© 2026 by Studio Folklore
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This intensive is an exploration of how sound behaves, how it can be shaped, and how technical decisions can become artistic ones.
Learn through live, interactive sessions on Zoom, building both technical clarity and a deeper creative practice using Ableton Live.
Small batch learning · Beginner friendly · Learn from home
About the Course
SAEL Sound Design Intensive is a concentrated study of sound as a creative material.
Rather than treating synthesis as a collection of recipes, the course begins with the fundamentals of how sound behaves: frequency, amplitude, time, spectrum, dynamics, harmonics, transients and movement. From there, we move into synthesis, sampling and processing as different ways of sculpting the same material.
The aim is not simply to teach someone how to make a particular bass, pad or percussion sound. It is to develop the ability to hear a sound, understand what makes it behave the way it does, and deliberately transform it.
The intensive combines technical demonstrations with guided experimentation, deconstruction, listening exercises and sound-making assignments. Students are encouraged to move between precision and accident, structure and exploration, and eventually develop a sound-design process that feels personal rather than formulaic.
This follows the larger SAEL principle: technical fluency should expand artistic freedom, not replace it.
What You'll Experience
Small Batches
Work closely with the instructor in intimate groups, allowing space for dialogue, feedback, and focused learning.
Ableton Live, Hands-on
Learn music production directly within Ableton Live building projects, experimenting with sound, and developing a practical, working understanding of the software.
Live, interactive Zoom sessions
Learn directly with your instructor in real-time, with space for questions, feedback, and discussion.
Sound Design & Exploration
Move beyond presets to explore synthesis, sampling, and texture — shaping sound in a way that begins to feel personal.
Ready to begin your journey with sound?
Whether you’re just starting out or returning to music,
you’re welcome in the studio.
Course Modules
A progression from learning tools to shaping a personal, expressive practice in music production.
The Language of Sound
The foundation: learning to hear sound as a set of relationships.
Effects as Sound Design Tools
Processing becomes part of the instrument.
Pads & Evolving Textures
Moving from static timbre towards sound that unfolds.
Shaping the behaviour of sound through time.
Envelopes & Dynamics
Timbre & Synthesis Foundations
Understanding the major families of synthesis and when to use them.
Practical Sampling, FM & Experimental Sound Design
Breaking the separation between synthesis and recorded material.
Filters & Spectral Sculpting
Learning to carve, emphasise and move through frequency.
Vital: Deep Dive
One synthesizer studied deeply enough to become an instrument rather than a preset browser.
Movement, Max for Live & Sound Systems
From individual sounds to systems that generate behaviour.
From the studio, in their words
A hands-on introduction to pottery through hand-building. Learn how clay moves, responds, and transforms as you shape your own ceramic forms.
Dishika
Transitioning into Music Production
"The production course was an incredible experience, especially as someone transitioning from medicine to music production. It felt both grounding and empowering. Ishan’s mentorship balanced technical depth with creative guidance, helping me build a strong foundation while finding the confidence to develop my own sound and voice"
Developing their sound as an artist
Yash
"Taking Ishan’s music production course was a really important step in my journey as a producer. The course is structured in a way that makes both the technical and creative sides of production easy to understand. As someone still finding my sound this course gave me a lot of clarity and confidence"
Live Performer . One on One Online Batch Student
Anjan
"Starting out in music production can be overwhelming, but Ishan made the learning curve feel seamless. Since we started working together in 2024, his guidance has helped me move from basic loops to fully realized arrangements. If you're looking for a mentor who is patient, knowledgeable, and truly invested in your sound, I can’t recommend Ishan enough"
Your Instructor
Ishan Gaur
Multimedia artist · Music producer · Founder, Safar Collective
I7HVN [ish-an] is a multimedia artist from India whose work brings together sound and visual storytelling to create immersive, narrative-driven experiences.
His sonic palette moves across Techno, Electro, and IDM, while also extending into more atmospheric spaces through Electronica and Ambient music.
In 2021, he founded Safar Collective — a community of artists exploring experimental practices as a means of self-expression. The collective focuses on nurturing boundary-pushing work and building a self-sustaining ecosystem for artists working beyond conventional forms.
As an instructor, his approach bridges technical knowledge with creative exploration — encouraging students to not only learn production, but to develop their own voice and way of working with sound.
