Max Pote
Marketing Director & Bass Music Mentor
Max Pote is a professional bass music producer who performs and releases under the name Protohype. He has more than a decade of releases on major bass-music labels (Firepower Records, SMOG, Never Say Die, Rottun, Deadbeats), festival appearances at EDC Las Vegas and Lost Lands, and a feature credit on Tom Morello's 2021 album The Atlas Underground Fire. He was an early Icon Collective alumnus and later returned as an instructor before co-founding Futureproof Music School. He leads marketing at Futureproof and mentors students on sound design, songwriting, and finishing tracks.
Posts by Max Pote
How to Make Phonk: The Complete Guide to Digital Grit
Learn how to make Phonk music with this complete guide. 808s, cowbells, mixing tips, and subgenres explained. Start producing today.
How to Use Voxengo SPAN: The Free Spectrum Analyzer Every Producer Needs
SPAN is a spectral analyzer. It's like reading the rings of a tree stump, you can tell how old it is. This tool will be your best friend. If you have a second monitor, keep this thing up on the second monitor at all times. Let me show you how to set it up. Watch the Video Prefer reading? Here's the full breakdown. Setting it up When you open SPAN, click into the settings: * Block size: yours may be a different number, but let's set it to 4096. Block size is how detailed the graph will be
Serum 2 Spectral Mode: A Producer's Deep Dive, the Dankest New Feature
Serum 2 is here and it's amazing. So many new features, so much to talk about. Based off all the questions y'all had, I wanted to talk about one of the most exciting new features for me, which is spectral synthesis, and the unique way we can now use Serum to get access to it. It feels like a really fresh type of synthesis. Even though it's been around for a while, now that it's in Serum it's easily accessible and totally worth talking about. One of the things we like to stress at Futureproof is
Reese Bass Sound Design: Everything You Need to Know
Bass is the other most important element in drum and bass. Across every subgenre there are a few commonalities all the basses share: punchy heavy subs, drop subs, or 808 style basses that really punch and crunch. And then there's probably the most iconic bass of all drum and bass basses, the Reese. Here's where it came from, what actually makes a bass a Reese, and how to build one from scratch. Watch the Video Prefer reading? Here's the full breakdown. What actually makes a Reese a Reese E
Parallel Compression Explained: NYC, Meat, and Spank Techniques for Bigger Mixes
Parallel compression really is just blending a compressed signal and a dry signal together. But what we're getting into here is true parallel compression, which uses send and return buses to apply compression to a bus track. Three flavors below, with the exact settings. One thing trips people up first. Certain compressors have a mix control on them, but that is not a true parallel bus. It's just a balance pot for the dry and wet signal. So say you have 75% wet, you're only getting 25% of the dr
I Made a Whole Song Using ONLY Serum 2 (No Other Plugins, No Samples)
Serum 2 dropped yesterday. So I did the obvious thing. I opened a blank Ableton project, told myself "no plugins, no samples, no third-party anything," and tried to write a full Dubstep tune using only Serum 2 on every single channel. Drums included. Vocal included. Risers, FX, sub, lead, all of it. It worked way better than it had any right to. The whole build is in the video below. Every preset I dug through, every Holy Trinity stack, the moment I realized I hadn't saved the project once, th
How to Mix and Master Dubstep: A No-Nonsense Guide
Most producers treat mixing and mastering like separate, intimidating stages. You finish your track, bounce it, and stare at a master bus wondering why everything sounds flat. I think that whole approach is broken. If you're processing your sounds right as you go, you're already most of the way there. This is from the final unit of my course "How to Make Dubstep with Protohype" on Futureproof. Here's the full breakdown of my approach, including my jar analogy, why transient shaping is non-negot
How To Build A DJ Mix In Ableton (My Full Rekordbox Workflow)
What's up, it's Max from Futureproof Music School. This month our community challenge is to build a 30-minute DJ mix from scratch, so I jumped on a live workshop and walked the crew through my entire workflow. Rekordbox setup, harmonic mixing, the Ableton master chain, all of it. If you came here looking for a way to put together a mix that actually sounds like you DJed it live (without the panic of recording it live), you're in the right place. Why I Build DJ Mixes In Ableton Instead Of Reco
Unlocking the Secrets of EDM Chord Progressions
Master 5 essential EDM chord progressions used by Avicii, Calvin Harris, and Martin Garrix. Learn 7th chords, genre-specific tips, and voicing techniques.
Serum 2 Upgrade: Xfer Records Revolutionizes the Wavetable Synth
Xfer Records has created something that feels less like a plugin and more like an instrument, one that acknowledges both electronic music's past and its future. Whether you're creating experimental sound art or crafting club bangers, Serum 2 is the rare soft synth that delivers on its considerable h
How to Find a Music Manager: An Interview with Perry Davis
How to get a music manager? Get expert insights from industry veteran Perry Davis (24/8 Management). Learn what music managers look for in artists, essential social media tips, career strategy, and advice for aspiring managers in the music business.
What Is a Bridge in a Song? Structure, Examples, and How to Write One
The musical bridge is more than just a transitional section—it's an opportunity to surprise your listeners and take your song to new heights. Whether you're analyzing your favorite tracks or writing your own music, understanding how bridges work will enhance your song.
How do I use parallel processing on individual oscillators in a synth?
Enhance Serum 2 sound design! Learn parallel processing: route oscillators with F1 knobs to effect buses for deep pads & aggressive textures....
How do I preserve mono low end while adding stereo width to highs?
Master Serum 2 stereo width with Splitter Mid/Side. Preserve mono bass, spread highs, and avoid phase issues. Learn the technique!...
Should I use OTT on sounds that already have reverb in them?
Optimize your mix: Master using OTT and reverb in the correct order. Get aggressive sounds and clean tails for pro-level production....
How do I use OTT to make creative artifacts and textures for dubstep?
Elevate your sound design. Explore unconventional OTT techniques to create unique textures, samples, and background elements for dubstep....
What sounds should I avoid using OTT on?
Master OTT compression. Avoid muddy sub-bass, over-processed drums & reverb issues. Learn creative uses for professional mixes....
How do I make my chord progressions sound smoother?
Unlock smoother chord progressions with voice leading & inversions. Minimize note jumps for fluid, cohesive music compositions....
What are chord inversions and how do I use them in music production?
Learn chord inversions & voice leading for smoother transitions, fluid progressions, and richer harmonic textures in your music....
How do I use ring mod on vocals for bass music?
Master ring mod for menacing bass music vocals. Discover how to create gritty, aggressive textures with pitch, cutoff, compression & width....
How do I make my buildups more interesting in dubstep?
Discover advanced dubstep production! Learn filter automation, pitch bends, evil buildups, and dynamic snare/kick mixing techniques....
Should I mix and master while producing or wait until the song is finished?
Achieve professional, loud mixes by integrating top-down mixing throughout your production process. Optimize workflow & individual channel power....
How do I make my kicks and drums louder without turning up the volume?
Master transient shaping for punchy kicks & drums. Boost attack, shorten sustain for perceived loudness without raising levels....
How do I use an analyzer to check if my sub bass is at the right level?
Achieve perfect sub-bass mixing using LUFS meters & Span. Eliminate guesswork & get pro low-end clarity, even in untreated rooms....