Overview
The Custom Producer Program allows you to choose your path at IO Music Academy. Whether you're looking to sharpen specific skills or explore a wide range of production techniques, this program allows you to select the courses that align with your creative goals.
If you’re interested in building a custom program, we strongly recommend scheduling a call with one of our team members.
Program Options
Students who choose the Custom Producer program can select from any of the courses offered at IO Music Academy.
Building Blocks (3 Months)
Building Blocks is the foundational course for music production, perfect for beginners and self-taught producers looking for structure. Over three months, you’ll learn the essentials of creating music with Ableton Live, focusing on musicianship, creativity, and self-expression. By the end of the course, you’ll have produced your first original track from start to finish.
Learn more about Building Blocks
Making Waves (3 Months)
Making Waves is an intermediate-level course focused on sampling, remixing, and warping audio in Ableton Live. Whether you’re flipping a classic track or creating an original composition, this course will teach you how to manipulate audio creatively and produce remixes and original music using found sounds and acapellas.
Secret Sauce (3 Months)
Find your favorite flavor in our 3-month Secret Sauce course. Tailored for intermediate producers, this immersive journey marries the rich history of electronic music with the cutting-edge techniques that shape today's hottest sounds.
Sending Signals (3 Months)
Step into the world of synthesis and sound design with Sending Signals, an intermediate-level course for those ready to create their sounds from scratch. Whether you're looking for Serum or Wavetable tutorials or want to satisfy your curiosity by creating custom patches on analog synths, this course will provide the tools and knowledge needed to take sounds out of your head, and design sounds for any genre of music.
Learn more about Sending Signals
Vocal Chops (3 Months)
Elevate your vocal recordings with Vocal Chops, the perfect course for singer-songwriters and producers looking to enhance their original vocals. This course covers everything from microphone selection and placement to vocal recording and editing techniques. Whether you’re a vocalist wanting to refine your craft or a producer incorporating unique vocals into your tracks, we'll guide you through the entire process. Learn how to track, comp, harmonize, tune, and creatively process your vocals, ensuring they stand out in any mix.
Claim Your Sound (3 Months)
Claim Your Sound is designed for producers who want to break through creative blocks and complete their projects. In three months, you'll learn the techniques to conceptualize, refine, and finish a 3-song EP that showcases your unique sound.
Learn more about Claim Your Sound
Live Performance (3 Months)
Learn how to take your original music productions to the stage and bring your tracks to life in a live performance setting. This course covers everything from preparing your tracks in Ableton Live to using hardware controllers and instruments to trigger clips and control effects in real time. Whether you're an electronic music producer or a live performer, this course will equip you with the skills to perform like a pro.
Learn more about Live Performance
Finishing Touches (3 Months)
In Finishing Touches, students delve deep into the art and science of mixing and mastering polished, release-ready tracks. From setting up your studio for optimal acoustics to the nuanced processes of EQ and compression, this course is a deep dive into the techniques and tools used by industry professionals.
Learn more about Finishing Touches
Spin Class (3 Months)
Ready to take your DJ skills to the next level? Our Spin Class is a 3-month intensive course designed for aspiring DJs who want to master the art of mixing, reading the crowd, and creating unforgettable sets.
What We Provide
In class, we provide students with workstations featuring gear from industry partners such as the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4, Novation Launchkey, Ableton Push 2, Behringer Crave, and Native Instruments Komplete Audio 1. This gives students hands-on experience with professional tools and allows them to participate in interactive exercises.
Thanks to our partners WARM Audio and Shure, students can also check out our extension microphone collection.
Outside of class, students enjoy unlimited access to our recording studios and DJ booths, fully equipped for songwriting sessions, recording vocals, mixing, mastering, production, or practicing for your next gig.
What You Need
To get the most out of your time at IO Music Academy, you’ll need:
A Laptop Ready for Music Production (MacBook Pro 2019 or newer recommended)
Wired Studio-Quality Headphones (Wireless headphones have latency and are not well-suited to music production)
MIDI Keyboard (for practicing and producing at home, we recommended 49 keys)
Ableton Live 12 (available at a 50% discount)
If you don’t have everything yet, no worries, our team is here to help with recommendations and access to educational discounts.
Student Perks
Unlimited Studio Time
IO Music Academy students get unlimited time in our production and DJ studios for the duration of their course or program.
Private Lessons
Courses include monthly private lessons with your choice of instructor.
Circle Community
The IO Music Academy Circle gives you access to an exclusive online hub where you can collaborate, share feedback, and get support from fellow students and alumni.
Course Materials
Students enjoy lifetime access to all course materials, including videos, dynamic notes, and recordings, so you can revisit the content any time.
Educational Pricing
Get up to 50% off partner brands such as Ableton, Arturia, AIAIAI, Auto-Tune, Pioneer DJ, and more.