Interview: Side Brain on Weekly Study Groups, Signal Processing, and Controllerism

Join Side Brain (Yeuda Ben-Atar) as he walks us through his journey from Dreamcast MIDI mods to LA school rooftops and remote study labs—driving Ableton practice with style, pedagogy, and zero compromise.

Exploring Modular Methods, LA Beats, and Tools for the Studio Explorer

Ableton Certified Trainer Yeuda Ben-Atar—known widely as Side Brain—joins Brian Funk in episode #346 of The Music Production Podcast. From custom controller hacking to weekly study groups, Yeuda talks us through a career built at the crossroads of education, experimentation, and community. This is a deep dive into the mindset and workflow of one of Ableton’s most thoughtful and creative educators.

Meet Side Brain (Yeuda Ben‑Atar)

• Certified Ableton trainer since around 2010, Yeuda’s expertise blends technical precision with a musician’s curiosity.
• Known for his creative controllers—from arcade sticks (Dreamcast!) to unique hacked MaxforLive rigs—he’s been a visible figure in Ableton’s experimental flashpoints since the early days.
• Former director of several LA music production schools, his beat-making and community-building background form the foundation for his new online Study Group.

Weekly Study Group: A Lab for Style & Community

Side Brain’s new rhythm space is one of learning through doing. Each week, a different style or genre becomes the studio prompt:

• Recent themes: Jungle, R&B Two-Step, Amapiano, and Chaotic Piano Grooves (Riton style)
• Every session includes analysis, live production, and hands-on creation
• The group delivers Structure for Flow. Even seasoned producers find momentum here

The “Dreamcast MIDI Hack” Legacy

Before grid controllers, Yeuda repurposed a Sega Dreamcast arcade stick as a MIDI instrument. Plugged in via a $10 adapter and driven by custom Max devices, it was a live performance tool, prototyping space, and online visual statement. It was part music controller, part cultural landmark, including early video uploads that made YouTube and Reddit (2009–10).

Schools, Screens & Courses: From Founding Beat Lab to the Digital Classroom

• Founded Beat Lab Academy in LA, a 6-month Ableton-focused curriculum that ran from 2014 until the onset of the pandemic
• Since closing the physical school, he’s shifted to one-on-one premium training, continuing to influence trainers and artists across the globe
• He continues to mentor certified trainers today, upholding high pedagogical and technical standards tied directly back to Ableton’s global certification structure

LA User Group: Back in Session

Live music production in LA had a moment—and it’s coming back. As long-time LA Ableton User Group chairperson, Yeuda is relaunching in-person meetups with live demos, Push‑3 techniques, MIDI mapping, plus finger drumming. The next one is on November 15th, at Point Blank LA campus—open, free, Eon‑backed, and fueled by community.

Sidebar: Why Side Brain Still Inspires Today

• Controllerism as expression—from arcade sticks to Max devices
• A pedagogy rooted in studio-based style exploration
• A belief in widening musical contexts through genre-bending study
• A community builder who brings producers into the local room—not just the Twitch cha