Tech house and deep tech production lessons in Ableton Live
Tech house and deep tech live or die on the groove: a kick and bassline locked together, percussion that rolls without getting busy, and a track that keeps a room moving for seven minutes without ever needing a big drop. It sounds simple. Getting it to feel that good is the hard part.
I've taught Ableton Live one to one since 2012, and I teach the underground end of both: the rolling, bass-led tech house that lives in clubs rather than on festival main stages, and the darker, deeper, UK-rooted deep tech sound. The lessons are built around the version you want to make.
Where they come from
Tech house goes back to the nineties, when DJs started blending the groove and warmth of house with the sounds and drive of techno. Deep tech grew out of the UK's after-hours scene in the 2010s, around parties like Fuse in London: deeper, rolling and bass-heavy, with everything stripped back to what moves a floor. Fuse's Enzo Siragusa has even dropped by the old Decloak studio.
What we work on
- Kick and bass. The relationship everything hangs on: tuning, note lengths, sidechain and mono checks, so they lock together instead of fighting.
- Basslines. Rolling, offbeat and sub-heavy basslines that move a room, from Operator and Wavetable to resampled one-shots.
- Percussion and groove. Shakers, rims, toms and hats with swing from the Groove Pool and a bit of hand-played feel, so the groove rolls without getting cluttered.
- Vocals and hooks. Chopping vocal snippets and short stabs in Simpler, and using them sparingly so they land.
- Sound design. Drift, Operator and Wavetable for stabs, plucks and that deep tech bass, with Roar and saturation for weight.
- Arrangement for DJs. Long intros and outros that mix, tension built with filters and automation, and breakdowns that bring the floor straight back in.
- Mixing as you go, so the low end holds up on a club system and there's headroom left to finish properly.
The problems I hear most in tech house and deep tech tracks
“My groove is busy but it doesn't move.”
Usually too many percussion parts doing the same job. We strip it back, give each part its own space and add swing.
“My kick and bass sound fine apart and messy together.”
Tuning, note lengths and sidechain. We make them take turns rather than fight.
“It sounds like a loop, not a track.”
That's arrangement. We map a record you love and build tension and release across yours.
“It's not heavy enough next to the records I play.”
Usually it's headroom and low end balance, not loudness. We find out where the weight is going.
Tech house and deep tech students
Flo Reen works across tech house, deep tech, deep house and organic house, with original tracks and collaborations with NIF (RO).
Listen: 'Under Pressure' (tech house) 'Martin Patino' (deep tech)
Plus many more. Catch up on the latest student releases in the news.
How lessons work
Every lesson is fully bespoke and one to one with me, live over Zoom, usually 90 minutes. No two people learn the same way, so I adapt to how you learn, what inspires you and where you want to go. I hear your Ableton session exactly as you do, and we work on your music, not a generic project.
- Five Sessions, £360: for a specific problem or a track you want to finish.
- Beginner Course, 12 sessions, £799: from opening Ableton for the first time to finished tracks.
- Ableton Live Masterclass, 32 sessions, £1,999: the full path, genre-focused, for going all the way.
Rather do it in person? With the Ableton Live Intensive I travel to you, from £550 a day.
Students on my structured courses can also get a discount on a new Ableton Live Suite licence. Ask me about it in your free session.
The first 30 minutes are free, with no obligation.
Tech house and deep tech production FAQs
What BPM is tech house?
Most tech house sits around 124 to 128 BPM, and deep tech often sits in the same range, sometimes a touch slower.
What's the difference between tech house and deep tech?
Tech house leans on punchy drums, a bouncy bassline and a hook. Deep tech is darker and more stripped back, with rolling sub bass, swung percussion and a hypnotic feel. They share a lot of tools, and plenty of tracks sit somewhere between the two.
Is Ableton good for tech house?
Yes. The Groove Pool, Simpler, warping and Session View make it quick to build grooves, chop vocals and jam out arrangements.
Do I need hardware to make tech house or deep tech?
No. Everything can be done inside Ableton. If you do have a drum machine or synth, we'll bring it into your sessions and build a workflow around it.
I DJ tech house. Will that help me produce it?
Yes. You already know what works on a floor and how records are built. Lessons turn that instinct into decisions in Ableton.
Book a free 30 minute session
Bring a loop, a groove that won't roll or a record you love, and we'll start there.