Arjuna Schiks has built a reputation for balancing depth with precision, releasing on labels like Gem Records, Einmusika, and Traum while performing live at venues such as Time Warp Holland and TrouwAmsterdam. His latest release on Manual Deep, Octagon / Apostrophe, continues this approach as both tracks highlight his focus on texture and atmosphere, moving between warm, introspective meldoic lines and more angular percussive elements.

To mark the release, Arjuna shared a series of practical production tips that offer a look into how he approaches building tracks with this level of detail.

One of the key ideas Arjuna emphasizes is starting tracks from a place of musicality instead of relying on percussion to drive early decisions. By focusing on a tone or chord first, he avoids getting locked into predictable patterns and lets the melodic idea guide the arrangement.

Alongside these creative tips, Arjuna also focuses on practical habits like listening to a track away from the DAW screen and using simple templates for quicker startup are also part of his process—small but impactful strategies that keep him productive while maintaining the high production quality heard on his Manual Deep release. From here on out, the words are from Arjuna Schiks!

Create Your Own Unique Kick Using a Plugin

With the Bazzism plugin, you can adjust the pitch of your kick, which can be crucial when producing harmonic music. Additionally, the plugin offers various parameters that allow you to tweak every kick to perfectly suit each track.

Start with a Tone or Chord Instead of Percussion

Where you begin when creating a track depends on your creative process. Personally, I find it helpful to start with melodies and harmonies before adding rhythmic elements. If I begin with a drum loop, I sometimes feel restricted in my musical direction. However, if I’m in the mood to make something more energetic, focusing on rhythm first can make more sense.

Use a Previously Made Project as a Template for New Ideas

I used to do this often and realized it’s a great way to have a spontaneous, intuitive jam using sounds and effects that already complement each other. You don’t have to reuse an entire project—you can also extract specific elements you like and save them for future use.

Find a DAW or Plugin That Works for You

These days, the choice of DAW or plugin doesn’t matter as much as how comfortable you are with it and whether it provides the tools you need to organize your songs effectively. My first DAW was Rebirth by Propellerhead—a simple and playful way to get introduced to electronic music production. It featured a 909 and 808 drum kit along with two 303 synthesizers—and that was it!

Listen to Your Production Without Looking at the Screen

Sometimes, stepping away from the visual aspect of music production can be incredibly helpful. Try listening to your track without watching the arrangement to avoid visual distractions. Listening on a good pair of headphones while taking a walk outside can give you a fresh perspective, allowing you to focus solely on the music instead of overanalyzing your screen.

Render Layers to Audio and Experiment (Ableton Tip)

Rendering certain layers or groups to audio can be a game-changer. Manipulating the waveform directly allows for creative sound design, and you might notice visual cues in the waveform that your ears don’t immediately pick up.

Even in the final version of your track, checking the waveform can be useful—it provides a clear visual representation of buildups, breaks, and dynamics.

Create a Default Template for Starting Projects

A default template can speed up your workflow, but be careful—it might make your projects too predictable. Instead, create a basic template with essential effects that you always use. For example, you can pre-map MIDI knobs on your controller to send delays or filters.

I always have a low-cut filter on my kick drum that I can toggle on and off while producing. This allows me to work with the rhythm of the kick without constantly hearing the low-end punch, which can be easier on the ears during long sessions.

The post The Tools and Techniques Behind Arjuna Schiks’ New Manual Deep Tracks ‘Octagon’ and ‘Apostrophe’ appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.