A+U:
DAWLESS: – Tvorba elektronické hudby bez PC w/ TMA
In this intensive workshop, electronic music producer and sound architect Tomáš Martínek (TMA) will guide you through the world of “DAW-less” production and live performance. He’ll show you that while a computer is a great tool for preparing samples and the final mix, the actual performance and creative flow belong in your hands—where there’s room for intuition, human error, and spontaneous improvisation.
What will you learn and experience in this workshop?
- The Philosophy of Limits: How to tame the ego of your hardware, limit your options, and—paradoxically—boost your creativity.
- Studio and Live Setup Architecture: A practical guide to wiring—from MIDI and audio routing through synchronization when playing in a band to a stage setup without a large mixing console.
- The Bridge Between Studio and Stage: How to not only perform a live set, but also record the whole thing and eventually release it.
- Stage Reality: How to work with gain staging and exactly what to do (the so-called “Panic Button” strategy) when something goes wrong on stage.
- And how not to burn out in the process.
The workshop will culminate in a practical demonstration, during which Tomáš will break down his current setup and show the path from an improvised jam to a studio recording.
Who this workshop is for: Beginner and advanced producers who want to step outside the box of software, discover the magic of hardware jamming, or build their own original live set.
This workshop is suitable for complete beginners with no prior knowledge of music production. You don't need to bring anything with you.
120 minutes
Tomáš Martínek, who performs under the pseudonym TMA, is a sound architect whose work explores the boundaries between the rigid world of digital algorithms and fluid human intuition. He has established himself on the domestic alternative scene as a producer with an unmistakable style—his work is most often compared to an organic intersection between Philip Glass’s cinematic minimalism and the raw, deconstructed club aesthetic of the British visionary Actress.
His sound is defined by a fascination with contrasts. He sets resonant pads and repetitive motifs of classical piano in direct contrast to uncompromising analog synthesis, deep pulsating bass, and punchy beats from drum machines. He further enriches the cinematic, immersive atmosphere of his tracks by layering field recordings. Tomáš approaches his studio work as a means of capturing a pure, one-of-a-kind performance. He deliberately allows elements of chance, textural imperfections, and spontaneous improvisation to shine through, which lends his recordings—from his debut EP *Pohledy* (2015) to the complex sound design on the EP *Xylitol* (2023)—a tangible sense of spontaneity.
This philosophy is fully reflected in his ever-changing live performances, which function as fluid audiovisual rituals. TMA is constantly experimenting with the possibilities of technology and the flexibility of his equipment. His live sets take on different forms depending on the venue and context: from intimate, purely hardware-based ambient performances to hypnotic, dance-oriented sets, all the way to sophisticated multichannel performances featuring his own generative visuals.
His ability to move naturally between different musical worlds is also evident in his interdisciplinary projects. These include the soundtrack for the restored silent film *Poisoned Light* (1921) for the National Film Archive, the collaborative live act Bariel & TMA, and his work with the electropop band VIAH.