Producer's Guide to Scaler 1

  • 90 mins of streamed tutorials
  • Access 24/7/365
  • Theory Tips & Tricks
  • Included Live Projects & Samples
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With music theory often being the toughest challenge many producers face, Plugin Boutique answered the demand by delivering Scaler, an outstanding tool for assisting in the creation of melodic parts in a track. This new set of tutorials provides 90 minutes of pro tips for getting to know the software, whilst witnessing the crafting of 3 quality grooves.

In the first groove, on a jazzy Hip Hop tip, Producertech Senior Tutor Rob Jones introduces some of the fundamentals of the plugin, such as how to choose a scale and then lock notes to the keyboard to enable easy playing of melodies using instruments in the DAW. He then moves on to Scaler’s Arpeggiator and Strummer facilities, before showing how chords sequences are made using the Songs presets as well as entirely from scratch.

The next module then guides students through the making of a Liquid DnB groove, inspired initially by a moody chords sample, which is converted to MIDI and then run into Scaler’s Detection section to work out the harmony involved. This allows a variation on the theme to be explored, sequenced into a fast arp pattern and accompanied by a rolling bass. Rob then shows how to reincorporate the original sample back into the groove to go in an alternative direction, by transposing each of the parts in the required way.

Combining a variety of techniques for the last module, Rob builds up a pounding Deep House groove, by playing in a bassline with a MIDI keyboard, then using Scaler to work out chords and arpeggios to accompany it, along with a breakdown bassline that modulates to a different key.

Signing up the course provides immediate access to the streamed lessons, as well as the samples used and MIDI patterns created along the way. Check out the sample module for an example of the course, before jumping into this Scaler adventure and learning to make superb melodic music of your own!

Playing Instruments in Key with Scaler

Module 1 - Jazzy Hip Hop Groove
In the first groove, on a jazzy Hip Hop tip, Producertech Senior Tutor Rob Jones introduces some of the fundamentals of the plugin, such as how to choose a scale and then lock notes to the keyboard to enable easy playing of melodies using instruments in the DAW. He then moves on to Scaler’s Arpeggiator and Strummer facilities, before showing how chords sequences are made using the Songs presets as well as entirely from scratch.
Lesson 1 - Playing Melodies in Key - 5.21
Lesson 2 - Playing Arpeggios and Strummed Chords - 3.58
Lesson 3 - Editing & Recording a Song Preset Chords Sequence - 7.35
Lesson 4 - Creating & Recording your own Chords Sequence - 4.55

Module 2 - Liquid DnB Groove
The arrangement is kicked off, with drums and percussion positioned accordingly, a new reverb send effect added and a reverse reverb FX custom made.
Lesson 1 - Detecting MIDI & Audio to build a Chords Sequence - 5.09
Lesson 2 - Voicing Chords Customisation & Arpeggiated Chords Exporting - 6.52
Lesson 3 - Additional Chords Manipulation & Bassline Creation - 4.38
Lesson 4 - Involving Original Chords Sample & Modifying Arp Sequence - 5.49

Module 3 - Deep House Groove
Combining a variety of techniques for the last module, Rob builds up a pounding Deep House groove, by playing in a bassline with a MIDI keyboard, then using Scaler to work out chords and arpeggios to accompany it, along with a breakdown bassline that modulates to a different key.
Lesson 1 - Playing in the Bass & Picking a Scale - 3.50
Lesson 2 - Creating the Main Chords Sequence - 7.47
Lesson 3 - Recording the Arp Lead with a Cross Rhythm - 5.21
Lesson 4 - Working with the Breakdown Bass in a New Key - 7.50
Lesson 5 - Bonus Pluck Sequence from Loopcloud - 3.20

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Rob Jones

Rob is a classically trained musician, with piano as his primary instrument, and obtained a degree in music and sound recording (the prestigious Tonmeister course) from the University of Surrey. Having honed his skills both at University and in the studios in London where he worked in a technical role, he began releasing music on labels like Lot49, Dead Famous and Erase, under the artist name Anarchy Rice. Rob has been at the forefront of music software training since the very beginning, having kicked things off at Focusrite back in 2006. With both classical music and technical sound qualifications, as well as a wealth of presenting experience, he is ideally suited to the role of an online music trainer, and is 100% dedicated to sharing his knowledge and assisting others with what he believes to be one of the most rewarding things in life - making music!