner.
Sound Design with Native Instruments Komplete
Sound theory, advanced Massive synthesis, FM8, Absynth, introduction to Reaktor/blocks, advanced sampling using Battery, effective layering of sounds, creative audio editing, recording, editing and processing vocals, vocoding.
Music Production Skills
Further critical/analytical listening skills, advanced production techniques, advanced synthesis/sound design, case studies: how to structure music of different styles/genres.
Advanced Mixdown
Gain structure, effective metering (dBFS, dBVU), balance, panning, EQ (vintage analogue and digital), noise gates, compression types (VCA, FET, Opto, Vari MU), creative modulation effects, reverb and delay families, case studies: mixing different types of music and instrumentation, further mastering techniques.
Electronic Music Composition
Duration: 3 months
Why is the Electronic Music Composition Module automatically added to all courses?
Unless students have a background in musical theory or have played an instrument, they commonly ask:
How do I start and finish a track? How do I make a groove & arrange beats? How can I create a track, with a sample as a starting point? What is a chord structure? How do I know if this vocal is in key? How do I make a bigger drop? How do I make a better breakdown? How do I write a hook? How do I finish my arrangement? How can I get creative when I open Ableton Live?
This module will answer and teach you all these techniques, and more.
It will guarantee to give you the edge and help you to be a successful, creative music producer or audio engineer. It will give you a solid grounding in musical theory: a key area of your musical skill set which will allow you to create ideas quickly with confidence, and improve your musical ear. It will help you put your ideas in to an arrangement ready for mixdown.
You may be able to produce music to a high level but it won’t be enough if it doesn’t sound musical. Once you are on your way as a producer, remixer or sound engineer, having an understanding of music composition will be indispensable as you will be able to effectively communicate with vocalists, artists and musicians around you in a language they understand.
If you feel that you already have a good grounding in Electronic Music Composition and this module’s valuable content, you are welcome to discuss the options with a course advisor who may suggest that you opt out of this module after registration.
They may require that you supply examples of your understanding of the subject.
Some examples of content
The keyboard, bars & beats, tempo, analysing music, music theory, keys & scales, basic chords, extended chords, inversions, remixing, acapellas, treating stems, sourcing sounds, automation, linking sounds and ideas, structure, creating hooks, song sections, arrangement, analysing songs, song templates, audio sampling, working out key, MIDI from audio, transposition, chord progressions, dynamic chords, arpeggiators, gated chords, writing melodies, harmony, groove and bass lines, idea generation.
You’ve already learnt to produce music. You’ve put a lot of time and effort into getting there.
But are your tracks sounding exactly how you want? Sound design and mixdown are the two areas that will enhance your production.
Learn how to create unique sounds, emulate sounds and production tricks from classic tracks, then mix and master to a professional level. Throughout your training get tailored feedback from our experienced, industry-active tutors.
Entry Requirements
A strong working knowledge of a music production software (DAW) is required (see further info). Before enrolment, applicants must have an informal phone interview and submit some of their music. Contact us to arrange this. Add the Intro to Music Production to guarantee meeting the requirements.
Course Outcome
You’ll finish producing at a very high level, with the skillset of a mix engineer. You’ll understanding music theory and sound synthesis in detail.
Stop playing. Start Creating. Go from bedroom to pro music producer.
Enrol on course
Start dates and course fees
Start Dates
February 6 months music production : Monday 12pm-6pm
May
6 months music production : Thursday 12pm-6pm
September (Weekend Term)
6 months music production : Saturday 12pm-6pm
October
6 months music production: Wednesday 12pm-6pm
December (Evening term)
6 months music production : Tues & Thurs 7pm-10pm
Music Composition is studied alongside your Music Production module unless otherwise specified.
Contact us for full timetable with regards to Music Composition and Advanced Music Production.
In short: enrol as soon as you are ready. All live course dates are available for you to enrol on.
Unlike most training centres SEM has a limit on lecturer to student ratio and keeps its class sizes small. We therefore have limited availability and courses fill up in advance. We would recommend enrolling as soon as you are ready, to avoid disappointment. If you are looking at a start date that is more than 3 months away, we would strongly recommend contacting a course advisor so that we can primarily secure your place before the window opens for you to apply for finance/PCDL.
If you are funding with Student Finance (Monthly payment options 1 – 4) and your course starts within 3 months
Apply online now via the course page.
Monthly repayments to Omnifinance begin 28 days after acceptance.
The initial downpayment is paid to SEM, this is not required until 14 days before your course start date.
If you are funding with Student Finance (Monthly payment options 1 – 4) and your course starts in more than 3 months time
Speak to to the SEM office asap. We can take the initial downpayment to hold your place on the course until we are within the 3 month window for you to apply for the finance.
The SEM office can also offer advice on how to prepare for the application (electoral roll, credit score check etc.)
If you are funding with Professional Career Development Loan
Speak to the SEM office asap, as they can offer advice on how to prepare for the PCDL application.
You can only apply for a PCDL within 2 months of your course start date. Monthly repayments only begin after your course finishes.
You can choose to secure your place on a start date while awaiting a PCDL decision by enrolling on option 5. Once your loan is accepted/declined, the £100 reg fee will be refunded to you.
If you have any questions please contact a course advisor on +44 (0)161 833 4722. They will be happy to help!
Can I get funding for the course?
If you have any questions, we would always recommend contacting a course advisor or calling us on +44 (0)161 833 4722.
Options 1 – 4: Get instant Student Finance with Omni Capital (you will need to be in employment)
Prospective students are able to get an instant online decision to fund training though our partner Omni Capital. To apply, you must be 18 or over, and have been living in the UK for at least 3 years before your course starts. You can apply by clicking ‘enrol’ on the course page to begin the finance application. Please note student finance can only be applied for within 3 months or less of the course start date.
You can apply for the full amount of course fees, and choose an affordable monthly repayment that suits your budget. Other benefits of student finance are that the baseline course price is based on our ‘advanced’ cheaper price. You will need to pay a minimum 5% downpayment on the course fees at the point of successful application, although you have the option to make anything up to a 50% downpayment on course fees (please contact SEM for this).
Option 5: Get a Professional Career Development Loan (suitable regardless of your employment status)
A Professional and Career Development Loan (PCDL) is a bank loan to pay for courses and training that help with your career or help get you into work. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000. The government pays interest while you’re studying. You start repaying the loan (plus interest at a reduced rate) 1 month after leaving your course. To apply, you must be 18 or over, be a British citizen, and have been living in the UK for at least 3 years before your course starts. Please note a PCDL can only be applied for within 2 months or less of the course start date. The PCDL can cover up to 80% of your course fees or all of the fees if you are unemployed. along with other course costs and living expenses (unless you are working for more than 30 hours per week). You must not be getting any other grants or state benefits, which cover these costs.
You can apply online now for a PCDL. You will need our Learning Reference Number: 6421. Select the course title, and the full amount of the course on the total ‘termly’ price. (inc. £100 registration fee). We would strongly advise asking an SEM course advisor to help you through the PCDL application, as any omissions or errors may affect your loan decision.
Options 6 – 7: Fund the course yourself
You can choose ‘advanced’ and ‘termly’ payment plans. An advanced payment would be required before starting the course to secure your place. A termly payment plan requires the first instalment to be paid no later than 1 calendar month before the course start date, with termly instalments at 10 week intervals. At the school’s discretion, a monthly payment plan can be arranged if there is a guarantor, if other finance routes such as student finance and PCDL routes are not a viable option. Please contact us about this if you need more advice.
Please note:
If you are European, a British citizen but have not lived in the UK for the past three years, or have low or no credit score, then payment options 6 and 7 are the relevant options for you. We would also be happy to discuss a flexible monthly payment plan between yourself and SEM, as an alternative to loan funding. Please contact us promptly to arrange this.
Sale!
Advanced Music Production
£100.00 – £2,700.00
SKU: N/A
Popular course upgrades
Next start: December 11th 2018 Duration: 12 months
Next start: February 23rd 2019 Duration: 24 months
Next start: December 11th 2018 Duration: 15 months
Next start: February 23rd 2019 Duration: 15 months
Course FAQS
Student Finance Calculator
You can use the finance calculator to try the potential options that suit your budget.
There is a minimum of 5% non-refundable deposit (downpayment for the course fees) required from the student at the point of successful application. The calculator will tell you minimum deposit required on the right hand side. To pay a bigger deposit please contact the school.
EG: Advanced Music Production Course: Fees £2700
£2700 over 36 months : Deposit £135 : Monthly instalments of £82.13. Total finance £2956.95
What is my timetable for the course?
Your timetable can be tailored to suit your needs. Modules can studied one after the other, or at the same time.
We would strongly advise speaking to a course advisoron +44 (0)161 833 4722 to plan your specific timetable to fit around other commitments you may have. See below for examples:
February start dates
Advanced MP – 6 months – Mondays 12pm – 6 pm
Music Comp – 3 months – Mon or Wed 7pm – 10pm
May start dates
Advanced MP – 6 months – Thursdays 12pm – 6 pm
Music Comp – 3 months – Mon or Wed 7pm – 10pm
September start dates
Advanced MP – 6 months – Saturdays 12pm – 6pm
Music Comp – 3 months – Mon or Wed 7pm – 10pm
October start dates
Advanced MP – 6 months – Wednesdays 12pm – 6pm
Music Comp – 3 months – Mon or Wed 7pm – 10pm
December start dates
Advanced MP – 6 months – Tues & Thurs 7pm – 10pm
Music Comp – 3 months – Mon or Wed 7pm – 10pm
Do I get any student discounts?
Yes. Even if you work full-time, you’ll also qualify as a full-time student whilst you study which means:
Either full exemption or discount from council tax depending on your living situation
NUS card and Unidays registration and all the discounts that come with that (eg. Apple, Spotify)
1/3 off rail travel with a student railcard
Discounts off musical equipment (speak with us about this) including 40% off Ableton Live and Native Instruments discounts.
Do I get practical time in the studios as well as lectures?
Yes, SEM guarantees more practical time than any other UK equivalent.
Practical time is allocated to you (flexible to your schedule) which goes alongside your lectures. We believe access to high-end studios and support from a knowledgeable technical support team is absolutely key in helping you develop to a professional level.
You can also take an unlimited number of any free studio slots
We’re open from 10am – 10pm Monday – Friday, and 12 – 9pm on weekends for you to use the studios.
Full time technicians are on hand for these sessions to give you mentoring if you need it.
I work full-time. Is it possible for me to take this course?
Yes, many students successfully study this course whilst working full-time hours.
Your study is broken up into approx. 6hrs of weekly lectures (fixed time every week, see ‘what is my timetable’ tab), individual studio time (flexible to your schedule) and additional unlimited access, along with having lots of online course resources to continue learning at home.
So as long as the lecture time doesn’t clash with your other commitments it is totally possible to study this course alongside full-time work.
Headphones with a 1/4″ adapter, an external hard-drive or USBs to save your work, and writing materials are the only equipment you need
If you need advice on what headphones to purchase, please contact a course advisor on +44 (0)161 833 4722.
Every student has access to their own iMac workstation in the school which contains all the software, samples and plugins that you will use throughout the course.
I am an international student. Can I apply?
Students from within the European Union, or who have joint nationality with the UK can enrol via the normal way, by clicking ‘Enrol Now’ on their chosen course.
However, if you are an international student from outside the EU:
We cannot provide you with a Tier 4 Licence.Do please still contact us so we can notify you when this is in place.
You can however apply for a Short Term Study Visa to enable you to study for up to 6 months with us in the UK. Our course advisors can look at the timetable so that a longer course can be condensed into a 6 month period for you to still receive the full training in a shorter time period.
And, if you are here on a short trip, you can study one of our shorter courses.
Student accommodation is not provided with the course.
Please see our accommodation page which has detailed information on both student halls, and private renting in and around Manchester.
It is advised that if you are moving to Manchester from abroad or a different city, the atmosphere of student halls might be better for you.
We can help you with other aspects of re-locating, such as advising you on the best transport links to find us, and where some of the best musical venues around Manchester are.
You can see the next available date and sign up for it here.
There’ll be free music production and DJ workshops, a range of industry seminars, and a chance to get lots of career advice. All are welcome.
However, if you’re keen to get started quicker than when the Open Day comes around, particularly if you’re looking to study this course, we advise booking in for an informal personal tour of the school.
Please contact a course advisor on +44 (0)161 833 4722 to make an appointment for either a tour or the Open Day.
I still need advice!
If you have any questions, please contact a course advisor on +44 (0)161 833 4722 who will be happy to help!
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