The Cubase, FL Studio and Ableton roadmap
Same four steps in each DAW: learn the window, run the course lessons, print the workbook, then build with the harmony pack. Every PDF on this page is linked directly.
Track 01 Cubase
Set the project up once, let the Chord Track carry the harmony, quantise like a musician, and export a master you can actually send.
Step 1 · Learn the window
Lab Module 08, “Cubase — interface and chord workflow” — where everything lives and the order a chord session actually runs in.
Open Module 08 in the Lab appStep 2 · Run the Cubase course
4 free lessons with a chaptered walkthrough video: Project setup, tempo track and the Chord Track · Voicings, Chord Assistant and Chord Pads · Editing: Key Editor, quantise panel and Logical Editor · Mixing basics and export.
Step 3 · Arrangement, mixing and mastering
The deeper Cubase stages, each with its own printable workbook.
Step 4 · Build with the free Cubase harmony starter
16 progressions, 4 pad loops and a setup guide for Cubase — free. Free download, yours to keep, drops straight into a session.
Download the harmony starterOpen the Cubase shop moduleStep 5 · Track your own sessions
Log the Cubase projects you have open and upload your bounces so you can hear last week's mix before you reopen it.
Open your DAW projects
Track 02 FL Studio
Scale highlighting, the chord stamp done properly, groove that doesn't sound quantised, and turning the eight-bar loop into a song.
Step 1 · Learn the window
Lab Module 08, “FL Studio — interface and chord workflow” — where everything lives and the order a chord session actually runs in.
Open Module 08 in the Lab appStep 2 · Run the FL Studio course
4 free lessons with a chaptered walkthrough video: Set the key before you write a note · Chords with the stamp tool, then fix them by hand · Groove: swing, humanise, and the Piano roll's riff tools · Arrange the loop into a song.
Step 3 · Build with the free FL Studio harmony starter
16 progressions, 4 pad loops and a setup guide for FL Studio — free. Free download, yours to keep, drops straight into a session.
Download the harmony starterOpen the FL Studio shop moduleStep 4 · Track your own sessions
Log the FL Studio projects you have open and upload your bounces so you can hear last week's mix before you reopen it.
Open your DAW projects
Track 03 Ableton Live
The two views and what each is for, MIDI effects as a harmony teacher, warping without artefacts, and racks that let you finish.
Step 1 · Learn the window
Lab Module 08, “Ableton Live — interface and chord workflow” — where everything lives and the order a chord session actually runs in.
Open Module 08 in the Lab appStep 2 · Run the Ableton Live course
4 free lessons with a chaptered walkthrough video: Session view is for finding, Arrangement is for finishing · Chords with MIDI effects: Scale, Chord and Arpeggiator · Warping and groove pools · Racks, macros and finishing.
Step 3 · Build with the free Ableton Live harmony starter
16 progressions, 4 pad loops and a setup guide for Ableton Live — free. Free download, yours to keep, drops straight into a session.
Download the harmony starterOpen the Ableton Live shop moduleStep 4 · Track your own sessions
Log the Ableton Live projects you have open and upload your bounces so you can hear last week's mix before you reopen it.
Open your DAW projects
After the tracks: Modules 11–17
Seven more free Lab modules finish the DAW path. Module 11 installs the Cubase preset pack and turns it into track presets; Module 12 turns the whole setup into a session template in Cubase, FL Studio and Ableton; Module 13 mixes what you write with a free harmony and mix chain pack; Module 14 masters the finished mix with a free harmony and mastering pack; Module 15 mixes the same song four ways with a free genre mix pack; Module 16 turns the eight-bar loop into a full song with a free arrangement pack; and Module 17 runs one song through the whole production pipeline — capture, write, arrange, sound, mix, master, release — with a free pipeline pack.
Module 11 · Cubase presets & track presets
Free Cubase preset pack: six original Vital patches, chord MIDI and a written install guide.
Download the Cubase preset packOpen Module 11 in the LabModule 12 · Session templates
Free template pack: session layouts for all three DAWs, chord and bass MIDI and four mix chain sheets.
Download the template packOpen Module 12 in the LabModule 13 · The mix chain
Free mix chain pack: four harmony MIDI parts and six chain sheets for the chord bus, bass, drums, lead and master, using stock plugins.
Download the mix chain packOpen Module 13 in the LabModule 14 · Mastering
Free mastering pack: four harmony MIDI parts to bounce and master, and six sheets for references, EQ, glue compression, width, the limiter and export QC.
Download the mastering packOpen Module 14 in the LabModule 15 · Mixing genres
Free genre mix pack: one progression arranged four ways as MIDI — pop, hip-hop, house and lo-fi — with six sheets on how the mix changes per genre.
Download the genre mix packOpen Module 15 in the LabModule 16 · Arranging
Free arrangement pack: an eight-bar loop as four MIDI parts and six sheets that build the intro, verse, chorus, breakdown and outro.
Download the arrangement packOpen Module 16 in the LabModule 17 · The full production pipeline
Free pipeline pack: one song as four MIDI parts and eight stage sheets that take it from the first captured idea to delivered, archived masters.
Download the pipeline packOpen Module 17 in the Lab
Want the theory that sits underneath all three? Read music theory for producers or follow the producer roadmap.