SonarHouse

Frequently
Asked
Questions

Everything you need to know about SonarHouse, our DJ and music production courses, lessons in English, studio rental and mix & mastering. Can’t find your question? Ask us on WhatsApp.

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01

What is SonarHouse? General

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SonarHouse is an electronic music school in Istanbul offering hands-on DJ, Ableton Live music production, sound design and mix & mastering courses in its own studios. It was founded by producer and DJ Mehmet Akar, who has over 20 years of experience in the music industry. Learn more about us.
02

Where is SonarHouse located? General

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At Seyrantepe Mah. Nato Cad. No:3/9, 5th Floor, 34418 Kağıthane, Istanbul, 150 m from Seyrantepe metro station and a few minutes from Maslak and Levent on the M2 line. See the contact page for directions.
03

When are you open, and can I visit? General

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We are open Monday to Friday 11:30–20:00 and Saturday 11:30–18:00, closed on Sundays. Visits are by appointment; message us on WhatsApp to book one.
04

Is there an age limit? General

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There is no age limit for our courses. Participants under 18 need written parental consent.
05

Do you give a certificate at the end of the course? General

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Yes. Students who successfully complete their training receive the SonarHouse Diploma.
06

Do you support students after they finish? General

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Yes. We support DJ graduates through our own events and partner venues, and we refer production graduates to our own record label or to partner labels. SonarHouse supports students who want to go professional with everything it has.
07

Can I take lessons in English? English

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Yes. Lessons in English are available as 1-to-1 private lessons with Mehmet Akar, founder of SonarHouse, covering both DJing and music production. Message us on WhatsApp to plan your lessons.
08

Are group classes taught in English? English

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No. Group classes (up to 4 students) are taught in Turkish. If you don’t speak Turkish, the 1-to-1 lessons with Mehmet Akar are the right choice, and they are planned around your own level and goals.
09

Can I take lessons online? English

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Yes. 1-to-1 lessons, including lessons in English, can be taken in our studio in Istanbul or online.
10

Do I need any experience to join a course? Courses

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No. We have beginner courses open to anyone interested in electronic music and DJing, as well as advanced courses that require experience. The requirements for each program are listed on the DJ Courses and Music Production Courses pages.
11

I’m not sure which program to choose. What should I do? Courses

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Just tell us a little about what you want to do and our team will recommend the best course for you. You can also book a studio visit or talk to our instructors in person or online. Message us on WhatsApp.
12

Can I join more than one program? Courses

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Yes. Combined programs such as DJ/Producer and Ultimate Producer are the most efficient option in terms of both time and budget.
13

How long do the DJ courses take? Courses

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Ultimate DJ is 20 hours over 11 modules. Intro DJ is a shorter 5-part beginner program. 1-to-1 lessons are planned around your level and goals. See DJ Courses.
14

Which levels does the Ableton Live training cover? Courses

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Our courses start with the interface and MIDI programming for complete beginners and go all the way to advanced sound design, arrangement, mixing and mastering. See Music Production Courses.
15

Are arrangement and mix & mastering included in the production courses? Courses

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Yes. Building a track from scratch, professional arrangement, EQ and compression techniques and the final mix & mastering stage form the core of our production courses.
16

Which software do you use for music production? Courses

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Our main DAW is Ableton Live. In mix & mastering and advanced courses we use FabFilter and UAD plugins. Our software synths include VCV Rack, Pigments, Mini V, Diva, Omnisphere, DS Thorn and more. In private lessons, the choice of instruments depends on the student.
17

After the course, can I send my own tracks to record labels? Courses

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With the production, arrangement and mix & mastering standards you learn during the course, you can prepare your own demos to a professional standard and reach the level needed to send them to international labels.
18

Will I be ready to play in clubs after the DJ training? Courses

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The advanced set techniques, 4-deck skills and effects and sampler experience you gain give you a performance foundation that’s fully ready for club and festival stages. Graduates can also get the chance to play at SonarHouse events and partner venues.
19

I don’t have any equipment. Is that a problem? Equipment

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Equipment isn’t required for our courses. To get more out of your lessons, we recommend basic gear such as an audio interface, headphones and studio monitors. SonarHouse is the official distributor in Turkey for dozens of brands including Ableton, Genelec, Arturia, M-Audio, Sennheiser, PreSonus and Denon DJ, so we can supply the right equipment for you. For the DJ courses, DJ headphones are required.
20

Which equipment is used in the DJ courses? Equipment

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Our club-standard DJ studio is equipped with:
  • Pioneer DJM-2000NXS and DJM-900NXS2 mixers
  • Pioneer CDJ-2000NXS2 and CDJ-2000NXS players
  • Pioneer RMX-1000 effects unit
  • Pioneer Toraiz SP-16 sampler and Toraiz AS-1 analog synth
  • Traktor Kontrol X1 & Z1
  • Pioneer Interface 2
  • Void Acoustics Cyclone 55 speakers
  • Martin Audio Blackline S18 subwoofer
  • Martin MAC Mini moving head lights
21

Can I practise on a 4-deck setup? Equipment

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Yes. Our studio lets you work with 4 decks, and professional gear such as the RMX-1000 effects unit and Toraiz SP-16 sampler is used actively in lessons.
22

What sound system does the DJ studio have? Equipment

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For a real club experience, the DJ studio has a Void Acoustics sound system backed by a Martin Audio subwoofer.
23

Which studio monitors do you use in the production studios? Equipment

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Our production studios use acoustically optimised Genelec 8260A monitors, and, depending on the work, KRK VXT6 and PreSonus Eris E8 monitors.
24

How are the acoustics and monitoring set up in the studios? Equipment

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Every system at SonarHouse is calibrated to its room for accurate, flat monitoring. Our main production studio has detailed, professional acoustic treatment both within the structure and on its surfaces, so you hear everything from the low end to the highs transparently and learn true mixing standards. See our studios.
25

Can I rent a studio, and how much does it cost? Rental & Services

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Yes. Hourly rental starts from 1,500 TL per hour in Studio C, 1,750–3,250 TL per hour in Studio B and 2,500–5,000 TL per hour in Studio A, with a 2-hour minimum. Resident packages lower the hourly rate. See Studio Rental.
26

Do you offer mix & mastering as a service? Rental & Services

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Yes. We mix and master your tracks online or in our Istanbul studio, and you can work with us in English. Send uncompressed WAV, FLAC or AIFF files (5–40 tracks for mixing) with -6 dB headroom. See Mix & Mastering.
27

How much do the courses cost? Payment

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Prices depend on the program and format. Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll send you current prices within 1 business day.
28

Can I pay by credit card? Payment

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Yes. Credit card payment is available for all our programs.
29

Can I pay in installments? Payment

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Yes. Depending on the length of your course, payment can be split into 2 or 3 installments. If you pay in cash, you get a 10% discount.
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SonarHouse Electronic Music School

+90 543 629 42 63

Seyrantepe Mah. Nato Cad. No:3/9, 34418 Kağıthane, Istanbul, Türkiye

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