Make music that gets finished

Plain-English guides to making music: from your first song to mixing, mastering and releasing it. Every guide comes from our own videos and teaching.

174 articles

Start here

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What Does a Music Producer Do? The Real Job, Step by StepWhat the job really involves, from idea to release15 min readIs Mix Elite Legit? A Mix Elite Review, Prices and RefundsWho runs it, what it costs, and what students say12 min readMusic Production School vs Online Course: Which Is Worth It?Real costs, real schedules, and the one thing that makes you improve17 min read

FL Studio

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How to Use Gross Beat in FL Studio for Tape Stops and StuttersThe time plugin behind tape stops, stutters and half-time beats14 min readThe Best FL Studio Sound Packs (Free and Paid)Drum kits, loops and vocals worth paying for, plus the free ones17 min readFL Tips Is Now Mix Elite: Where the FL Tips Full Bundle WentSame team, same lessons, new name8 min read

Theory & Songwriting

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The Best MIDI Packs for Chords, Melodies and DrumsReady-made chords and melodies, and how to make them sound like yours15 min readHow to Make Trap Melodies in FL Studio (5 Dark Tricks)A lo-fi piano, a reversed loop and the scales that make trap sound dark19 min readHow to Write a Melody: 7 Simple Steps to a Catchy TuneStart from your chords, find a rhythm, then let bar 4 answer the rest15 min read

Beats & Drums

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The Best Beat Making Course Online in 2026Which ones get you from loops to finished beats, and what each costs17 min readHow to Make a Type Beat: A Step-by-Step GuideStudy the artist, then make the beat they'd pick15 min readWhy Does My Snare Sound Flat? How to Mix a Punchy SnareOne limiter trick, one clap layer, delayed reverb and a braver fader18 min read

Mixing

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The Best Mixing Courses Online in 2026Which ones teach you to mix your own songs, and what each really costs15 min read10 Beginner Mixing Mistakes (and the Exact Fix for Each)The mistakes almost everyone makes, and the fix for each14 min readHow to Sidechain With Fruity Limiter in FL StudioKick routing, exact knob settings, and fixes when nothing ducks14 min read

Vocals

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The Best FL Studio Vocal Presets for Rap and SingingOne-click vocal chains, the free ones worth trying, and how to tweak them15 min readHow to Make Vocal Ambience in FL Studio: Granulizer and BlurTurn one vocal into a soft pad with two stock tools and a few knobs14 min readHow to Tune Vocals in FL Studio: Newtone, Pitcher and Free TunersNatural fixes and hard autotune, step by step16 min read

Mastering

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The Best Mastering Courses Online in 2026What each one teaches, what it costs, and which fits a home producer16 min readHow to Master a Song in 5 Steps (Works in Any DAW)A simple chain you can repeat on every track13 min readWhat Is Mastering in Music? What It Does and How It WorksThe last step before release, explained simply14 min read

House & EDM

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How to Make Reese Bass in Serum and FL StudioSix detuned voices, a moving filter, grit, and a clean sub underneath16 min readHow to Make a Future Bass Drop in FL Studio (Step by Step)Six stacked chord layers, a pump on every hit, and a build that waits15 min readHow to Make Tech House: BPM, Song Structure and SoundsGroove, bass and drums that move a dance floor14 min read

Plugins & Gear

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Home Studio Checklist for Beginners on a BudgetThree questions, one buying order, and a kit that starts at $012 min read28 Home Studio Design Ideas for Small Rooms and BedroomsLayout, sound, light and storage for a room you'll actually use18 min readBlack Friday Plugin Deals 2026 for Music ProducersReal prices and end dates, plus what a beginner can skip12 min read

Music Business

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How to Release Music: Your First Song, Step by StepFrom final mix to every streaming platform15 min readHow to Find Your Signature Sound as a Music ProducerHow to sound like you, not like everyone else15 min readHow to Clear a Sample, Even as an Independent ArtistHow to get permission and use a sample legally14 min read

Production

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How to Get a Good Bass Guitar Tone: Settings and FrequenciesSettings that make bass sound full and defined16 min readSampling Techniques in FL Studio: Chop, Flip, Layer, ResampleFlip any sound into something new18 min readHow to Record Bass Guitar at Home: DI, Amp and Clean TakesGet a clean, solid bass take every time15 min read