Learn more about Create 30 → https://create30.com
This week, Steve Duda sat down to chat for the EDM Prodcast.
Steve Duda is the founder of Xfer Records and creator of the ever-popular Serum synth. He has been in the industry as both an artist and programmer and has a wealth of experience to share with producers.
We dive into his background and how he studied music composition in college, which opened the door to many different opportunities (despite the 'normal' career trajectory of becoming a teacher).
This set off a chain reaction of events, including a short DJ career in leagues with acts like Skrillex and deadmau5, which eventually lead him to learning programming and starting Xfer.
We also cover the massive success of Serum, and how it performed better than how he could have ever imagined, including the rent-to-own partnership with Splice.
Steve is excellent at drawing parallels between music production and programming and has many great pieces of advice for upcoming producers.
Links:
Serum Rent-To-Own → https://splice.com/plugins/15493-serum-vst-au-by-xfer-records
Songwriting For Producers → https://www.edmprod.com/songwriting-for-producers
Connect with Steve Duda:
Xfer Website → https://xferrecords.com
Twitter → https://twitter.com/steve_duda
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:38 Interview start & moving to Mexico
5:23 Studying Music Composition in college
9:26 The evolution of DAWs and computers
10:41 Rejecting the traditional 'college teacher' route
16:01 Being a jack of all trades
17:10 Pursuing the opportunities around you
18:33 Rich EDM kids and buying careers
21:09 What are you willing to do to achieve success?
23:51 Avoiding 'purist constructs'
24:41 Meta-music and influencing music in indirect ways
27:14 The Reverb filter and Riddim
30:36 Future updates and constantly innovating
32:15 Serum overtaking Massive & visual feedback
36:04 Teaching himself programming
39:26 Make what you would like!
41:24 Splice and rent-to-own
46:03 Serum 2.0 and not charging for updates
50:03 Serum's competitors
56:51 Imagine yourself but younger
57:46 BSOD and prioritizing the tools over writing
01:01:54 Customer support and being accessible
01:05:20 What mistakes are producers making?
01:11:45 If you had a time machine, what would you go back and change?
01:14:42 What's coming up in the next 12 months?
01:17:29 Wrapping up
EDMProd:
Website → https://edmprod.com
Instagram → https://instagram.com/edmprodgram
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/EDMPsite
Soundcloud → https://soundcloud.com/edmprod
Spotify → https://sptfy.com/edmprod
Aden Russell (Artsea):
Instagram → https://instagram.com/iamartsea
Facebook → https://facebook.com/iamartsea
Spotify → https://sptfy.com/iamartsea
Soundcloud → https://soundcloud.com/iamartsea