Rumkraft Blog
Guides on audio quality, sampling, music history and creative workflows – written by Rumkraft's instructors.
MP3 Myths: The Truth About Audio Quality
What can you actually hear? Debunk the myths about MP3, Hi-Res and everything in between.
Who Pays the Artist?
From cratedigger.fm to streaming – follow the money and understand how technology changed the music industry.
From Ska to Dubstep: The DNA of Rhythm
The story of the bassline that changed the world – from Kingston to your DAW.
The Synth Mystery: From Moog to Eurorack
Learn to build your own sounds – from analog pioneers to software you can use today.
Sampling Without Lawsuits
Everything you need to know about sampling, rights and creative freedom.
All articles
Our Approach to Music Education: Aesthetic Becoming in Practice
Why do we teach the way we do? An honest look behind the curtain at Rumkraft's pedagogy – inspired by recent research on aesthetic becoming, and grounded in 20 years of working with people, machines and electronic music.
Soundtrack to the Moon: Artemis II and the Sound of the Unknown
Artemis II is in space - and NASA just released images we've never seen before. What would they sound like? A journey through moon missions, sound design, and the music space inspires.
How to DJ: Complete Beginner's Guide 2026
Everything you need to know to learn DJing from scratch. From beatmatching and equipment to your first DJ set – a complete guide for beginners.
DJ USB Guide: Format and Prepare Your USB Drive for CDJs
Complete guide to formatting USB drives for Pioneer CDJs and rekordbox. Learn about FAT32, MBR, Device Library Plus, and our free DJ USB Formatting Utility.
The Art of Creating Space: A Guide to Reverb
No sound should be homeless. Learn how architecture has shaped music throughout history, and how you can create spaces – both real and impossible – with digital reverb.
cratedigger.fm: How to Support Artists Directly (Part 1)
Rumkraft founder Rasmus Kjærbo created cratedigger.fm – an online radio that revives the feeling of browsing through records. Buy music directly from artists and labels.
From Live to Vinyl: Music's First Revolution (Part 2)
How the phonograph and gramophone changed music from a fleeting experience to something you could own. The story of vinyl and its lasting cultural significance.
Radio and Cassette Tapes: Democratizing Music (Part 3)
From radio waves to mixtapes: How technology gave people the power to share and discover music in new ways – and sparked the first piracy debates.
The Digital Transition: CD, MiniDisc and MP3 (Part 4)
How digital technology promised perfect sound but ended up fundamentally changing our relationship with music. From CD quality to compressed MP3 files.
Streaming vs. Ownership: The Future of Music Culture (Part 5)
Spotify pays $0.003-0.005 per stream. Bandcamp gives artists 82-100%. What does this mean for music and artists – and what can you do?
$3 Billion Stolen From Artists: Fraud, Money Laundering, and the Dark Side of Streaming
Fake artists, hijacked accounts, and terror financing through Spotify and Apple Music. Based on Darknet Diaries episode 171 – Melody Fraud.
Women Pioneers of Electronics & The Birth of Synthesis (Part 1)
From Clara Rockmore to Delia Derbyshire: The story of the women who invented electronic music, and the battle between East Coast and West Coast synthesis.
The Eurorack Revolution: From Garage to World Format (Part 2)
How Dieter Doepfer created an open format that democratized modular synthesis – and Émilie Gillet defined a new era with open source.
VCV Rack – Modular for Everyone (Part 3)
Free, open source, and infinitely deep: VCV Rack has democratized modular synthesis. Learn how software modular integrates with Ableton Live.
Modern Modular – Hybrid & Programmable Synthesis (Part 4)
Analog and digital side by side: Ableton Link, CV Tools, Daisy Seed and open source hardware. How to build the ultimate hybrid setup.
Build Your Own System in Ableton Live (Part 5)
Practical exercises and patches: Learn to think modular with Instrument Racks, Effect Chains, Macros, and Max for Live.
DJ Music Theory Demystified: Harmonic Mixing with the Camelot Wheel
Learn to use the Camelot Wheel for harmonic mixing. A complete guide to DJ music theory that makes your transitions smooth and professional.
Music Theory for Producers: Everything You Actually Need
A practical guide to music theory for electronic music production. Learn scales, chords, the circle of fifths, and chord progressions – without unnecessary complexity.
Explore the Universe of Music: Your Guide to Genres and Discovery
Learn how to navigate the complex world of music with interactive tools like Musicmap, Every Noise at Once, and Ishkur's Guide. Understand connections between genres and expand your musical horizons.
From Ska to Dub: Jamaica's Musical Revolution (Part 1)
How Jamaica's music evolved from the fast-paced ska through the slower rocksteady to reggae and dub. A journey through 1960s Kingston.
Dub and the Sound System Revolution (Part 2)
How Jamaica's sound systems created a music culture where the mixing console became an instrument. A story of technology, creativity, and resistance.
Dub's Modern Legacy: From Kingston to Dubstep (Part 3)
How Jamaican dub music shaped dubstep, drum and bass, hip-hop, and modern electronic music. The story of a revolution that is still felt today.
Time Stretching: From Akai to Jungle Stretch
The history of time stretching and its significance for electronic music. From Akai S950's granular algorithms to Rumkraft's own Jungle Stretch.
From Jungle to Drum & Bass: The History of Breakbeats
An in-depth guide to jungle, drum & bass, and the history of breakbeats. From the Amen Break to modern production – learn about the legendary samples that shaped the genres.
Control Ableton Looper with Push in Session View
Learn how to control Ableton Live's Looper directly from Push with visual feedback. A perfect setup for live performance for singers, beatboxers and instrumentalists.
How to Prepare Tracks for DJing with Rekordbox
Learn how to convert music from Bandcamp to Rekordbox. A step-by-step guide to getting your FLAC and WAV files ready for the mixer.
Mixing and Mastering for Beginners: Make Your Tracks Sound Professional
Learn fundamental mixing and mastering techniques for electronic music. From EQ and compression to the final polish with iZotope Ozone and other professional tools.
Sound Design for Beginners: Create Your Own Unique Sounds
Learn the fundamentals of sound design and how to create original sounds for your music. From synthesizers to sampling – here's your guide to finding your own sound.
How to Make Electronic Music: A Beginner's Guide
Everything you need to know to get started making electronic music. From your first beat to your finished track – here's your path into music production.
DJ Equipment Guide: Everything You Need to Know as a Beginner
An honest and beginner-friendly guide to DJ equipment. We cover controllers, mixers, headphones, and turntables – and explain what you actually need.
Best DAW for Beginners: Which One Should You Choose?
An honest guide to choosing the right DAW as a beginner. We look at Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro – and why the most important thing is to get started.
Warping Full Tracks Like a Boss!
Learn to warp full tracks in Ableton Live. From jungle's time-stretching magic to modern production techniques.
Your Brain Wasn't Made for Pop Music
Tribal people in the Amazon don't respond to pop music the way we do. New research shows that our love for consonance is learned, not innate.
The Four Phases of a Music Producer
Learn to split the creative process into stages to work more purposefully and finish more music. A guide to organizing your workflow in Ableton Live.