Tech House From Start to Finish with Grammy-nominated Producer Timofey Reznikov + Interview
- Interviews
- 04.01.2024
- 6 min
Timofey Reznikov, the Grammy-nominated producer behind chart-toppers and platinum productions by artists like David Guetta, Jack Back, DVLM, and many more, invites you into his studio.
In this video tutorial, Timofey shares his step-by-step process in producing a Tech House track from start to finish using solely Ableton Live and samples from illements library.
Timofey shows every detail of his production process, providing an in-depth peek into his creative workflow – from choosing samples to sound design, mixing, and mastering.
Love the track from the tutorial? If you’re an Ableton Live user, download a free Ableton project file from Abletunes. Explore Timofey’s project to dissect and understand his techniques up close.
And be sure to check out a curated collection of Timofey’s favorite samples on illements – Techno Tastemakers and 50 Pop Chord Progressions. These are the very sounds that have powered some of his hits, now available to elevate your own music.
We did a short Q&A session where he shared his thoughts, tips, and inspirations straight from his experience in the industry.
You recently received a GRAMMY nomination, which is an incredible achievement. Could you share your experience of walking the red carpet alongside some of the world’s biggest musicians, even though you didn’t win the award?
My GRAMMY experience was truly unique. Although I didn’t win the GRAMMY, being nominated was an incredible honor. Walking the same red carpet as some of the world’s most renowned musicians was unforgettable. It allowed me to reflect on my journey as a music producer, from where I began to what I’ve achieved. As producers, we often spend countless hours in the studio, working within four walls, and frequently see our results only on TV screens or as statistics. Witnessing the real show firsthand, seeing my name on the big screen during GRAMMY show, was immensely meaningful to me.
Speaking of your collaboration with David Guetta, could you tell us how you initially got involved in working with him?
To keep it short, my journey to collaborate with David Guetta was quite a process. In 2015, I had the privilege of meeting Fred Rister, a close friend of David. I worked with Fred on several small projects, particularly focusing on sound design. Fred mentioned my work to David, and in 2018, while visiting Los Angeles, I had the fortunate opportunity to meet David in person.
Thanks to Fred, David was already familiar with my name. I presented him with some of my demos, including a few very precise recreations of certain tracks, one of which was “2U”. David was amazed at how closely I had recreated the music, and he invited me to stay in LA and join the team working on his album “7”.
What’s it like collaborating with top-tier artists, and what advice can you offer to maintain a productive working relationship with them?
Collaborating with top-tier artists is a unique experience. They have a clear vision and expect quick results, and value their time. To succeed, you must showcase your best work and remain true to yourself. There’s no room for ego. You need to give your all, understand the artist’s vision to capture the same vibe, and enjoy the ride.
With your diverse range of projects, you must encounter various plugins and gear. Could you recommend some of your favorite plugins to fellow producers?
I use lots of native Ableton Live plugins, but here are my top 10 VST favorites:
How has illements improved your workflow, and what benefits does it offer to other producers?
illements has been a game-changer for me. It streamlines the production process, making it easier to turn ideas into reality with minimal effort. With illements, I work more efficiently, allowing me to spend more time on the creative aspects of music production rather than searching for the right samples and processing them.
The standout feature of illements is its precise search engine based on tags. It allows me to find exactly what I need quickly, eliminating the frustration of scrolling through endless sample libraries. I simply open the app, type in a search query, and get instant results. No need to wait for Black Friday sales to purchase more samples packs! lol
Any advice you’d like to share with aspiring producers who are just starting their musical journey?
Additionally, think of music production as a continuous quest for improvement. Train your ears using reference tracks and don’t get caught up in plugin hype. Most of what you need is already in your DAW.
Can you describe your production process and provide details about your recording studio setup?
My current studio setup is relatively simple:
This setup allows me to focus on creating music efficiently while maintaining high-quality audio production standards.
Who were your inspirational artists throughout your music career?
Some of the artists who have inspired me specially in my young age.
Their creativity and innovation have had a profound influence on my work.
Thanks for sharing your insights! You’ve recently ventured into educational content creation. How can fellow producers find your content?
You can find my educational content on Instagram, YouTube, and a few videos on the Abletunes YouTube channel. You can also visit my website, timofeyreznikov.com, for more resources.
Interviews
Timofey Reznikov, the Grammy-nominated producer behind chart-toppers and platinum productions by artists like David Guetta, Jack Back, DVLM, and many more, invites you into his studio. In this video tutorial, Timofey shares his step-by-step process in producing a Tech House track from start to finish using solely Ableton Live and samples from illements library. Timofey […]