SAE Creative Media Institute presents an exclusive masterclass with producer, performer and educator Mad Zach.
With over 20 million YouTube views, 10+ million plays on Spotify and tour experience in over ten countries, renowned music producer Mad Zach is a well-respected leader in the electronic music scene. The Berlin-based professional will be sharing his trade secrets during his upcoming Masterclass series.
Exciting audiences at major international festivals such as Coachella, Shambala, Fusion Festival, Lightning in a Bottle, Earth Frequency and more, Mad Zach is one of the best in the biz. He’s also gained DJ and label support from the likes of Aphex Twin, Tipper, Bassnectar, G Jones, Eprom, Claude Von Stroke and Deadmau5 and collaborated with Sydney outfit Haiku Hands on their latest single ‘Onset’.
Mad Zach started making beats 13 years ago, following a childhood of playing guitar. Beginning with hip hop instrumentals and evolving to incorporate electronic sounds and experimental rhythms. He steadily integrated more and more synths and hardware into his productions too.
Along the way, Zach developed a unique style of using midi controllers like instruments and started sharing production techniques and sample packs with the world through various videos for prominent DJ blog DJ Tech Tools, as well as software companies such as Ableton and Native Instruments.
Zach will be revealing the production techniques behind his dark, distinctive and innovative style in exclusive and inspiring masterclass sessions presented by SAE Institute and Plasma Collaborative in Byron Bay, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne (in conjunction with Ableton).
In this two-hour workshop, Zach will guide attendees through the exciting process of building an original sound pack in Ableton Live, drawing influences from hip hop, glitch, drum and bass, dub and trap, and using the pack to write a fleshed out track.
Participants get to engage in the creative process with Zach, as well as ask questions along the way. Topics covered will include finger drumming and controllerism, sound design tricks, foley recording, mix engineering, synthesis, advanced sampling, as well as the technical tools and concepts to support those topics.
In addition, Zach will be sharing some of his favourite workflow tips, including some unusual and effective techniques that can be employed for maximum productiveness in the studio. Combining the masterclass sessions with a national tour, this will be Zach’s third time visiting our shores after an extensive Berlin residency, and the San Francisco native can’t wait to come back.
“I love to connect with local producers in the places I travel and to share what I can. It’s always a learning experience for me too,” he says. “I’m also looking forward to seeing old friends and sharing new music and ideas.”
If you’d like to connect with Mad Zach, his Masterclasses are taking place nationally in February at SAE Institute Campuses, further information can be found here.
Mad Zach’s Melbourne masterclass session will be held on Thursday February 13th at Plasma Lab pop up-event at QQQ ST, 4 Peel Street Collingwood, from 6pm until late. This is a free event but places are limited, so head to eventbrite to register your attendance.
Melbourne attendees will also be provided with a voucher for the Mad Lab Sound Packs X 1 Collection, valued at 30EUR, as well as a download of the sounds and Ableton Live project created in the workshop. You’ll also go into the draw to win a two-day recording package at SAE studios – one day recording, one day mixing of a single song.
SAE has campuses across Australia and offers courses in Animation, Audio, Design, Film, Games and Web and Mobile. SAE also offer Postgraduate Certificates, Diplomas and the Master of Creative Industries. For more information visit sae.edu.au.
