Private music production & mixing lessons with Kevin McHugh

You don't need another plugin. You need a real ear next to yours.

Kevin works with a small number of producers at a time in live 1:1 video sessions. Apply with one track. If he thinks he can help, he'll invite you to a short video interview.

Start your application · How Kevin chooses

By application · About 8 minutes · Kevin replies within 2 business days, either way

You know something's off. You just can't hear what.

Every serious producer hits this wall. The difference is whether you fight it alone for two more years, or borrow someone else's ears.

Your mixes shrink on speakers

They sound huge on your headphones, then disappear the moment a friend plays them in the car. You can hear something is off — you just can't name it.

You start ten ideas and finish none

The folder of half-finished projects keeps growing. Every new track is exciting for two hours, then it joins the pile. You don't have a problem with ideas. You have a problem with finishing.

Tutorials stopped helping a year ago

You've watched everything. You know what a compressor does. You can name twelve EQ curves. But your tracks still sound like demos and you can't figure out why.

What Kevin listens for

Kevin says yes when…

  • You've been producing for at least a year and know your DAW.
  • You can send a track you've finished, or nearly finished.
  • You have one clear goal for the next six months.
  • You'll do the work between sessions.
  • You want honest feedback, not compliments.

He'll pass when…

  • You're brand new to a DAW (start with free tutorials first).
  • You want someone to make your tracks for you.
  • You expect overnight results.
  • You're shopping for the cheapest lessons online.

Not now isn’t never. You can re-apply after three months.

What you'll walk away with.

Mixes that translate everywhere

Headphones, club, laptop speakers, car. A trained ear and a system you can repeat.

Sound design with intention

Stop hunting for presets. Build the sound you actually hear in your head.

A finishing process

A workflow that gets tracks across the line — not just a stack of session files.

Taste, not tricks

The judgment calls that separate professional records from "almost there" demos.

What you can work on with Kevin

Mixing and mixdowns

Balance, EQ, compression and space, and how to check a mix before you call it done.

Low end: kick and bass

Getting kick and bass to sit together with weight and clarity.

How to Mix Kick and Bass

Drums and groove

Drum EQ, layering and the groove that makes a track move.

How to EQ Drums

Sound design and synthesis

Synthesis, sampling and processing, from a blank patch to a sound that's yours.

Arrangement and finishing tracks

Structuring ideas into finished tracks and avoiding the classic traps.

Top 9 Music Production Mistakes

Mastering prep and loudness

Preparing mixes for mastering and making sense of loudness.

Surviving the Loudness Wars

Sessions run in the DAW you already use, whether that's Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Bitwig, Cubase or Pro Tools. Kevin's roots are in techno and house, and he works across electronic music, including electro, ambient, drum & bass and experimental.

Kevin teaches from Valence Studios in Brooklyn, New York. Lessons run live over Zoom, so you can join from anywhere.

Three decades. Six hundred clubs. One studio.

Kevin McHugh has been making and producing electronic music for over thirty years. As Ambivalent and ASR, he's released on Minus, Sci+Tec, Curle, Soma, and dozens more — playing over 600 club shows on six continents along the way.

Valence Studios is where that career meets the next generation. He's taught at Berklee Online, Dubspot, and as a guest at studios from Berlin to Buenos Aires. Now he runs a small, application-only mentorship from Brooklyn for producers serious about leveling up.

  • 30+ years producing
  • 600+ club shows
  • 6 continents

Read Kevin's full story →

I listen to every track and read every answer myself. I only take on producers I'm sure I can help, so be honest about where you are. — Kevin

Learn from Kevin's writing

Kevin's articles and features for iZotope, Native Instruments and Attack Magazine. Start with these.

The studio you'll learn from.

The same chain Kevin uses on real releases. Not theory — the actual tools, tricks, and judgment calls behind records you've heard.

You'd be in good company.

A few of the artists Kevin has mastered, mixed, or collaborated with.

Hear what working with Valence actually sounds like.

See Kevin's clients

How Kevin chooses

  1. Apply

    About 8 minutes. Share one track and tell Kevin where you want to go.

  2. Kevin listens

    He listens to your track and reads every answer himself. You'll hear back within 2 business days, whatever he decides.

  3. Interview

    If he thinks he can help, he invites you to a short video interview about your goals and your music.

  4. Your plan

    If you're both in, you get a plan and a price. Then sessions begin.

  • Invited to interview
  • Not right now, with honest feedback
  • Waitlist when Kevin is full

Before you apply

How much does it cost?

Pricing depends on what you want to work on and how often. After Kevin reviews your application, you'll receive a quote built around your specific goals — single session, ongoing package, or a focused deep-dive. No upsells, no surprise fees.

Where do the sessions happen?

Live over video (Zoom). You'll share your screen and your session files. Kevin is based in Brooklyn but works with producers from anywhere.

How long is a session?

Typically 60–90 minutes. Long enough to dig into something real, short enough to keep your ears fresh. Longer deep-dive blocks are available for focused projects.

Do I need professional gear?

No. Decent headphones and a DAW you know your way around are enough. Kevin will work with whatever you've got — many of his clients work on modest setups.

What if I'm not accepted?

Not every application gets accepted, and that's intentional. If Kevin doesn't think he's the right person to help you, he'll tell you honestly — and often point you toward someone or something that is. You can re-apply after three months, ideally with a new track.

Is there an interview?

Yes. If Kevin thinks he can help, he invites you to a short video call. He'll ask about your goals and listen through your music with you, and you can ask him anything. Nothing is decided or paid until you both agree on a plan.

How many producers does Kevin take on?

Only as many as he can give real attention to, so there's sometimes a waitlist. Kevin tells you where you stand when he replies.

Is my music private?

Yes. Only Kevin listens to what you send. Private SoundCloud, Dropbox or Google Drive links are fine.

Apply to work with Kevin

Be honest. The clearer your answers, the better Kevin can tell if he's the right person to help.

Reviewed personally by Kevin · responses within 2 business days