Trailer

Free Preview 1

From blank session to musical hook and structure.

Free Preview 2

Timing, EQ, compression, vibe.

Free Preview 3

Test the sample in context.

9 Chapters

Lifetime Access

English

2h 6m

Ableton Live

9 Chapters

English

2h 6m

Trailer

Free Preview 1

From blank session to musical hook and structure.

Free Preview 2

Timing, EQ, compression, vibe.

Free Preview 3

Test the sample in context.

9 Chapters

English

2h 6m

Trailer

Free Preview 1

From blank session to musical hook and structure.

Free Preview 2

Timing, EQ, compression, vibe.

Free Preview 3

Test the sample in context.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Chapter overview

1) Early Life and Career — 3:51

How Bastian went from a childhood fascination with sounds to touring musician and finally to major sample placements, with persistence carrying him through setbacks like the pandemic.

1) Early Life and Career — 3:51

How Bastian went from a childhood fascination with sounds to touring musician and finally to major sample placements, with persistence carrying him through setbacks like the pandemic.

1) Early Life and Career — 3:51

How Bastian went from a childhood fascination with sounds to touring musician and finally to major sample placements, with persistence carrying him through setbacks like the pandemic.

2) Creating Original Samples — 4:31

Make original samples that are legally safe and sonically unique by using live instruments, imperfections, and a strong sense of character.

2) Creating Original Samples — 4:31

Make original samples that are legally safe and sonically unique by using live instruments, imperfections, and a strong sense of character.

2) Creating Original Samples — 4:31

Make original samples that are legally safe and sonically unique by using live instruments, imperfections, and a strong sense of character.

3) Building a Sample from Scratch — 8:02

Start with a simple piano motif and expand it into a full sample with chords, structure, and tempo that feels natural and musical.

Develop motifs into chord progressions that add tension and movement

Shape the sample like a full composition with intro, verse, and outro sections

Adjust tempo in Ableton to lock in the right groove and energy before recording

3) Building a Sample from Scratch — 8:02

Start with a simple piano motif and expand it into a full sample with chords, structure, and tempo that feels natural and musical.

Develop motifs into chord progressions that add tension and movement

Shape the sample like a full composition with intro, verse, and outro sections

Adjust tempo in Ableton to lock in the right groove and energy before recording

3) Building a Sample from Scratch — 8:02

Start with a simple piano motif and expand it into a full sample with chords, structure, and tempo that feels natural and musical.

Develop motifs into chord progressions that add tension and movement

Shape the sample like a full composition with intro, verse, and outro sections

Adjust tempo in Ableton to lock in the right groove and energy before recording

4) Developing the Sample & Adding Instruments — 26:14

Layer instruments for warmth, depth, and emotion using real takes, expressive playing, and atmospheric details.

4) Developing the Sample & Adding Instruments — 26:14

Layer instruments for warmth, depth, and emotion using real takes, expressive playing, and atmospheric details.

4) Developing the Sample & Adding Instruments — 26:14

Layer instruments for warmth, depth, and emotion using real takes, expressive playing, and atmospheric details.

5) Editing and Processing the Sample — 38:45

Transform raw recordings into a cohesive, vintage-inspired sample with timing edits, EQ, compression, and character processing.

5) Editing and Processing the Sample — 38:45

Transform raw recordings into a cohesive, vintage-inspired sample with timing edits, EQ, compression, and character processing.

5) Editing and Processing the Sample — 38:45

Transform raw recordings into a cohesive, vintage-inspired sample with timing edits, EQ, compression, and character processing.

6) Testing the Sample — 12:44

Put your sample to the test in different contexts by looping, slicing, pitching, and layering beats to prove its versatility.

Drop samples into Simpler to flip, slice, and warp them creatively

Experiment with pitch, filters, distortion, and delay to shape new moods

Test with different drum patterns and 808s to ensure the sample works across genres

6) Testing the Sample — 12:44

Put your sample to the test in different contexts by looping, slicing, pitching, and layering beats to prove its versatility.

Drop samples into Simpler to flip, slice, and warp them creatively

Experiment with pitch, filters, distortion, and delay to shape new moods

Test with different drum patterns and 808s to ensure the sample works across genres

6) Testing the Sample — 12:44

Put your sample to the test in different contexts by looping, slicing, pitching, and layering beats to prove its versatility.

Drop samples into Simpler to flip, slice, and warp them creatively

Experiment with pitch, filters, distortion, and delay to shape new moods

Test with different drum patterns and 808s to ensure the sample works across genres

7) Track Reviews — 15:21

See how Bastian’s samples transformed into finished records by breaking down two real placements step by step.

7) Track Reviews — 15:21

See how Bastian’s samples transformed into finished records by breaking down two real placements step by step.

7) Track Reviews — 15:21

See how Bastian’s samples transformed into finished records by breaking down two real placements step by step.

8) Gear Overview — 12:27

The essential keyboards, synths, interfaces, speakers, and plugins that shape Bastian’s tone with practical buying advice.

8) Gear Overview — 12:27

The essential keyboards, synths, interfaces, speakers, and plugins that shape Bastian’s tone with practical buying advice.

8) Gear Overview — 12:27

The essential keyboards, synths, interfaces, speakers, and plugins that shape Bastian’s tone with practical buying advice.

9) Tips for New Producers — 4:15

Grow faster with collaboration, focused learning, and real relationships while building the skills that make you stand out.

9) Tips for New Producers — 4:15

Grow faster with collaboration, focused learning, and real relationships while building the skills that make you stand out.

9) Tips for New Producers — 4:15

Grow faster with collaboration, focused learning, and real relationships while building the skills that make you stand out.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Meet Grammy-nominated Bastian Völkel

Bastian Völkel is a Grammy-nominated producer, keyboardist, and touring musician from Berlin. Starting as a session player, he developed a distinct voice as a sample creator, writing original compositions that have been licensed by leading libraries and flipped into chart-ready records.

His credits span Kanye West’s “Donda,” collaborations with Timbaland, Young Miko, Tee Grizzley, Alice Merton, and others. In the studio he leans on musicianship first: real keys, expressive guitar lines, and textured field recordings, then tight editing and tasteful processing that delivers a warm, modern sound.

Bastian teaches the same start-to-finish workflow he uses on placements, focusing on decisions that move a track forward, not just software tricks.