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Sound Design 1
Fall '26

Build your own analog & FM synth sounds in this hands-on sound design course. Classes meet online weekly on Wednesdays @ 7pm CST for 12 weeks, starting October 21, 2026.
FORMAT

In-Person
Course

START DATE

Monday
10.19.26

DURATION

12 WEEKS
3 HRS / WEEK*

END DATE

Monday
01.18.27

PRICE

$499 / MONTH

START TIME

7PM CST

*Class lengths may be reduced to 2 hours for very small class sizes.

We wrote the book on sound design, literally.

In this course, you will learn how the original synthesizer designs are still used today to create basses, leads, sound FX, percussion, and more.

The best way to find your own style is to make your own sounds! Take this course to make it happen.
Start building your own unique sound palette and stop relying on presets:
  • Craft bass, lead, and string sounds using analog modeled synthesis
  • Design metallic percussion, drums, and leads using FM Synthesis
  • Build your own complex. multi-instrument patches using Instrument Racks
  • Start making your own songs out of your own sounds!

Meet your instructor.

MikeRat,

Michael Pendergast

Ableton Live | Sound Design | Mixing and Mastering

MikeRat has been with Slam Academy since 2013, and is now the lead in-person instructor; teaching classes from our flagship Ableton program all the way to Sound Design and Mixing and Mastering.  He's also a pillar of the local bass music scene, having played at The Armory, First Ave, and is a resident performer at Infrasound Music Festival.  He's an expert in weird, glitched-out, wompy bass, and has been heard on labels like Wormhole and Street Ritual.  Mike's approach to both music production and teaching is to lead with his heart, and he places an emphasis on community and camaraderie in the classroom and on the dancefloor.  You can catch him running the Ableton Live User group every month, as well as hosting workshops on community wellness within the music scene.  He's also a seasoned drummer, turntablist, and loves chatting with students about music theory.

get the lesson plan.