Courses

Professional Course Programmes Pro Producer Courses Specialist Courses Logic Courses Ableton Live Courses Cubase Courses Reason Courses

Cubase Course - Beginners

Overview

A comprehensive introduction to producing music with Cubase. The Cubase course covers all of the essential MIDI skills you need to produce a track, whatever the genre. Perfect for beginners, but even experienced Cubase users will benefit by uploading their music each week for DVR™- expert analysis and video feedback on your work from a pro producer. And with Point Blank sponsors Universal and Island Records checking out selected students' tracks from this course, your music could be heard in influential areas of the music industry.

Course Preview

Tutor profile

JC Concato
JC's previous projects include production, engineering and remix work for the likes of Bjork, Portishead, The Cure, Erasure, Raggatwins and Renegade Soundwave.

Mark Ronson

Watch Mark Ronson send a message to Point Blank students when we met him at Sonica Radio during the International Music Summit, Ibiza.

Created on this course

Course Materials

1-2-1 video feedback on your music
Weekly online masterclass with a pro producer
Over 20 video tutorials on Cubase
Extensive course notes

Cubase projects to download
Exclusive samples & audio resources
24/7 access to student / tutor discussion forums

Course Contents

Week 1: What is MIDI sequencing?

Music structure: beats, bars, tempo & time signature
Using virtual instruments (VST's) in Cubase
Your first MIDI recording in Cubase

Week 2: Basic Drum Programming

Drum machines and drum programming
How to make a beat in Cubase
MIDI editing: quantize, velocity and note length

Week 3: Drum Programming - Step Sequencing & Groove

What is step sequencing?
Using the key editor in Cubase
How to add groove & 'live' feel to your beats

Week 4: Percussion & Other Beat-Making Techniques

Using the drum editor in Cubase
Adding "swing" and "shuffle" to your beats
Drum programming tips and tricks

Week 5: Chords & MIDI Plug-ins

Basic music theory: notes, octave, tone & semi tone
About scales and chords
Cubase MIDI plug-ins: how to use Chorder

Week 6: The Bassline

Types of bass sounds and how to use them
Creating a bassline to follow your chords
Recording and editing a bassline in Cubase

Week 7: Basic Analog Synthesis (part 1)

Synthesizers and how they work
Synthesizers in Cubase: A1, VB1 and Monologue
Shape sounds using the oscillator, filter & envelope

Week 8: Basic Analog Synthesis (part 2)

How to modulate and give expression to a sound
Filter modulation using envelope, velocity & LFO
Portamento and glide with bass & synth sounds

Week 9: Arpeggiator & Step Designer MIDI plug-ins

The role of the arpeggiator in modern music
How to use the arpeggiator in Cubase
Creating sequences and phrases in Step Designer

Week 10: Structure & Arrangement

Arrangement & instrumentation
Basic structure & shapes for songs
Tips about structure for a club track

Week 11: Finish Project (part1)

How to mix your track in Cubase
Levels, panning and EQ
FX channels: how to use reverb & delay

Week 12: Finish Project (part2)

Mix your finished track
Burn to audio CD and save as MP3
Submit your final project

Tutor profile

JC Concato
JC's previous projects include production, engineering and remix work for the likes of Bjork, Portishead, The Cure, Erasure, Allister Whitehead, Galliano, Pressure Drop, Raggatwins and Renegade Soundwave.