A+U: Dawless - Creating Electronic Music Without a PC

Masterclass & workshop with Tomáš Martínek (TMA)

Electronic producer and sound architect Tomáš Martínek (TMA) leads an intensive workshop on dawless production and live performance without a computer. He demonstrates that while a computer is useful for sample preparation and final mixing, the actual performance and creative flow belong in the musician's hands - where there is room for intuition, human error, and immediate improvisation.

The programme covers the philosophy of limitation - how hardware constraints paradoxically spark creativity, studio and live setup architecture (MIDI and audio routing, synchronization when playing in a band, performing on stage without a large mixing console), and connecting studio with stage: how to not only perform a live set but also record and potentially release it. The workshop also addresses gain staging and what to do when something goes wrong on stage (the "Panic Button" strategy), and how to avoid burnout. The workshop culminates in a practical demonstration where Tomáš breaks down his current setup and shows the path from improvised jamming to a studio recording.

The workshop is designed for both beginner and advanced producers who want to step outside the software box, try hardware jamming, or build their own live set. Bring a notebook and an open mind - leave your computers at home.

Tomáš Martínek performs under the pseudonym TMA as a sound architect who explores the boundary between digital algorithms and human intuition in his work. On the alternative scene, he has established himself as a producer whose work is often compared to the intersection of Philip Glass's film minimalism and the club aesthetic of British producer Actress. His sound contrasts resonating surfaces and repetitive motifs of classical piano with analog synthesis, deep bass, and drum machine beats, with the atmosphere of the compositions further enhanced by layering field recordings. In the studio, he strives to capture unrepeatable performance with elements of chance and improvisation - from his debut EP Pohledy (2015) to the EP Xylitol (2023).