Blog
Notes from the studio
Composition, production, sonic branding and the tools I build.
Techno and Tech House Drum PatternsFive techno and tech house drum patterns as 16-step grids, from classic and driving to dub and hypnotic, with tempo, swing and free MIDI.
How to License Music for a Film or DocumentarySync and master rights, festival vs broadcast licences, step deals and options, E&O, cue sheets and stems, and how working directly with a composer helps.
The Best Max for Live Devices in 2026, Sorted by What They DoMy pick of the best Max for Live devices, sorted by job: drums, mixing and space, generative MIDI, utilities and free picks, plus how to install them.
Sonic Branding Examples, Broken Down by a ComposerIntel, Netflix, Mastercard, THX and McDonald's: what is in each sound, why it works, and what a smaller brand can take from it.
Royalty-Free or Custom: Choosing Music for a CommercialA fair comparison of royalty-free library music, a direct licence for an existing track, and custom music, so you can pick the right route for your commercial.
UK Garage Drum Patterns: How to Get That 2-Step SwingFive UK garage drum patterns as 16-step grids, from classic 2-step to speed garage and bassline, with Ableton swing settings and free MIDI.
Non-Exclusive Music Libraries for Sync: The 2026 ListSix non-exclusive music libraries that take submissions, with the splits and terms each one publishes, plus how to choose and prepare tracks.
Breakbeat Drum Patterns: Chopping and Programming BreaksHow to chop a break in Ableton, plus five breakbeat drum patterns as 16-step grids, from funk breaks to nu skool and electro, with free MIDI.
How to License Music for an AdvertThe rights you need, what an advertising licence covers, cut-downs and stems, what drives the cost, and how licensing direct from a composer compares with a library.
Stereo Imaging in Ableton: How to Add Depth as Well as WidthHow to shape stereo width in Ableton with stock devices, keep the low end mono, and push parts front to back for real depth.
House Drum Patterns: 8 Grooves You Can Steal (With Free MIDI)Eight house drum patterns as 16-step grids, from Chicago and deep to tech, minimal and broken, with tempo, swing and a free MIDI file for each.
Drum and Bass Drum Patterns: From Two-Step to RollersFive drum and bass drum patterns as 16-step grids, from the classic two-step to rollers, halftime and steppers, with tempo, swing and free MIDI.
What Is Sonic Branding, and What Does It Cost in the UK?What sonic branding is, what a project includes, how one runs, and what drives the price in the UK, with my own day rate.