Learn to mix techno in one day

This is the most dense way you could ever learn mixing.

The most experienced techno mixing engineer I know came to the classroom to give us a one-day course in mixing techno music. This means decades of mixing experience condensed into a one-day class. It starts from the philosophy, offers you a method (recursive mixing), a new way of listening (3D listening and mixing), and guides you through exercises that help you solidify this knowledge.

Do yourself a favour: Make one day in your calendar free, and watch this mixing workshop. It will be some of the best time you spend ever learning music production.

Learning something like mixing music depends heavily on experiencing things yourself, so it's best learned from another human - be really careful trying to learn this stuff from an AI!

It would be even better if you could be in the room like the people in the workshop, but this videocourse really is the next best thing. 

The students share their unfinished tracks as well, and Brice helps them articulate what they hear, and offers many many many tools to achieve their artistic goals.

“I’ll never listen to music the same way again” — one of the course participants says this halfway through the course.

Meet Brice

Your teacher for today

Brice is a mixing engineer, and one of the most charismatic teachers I've ever met.

As DJ and producer he is known as Pattrn, but he has also been a booker and sound engineer at the iconic Fuse club, and taught mixing and electronic music production at SAE Institute and the Royal Conservatory of Mons. He knows his stuff, and he knows how to talk about it.

I have learned so much from Brice myself, I feel lucky to pass this on to you now as well.

Go follow his mixing advice on Incidence Studio on Youtube or book his services on his website.

This is Brice, isn't he cute.

A taste of the Techno Intensive

This one-day course was part of a 6-day intensive techno camp that we run at the Underdog Classroom in Brussels.

Keep an eye on the Underdog website for more classroom workshops and events.

Theory AND Practice

Before lunch, Brice gives a theoretical framework that helps clarify all the mental tools and vocabulary we need.

After lunch, Brice walks us through listening exercises and then works on the students' work, helping them understand how to mix their own work better.

A method and a perspective

Two printable posters that solidify your learning

What do students have to say?

Aimé

Before the day with Brice, I thought I already knew how to mix.

This day has taught me so much about how depth and place make a mix clearer. The tips and tricks we were shown clarified so much for me. Now when I listen to tracks to inspire me, I don't listen the way I used to; I hear how things subtly come alive. It is a milestone; it is the music from before Brice and after Brice. This day has helped me so much with finishing my own tracks.

Anthony

Before attending Brice’s masterclass, my understanding of mixing was as hazy as my productions. Today, my approach to listening to sound and producing music has become much clearer.

Franca

I loved learning to listen to music in three dimensions. Every sound found its own place within a sonic landscape, forever transforming the way I experience music.

Fay

I'll never listen to music the same way again!

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Morning session

    • What is mixing?

    • 3D mixing — theory

    • Level balance is KEY

    • Frequency carving

    • Arrangement and contrast

    • Everything needs context

    • First cut, then boost

    • Width and mono-compatibility

    • Dynamics and crest factor

    • Q&A, Gain staging

    • Q&A, Talking with mix-and-mastering engineers

    • Q&A, Listening quiet and loud

    • Q&A, Monitoring and referencing

  • 2

    Afternoon session

    • 3D listening in practice

    • Student work 1

    • Student work 2

    • Student work 3 & creating distance

    • Student work 4 & envelope followers

    • Student work 5 & crest factor on a snare

    • Student work 6

    • Brice mixing 1

    • Brice mixing 2

    • Brice mixing 3

    • Brice mixing 4

    • Conclusion and Brice aftertalk