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Vocal House Production w/ Ian Bland

 

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Vocal House Production w/ Ian Bland

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Course Contents

Course Preview

Less than 1 minute

Mixing drums

23 minutes

Mixing bass

10 minutes

Mixing rhodes

12 minutes

Mixing the main piano

7 minutes

Mixing vocals

7 minutes

Live Q & A

Q & A

34 minutes

About This Course

To get a balanced and powerful mix in any genre, each element needs to be processed correctly and have its own place. .

In this lesson Ian uses a mixture of third party plugins and stock Logic Pro FX to mix each element of a Vocal House track. It includes how to get an analog sound from digital equipment, mix classic key sounds and add depth to vocals. 

You will learn how to mix:

  • Drums.
  • Bass.
  • Keys.
  • Vocals.

Lessons: 

1. Mixing Drums

Ian shows you how to process your drums so that they sit well in the mix. He explains how to process the kick separately with Slate Digital Plugins and stock Logic Pro FX. Then he looks at the drums as a whole and uses Metric AB to compare them to a reference track that he knows works in the club.

  • Processing the kick with Virtual Mix Rack plugins from Slate Digital.  
  • Compressing the kick.
  • Processing the drums as a whole. 
  • Using Metric AB to compare your mix to a reference track.

2. Mixing Bass:

Mixing down your bass so that it is powerful but not overpowering and doesn’t clash with other elements in the mix. Ian uses third party plugins such as Nicky Romero’s: Kickstart and Logic Pro’s Utility and Overdrive.

  • Processing with Virtual Mix Rack plugins.
  • Compression and sidechaining with Nicky Romero’s: Kickstart.
  • Making your bassline Mono with Logic Pro’s: Utility and adding Overdrive.

3. Mixing Rhodes:

This chapter shows you how to mix one of the staples of Vocal House, Rhodes. Ian gives some of his best tips for writing chords, how to use Auto-Filter to slowly introduce keys, how to use FX such as ChromaVerb and Stereo Spread to add depth to your productions and more.

  • Tips for writing chords.
  • Bringing in the Rhodes with AutoFilter.
  • Using ChromaVerb, Compressor and adding stereo width with Stereo Spread.

4. Mixing the Main Piano: 

Processing your main keys so that they sound the best they can in your mix. Again, Ian uses a mixture of third party plugins and Logic stock FX. How to add character with VintageVerb from Valhalla, using Metric AB and Oxford EQ together and other powerful techniques.

  • Processing with Virtual Mix Rack plugins from Slate Digital and EQ.
  • Using VintageVerb from Valhalla,
  • Using Metric AB and Oxford EQ together.

5.  Mixing Vocals :

Mixing your vocals so that they shine in your mix. Ian shows how to add warmth with Virtual Mix Rack plugins, compression with Logic Pro’s stock compressor, stereo width with Stereo delay  and other techniques.

  • Processing with Virtual Mix Rack plugins.
  • Compressing Vocals.
  • Adding reverb, Stereo Delay and distortion.

6. Extensive Q&A

Ian answers questions on mixing Vocal House and production techniques applicable to all genres. Questions include: alternative ways to add distortion to percussion, using sends and returns and templates in Logic Pro.

  • What other distortions do you suggest for percussion? 
  • How do you get so many slots in your FX chain? 
  • Can you recommend any third party Tape Delays? 
  • Where do you use your Span plugin? 
  • Do you use a template? 
  • Would you put your reverb through Aux sends? 
  • What are your top tips for making the most of spare time and workflow?
  • Do you use Ableton too?
  • Do you use any Waves plugins? 
  • Who did the vocals in this track? 
  • Do you use Logic for recording vocals?
  • Would you recommend Logic or Ableton for mixing down?
  • What hardware do you use?

Meet Your Teacher

Ian Bland

Ian Bland has over 30 years’ experience in music production, with hits across many different labels and under many different monikers, his biggest claim to fame being Dream Frequency and Dancing Divaz.

He is smashing it today with releases on Todd Terry’s: InHouse and other big names, he also runs his own label: Maison Records. His lessons are full of next level techniques and tips to up your production game. 

Discussions

Dream of finally finishing that draft or launching that side-hustle? Make your next creative project your best yet, with simple steps from creative superstar Emma Gannon!

Discussions

Dream of finally finishing that draft or launching that side-hustle? Make your next creative project your best yet, with simple steps from creative superstar Emma Gannon!

About This Class 

Dream of finally finishing that draft or launching that side-hustle? Make your next creative project your best yet, with simple steps from creative superstar Emma Gannon!

In this new class, Emma shares the framework that allowed her to overcome self-doubt and carve her own path as an author, broadcaster, and podcast host. The secret to her success? Fed up with feeling afraid—of failure, of not being good enough, even of success—Emma dug into the science behind self-sabotage and learned exactly how to get out of her own way.

Now, Emma is sharing what she’s learned so that you can do the same: unlock your creative potential while feeling energized and empowered! 

Together with Emma, you will:

  • Identify the patterns in your life, and let go of habits that don’t serve you
  • Cut out comparison to figure out what you really want and need
  • Silence your inner critic by talking back to negative beliefs and behaviors
  • Own your success and vulnerability—both go hand-in-hand with creativity

Packed with insights and examples from Emma’s personal journey, this class is designed for every creative who needs a pep-talk or extra push to get started—and includes five exclusive downloadable worksheets to support you along the way.

Whether you’re looking to break through block, remove self-imposed pressure, or simply approach each new project with intention, this 45-minute class will unlock your confidence as a creative. Get started and celebrate taking the first step!

______________________________

All you need to follow along is a pen and paper. Download the worksheets to follow along with Emma’s exercises, or jot your thoughts in a notebook.

Resources

  • Introduction
  • Week one

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