Having worked as a professional in the electronic music scene for 13 years, Jon Kong is widely known for being the engineer behind Leftwing: Kody.
He has also been involved in countless other projects, covering everything from house to techno, commercial and underground, he has released music with major and cutting edge underground labels such as Sony, Columbia, Virgin, Positiva, Ultra, Anjunadeep, Toolroom, Defected, Musical Freedom, Spinnin, Armada Subjekt, Hot Creations, Circus, Desolat, Moon Harbour, Relief, Knee Deep In Sound, Sola, Truesoul, Lost, Repopulate Mars, Realm, Viva, and many more.
Jon’s engineering expertise has also led to commercial remixes and collaborations with huge artists like Mabel, Kelis, MK, Duke Dumont, Oliver Heldens, Katy B, Nervo, Lost Frequencies, Marshall Jefferson as well as contemporary underground artists such as Todd Terry, Solardo, Michael Bibi, and Max Chapman.
With millions of streams under his belt, Jon also has two Beatport no.1 singles to his name – but that’s not all. He’s also put together award-winning sample packs, a best-selling course, and he’s even an educator at many renowned music schools. So, there’s no doubt about the fact that you’re in safe hands.
The first thing you need to understand about how I and my team teach Ableton is the 80/20 Rule:
We simplify the software. Because most Ableton courses just regurgitate the manual. And that’s a waste of time.
We ignore the 80% of features you will probably never use. And instead, we focus on teaching the 20% of the software’s functionality, keys, and shortcuts that you’ll be using 99% of the time.
That way, you avoid all of the creative traps, time sucks, pitfalls, and hazards that plague most aspiring DJs.
And then we take on what really matters…
Discussing proven, studio-tested methods for using Ableton in ways that no one has likely ever shared with you before.
Demonstrating how to use Ableton to get almost any sound you want, without having to buy additional gear or plugins.
And finally, covering the quickest way to lay out a project for maximum impact on the dancefloor… And it only takes 2 hours.
Now, I can’t be there with you in the studio.
But I’ve structured the Ableton Accelerator as if I were teaching you live.
You’ll be watching over my shoulder, understanding and internalising the system.
Straight away, you’ll be able to apply it to your very own record and see instant results. It’s practical and not theory based.
That’s why you’ll be learning:
The shortcut secrets of 99% of all house music out there. (Most songs are stunningly simple once you know the pro-level tricks.)
The one thing you MUST do at the beginning of your track to grab any listener’s attention. (And even better, get them to recognize YOUR signature sound.)
The five simple techniques that will make your tracks sound just as good as the best producers in the industry. (Believe it or not, this is one of the fastest, easiest ways to determine whether you should move forward with an idea or scrap it. And usually, it only takes a few minutes to do.)
The production strategies that have earned me over 50 million Spotify streams. (And yes, they work even if you’re a slow producer who typically takes hours to write a single track. See Module 6 for details.)
Will you be learning everything there is to know about mixing and mastering? No, that would eat up all four weeks of our class time, and we’d still have a lot of work to do.
We really have two main goals here…
The first is helping you avoid spending all of your hard-earned money on engineers every time you finish a track. (Because if you’re producing regularly and trying to send out at least one track a week, this could cost you upwards of 10K a year.)
And the second (and most important) goal is making sure your demos are mixed and mastered to a professional standard on par with both your references and your target label’s releases.
Session View & Audio
Part 1 - Session View Overview
Part 2 - Drums From Audio Loops
Part 3 - Adding Loops
Part 4 - Basic Referencing & Leveling
Part 5 - Saving Your Project
Session View & Midi
Part 1 - Introduction To MIDI
Part 2 - Sampling Using Simpler
Part 3 - Adding Drums With MIDI
Working In The Arrange View
Part 1 - Arrange View Overview
Part 2 - Session & Arrange View Link Up
Part 3 - Using Audio In Arrange View
Part 4 - Editing Audio In Arrange View
Part 5 - Using MIDI In Arrange View
Part 6 - Understanding Velocity
Working With Bass
Part 1 - Listening Exercise
Part 2 - Bass Using Audio Loops
Part 3 - Bass With Audio One Shots
Part 4 - Bass With The Piano Roll
Part 5 - Bass With A MIDI Controller
Sound Design & Music Theory
Part 1 - Synthesis Introduction
Part 2 - Understanding ADSR
Part 3 - Understanding The Filter
Part 4 - External Synths
Part 5 - Music Theory Introduction Scales
Part 6 - Chords and Scale Relationship
Part 7 - Using Music Theory In Our Music
Part 8 - Using Music Theory With Samples
Building The Main Section
Part 1 - Listening Exercise
Part 2 - Adding Music Parts
Part 3 - Playing In Melodies
Part 4 - Playing In Chords
Part 5 - Using Arps
Part 6 - Extra Percussion Elements
Vocal Fundamentals
Part 1 - Listening Exercise
Part 2 - Using Vocal Stabs
Part 3 - Finding Vocals And Using In Key
Break Down Fundamentals
Part 1 - Setting Up A Breakdown
Part 2 - Choosing Breakdown Parts
Part 3 - Breakdown Atmosphere Techniques
Part 4 - Building Tension
Arrangement Fundamentals
Part 1 - Listening Exercise
Part 2 - Intro To First Drop
Part 3 - Main Section To Outro
Main Break Down Techniques
Part 1 - Filter Techniques / Automation
Part 2 - Using Reverb & Delays Pt.1
Part 3 - Using Reverb & Delays Pt. 2
Part 4 - Putting It All Together
Part 5 - Inserting Silence
Mixing Fundamentals
Part 1 - Gain Staging
Part 2 - Referencing, Leveling & Panning
Part 3 - Understanding EQ
Part 4 - Mixing Low End
Part 5 - Understanding Compression
Part 6 - Frequency Slotting
Part 7 - Using FX
Track Finalizing
Part 1 - Track Finalizing
Part 2 - Introduction To Mastering / Exporting
Jon’s productions caught our ears a while back now, Mainly due to the warm and punchy mix downs he was doing on his club music. Quickly enough we signed some of his music to our label
HOT SINCE 82, KNEE DEEP IN SOUND
I have always been a fan of Jon’s production, the way he can use strong melodies in an underground club track is a gift that can’t be taught.
MK, AREA 10
One of the most versatile and knowledgeable producers of our current scene, I don’t know many engineers who can produce both underground & commercial but is an authentic as they come with a deep musical palette and ear for what actually sounds good
DANNY HOWARD, BBC RADIO 1
Jon Kong is the best producer I’ve worked with in at least the last 20 years
MARSHALL JEFFERSON
Not only has Jon been a personal friend for well over 10 years, but his professional attitude and work ethic has made working with him over the years an absolute pleasure. A talented producer with premiership levels of drive and determination
MATT SMALLWOOD, TOOLROOM RECORDS