The Ultimate Book for Dance Music Producers: The Secrets of Dance Music Production

# The Secrets of Dance Music Production: A Book Review - Introduction - What is the book about and who is the author? - Why is it a valuable resource for aspiring and experienced producers? - What are the main topics covered in the book? - Studio Fundamentals - How to set up your studio and choose the right equipment - How to use synthesis and sampling to create sounds - How to apply EQ, compression, and reverb to enhance your mix - The Golden Rules of Mixing - How to achieve loudness, clarity, and balance in your tracks - How to use panning, stereo width, and depth to create space - How to add interest and energy with automation and effects - Essential Techniques - How to layer sounds and create frequency brackets - How to use lo-fi processing and bass splitting for character and punch - How to produce vocals and master your tracks for different platforms - Up Your Writing Chops - How to compose catchy basslines and melodies with voicing and arpeggios - How to create syncopation, groove, and swing with rhythm and timing - How to write killer chord progressions and harmonies with music theory - Arrange Loops into Tracks - How to structure your tracks with intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro - How to use transitions, drops, builds, and breakdowns to create tension and release - How to analyze dancefloor structures from different genres and styles - Bigger Beats - How to design drum sounds from scratch or using samples - How to shape transients, dynamics, and tone with processing - How to craft beats for different genres with ghost notes, fills, and variations - Learn from the Masters - How to get tips and insights from some of the world's finest producers - How to emulate the sounds and techniques of Huxley, Redlight, Breach, Tricky, Justice, Sigur Rós, Todd Edwards, Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez and more - How to develop your own signature style and sound with experimentation and creativity - Get That Sound - How to recreate some of the most iconic sounds in dance music history - How to make vintage arps, supersize FX, ripping Reese basslines, stacked EDM leads, ethereal soundscapes, deep house keys and more - How to use media-rich walkthroughs with screenshots and audio examples - Conclusion - Summarize the main points and benefits of the book - Give a personal opinion and recommendation of the book - Provide a link to where readers can buy or download the book Now that I have the outline ready, I will start writing the article based on it. Please wait for a few minutes while I generate the content. Thank you for your patience.? OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the first part of it: # The Secrets of Dance Music Production: A Book Review If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to making cutting-edge dance music, you might want to check out The Secrets of Dance Music Production by David Felton. This book is a treasure trove of technique, tips, illustrations, and hands-on walkthroughs that will help you take your tracks from concept to club-ready master. Whether you make house or techno, 2-step or D&B, EDM or trance, this book has something for you. In this article, I will review the book and highlight some of the main topics covered in it. I will also share my personal opinion and recommendation of the book at the end. Let's get started! ## Studio Fundamentals The first section of the book covers the basics of setting up your studio and creating sounds. You will learn how to choose the right equipment, such as monitors, headphones, audio interfaces, MIDI controllers, and microphones. You will also learn how to optimize your studio acoustics and monitor placement for accurate listening. Next, you will dive into the world of synthesis and sampling. You will learn how to use different types of synthesizers, such as subtractive, FM, wavetable, granular, and modular. You will also learn how to use samplers and sample libraries to add realism and variety to your sounds. You will discover how to manipulate waveforms, envelopes, filters, LFOs, modulation, and effects to create your own sounds from scratch. Finally, you will learn how to apply EQ, compression, and reverb to enhance your mix. You will learn how to use EQ to balance frequencies, remove unwanted resonances, and create contrast. You will learn how to use compression to control dynamics, add punch and glue, and create parallel effects. You will learn how to use reverb to create ambience, depth, and space. This section is a great introduction to the essential tools and techniques of sound design and mixing. It will give you a solid foundation for creating professional-sounding tracks. ## The Golden Rules of Mixing The second section of the book focuses on the art and science of mixing. You will learn how to achieve loudness, clarity, and balance in your tracks. You will also learn how to use panning, stereo width, and depth to create space. You will also learn how to add interest and energy with automation and effects. The book presents 10 golden rules of mixing that you can apply to any genre or style of music. These rules are: - Rule 1: Mix at low levels - Rule 2: Use reference tracks - Rule 3: Use subtractive EQ - Rule 4: Use compression sparingly - Rule 5: Use reverb wisely - Rule 6: Use panning creatively - Rule 7: Use stereo width carefully - Rule 8: Use automation effectively - Rule 9: Use effects tastefully - Rule 10: Check your mix on different systems The book explains each rule in detail and provides examples and tips on how to implement them. It also shows you how to use common mixing tools and plugins, such as EQs, compressors, limiters, reverbs, delays, choruses, flangers, phasers, distortions, saturators, exciters, enhancers, wideners, imagers, meters, analyzers, and more. This section is a great guide to improving your mixing skills and achieving professional results. It will help you avoid common mixing mistakes and pitfalls. I'm still writing the rest of the article. Please wait for a few more minutes while I generate the content. Thank you for your patience.? OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the next part of it: ## Essential Techniques The third section of the book covers some of the most important techniques for making dance music. You will learn how to layer sounds and create frequency brackets. You will learn how to use lo-fi processing and bass splitting for character and punch. You will learn how to produce vocals and master your tracks for different platforms. Layering sounds is a key technique for creating rich and full sounds. You will learn how to layer different types of sounds, such as drums, basses, leads, pads, and FX. You will also learn how to create frequency brackets, which are groups of sounds that occupy a specific frequency range. You will learn how to balance and blend your layers using EQ, compression, and panning. Lo-fi processing is a technique for adding warmth, grit, and character to your sounds. You will learn how to use different types of lo-fi effects, such as bitcrushing, downsampling, distortion, saturation, tape emulation, vinyl simulation, and more. You will also learn how to use bass splitting, which is a technique for separating the low and high frequencies of your bass sounds. You will learn how to process each frequency band differently to create punchy and powerful basses. Vocal production is a technique for adding human touch and emotion to your tracks. You will learn how to record vocals using a microphone and an audio interface. You will also learn how to edit, tune, and process vocals using tools such as pitch correction, time stretching, comping, EQ, compression, reverb, delay, chorus, harmonizer, vocoder, and more. Mastering is the final stage of the production process. It is the process of preparing your tracks for distribution on different platforms, such as streaming services, radio stations, clubs, and festivals. You will learn how to master your tracks using tools such as EQ, compression, limiting, stereo imaging, loudness metering, dithering, and more. You will also learn how to optimize your tracks for different formats and devices. This section is a great way to learn some of the most essential techniques for making dance music. It will help you create professional-sounding tracks that stand out from the crowd. ## Up Your Writing Chops The fourth section of the book focuses on the creative aspects of writing music. You will learn how to compose catchy basslines and melodies with voicing and arpeggios. You will learn how to create syncopation, groove, and swing with rhythm and timing. You will also learn how to write killer chord progressions and harmonies with music theory. Basslines and melodies are the main elements that define the mood and style of your tracks. You will learn how to write basslines and melodies that fit your genre and sound. You will also learn how to use voicing and arpeggios to add variation and interest to your basslines and melodies. Voicing is the way you arrange the notes of a chord or scale on different octaves. Arpeggios are patterns of notes that play one note at a time from a chord or scale. Rhythm and timing are the main elements that define the groove and feel of your tracks. You will learn how to write rhythms and timings that fit your genre and sound. You will also learn how to use syncopation, groove, and swing to add movement and energy to your rhythms and timings. Syncopation is the placement of accents on weak or off-beats. Groove is the subtle variation of timing and velocity that gives human feel to your rhythms. Swing is the delay of every other note in a rhythm by a certain amount. Chord progressions and harmonies are the main elements that define the structure and emotion of your tracks. You will learn how to write chord progressions and harmonies that fit your genre and sound. You will also learn how to use music theory to understand and create chords, scales, modes, keys, intervals, inversions, extensions, substitutions, modulations, I'm still writing the rest of the article. Please wait for a few more minutes while I generate the content. Thank you for your patience.? OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the next part of it: and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as chord generators, chord charts, circle of fifths, and more. This section is a great way to improve your writing skills and create original and memorable tracks. It will help you express your musical ideas and emotions with confidence and creativity. ## Arrange Loops into Tracks The fifth section of the book covers the process of arranging your loops into full tracks. You will learn how to structure your tracks with intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro. You will also learn how to use transitions, drops, builds, and breakdowns to create tension and release. You will also learn how to analyze dancefloor structures from different genres and styles. Structure is the way you organize your tracks into sections that have a specific function and purpose. You will learn how to use different types of structures, such as ABAB, AABA, ABAC, ABCD, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as song maps, arrangement templates, and markers to plan and visualize your structure. Transitions are the elements that connect your sections and create flow and continuity. You will learn how to use different types of transitions, such as fades, cuts, filters, sweeps, risers, impacts, reverses, stutters, glitches, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as transition generators, transition libraries, and automation to create and control your transitions. Drops, builds, and breakdowns are the elements that create tension and release in your tracks. They are the moments that make your listeners dance or feel something. You will learn how to use different types of drops, builds, and breakdowns, such as hard drops, soft drops, vocal drops, snare rolls, kick rolls, white noise builds, synth builds, vocal builds, drum breakdowns, synth breakdowns, vocal breakdowns, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as drop generators, drop libraries, I'm still writing the rest of the article. Please wait for a few more minutes while I generate the content. Thank you for your patience.? OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the next part of it: and automation to create and control your drops, builds, and breakdowns. Dancefloor structures are the common patterns and formulas that different genres and styles of dance music use to arrange their tracks. You will learn how to analyze and emulate dancefloor structures from house, techno, D&B, EDM, trance, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as structure analyzers, structure templates, and reference tracks to compare and contrast different structures. This section is a great way to learn how to arrange your tracks and create impact and emotion. It will help you create tracks that work on the dancefloor and keep your listeners engaged. ## Bigger Beats The sixth section of the book covers the process of making beats for dance music. You will learn how to design drum sounds from scratch or using samples. You will also learn how to shape transients, dynamics, and tone with processing. You will also learn how to craft beats for different genres with ghost notes, fills, and variations. Drum sounds are the foundation of your beats. You will learn how to create drum sounds using different methods, such as synthesis, sampling, layering, resampling, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as drum synthesizers, drum samplers, drum libraries, and drum editors to create and edit your drum sounds. Processing is the way you enhance and manipulate your drum sounds. You will learn how to use different types of processing, such as EQ, compression, distortion, saturation, transient shaping, gating, reverb, delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as drum processors, I'm still writing the rest of the article. Please wait for a few more minutes while I generate the content. Thank you for your patience.? OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the next part of it: drum busses, drum groups, and drum sends to apply and control your processing. Beats are the patterns and rhythms that you create with your drum sounds. You will learn how to create beats using different methods, such as programming, recording, sequencing, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as drum machines, drum sequencers, drum loops, and drum MIDI files to create and edit your beats. Genres are the styles and conventions that different types of dance music follow to create their beats. You will learn how to create beats for different genres, such as house, techno, D&B, EDM, trance, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as genre analyzers, genre templates, and genre reference tracks to compare and contrast different genres. This section is a great way to learn how to make bigger and better beats for dance music. It will help you create beats that sound professional and original. ## Learn from the Masters The seventh section of the book covers the process of learning from some of the world's finest producers. You will learn how to get tips and insights from them. You will also learn how to emulate their sounds and techniques. You will also learn how to develop your own signature style and sound with experimentation and creativity. Tips and insights are the nuggets of wisdom and advice that the masters share with you. You will learn how to get tips and insights from them through interviews, podcasts, videos, articles, books, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as tip collections, I'm still writing the rest of the article. Please wait for a few more minutes while I generate the content. Thank you for your patience.? OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the next part of it: tip generators, and tip libraries to organize and access your tips and insights. Sounds and techniques are the sonic and technical elements that the masters use to create their tracks. You will learn how to emulate their sounds and techniques using different methods, such as analysis, imitation, recreation, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as sound analyzers, sound libraries, sound generators, sound editors, technique analyzers, technique libraries, technique generators, and technique editors to create and edit your sounds and techniques. Style and sound are the personal and unique elements that the masters use to express their musical identity and vision. You will learn how to develop your own style and sound using different methods, such as experimentation, exploration, innovation, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as style analyzers, style libraries, style generators, style editors, sound analyzers, sound libraries, sound generators, and sound editors to create and edit your style and sound. This section is a great way to learn from the masters and improve your production skills. It will help you create tracks that are inspired by the best but still reflect your own personality and taste. ## Get That Sound The eighth section of the book covers the process of recreating some of the most iconic sounds in dance music history. You will learn how to recreate them using different methods, such as synthesis, sampling, layering, resampling, and more. You will also learn how to use media-rich walkthroughs with screenshots and audio examples. The book features dozens of sounds that span across different genres and styles of dance music. Some of the sounds are: - Vintage arps: The classic arpeggiated synth lines that defined genres such as synth-pop, electro, and Italo disco. - Supersize FX: The massive sound effects that add drama and impact to your tracks. - Ripping Reese basslines: The distorted and detuned bass sounds that originated from D&B but have been used in many other genres. - Stacked EDM leads: The huge and catchy lead sounds that dominate the EDM scene. - Ethereal soundscapes: The atmospheric and ambient sounds that create mood and texture in your tracks. - Deep house keys: The warm and soulful keyboard sounds that define the deep house genre. The book shows you how to recreate each sound step by step using different tools and techniques. It also provides you with screenshots of the settings and parameters used for each sound. It also provides you with audio examples of the original sound and the recreated sound. This section is a great way to learn how to get that sound that you always wanted for your tracks. It will help you expand your sonic palette and create tracks that pay homage to the classics but still sound fresh and modern. I'm still writing the rest of the article. Please wait for a few more minutes while I generate the content. Thank you for your patience.? OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the next part of it: ## Conclusion The Secrets of Dance Music Production is a book that every dance music producer should read. It covers everything you need to know to make professional and original tracks. It teaches you the fundamentals and the advanced techniques of sound design, mixing, writing, arranging, and mastering. It also shows you how to learn from the masters and recreate some of the most iconic sounds in dance music history. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their production skills and create tracks that stand out from the crowd. It is a book that you can read from cover to cover or use as a reference whenever you need some guidance or inspiration. It is a book that will help you achieve your musical goals and dreams. You can buy or download the book from the publisher's website: https://www.attackmagazine.com/shop/the-secrets-of-dance-music-production/ I hope you enjoyed this article a