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On the eve of 2021, we reflect on one of our most challenging – and most creative – years yet. Join us as we look back on some of our students’ outstanding 2020 creations.

2020! What a flop-at-the-box-office of a year. Oh, how we wish we could have watched the trailer to this dystopia. If 2020 were a tune, it would be the cool-sounding Beatport preview that failed to reveal its jarring breakdown. Either way, we can’t say this year didn’t make an impact. It will forever be marked on the calendar of our lives as a year that changed everything. 

2020 forced the whole world to step out of the hamster wheel and ask ourselves where we were going. It was a time where we learnt the innovative value of introspection and creative limitations. A reminder to cherish all the little things we took for granted. In spite of all the drama, we came out stronger. 

For the Catalyst community, 2020 was a hard-won success. For our tutors and staff, it meant overcoming unprecedented logistical challenges to continue to deliver a high quality of learning and experience. For our students, it meant conquering the uncertainty and exploring new – and often game-changing – ways to create. And talking of those creations, wow, has this year been great! 

Join us as we look back at some of our students’ most outstanding work of the year. Here’s to a 2021 full of inspiration, motivation and action!

Header photo: Signals Festival by Frankie Casillo

The Hustle - In The Night

“In these strange times, with empty streets and abandoned cities, we would like to present to you our first release.” 

In March, third-year Creative Audio Production & Sound Engineering students David Stars and DJ Kitec banded together to release their debut track as The Hustle. We love the video, which shows Berlin in all its nighttime glory – excluding the bars and clubs, of course.

THE HIDING PLACE • An Animated Music Video

In April, second-year Creative Audio Production & Sound Engineering student Olívia Mamberti took advantage of quarantine time with her graphic designer and photographer mother, Patrícia Abreu. Olívia edited her mother’s photographs and illustrations to create a stunning animated music video for her and classmate Mikko Okker’s collaborative track ‘The Hiding Place.’

This is a little compilation from my online event, SoulBalm, last June 2020 in the midst of a lot of political + social heaviness. We connected online to meditate, paint, move, and be.

This is a blend of some released tracks, unfinished tracks, and sketches.
An insight into my works and their states at that time.

Enjoy <3 
~Geomi~

SoulBalm Stream ~ June 2020 by Geomi

“In the midst of a lot of political and social heaviness, we connected online to meditate, paint, move, and be. This is a blend of some released tracks, unfinished tracks, and sketches. An insight into my works and their states at that time.”

2020, the year of the live stream. Like many of us at Catalyst – including our Etikett Radio station – third-year Electronic Music Production & Performance student Geomi brought her performances to a whole new audience with her online event SoulBalm. 

MØREL // "UNDER THE RADAR" - LIVE PERFORMANCE

There’s been no stopping second-year Electronic Music Production & Performance student mørel this year as he continues to carve out his long-held dream of becoming a music producer. Thanks to a connection he made in Catalyst’s film school, he’s even twice forayed into film scoring!

His live performance in June was a particular highlight. Recorded at the Funkhaus by our film and music tech Rio Sierra, ‘Under the Radar’ is 10 minutes of electronic music bliss.

The sound I wanna make has no letters in English

The sound I wanna make has no letters in English by Gina Lo

“The sound I wanna make has no letters in English is a blend of elements from nature ambience and field recordings, illustrating a surreal soundscape. Instead of focusing on a style with boundaries, the primary attention of the EP is how the audio sources are altered, edited and rearranged into new forms, scattering across each track in the EP. The EP introduces itself with a meditative ambient vibe, slowly building up to what it feels like a ritual happening in the jungle, taking the listeners on an emotional journey derived from her experiences in the wilderness away from the human race.”

Second-year Electronic Music Production & Performance student Gina Lo released her debut EP in August – as beautiful sounding as it is brilliantly named.

“Load your tape deck and step into our sonic time machine.”

In September, we celebrated our transition from dBs Berlin to Catalyst in the most nostalgic way possible – for musical connoisseurs, that is. We released the inaugural compilation of our collectible cassette series, showcasing a curated, multi-genre selection of the very best tracks by the musical talents catalysed at our school.

The Metamorphosis Project - A Cinematic Soundscape

“I always push myself to seek discomfort and this collaboration forced me out of my comfort zone, and I loved it. We took the best parts of each other’s style and managed to create something we’re very proud of.” 

The Interface Project – Catalyst’s collaboration with Manchester music production and audio engineering school Spirit Studios – creatively bridged the gap between two of Europe’s most progressive musical cities, despite lockdown travel restrictions. 

The winners of the 12-week virtual exchange programme, Deckster from Spirit Studios and Parallel Processing from Catalyst, co-created a remarkable cinematic soundscape, The Metamorphosis Project.

A whole new way to explore Berlin – featuring the work of some of seven of our amazing music and film students and alumni: Raven Grace Janicello, Ludovic Laviec, Shehryar Ahmad, Kamilija Tekle Cizaite, Zac Roger Yeates, Samaquias Lorta and OIIA. 

Eufonia Festival's Sound Circuits, which ran throughout October, was an innovative take on public spaces, supported by Ableton and Catalyst. Catalyst students exhibited their sound and video pieces across Friedrichshain, to which you could listen and view via QR codes placed at various locations.

Signals Festival 2020 /// 16-17 October 2020

In October, Signals Festival wasn’t just a showcase event for the up-and-coming artists in our international community. Nor was it simply a real-world course assessment for our performance students, as it started out originally. In this unprecedented time, when Berlin’s clubs, galleries and other cultural venues have been reduced to ghost towns, when keeping each other at arm’s length is the new normal, Signals Festival 2020 was a triumph of unbound creativity over all.

Electronic music performers, sound and video artists, filmmakers, workshop leaders and panellists from the Catalyst community came together – at a safe distance – to deliver an extravaganza for the senses. 

NOTHINGMAN - TRAILER 1: The Watchers

5 reasons why you shouldn't ignore the NOTHINGMAN webseries

Film Production HE Certificate alumna Li Wallis decided that she wasn’t going to start her filmmaking career by creating a short film or even a feature film, but a whole six-part mystery thriller series: NothingMan. 

In November, we watched in awe as the ambitious project began to come to fruition with the release of both the first trailer and a teaser video, starring third-year Screen Acting students Siebe Schoneveld, Milena Rendon, Sabine Schröder and Juan Arthur.

PNKSAND - Master Kush

Singer-songwriter PNKSAND’s latest track 'Master Kush' was born from a moment of creative mind fog – which she then sang about. The third-year Electronic Music Production & Performance student took a break, then “came back and sang about feeling stuck on this uptempo beat: ‘Is there art in me or is it a part I play? The answer? Still don’t know, but does it even matter?’”

It’s a perfect example of a lesson many of us learnt this year: that creativity can be found in any mood or moment, as long as you’re willing to step back, explore your emotions and open your mind to new ideas. 

Lullaby - Jo Minje

We couldn’t get more excited than when students from our different schools collaborate on their projects. Harnessing the Visual Effects talent in his immediate community, second-year Creative Audio Production & Sound Engineering student Jo Minje tasked Leo Alvarado to animate Francesca Sardella's striking cover artwork for his ‘Lullaby’ music video. 

Archaic Intellect - Lucid Dream [BLR025]

If there’s one thing Berlin could have done with more of in 2020, it was pounding, Berghain-style techno. Thankfully, third-year Creative Audio Production & Sound Engineering student Archaic Intellect came through for us with a dark-as-coal holiday gift for the city’s techno sinners, released on Christmas Eve on Black Line Recordings.

catastream /// 2020 - Virtual festival for Catalyst first-year film students!

The ultimate lockdown movie night! In December, our first-year Film Production students hosted an impressive virtual film festival. 

The 23 fledgling filmmakers, hailing from 14 different countries, recently completed their first semester, in which they were each tasked to co-create 10 short films in just 10 weeks. Catastream was their opportunity to showcase 12 of their best films to the public – from comedy to surreal.

“When discussing it with some of my friends, I came to understand the extent of prejudice female boxers face: harassment, difficulty to be acknowledged as a peer by male boxers, no safe space, difficulties to find opponents in the same weight-class, and so-on. I knew I wanted to address these issues but I didn’t know where to start. What a story to tell.”

Fight Like a Girl is set in 1994, the same year the International Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) lifted the ban on women's boxing worldwide. The film tells the story of Mel, a teenage girl who – driven by her passion and determination – fights against all odds to achieve her dream of becoming a pro boxer. She is helped by her father, a former heavyweight whose rise to the top came to a brutal halt. Together they try to flip the values of the male-dominated sport.

First-year Film Production student Maxime Demartin set the bar high for his filmmaking career with this extraordinary film. Having completed it in December, he is currently submitting it to film festivals. 

We reflect on a challenging, yet super creative year at Catalyst Berlin. Discover some of our students best music, films and more from 2020.

Outstanding Student Creations of 2020

We Look Back on Some of Our Students’ Outstanding 2020 Creations

Who should you call when you’re in a muddle with techniques or equipment? What exactly are the tech stores? How do you book rooms and studios for your creations? Here’s everything you need to know about Catalyst’s tech services.

Not all heroes wear capes – some carry a reel of cables. Catalyst’s tech crew are the backbone of our creative institute. Each team member a practicing professional in their own industry, their job is so much more than “making the sound come out of your speakers,” as music tech Mathew Johnson so modestly put it. 

The techs are always ready to run to our students’ aid when they’re in need of technical support or expert advice. They are also the gear gatekeepers of our music and film/VFX tech stores, as well as providing bookable access to studios. If you’re a student at Catalyst, chances are a tech will save your day on multiple occasions.

Want to learn more about Catalyst’s tech services? Scroll down to read about our tech stores and booking system, meet our tech crew and take a virtual tour of our facilities. 

What is it like to spend much of your working week surrounded by synths and musical instruments, or cameras and lighting equipment? Ask our tech crew, who – when they’re not out assisting students or "ensuring the cables are rolled up nicely" – you’ll find in our music and film tech stores. These special rooms are a gear hoarder’s paradise, stocked with all the premium equipment you need to make outstanding films and music.  What's more, access to equipment is generally unlimited, with only a few exceptions.

Choose from 2900 bookable items – including synths, drum machines, microphones, mixing consoles, preamps, FX, field recorders, MIDI controllers, decks, CDJs,  guitars, amplifiers, pedals, wireless systems, cameras, lights, fog  machines, filter kits, lenses and turntables.

Catalyst is home to 25 production and recording studios, one film studio with a green screen, six film post-production suites, one vocal recording studio and one acting studio. Thanks to our smooth booking system, our students have an equal opportunity to take advantage of these expansive creative facilities.

You can easily book a room or equipment online via Catalyst’s Moodle system. Bookable time – the number of hours per week or per month you may book a room or studio – varies per course. For example, first-year music students get three hours in the studio, first-year film students get three hours in the studio and four hours in the Postbox, and first-year Visual Effects students get eight hours in the studio and four hours in the Postbox. This allowance increases per year of the course.

You may also take advantage of additional hours with ad-hoc booking. If studios are free within the next five minutes, you can book them for two hours directly through a tech – without using up your bookable time. You also have access to certain classrooms, as long as there are no classes taking place.

Our tech team is here to provide you with expert technical assistance, facilities access – and a healthy amount of banter – as well as ensuring your safety. Click on their names below to read their bios. 

Want a peek into our music and film facilities? Step right into our world-renowned Funkhaus spaces in this virtual tour.

Join Nathaniel, Miche, Kyle and Jason from our tech team for a home-cooked tour of our facilities. In this video we'll be showing you around our acting, film production, visual effects and music production facilities to give you a taste of our spaces, housed in Berlin's iconic Funkhaus complex. 

In this video, you'll see that our facilities are built with one thing in mind: maximising ‘hands on’ access to DOING what you love. That means more studios, equipment and facility than all of our Berlin competitors put together!

We’re an international creative production and performance learning community (formerly known as dBs Berlin), based at the extraordinary Funkhaus. Our courses span electronic music production and performance, music production and sound engineering, film production, visual effects, and acting.

Catalyst Music, Catalyst Film and Catalyst Acting, share our state-of-the-art facilities with 30+ production studios and suites, a film studio, multiple IT worksuites, and several tons of tech production toys. Our progressive educational model is based on practice-based learning, empowering students with real life experience and collaborations from day one.

We provide students with a safe space to dream big, grow their own greatness and build a life they love. 

Find out more about our community and courses on our website: www.catalyst-berlin.com

Catalyst Video Tour

Read about Catalyst Berlin's tech stores and booking system, meet our tech crew and take a virtual tour of our Funkhaus facilities.

Learn About Our Tech Services

Everything You Need to Know About Our Tech Services

Applications for the 2021 course year are now open. Here’s everything you need to know about the process.

At the end of 2019, we imagined 2020 as the opening parade to a decade of opportunity. How could it be that a date so round, balanced and futuristic-sounding could be the setting for such a catastrophe? If 2020 were a party – albeit one taking place in Stranger Things – ambitions certainly didn’t make the guest list. Unless, of course, you joined us at Catalyst regardless!

As all creatives know, success never comes from standing still. The great news is that, thanks to rigorous Corona safety regulations, all classes at Catalyst are taking place onsite. And faced with this collective challenge, we’re feeling more driven than ever. 

Could 2021 be the year that you plunge head first into your goals? If you’re ready to kick-start your career in audio or music production, filmmaking, visual effects or screen acting, the time to apply is now!

Now is the time to apply for Catalyst Berlin's 2021 course year . Here’s everything you need to know about the process.

Information About the 2021 Application Process

Kick-Start Your Creative Future: 2021 Application Information

Germany is statistically one of the safest countries in which to weather the Coronavirus situation. 

Read on for our overview of the current data, plus the safety measures we are implementing at Catalyst in order to ensure the health and safety of our community.

Our overview of the current Germany Corona data. Plus information on Catalyst Berlin's hygiene protocol.

COVID-19: Germany is One of the Safest Places to Study

Here’s Why Germany is One of the Safest Places to Study During Corona

Signals Festival, our annual community showcase, took place on the 16th and 17th of October at Catalyst’s Funkhaus campus. Revisit the experience thanks to our event photographers Frankie Casillo, Dico Baskoro and Ian Dunham.

This year, Signals Festival wasn’t just a showcase event for the up-and-coming artists in our international community. Nor was it simply a real-world course assessment for our performance students, as it started out originally. In this unprecedented time, when Berlin’s clubs, galleries and other cultural venues have been reduced to ghost towns, when keeping each other at arm’s length is the new normal, Signals Festival 2020 was a triumph of unbound creativity over all. 

Our annual showcase of the work of our extraordinary music, film, acting and VFX students, alumni and tutors has always looked towards the future – what are the next generation of creatives making today that will impact the way we experience tomorrow? On the 16th and 17th of October, however – in the twilight of a reality-shifting year – the tomorrow had more weight than ever. 

Despite ever-changing Corona restrictions, Signals Festival co-organisers Hannah Deans and Suzana Benesova succeeded in creating a safe and stimulating space for electronic music performers, sound and video artists, filmmakers, workshop leaders and panellists. The result, against all odds, was as much an extravaganza for the senses as it was for community spirit. A big thank you to all who were part of it!

Join us below as we relive all of the colourful memories, thanks to the photography of Frankie Casillo, Dico Baskoro and Ian Dunham. You can also revisit all of the panel discussions and live streams via the Signals Festival Facebook page.

Photos from the Signals Festival 2020 creative extravaganza, which took place at Catalyst Berlin's Funkhaus campus on the 16th and 17th of October.

Revisit Signals Festival 2020 in Photos

We Relive 2 Days of Unbound Creativity at Signals Festival 2020

From key dates to our team’s warmest memories, join us as we look back on our school's incredible journey.

From dBs to Catalyst, Plymouth’s ‘deep blue sea’ to the heart of Berlin’s creative scene. Since opening our doors as the only non-UK branch of the dBs music production school, we’ve moved to our own beat as an institution. Making our home in the historic Funkhaus studios, we evolved into a wildly international community of musicians, filmmakers, actors and visual effects artists. 

Now, seven years after launching, we’ve rebranded to reflect the unique identity we’ve cultivated. But we'll never forget where we came from. Join us as we revisit our amazing journey of transformation. 

"When we took them to our large recording hall, their mouths dropped open. Bear in mind that these guys were used to doing sessions at Abbey Road – which also has an impressive main recording hall – but nothing as impressive as the Funkhaus. They were blown away."

"Being a part of an organisation that engages with issues, by catalysing discussion and transparency through events like the Dialogues, is what brings me the most pride working here."

“Finally we had a space of our own where we could make a mess! And the film students that year did indeed make a mess in there – a glorious creative mess. It was wonderful.”

"I completely broke down and we both hugged and cried for a while. The  student still put on one of the best performances of that showcase and I  knew then that I had definitely made the right decision to be a part of  dBs and a part of each one of these emerging artists’ journeys.”

"When I asked her for a tear, she was able to produce one with ease.  That's when I knew the training I was leading them through was working."

Watch the Partytime trailer (explicit content)

Read Philip's guide to building your own studio

“One of the most challenging tasks was the project management of the infinity-wall green screen build, new film production studios, the social spaces, meeting rooms, and studios!”

From key dates to our team’s warmest memories, join us as we look back on our Catalyst Berlin's epic evolution.

The History of Our Creative Institute

The History of Catalyst: We Look Back on Our School's Epic Evolution

Since we kicked off Dialogues back in January 2016, we've hosted three series of panel talks on a wealth of topics important to our creative community. The aim: to affect positive change in the industry. From women in music production, to mental health and creativity, to diversity, scroll down to discover our coverage of each of the insightful events.

In our third Dialogues season, we dived into diversity. Our school has become a second home for students from nearly 60 different countries, each representing many more cultures, traditions and identities. With every person a door to a different world, it presents a unique  opportunity to learn new perspectives, and combine them to create  amazing things. However, diversity is not without its challenges. When does diversity become culture clash? What impact do  these different identities have on creative output? And are we, in the  creative industries, fostering an environment that gives space to all  these voices? Find out more about each of the events below.

In our second Dialogues series, we talked about mental health in the creative industries. How does mental health affect the lives and future careers of our students? Do they have the tools to support themselves and others? What can we do as an  industry to change the narrative? The panel discussions focused on four particularly pertinent topics within our community. Discover what we learnt below.

Catalyst's conversation on mental health and creativity is always open! Click here to read what we learnt at our collaborative panel talk on the topic with Music Pool Berlin. Click here to get to know Dialogues creator Hannah Deans. And click here to read journalist Anna Codrea-Rado's recap of the series.

In our first Dialogues series, in conjunction with female:pressure, we addressed the issue of low female-to-male student ratios in music production education. Why aren’t more women studying music  production? What effect does this have on the learning experience? And what can we do about it? Over four panel discussions, the series opened up the conversation. Learn more about the individual sessions below.

From women in music production, to mental health, to diversity, discover our coverage of each of Catalyst's insightful Dialogues events.

Revisit Our Dialogues Panels on Creative Industry Topics

Dialogues Directory: Revisit All Our Panel Discussions on Creative Industry Topics

Work hard, play hard. Find out how our one-year Higher Education Certificate courses in  music production, sound engineering, film production, visual effects  and screen acting could fast-track your career dreams. 

It’s the mother of all obstacle courses: the track between the now  and the finish line of your ambitions. You wouldn’t enter an Ironman  without rigorously training. So why should breaking into the  super-competitive music, film and acting industries be any different?

We  see our one-year courses as ‘work hard, play hard’ industry boot camps.  To reach your goal is to leave your comfort zone. You’ll need  dedication and endurance. Teamwork isn’t just encouraged; it’s required.  In fact, our Higher Education Certificate programmes provide our most  intense learn-by-doing experience.

From day one, you’re propelled  by a whirlwind of challenges – industry-relevant assessments designed to  provide a near real-world experience. Think inspiring project briefs,  tough creative problem solving, practical training with equipment, and  acquiring crucial collaborative skills. All of this in a wildly  international learning community of fellow creatives.

At the end of the year, you’ll be equipped to jump into the industry and put your skillset to work. Take Screen Acting Certificate alumnus Giulio Brizzi as a shining example. Just months after graduating, he scored his first major role in the new Italian Netflix show Curon.

Want  to dive even deeper to refine and hone your skills, working on bigger  projects and collaborations? You’ll have the option to continue your  studies at Catalyst for one, two, or even three more years with the  Creative M.A. You’ll know which choice is right for you as you approach  the end of the year.

Ready to boot camp your career dreams? Read  on for an individual breakdown of our one-year courses in music  production, sound engineering, film production, visual effects and  screen acting.

One-shot web commercial produced for the dBs VFX course.

Director: Matthieu Schmit
Cinematographer: Masih Tajzai
Producer: Malachi Rempen
Music: Saints Sound

Starring: Erika Mitschrich, Anne-Louise Christiansen, Adam Donald, Daniel Straube, Malachi Rempen, Jur Kunaver, Alba Llach, Ergisel Dosti, Agostina Cerdan, Jayden Bailey, Pavlos Chalaris, Filippos Papazoglou, Kamilija Tekle Cizaite
Sound Recording: Jur Kunaver, Alfredo Lacorte, Juliana Saragosa
Sound Design, Editing and Mixing: Juliana Saragosa
Color: Matthieu Schmit

dBs VFX Course - Commercial

“Visual effects are tools to tell a story, and to tell a great story, you need to apply those tools creatively”
 

Visual effects are tools to tell a story, and to tell a great story,  you need to apply those tools creatively. That’s exactly what our Visual Effects programme is about: combining cutting-edge techniques with an artistic approach to create stunning imagery.

In the one-year Certificate course,  you’ll get a taste of nearly every subject in the broad territory of  VFX. Rather than tunnelling into one specific technical specialisation,  you’ll gain a solid foundation and practical experience in the majority  of tools used every day in the industry.

Some of the topics and  skills you’ll cover include: green screen and on set VFX supervising;  digital compositing and 3D animation; projection mapping and digital art  installations; creative coding and programming; miniatures and optic  effects; matte painting and image retouching; post production and colour  grading; physics, light and the science of visuals; fundamentals of  fine art and storytelling; future of tools including artificial  intelligence, robotics and other realities; training your eye; the  visual effects pipeline; filmmaking, camerawork and working on sets;  collaboration, giving and receiving critical feedback, and  introspection.

Through constant shooting, you’ll work on both  live-action projects and on-set supervision. You’ll explore the future  through technological arts, new realities, artificial intelligence and  human/machine interfacing. You’ll collaborate on projects with Film Production, Screen Acting and Music Production  students. Plus, you’ll walk away with a digital portfolio that will not  only contain your original work, but serve as a striking certification  of the software you’ve mastered and the technical skills you’ve  developed.

Curious how our Film Production course could kick-start your career in filmmaking? Tutor Jon-Carlos Evans explains how the dBs Berlin programme gives students the skills and opportunities to go on to work in any part of the industry. 

Learn more on our website: https://www.dbsfilm.net

Curious about our Film Production programme?

“From day zero, your boots  hit the ground, the camera’s in your hands, and you’re getting stuck  into the entire filmmaking process”

As Stanley Kubrick famously said, the best education in film is to  make one. Well, how about making 17 films – all within a year? In our Film Production Certificate course,  you’ll direct at least three short films, and collaborate in a lead  role (writer, producer, cinematographer, sound, editor) on at least an  additional 14 short films. From day zero, your boots hit the ground, the  camera’s in your hands, and you’re getting stuck into the entire  filmmaking process. Then, doing it all over again.

You’ll be  tasked to write, shoot, edit and screen your films within one-week,  two-week and six-week timeframes. You’ll collaborate with the Screen Acting and Visual Effects  students. You’ll get to grips with ‘Guerilla kit’-style DSLR and LED  equipment packages, designed to get you moving and shooting as fast and  often as possible. You’ll screen your work in local Berlin cinemas or  venues, and pitch your major final project in front of a jury of  industry professionals.

All of this means intensive training in  writing, directing, producing, camera, lighting, editing, sound,  production design and VFX – just what you’ll need to shine above the  rest.

Curious about our Electronic Music Production & Performance programme?

“You’ll train with limitations to extract the most from any situation”

You might be a DJ or amateur producer looking to up your game in  electronic music. Perhaps you’d like to refine your raw musical talent  using a vast array of electronic tools. Maybe you feel a calling towards  electronic music but don’t know where to start. Our Electronic Music Production & Performance Certificate course is the fast track you need to build your skillset and confidently enter the profession.

Between  our legendary vintage Funkhaus Berlin studios and multi-channel sound  design space, you’ll have hands-on access to myriad modular  synthesizers, custom built for Catalyst. Plus, a huge array of  microphone kits and field recorders, and much more.

As well as  getting to grips with the fundamentals of modular synthesis and sound  design, you’ll learn how to perform while maximising your creative  voice. You’ll train with limitations to extract the most from any  situation. All the while, you’ll develop a unique artistic voice and a  strong personal portfolio.

By the end of the year, you’ll have  produced, mastered and presented at least one entire EP. What’s more,  you’ll have performed a solo set of original music and developed a  coherent artist identity – including creating an electronic press kit,  web presence and technical rider. As student Felipe Vareschi  testified after scoring their first media coverage, this essential  knowledge can quickly transform you into a professional artist.

Curious about our Creative Audio Production & Sound Engineering programme?

“The Swiss Army Knife of sound engineering and music production courses”

We think of our Creative Audio Production & Sound Engineering Certificate  as the Swiss Army Knife of sound engineering and music production  courses. Not only do we have more studios and equipment than all of our  Berlin competitors put together, but training with them will allow you  to explore a range of roles within the industry.

The course is  built with today’s studio creative in mind – both a sound engineer and a  music producer or artist. In the last year alone, our students  collectively completed 700 productions and 150 band recordings. Our vintage Funkhaus studio spaces house a huge array of microphones, audio hardware effects and synthesisers.

When  the year is through, you’ll have self-produced at least 12 pieces of  original material. You’ll have engineered seven band recordings in our  fully fledged multi-track recording studios. You’ll have collaborated on  projects as a composer, engineer and producer – including producing and  finalising several compositions by others. Plus, you’ll have developed a  large portfolio and learnt how to communicate your work with the  industry.

It’s not just about the how but the why.  You’ll enhance your technical knowledge in order to effectively  implement creative choices. We ask you to not only make music, but  produce it, and to consider how the production aesthetic of a  composition benefits its message and meaning.

From workshops in  acoustics to composition, and studio workflow to production, we’ll  provide you with the opportunities you need to grow your skills and  creative voice and design a tailor made portfolio.

Curious about Screen Acting at dBs Berlin? Programme lead Adam Donald breaks down the three-pronged structure of our action-packed courses – from camera acting to live performance to voice training.

Learn more on our website: https://www.dbsfilm.net

Curious about our Screen Acting programme?

“Your creative muscle is going to get one hell of a workout”

As Netflix Curon actor and Screen Acting Certificate alumnus Giulio Brizzi  wrote, the fully immersive approach of the camera-facing course was  instrumental in shaping him into a professional actor in just one year.  With a constant stream of film productions to work in, our students  quickly develop practical acting skills and a go-getter mindset.

By  the end of the year, you’ll have achieved all of the following: starred  in around 15 films; cut together your own showreel; recorded a voice  reel; performed in a live show; captured your head shots; created your  own website and business cards; made contact with industry  professionals; event managed your own industry showcase; and made lots  of collaborative connections across all of Catalyst’s film and music  courses.

When you’re not rehearsing or on set, you’ll join  workshops with working professional tutors to train your body and voice.  How do you convey emotion? How do you develop a range? How do you  collaborate with a director to deliver a brilliant performance?  Together, we’ll answer these questions and more.

Combined with  regular feedback sessions, roundtable discussions and consultations to  drive at your personal voice, your creative muscle is going to get one  hell of a workout.

Read how our one-year courses in music production, sound engineering, film production, visual effects and screen acting could fast-track your career dreams.

Boot Camp Your Career Dreams With Our One-Year Courses

Now that travel restrictions and quarantines are lifting, we can now  plan ahead for the coming months! Find out about our extended  application deadline and how we expect to operate come September.

On the speedway of our creative ambitions, there’s no stopping us.  Yet, since Corona created an unexpected diversion on our route for 2020,  many of us have had to take a little pitstop to reconfigure our plans.

For  those of you wishing to enrol on your dream course at Catalyst this  September, the uncertainty may have meant you missed our official 30th  of June application deadline. However, now that global travel  restrictions are lifting and the skies of the situation are beginning to  clear, we can safely move forward at full speed.

Refuelled and ready to go? We have some amazing news: we have extended our final application deadline to the 24th of August! Based on the latest information, we are also expecting to be fully open in September with all classes taking place onsite.

Read  on for more details on just how late you should apply. Plus, a message  from Catalyst founder David Puttick on how our school will likely be  operating come September.

For those of you who need a little more time to make a final  decision, we have extended our deadline for degree courses starting in  September to the 24th of August. Our official deadlines state  that you may apply 14 days ahead of the start of any course, provided  places are still available. However, given the current COVID-19 travel  restrictions and requirements, we encourage you to apply as soon as  possible and to take the following points into account.

If  you are arriving from a risk area, please be advised that you might be  required to quarantine for two weeks before attending your lessons! Find  the list of risk areas here (updated on the 3rd of July). Only a select number of states in the USA are listed.

Please  check online frequently for updates on your country’s status. If your  country is deemed a risk area and you are unable to change your travel  plans to arrive early enough to quarantine, please get in touch with us.  Our admissions team will be happy to help you find a solution. For  example, deferring your place on the course to next year. Let us know  your concerns – we want to support you!

Your  Acceptance Letter and the Immatrikulationsbescheinigung can be used at  the border if you need to provide evidence of your reason for travelling  into Germany. Please have them printed and ready to present. Make sure  to use the most recent version we’ve sent you with our Catalyst branding.

As you can imagine we have been following the  German government’s deliberations and announcements very closely to  ensure we can put an optimum plan in place to deliver your courses in  September.

Based on the latest information, the great news is that  we are expecting to be fully open in September with all classes taking  place onsite. A hygiene protocol will be in place to ensure our student  community remains safe.

As you may be aware, primary and secondary  schools in Germany went back in their final week of term in June  without any distancing regulations in place and the current plan is for  this to remain the case when they restart the new school year.

We  are aware that some universities across Europe are planning to start  their semesters in an online only format. Compared with most  universities, our class sizes of 16 are extremely small – indeed they  are smaller than the class sizes found in the majority of schools.

This  puts us in a strong position to deliver our courses onsite in a way  that keeps us all safe whilst complying with all regulations put in  place by the German government and the Berlin Senate

At the same  time we are also preparing alternative plans should there be any new  stricter regulations put in place. The good news is that in all but the  most extreme scenarios, these plans still include onsite attendance but  with extra measures in place to ensure students and the team remain  safe.

We will continue to revise our plan as new announcements are  made. In the meantime the whole team is looking forward to welcoming  you all in September and the luxury of real world interaction.

Learn all about our courses and apply on our music, film, and acting websites.

Next up: Read 4 reasons why 2020 is still a great year to start studying.

If you missed our general deadlines, read on to find out how to submit a late application for our degree courses in September.

Submitting a Late Application at Catalyst

Everything You Need to Know About Submitting a Late Application

A brief overview of our response to the Coronavirus crisis, including our facilities reopening, new student application guarantee, and our next Virtual Open Day. Read more detailed information on our COVID-19 FAQ page.

GERMANY WILL OPEN BORDERS FOR EEA CITIZENS FROM JUNE 15TH, 2020


From the 15th of June, Germany’s travel restrictions will be lifted for 26 partner countries in the EU, as well as the UK, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and local schools in Berlin and the Brandenburg area will no longer have to observe the 1.5m distance rule after the summer holidays. As per the latest travel restriction information Non-EU citizens will also be allowed to enter Germany for study purposes.

The safety measures which have proven increasingly effective until now however, should be taken more seriously than ever to avoid a resurgence in cases over the next months. 

This means that if you’re still considering applying for one of our Summer Courses or a degree course in September, you can now plan ahead knowing that you will have access and that you won’t need to quarantine upon arrival. For the remaining countries waiting to find out if they can join us in Berlin, keep an eye on the news as the situation is evolving almost on a daily basis and get in touch with us for further support. 

Click here to read why Germany is statistically one of the safest countries in which to weather the Coronavirus situation and for an overview of the current data, plus the safety measures we are implementing in order to ensure the health and safety of our community.

As Berlin exits the lockdown, our facilities have also returned to life and our studios and tech shops have fully reopened, allowing our students to continue developing their projects.

We’ve learned a lot during this time, and although some things (like hygiene measures) have probably changed forever, we’re now 100% sure that online will never beat real-life human interaction, and we’ll continue to put as many resources in place as possible to ensure that we can continue to gather and share well equipped space, expertise and knowledge.

Our summer courses have been pushed back to July, to ensure we can host our students on-site and our degree courses in music and film are still due to commence in September. A few things will inevitably change in terms of group gatherings, but luckily for us, our classes were never bigger than 16 students anyway, so it will be easy for us to continue to work in small groups.

Many of you may be asking yourself if now is a good time to study. While we wait for things to return to normal, for borders to re-open, for industries to thrive and for employment opportunities to return, taking any sort of gap year makes no sense at all. It seems to us that this is an ideal opportunity for growth, study, skillbase development and a chance to really explore our passions. A way of preparing and investing in a potential new future for yourself. We know for sure that none of us can predict how things will pan out but we’re 100% sure that being prepared and ready for that future, whatever it will be, is definitely a great call!

Click here to read why 2020 is the perfect year to study.

Our team are all still available online as normal and we are processing applications for our summer courses and our longer courses as usual. Although we have passed the deadline for priority applications this year, we will try to provide you with a place on your chosen course assuming that you fulfil the basic requirements of course entry.

Please submit your application (including Summer Courses!) by the 30th of June and our admissions team will get you an answer as quickly as they can.

If you’ve already applied and been invited, we are looking forward to welcoming you to dBs Berlin! However, given the current situation we understand that you may have some concerns about committing to a course in a country or city where you are not currently located.

In recognition of the unprecedented situation in which we find ourselves, we would like to make the following offer to all 2020 course applicants:

If you make an enrolment payment (and a single tuition fee payment) to guarantee your place on any of our courses and you are unable to attend the course for any reason directly related to the Coronavirus outbreak, we will offer a full refund of your monies, as per the following situations:

If our course delivery is onsite in Berlin and you are either not able to travel due to provable travel restrictions in your own country (or country of residence) or because you are denied entry to Germany by the German authorities.

If you become ill with COVID-19 before the start of the year and have to take an extended period of time in recuperation such that you are unable to study or unable to catch up with missed work as proven by a doctor’s note

Should you become ill during your studies with us you are already covered by point 9.2 of our Terms and Conditions.

Alternatively, you may also choose to defer your place for one year. If you have paid your enrolment fee and defer your place for one year, the course cost will be fixed at the 2020 prices.

Have further questions? Try our COVID-19 FAQ page here. Or contact our admissions team: admissions@catalyst-berlin.com // +49 30 2900 9052 Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00 CET

An overview of our response to the Coronavirus crisis, including our facilities reopening and new student application guarantee.

COVID-19 - Information and latest news

Can’t decide between studying in 2020 or taking a gap year? We’ve  got four good reasons why, despite the Corona situation, this year is  still a great year to kick-start your career.

Can’t decide between studying in 2020 or taking a gap year? We’ve got 4 good reasons why, despite Corona, you should study this year.

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