Sign up: https://electronicmusicforbeginners.eventbrite.ca

Artist Kimit Sekhon helps you synthesize fresh music using free software.

Registration closes June 24.

9 hours total over 3 sessions, online // $75, or $55 for members

** By donation for those facing reduced income due to COVID-19 . Those who can afford the Regular or Member Rate at this time should continue to use those, as it goes directly to helping pay for the instructor.

Session 1: Sat June 26, 1pm to 4pm

Session 2: Sat July 3, 1pm to 4pm

Session 3: Sat July 10, 1pm to 4pm

All times listed are Pacific Time  

Prerequisites & minimum requirements:

• No experience necessary other than basic computer use.

• Before the first session of this workshop, participants must download and install Caustic 3, available free here: https://singlecellsoftware.com/caustic. Please check that your computer meets the minimum requirements to run the software. It should be installed on all devices and computers that you want to learn to use it on.

• To join the workshop, participants must download and install Zoom Client for Meetings, available free here: https://zoom.us/download

• Participants are strongly encouraged to use headphones during the workshop.

• Participants are encouraged to bring short audio files that they want to experiment with during the workshop, to load into Caustic's sampler. These files must be in wave format (*.wav).

This hands-on introduction is for absolute beginners on a tight budget. Want to make music but don't know where to start? Curious about electronic music but don't have the funds to buy expensive equipment? This workshop is for you!

This workshop combines basic theory and practice to introduce you to audio synthesis and electronic music composition.

To do so, you'll learn the very basics of Caustic: https://singlecellsoftware.com/caustic

Caustic is free software for making music. It provides you with everything you need to compose electronic music -- synthesizer racks, sampler rigs, equalizers, mixers, effects, and automation tools -- and is optimized for smartphone and tablet devices, though it's also available for laptops and desktops. There's even an active online forum for extending your learning after this workshop.

Learn how to identify types of instrument and what sounds you can expect them to make. Discover how synthesizer work and how to shape the sounds to create your own. Understand the controls, dials, and sliders and what they are doing. Program a drum machine, route effects, sequence a track!

Responding to participants’ needs, the format for this workshop will include open time for you to ask questions and try your hand at experimenting with synthesis. Your instructor Kimit will provide technical and creative assistance.

By the end of the workshop, you will have created a short electronic music composition.

Topics covered

• Drum machine programming
• Creating sounds with synthesizers
• Sequencing
• Basic effects routing
• Basic mixing