Dance Music Manual (3rd Edition): Tools, Toys, and Techniques by Rick Sno

If you’re new to producing electronic dance music, Rick Sno’s Dance Music Manual is a worthwhile (though highly repetitive) guide to getting started fast. For veteran producers, the book covers the gamut and in much detail; while you won’t take away as much as the novices, you’ll likely leave with a few new gems and information gaps filled. The Dance Music Manual is an in-depth, top-to-bottom…

How My Music Was Plagiarized for Profit and How I Fought Back

Late August 2013, my music was been stolen, rebranded, and sold across every major music store and streaming service online.  Over 150 instances were found on sites like iTunes and Spotify, and countless more appeared on illegal networks. I felt trapped, suffocated by the enormity of things. Still, with a lot of effort, I managed to take back most of what was mine, and thanks to the kindness of…

6 Skills You Need to Compose Video Game Soundtracks

Writing game music was the childhood dream, so it's always nice to talk about process. The good Dante Fumo invited me and a few of my peers to talkabout our workflows. My excerpt: "Games are magical because of the agency they offer. In linear mediums like music albums or films, you're swept along the narrative. But in games, the players guide the story—and everyone's story is different,…