Nadia Struiwigh 's roots in Rotterdam and current home in Berlin reflect her deep connection to techno, which she expresses through dynamic DJ sets and live hardware performances. Her music spans ambient, electro, and techno, drawing from personal sonic spaces and a deep affinity for synthesis and sequencing. Nadia's releases on labels like Nous'klaer Audio ("Pax Aurora" 2021), Dekmantel ("Bird of Paradise", 2023), and Central Processing Unit showcase her range from intricate beats to expansive, melodic tones. In 2024 she founded the label Distorted Waves focussing on hardware-centered, more experimental works.

As a Tresor resident DJ, she explores driving, and psychedelic techno, while also delving into deeper sounds in her warm-up sets. Her live performances, always unique and improvised, reflect her passion for experimentation and connection, whether in concert halls or on strobe-lit dance floors. With appearances on platforms like RA and Red Light Radio, Struiwigh champions electronic music as a springboard for possibilities, blending technical skill with heart and experimentation to push the boundaries of sound.

This workshop will take a deep dive into advanced production techniques from a holistic perspective, focusing on storytelling in the production process - starting with the building blocks of synthesis, hardware/software rigs, effects and processing, moving on to composition and arrangement, and concluding with advanced mixing techniques, Nadia's workshop will provide you with an adaptable toolset to create original, unique and impactful tracks.

Across four intimate, interactive sessions, we'll work towards the creation of new tracks to form a new compilation release on CAMP Editions!

Lesson 1: Advanced Synthesis & Hardware Integration

This session explores the intricacies of synthesis, diving deeply into techniques like FM, granular, and wavetable synthesis to shape complex and evolving sounds. You'll gain hands-on experience comparing hardware (synthesizers, drum machines, modular rigs) and software (VSTs) to understand their unique sonic characteristics and workflows. Techniques like cross-modulation, custom patch building, and real-time performance with synths will form the foundation of developing your signature sound. By the end, you will have created a palette of raw sounds, ready to be shaped into unique sounds.

Lesson 2: Effect Chains, Sound Processing, & Experimental Design

Here, we’ll explore the creative possibilities of sound design through complex effect chains. This lesson focuses on how to layer effects such as distortion, reverb, delay, phasing, and modulation to build intricate soundscapes. We’ll go beyond traditional uses, experimenting with unconventional signal paths to transform ordinary sounds into unique, experimental elements. You'll also learn techniques for real-time effect manipulation and automation to add movement and dimension to your productions, working with both hardware processors and software plugins.

Lesson 3: Storytelling Through Arrangement & Dynamic Composition

Arrangement is where your sound palette turns into a complete track. This session focuses on storytelling through music, using arrangement techniques that emphasize emotional progression, tension, and release. We will explore structuring your tracks in unconventional ways, using polyrhythmic patterns, dynamic transitions, and texture layering. A major component will be learning how to effectively combine hardware and software—integrating hardware sequencers, synthesizers, and controllers with Ableton Live to create an interactive, hybrid setup. This workflow will allow you to create fluid, evolving compositions that capture the essence of live experimentation.

Lesson 4: Creative Mixing, Fine-Tuning, & Pre-Release Techniques

The final lesson focuses on crafting your track to sound cohesive and professional. We will cover advanced mixing techniques to sculpt each sound, like parallel processing, spectral shaping, stereo imaging, and dynamic EQ. The lesson will also highlight creative mixing decisions to maintain clarity while enhancing the unique qualities of your track. We'll conclude with fine-tuning processes to optimize your track for different platforms and playback environments, ensuring it's ready for release. The goal is to elevate your production with polish while maintaining its experimental character.



WHERE AND WHEN?

This is an online course, but it involves realtime sessions and contact time with your tutor - it's not a "download these videos and watch them at your leisure" type of thing - it's a real workshop with live lectures, individual tuition, assignments and feedback sessions. We've tried to make this remote session as close as possible to the experience of an onsite workshop at CAMP. The course starts on 19/11/2024 and ends on 10/12/2024. The schedule for sessions is as follows (all times are CET):

• Session 1: 19/11/2024, 19:00 - 21:30 CET
• Session 2: 26/11/2024, 19:00 - 21:30 CET
• Session 3: 03/12/2024, 19:00 - 21:30 CET
• Session 4: 10/12/2024, 19:00 - 21:30 CET

HOW TO BOOK

To book your place on the course, click the button in the green section above. You won't pay anything right now - we'll send you a booking confirmation email with everything you need to know next. Your place is reserved without payment for three days.

You'll find a payment link in the booking confirmation email - follow the link to make a payment (either in full, or the first payment of a 2 month payment plan). In the latter case, a monthly payment plan will be put in place, so your card will be charged 1/2 of the fee today, and 1/2 each month (on the same day) for an additional 1 months. All card payments are handled by Stripe, and are extremely secure. We don't store any card data ourselves - all of this is handled securely off-site by Stripe. If you have a discount or grant code, you will be able to add it when you follow the payment link in your confirmation email.

Once you've made a payment, you'll receive another email containing your receipt, links to resources, contact information and access to our group chat to discuss the workshop with other participants.