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.
Course Options
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.
Circle Community
As part of the IO Music Academy Circle, students gain exclusive access to an online hub where they can connect, collaborate, and receive feedback on their tracks. You'll get lifetime access to course materials such as class recordings, dynamic notes, and workshop videos.
Weekly workshops and collaboration opportunities with fellow students and alumni ensure that you stay engaged and continue to grow, even after completing the course.
Studio Access
As a student at IO Music Academy, you’ll receive a complimentary Studio Membership for the duration of your course or program, giving you unlimited access to our state-of-the-art studios in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Booking Studio Time
You can book as many sessions as you like during your time at IO. The only rule is that you must finish one session before booking another. This ensures studio availibility for all of our students.
Studio Membership
After your course, you can continue your membership for just $250/month. Learn more about our Studio Membership here.
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 Bring
• Laptop (2019 or newer MacBook Pro recommended)
• Wired Headphones
• Ableton Live 12 (available at 40% off)
Ready to make your own path?
Click your city below to enroll in the Custom Producer program at IO Music Academy.
Still have questions? Click here to schedule a tour with one of our team members to learn more about our music production programs and find out if IO Music Academy is right for you.