Dowden Production academy

Join over 500+ producers and fast track your production journey. Learn fundamental techniques and secrets the professionals use that will shape you into a better producer, no matter your skill level
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Does this sound like you?

I know how you’re feeling..

You want to be a successful music producer, but you don’t know how to get better.

You love music and want to produce music that you are proud of, will get signed, and that can earn you a lot of revenue.

But you feel like you’re not progressing as fast as you’d like..

You’re not writing the music you want to be writing, and you feel like you’re stuck and wasting time scouring the internet for answers to questions you’re not even sure how to ask.

I spent 6 years following this path. Teaching myself while other producers I’ve met had only been producing for a couple of years and were signing more music than I was at the time.

What were they doing differently? Did they have more time? More money? More talent?
None of the above.

They chose to not rely solely on themselves to learn and learned how to produce music properly, from the start.

They didn’t have to waste countless hours watching random YouTube videos hoping to find an answer to their questions. They didn’t spend hundreds of sessions trialing different parameters and not understanding what they were actually doing. 

They had a properly developed path by relying on experienced producers to teach them everything they needed to know, to fast track their success story. 

They didn’t have to deal with the same frustrations as you and me. They got the proper training from the beginning. 

They saved thousands of hours of precious time, which is now being used to sign tracks to bigger labels, play shows to crowds, and build a fan base.

The best part? You can too.

Choose your Skill Level

My last several tracks sound cleaner, brighter, and more professional because of this course. I highly recommend this to all producers who want to level up!

–Zaria
Melodic House & Techno Producer

What Will You Learn?

Sound
Design

You’ll understand sound design and it’s powerful abilities to create unique and intricate sounds, as well as audio sampling and manipulation.

Songwriting & Arrangement

You’ll learn how to write music that is more engaging and professional for the average listener, DJs, radio, and dance floors.

Music
Theory

You’ll learn how to write music that is more engaging and professional for the average listener, DJs, radio, and dance floors.

Mixing Techniques

You’ll learn how to write music that is more engaging and professional for the average listener, DJs, radio, and dance floors.

Which Course is for me?

Learn the fundamentals

Beginner Course

  • Music theory to help you easily work with Minor & Major scales, and how to write chord progressions and melodies
  • Learn how to use presets and automation to bring your tracks to life
  • Understand fundamental tools and techniques to start creating your own unique sounds, transitions, and songs
  • Understand important mixing tools, and learn how to balance your tracks to sound more professional
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Master your Sound

Advanced course

  • Bring your music to a more professional level by mastering skills like automation, modulation, and humanization
  • Make your songs full and balanced with mixing, arrangement, layering, and sound design processing
  • Learn advanced mixing techniques such as parallel processing, bus routing, multiband/glue/bus compression, and dynamic EQ/compression
  • Learn advanced sound design techniques to increase the quality of your music
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Select Your Course

Beginner
Advanced

beginner music production course

The Beginner Course focuses on the pillars of music production, including Songwriting, Mixing, Music Theory, Arrangement, and more. Everything you’ll need to quickly rise from a Beginner producer in less than 10 hours of video content. At the end of the course we will write a basic dance track together to practice everything you have learned.
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Here's What You'll Learn

Module 1.0

Introduction to Sound Design

  • How to create your own sounds from scratch, or manipulate presets to meet your writing needs
  • Learn the foundations of sound design such as ADSR, LFO’s, filters, oscillators, arpeggiators, and more
  • How to create some of the most common sounds used in popular and underground music

Module 2.0

Songwriting & Composition Theory

  • Learn to write music that is both creative yet viable for dance floors, DJs, and radio stations
  • Understand dance music etiquette and terminology that will get you into the producer mindset and set you up for success in the industry
  • Important songwriting structure and phrasing to align your tracks arrangement properly

Module 3.0

Introduction to Mixing

  • When and how to use essential processing tools including compressors, equalizers, reverbs, delays, and more
  • Techniques to add clarity and balance to a mix (sidechain compression, gain staging, stereo panning, etc)
  • How to get your tracks ready to be mastered with proper mixing and preparation

Module 4.0

Arrangement Theory & Building a Track Together

  • Build a Basic Track together using everything you've learned in the course so far. From arrangement to the mixdown.
  • Learn how to write basslines & leads, program drums, and arrange a track properly
  • Finish the course with a track you can take with you!

Is the Beginner Course Right For Me?

You are fairly new but have a bit of experience in producing music, but still early on and you may run into these issues:

  • You have trouble writing and/or finishing a song
  • You don’t fully understand how synths or sampling works
  • You don’t know how to create your own sounds from scratch
  • You’re unsure how to mix your tracks
  • You don’t want to waste time learning but you don’t know what to search for to learn and progress quickly
  • You want to learn how to efficiently write electronic music by following the leading industry best practices to prepare your music for the dancefloor


If you find yourself in this category, then the Beginner Course is for you!

Unlike some other courses, this course is heavily focused on education and information. 

The course has more focus on teaching the pillars and valuable knowledge of successful writing and mixing.

I’ll be teaching fundamental steps on how to create your own dance music more efficiently, instead of having you follow a step-by-step process of writing a song together.

Once you’ve completed the course, you will have a better understanding of how to write dance music that will be appropriate for dance floors, DJs, and the radio.

Course module breakdown

Basic

Beginner Course
$ 279
  • 7+ hours of content
  • Lifetime access to the course
  • Free Updates
  • Access to Facebook Community
  • Producer Goal Setting PDF
  • 100% Money Back Guarantee
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Standard

Beginner Course
$ 327
  • 10+ hours of content
  • Lifetime access to the course
  • Free Updates
  • Importance of Drums masterclass
  • Marketing for Producers course
  • Access to Facebook Community
  • 2x Sample pack downloads
  • 2x Feedback sessions via email
  • 1x 60 min 1-on-1 private session
  • Producer Goal Setting PDF
  • 100% Money Back Guarantee
Enroll Now
Popular

VIP

Beginner Course
$ 799
  • 10+ hours of content
  • Lifetime access to the course
  • Free Updates
  • Importance of Drums masterclass
  • Marketing for Producers Course
  • Access to Facebook Community
  • 2x Sample pack downloads
  • 6 Months of email feedback
  • 4x 60 min 1-on-1 private sessions
  • 1 Track mixed by Dowden
  • 1 Track mastered by Dowden
  • $1250+ total value
  • 100% Money Back Guarantee
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Payment plan available
Best Value

Full Course Breakdown

Module 1.0 - Beginner Sound Design & Beginner Processing
  • Introduction
  • Introduction to stock instruments
  • Introduction to Presets 
  • Understanding Waveforms, Oscillators, & Transients 
  • Understanding Amplitude, Pitch, and Frequency
  • ADSR Envelopes and why they are so important 
  • Introduction to Equalization
  • Introduction to Filters 
  • Introduction to Low Frequency Oscillators 
  • Introduction to ‘Voices’ & Detune
  • How to work with Audio vs MIDI 
  • How to Use Velocity to Make Your Music Sound More Interesting!
  • Let’s Create 3 Fundamental synths! (Pad, Pluck, Supersaw)
Module 2.0 - Songwriting & Composition Theory
  • Introduction 
  • Introduction to Scales & Chords (Major & Minor) 
  • Introduction to Hooks
  • Introduction to Arpeggios / Arpeggiators
  • Write Chords & Chord Progressions Like a Pro!
  • Write Melodies and Leads
  • Program & Write Drums & Loops 
  • Writing with Arpeggios
  • How to use Groove and Swing to Make your Tracks more Interesting!
  • How to Write for the DJ, Dancefloor, and the Average Listener 
  • How to Write Good Bass Lines
  • How to Structure a Song Efficiently as a Beginner
  • How to stay motivated and finish tracks
Module 3.0 - Introduction to Mixing
  • Introduction
  • How Choose Proper Drum Samples 
  • Understanding Headroom & Clipping
  • How to Mix with Equalization
  • How to use Compression (with visuals) 
  • How & Why to Use Sidechain Compression (Not just for kick drums!)
  • Introduction to Delay
  • How to use different Reverbs on Drums & Synths
  • How to EQ Kick Drums to Sound Professional
  • How to Compress Kick Drums to Sound Professional
  • How to use Panning (the right way)
  • How to Mix & Balance a track like a Professional
Module 4.0 - Track Arrangement Theory and Writing + Mixing a Track Together
  • Step 1 – Writing the Drums
  • Step 2 – Writing the Bassline
  • Step 3 – Writing the Melodies & Leads
  • How to Arrange a Track Properly
  • Introduction to Automation 
  • Transitions for Beginners 
  • Introduction to Build Ups
  • Step 4 – Track Arrangement
  • Step 5 – Full Track Mixdown

Dowden is a great guy and an amazing teacher. This is by far the best production related course I’ve done, I strongly recommend this for producers of all ability levels.

–Saul / Essco
Progressive House Producer

Here's What's Included With Your Course

Full Access to the Complete Course

  • Lifetime access - learn at your own pace!
  • Free course updates
  • Course content taught entirely in Ableton Live (but theories can be applied in any DAW!)
  • 10+ hours of in-depth video content per production course

Access to the Dowden Production Academy Community

  • Join a supportive community of like-minded producers around the world
  • Get feedback on your tracks
  • Share resources and continue to learn new techniques

Access the "Marketing for producers" & "Drums" Courses ($100+ value)

  • Learn how to market yourself and your music as an up and coming producer
  • Grow your social media following
  • Learn about the importance of drums and how to work with them
  • Lifetime course updates

Producer goal setting, 20-Day Release Plan + Marketing Workbooks

  • Map out your goals for your music and create an actionable plan to achieve them
  • Up your social media game and get your music into the ears of more people
  • Have your best release yet with the 20-Day Release Calendar
I want to enroll

Meet Your Instructor

Dowden is an Electronic Music Producer, content creator, and touring DJ from Toronto, Canada, who is currently living in Berlin, Germany. Dowden’s unique and wide range of style has signed him to some of the industry’s biggest labels, including Mango Alley, The Soundgarden, Meanwhile, JOOF, Solis, Hoomidaas, and many more.

Gaining support from some of the world’s biggest DJs, including Guy J, Lane 8, Eelke Kleijn, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Armin Van Buuren, Guy Manztur, Cid Inc., Markus Schulz, and many more.

He continues to rise in the Progressive House scene with releases on over 50 labels, and playing clubs and festivals all over the world.

Soundcloud Spotify Facebook Link

Stop wasting time wishing you could improve your production

Enroll Now

With music production training, you are able to dramatically reduce the time it takes to become an established artist.

You will be on your way to higher quality music, playing gigs, and gaining fans MUCH sooner than if you teach yourself everything. I wish I knew this when I started.

If you are hoping for a secret sauce that you can pour on your music to become successful – there is only one.

One secret sauce.

The ingredients are hard work & perseverance, knowledge & understanding, experience & mentality, and you.

These courses can provide you with the knowledge & understanding, as well as through my personal experience & mentality the course can teach you what I’ve learned over the years of my career. 

The other two ingredients are up to you.

What Other Students Are saying

"Able to gain valuable insider information on the music industry..."

“I gotta say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the courses on the Dowden Production Academy. As someone with some experience with music production and how to use a DAW, I have opted for the intermediate course to solidify my current knowledge and learn useful techniques to step up my game.

I was not only able to do just that, but was also able to gain valuable insider information on the music industry and very useful tips on how to speed up my workflow. The courses were fun, clear and interesting, so I would definitely recommend them to any early-mid level producer looking to improve their skill set in the world of electronic music production.”

– Niles Baxter
Trance / Progressive House producer, Montreal, Canada

"I have experienced several “a-ha moments...”

“When I found Dowden Production Academy, I was an intermediate-level producer who needed something to take my tracks to the next level, but I just didn’t know what. I was struggling to balance the sounds in my mixdowns, and something always felt out of place. My goal was to fill in the gaps between what makes a good and a great track. I wanted to take the course because I felt like it would help me learn mixing and sound design in more elaborate detail, while simultaneously helping me solidify my understanding of the basics.

So far, this is exactly what has happened. I have experienced several “a-ha moments” that have, in this short time, helped me upgrade my skills, and already signed an EP to an exciting larger label. My last several tracks sound cleaner, brighter, and more professional because of this course. I highly recommend this to all producers who want to level up!”

– Zaria
Melodic House & Techno producer, San Francisco, United States

What Makes this Course Different?

The courses teach you the necessary information for you to progress quickly into an informed, better producer with knowledge that spans across any genre, and any DAW, for any producer.


Every producer works differently, so instead of simply writing a track together or showing you how I would personally do something in my productions, I explain important fundamental processes and techniques from the ground up. 


You’ll understand when, how, and why to use the techniques that every producer uses to make professional music.


I don’t just show you what the tools are, I show you how and when to use them.

your questions answered

The Production Courses are around 7-10 hours of video content, (which doesn’t even include the other content offered along with the course!)

As soon as you enroll, you’ll have lifetime access to the course so you can take as long as you like and come back and review as much as you want.

How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like – across any and all devices you own.

No, you don’t need a specific DAW or plugins. All the information you will learn will be universal across any platform.

The practical sections of the course are taught in Ableton Live 10, but the information you can apply to any DAW or plugin!

The course uses a combination of stock plugins, free to download plugins (I’ve included in the course), and some paid plugins used for demonstration and visual purposes.

We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 14 days and we will give you a full refund.

It’s not just taught in one!

Although the course revolves around dance music, and it’s most common 4/4 time and phrasing, the examples are intentionally not very genre specific so that students aren’t stuck learning from specific genre based material. The information you’ll learn will work across any genre.

Not a problem! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have via email.

What Tools will You Need

All you need to enroll in the course is Digital Audio Workspace (DAW).

Don’t have a DAW?

You can get an Unlimited Free Trial here for FL Studio here.

Alternatively you can get a 30-Day Free Trial with Ableton here.

It does not matter which Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) you will be using for the course, as the information and lessons will be cross-platform education.

I will be using standard Stock Plugins. They will be easy to follow and learn from, no matter which DAW you are using. The education will not be DAW specific (even if the Plugin is).

I will also be using Free to Use Plugins that I will be providing access links to before the course for you to download, if you would like to follow along.

If you don’t have access to the same plugins or DAW, the principles and education are not DAW or Plugin Specific. You will be able to use them across all platforms, synths, and hardware.

Are you ready to take your music production to the next level?

Enroll Now

100% Money back guarantee

Enroll with full confidence! If you aren’t completely satisfied with your purchase, you can contact us for a full refund within 14 days.