12 Weeks
Level 3
3-Credit Tuition
$1,545Non-Credit Tuition
$1,290The "remix" has been a key marketing and creative concept in the music industry for years. Business savvy record labels have been releasing alternate mixes of hit songs in order to reach larger audiences since 12-inch record singles became popular in the late 1970s. Today, the remixing craze is in high gear, driven by the rise of electronic music (from dance to hip-hop), the proliferation of affordable remixing tools (such as powerful laptop computers and amazing music production software programs), the Internet (for ease of distribution and websites that host serious remixing contests), and national ad campaigns that use the term "remix" as a catchphrase for marketing everything from soft drinks to magazines.
However, behind the remixing craze lies a serious craft. In fact, beginning in 1998, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS, The Grammy people) recognized the technical and creative skills necessary to be an accomplished remixer and created a specific award category for Best Remixed Recording. This is very much deserved, especially since Remixing has been culturally significant over the years as an incubator for new music and technical innovation. Indeed, the practice of remixing has helped to foster many innovative music production techniques and sounds that have ultimately bubbled up through the underground into today's popular music.
This course focuses on the production techniques employed by the pros, professional remixers who earn money from their remixes and, occasionally, even a Grammy or two. To keep up with the class, you will need a powerful DAW program and a good understanding of your software. Your DAW program must have excellent audio editing, mixing, MIDI sequencing, and tempo mapping and warping capabilities. In addition, you'll need plenty of virtual instruments and effects for composing new parts and sound design. A few examples of DAW programs that meet all of these criteria are: Pro Tools, Live, Logic, and Reason.
The skills required to remix have a lot of practical applications beyond simply producing remixes. In this class you will learn not only the technical skills necessary to produce professional sounding remixes, but also how to "think outside the box," to hear a song's possibilities beyond its original arrangement and musical style. These skills will translate seamlessly to many areas of your own musical endeavors, from producing original material to thinking of ways for an artist to reach new audiences.
In this course, you will produce remixes based on several different types of source material: stereo masters, a cappellas, breakout tracks (Stems), and multitrack sessions. As the lessons progress, each remixing assignment will tackle another side of the remixing process that is more challenging than the last. Along the journey, you will learn to:
- Identify the differences between an original and remixed version of a song
- Legally obtain material for remixing
- Employ appropriate virtual instruments and effects to remix a song
- Sound design effective "ear candy" for your remix
- Recognize the difference between warping and recycling audio
- Understand ticks-based versus sample-based tracks
- Tempo map a song
- Perform flawless tempo changes
- Compose new tracks that fit perfectly over the original song
- Remix practically any type of source material
- Build DJ friendly songs
- Produce professional sounding remixes
- Prepare your remixes for distribution and live performance
Syllabus
Lesson 1: The Art of Remixing
- Definition of "Remix"
- A Remake is Not A Remix
- History of Remixing
- Exercise: Listening to Remixes
- Workshop: Remix Fun Machine
- Remix Source Material
- Finding Tracks to Remix
- Assignment: Find a Remix Material Resource
Lesson 2: Assessing your DAW, Rewire, and Templates
- Critical DAW Features
- Discussion: How Does Your DAW Strack Up?
- Sound Sources
- Rewire Explained
- Extreme Audio Routing
- Discussion: How Do Your Sound Sources Stack Up?
- Rewire Connection Details
- Managing CPU Resources
- The Importance of Session Templates
- Quiz
- Assignment: Your Session Template in Action
Lesson 3: Crafting Smooth Tempo Changes
- Introduction to Recycling Audio
- Recycling Audio is a Critical Tempo Change Method
- Introduction to Warping Audio
- Discussion: Comment on the Two Tempo Change Methods
- Tick-Based Audio Tracks
- Recycling Audio Details and Process
- REX Files
- Exercise: REX and Recycling Test Drive
- Warping Audio Details and Process
- Quiz
- Assignment: Beat Match and Tempo Change the Loops
Lesson 4: Remixing a Stereo Master
- Stereo Master Recording
- Definition of a Mash-Up
- Discussion: Stereo Master Remix versus Mashups
- Choose a Tempo and Conform
- Select and Edit Your Loops
- Exercise: Rearrange the Regions
- Adding Your Own Parts
- EQ Filtering for a Better Fit
- Quiz
- Assignment: Remix a Stereo Master Recording
Lesson 5: A Cappella Remix
- A Cappella Remix Distinctions
- Discussion: Pros and Cons of Remixing an A Cappella
- Importing the A Cappella
- Locking the A Cappella to Tempo
- Vocals in the Rough
- Exercise: Repair the Tempo Drift
- Micro-Editing for Perfect Vocals
- Workshop: Micro-Editing Vocals
- Adding a Beat and the Music
- Workshop: Match the A Cappella to the Music
- Quiz
- Assignment: Remix an A Cappella
Lesson 6: Remixing Breakout Tracks
- Breakout Track Details
- Discussion: The Advantage of Breakout Tracks
- Setting Up the Breakouts Tracks
- Workshop: Organize the Breakouts Tracks
- Groove Quantize
- Micro-Editing Instrument Parts
- Exercise: Make These Tracks Groove Together
- Working with Loops in Pro Tools
- Quiz
- Assignment: Remix the Breakout Tracks
Lesson 7: Remixing a Multitrack Pro Tools Session
- Multitrack Session Sources
- Discussion: Other Multitrack Sources at Your Disposal?
- Another System's Session
- Multitrack Remix Strategies
- Importing Audio Regions and Tracks
- Steps for Completing a Remix
- Workshop: 12-Step Remixing Program
- Quiz
- Assignment: Prepare the Multitrack for Remixing
Lesson 8: Recording New Parts
- The Game Plan
- Drum Loops and MIDI Samples
- MIDI Groove Extraction
- Exercise: Map and Groove the MIDI Files
- Instrument Loops and MIDI Samples
- Strategies for Staying in Key
- Discussion: Got MIDI Samples?
- Quiz
- Assignment: Lots of New Parts
Lesson 9: Structure and Transitions
- Traditional Song Structure
- Remix Song Structure
- Exercise: Find a Mix-In Example
- Producing Variation and Transitions Between Sections
- Exercise: Find a Studio-Produced Transition Example
- DAW Arrangement Tools
- Quiz
- Assignment: Produce Your Remix Song Structure
Lesson 10: Final Music Production
- Sound Design Techniques
- Advanced Stutter Tricks
- Producing Effective Swooshes, Risers and Impacts
- Mix While You Go
- Identifying High-Impact Production Points
- Assignment: The Final Music Production
Lesson 11: Mixing
- EQ for Club and Radio Play
- Compress to Control Dynamics
- Various Mixing Tips
- Workshop: Identify the Effect
- Sound Replacement
- Discussion: Share Any Special Mix Tricks
- Mixing Steps Review
- Quiz
- Assignment: Do the Mix
Lesson 12: Mastery and Delivery
- Distribution Plans
- Distribution Channels
- Discussion: Plans for Your Remixes
- Mastering Choices at Each Step
- Workshop: Mastering Steps
- Indications of the Changing Times
- Discussion: Comment on the Industry Changes
- Quiz
- Assignment: Master Your Remix
- Next Steps
Requirements
Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
Prerequisite Courses, Knowledge, and/or Skills
Experience recording and working in your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is required. To meet the DAW proficiency requirements, you may benefit from taking any of the following courses: Pro Tools 101, Pro Tools 110, Producing Music with Logic, Producing Music with Reason, Producing Music with Cubase, Ableton Live Fundamentals.
Textbook(s)
- Recommended: The Complete Guide to Remixing: Produce Professional Dance-Floor Hits on Your Home Computer by Erik Hawkins (Berklee Press, 2004)
Software
- Full-featured Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), such as Pro Tools (Studio or Ultimate), Logic Pro, Cubase Pro, Ableton Live (Suite or Standard), Reaper, Reason, or FL Studio (Producer or Signature). Note that GarageBand is not acceptable.
Hardware
- MIDI keyboard controller
- One of the following studio monitoring options (both recommended):
- Studio monitors (pair), such as JBL 305Ps or better, as well as an audio interface and necessary cables
- Over-ear studio headphones, such as Sennheiser HD 600, Sony MDR-7506, Philips SHP9500, Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, etc.
Student Deals
After enrolling, be sure to check out our Student Deals page for various offers on software, hardware, and more. Please contact support@online.berklee.edu with any questions.
General Course Requirements
Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment and participate in Live Classes. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements section above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course.
Mac Users
PC Users
All Users
- Latest version of Google Chrome
- Zoom meeting software
- Webcam
- Speakers or headphones
- External or internal microphone
- Broadband Internet connection
Instructors
Author & Instructor
Erik "Hawk" Hawkins is an EDM artist, producer, composer, remixer, label owner, and author. His music has been used by major television networks and film studios, including ABC, CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, and New Line Cinema.
Dozens of his articles have appeared in the Industry's top publications, including Electronic Musician, Mix, Remix, and Keyboard. He has authored several books, including Complete Guide to Remixing and Producing Drum Beats. His Berklee Online course, Programming and Producing Drum Beats, won the 2012 UPCEA Award. He also manages his own busy YouTube channels and has collected way too many vintage synths. Read Less
What's Next?
When taken for credit, Remixing can be applied towards the completion of these related programs:
Related Certificate Programs
Related Degree Majors
Questions?
Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT'L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.
