The dubstep sound seemed to sound like the sound made by a robot in another galaxy. But the big thing is, where did the sound actually come from? How can ordinary people make music like this? By learning the necessary equipment, software, and structure of a dubstep song, you can get started on making the coolest music in the entire galaxy. See step 1 for further instructions.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Equipment Needed
Step 1. Provide a laptop with a fast processor and a lot of memory storage
Many EDM and dubstep producers use different computers to make music, regardless of the personal computers they use for other things. You don't have to bother with it, or buy a certain type of computer. Many producers use only PCs and Macs, laptops and desktop computers, both cheap and expensive.
-
If you want to use Mac, make sure it has the following points:
- 1.8 GHz, with Intel Processor
- RAM2-4GB
- OSX 10.5 or later
-
If you want to use PC, make sure it has the following points:
- 2GHz Pentium or Celeron processor
- RAM2-4GB
- Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7
- A sound card supported with ASIO drivers
Step 2. Find the software used to produce the music
This is what you'll use to prepare individual tracks, input samples, successive beats, mix, and record all of your dubstep components. Both in hardware and software, dubstep producers usually have their own settings and tastes, the point is that you can make dubstep music on any computer, and using any software. There are many types of software for producing music, ranging from free ones (GarageBand) to those that cost hundreds of dollars (Ableton Live). Remember: you are only limited by your creativity. Just use what suits you and what can help you. Below are popular software packages used for recording dubstep:
- Fruity Loops
- Renoise
- Ableton Live
- Cakewalk Sonar
- GarageBand
Step 3. Consider adding other hardware in your setup
To start with, all you need is software, but once you start a beat you can finish the dubstep sound by adding some basic hardware elements in your setup.
- Having a USB microphone to record voice or rap is a good idea and way to create new sounds. If you are interested in mixing original sounds and acoustic elements and mixing them in your dubstep music, then a solid microphone is a good idea.
- Using the GarageBand on-screen keyboard it won't be long before you're ready to use a real MIDI keyboard. The Axiom 25 is a popular model that allows you to set notes, and shape beats directly on the Ableton system. This is in addition to forming dubstep music.
Step 4. Consider preparing a custom dubstep sample as well
EDM and dubstep producers usually compile their complete package before starting, including software and some examples, as well as beat loops that can be used to compose a song. It can be difficult to make music if you are too focused on deciding which software to use, so have this package ready so you can make music faster.
Usually these packages range from $200-300, they are quite affordable and a good way to produce the dubstep you want, it can also be a way to go if you want to invest time and money
Step 5. Be creative and passionate
If you're starting out making dubstep music, do some research. Learn the history and techniques of your genre and immerse yourself in the culture of Electronic Dance Music. You need to know more about dubstep than just Skrillex, there's also something else called “the drop.”
- Listen to Box of Dub compilations as well as other music collections such as Five Years of Hyperdub, Soundboy Punishments, and collections from other musicians who make quality dubstep. Listen carefully to his voice. Find out what makes it good to hear, and what you like about certain music and what you don't like about other music.
- Listen to Burial, Scuba and Skream.
Part 2 of 3: Learn the Software
Step 1. Learn the basics
In the beginning, don't think too much about how to record your dubstep, what you should pay attention to is to learn as much as possible about the software and its parts. Try playing software and compose funny songs, and record weird sounds you don't normally hear. Taking the time to learn the software will help you to interpret the music you hear in your head into the computer. It is an instrument, so learn to play it.
Whatever software package you download and install, study the software or look up how-to videos on YouTube to learn all about it. Study with an experienced dubstep producer who is willing to tell you everything about the software and teach you
Step 2. Create a sample set
Samples can be found on the internet, your recording sessions, or you can buy some samples for high quality ones. Organize them by category so it's easy for you to remember them and you can start making music that suits your taste.
- Consider using an external hard drive to store your samples. Organize them by categories such as “acoustic drums” “voice of people talking” and “synth sound” or label them catchy, such as “spacey” or “gnarly” to mix in interesting textures when you make music.
- There's no harm in trying a little old fashioned and starting with vinyl records and converting your analog samples to digital. Find an old song you like and sample it.
Step 3. Practice making drum beats
Usually you will start setting the tempo when you start a new song and the software will play certain beats or other effects to match the tempo of the song you want. If you're using your own sample, it can usually be tricked into creating a familiar beat.
- Beats in songs are usually created by putting together a mix of kick, snare, and hi-hat sounds in your basic rhythm. Choose a kick sample and add bass and punch, or stack 3 different kick samples to create a different Dubstep sound.
- The dubstep tempo is usually around 140 beats per minute. You don't have to stick to that tempo, but dubstep songs are usually no less than 120 or 130.
Step 4. Practice your Wobbles
An important element in dubstap music is the wobbly bass note, which is usually recorded with a MIDI keyboard or synth and creates your own simple bass. Many free synths can be found online, or you can use a professional synth package like Native Instrument's Massive or Rob Papen's Albino 3
Wobbles in songs usually have a few shades and synths, but most synths come with other additions you can choose from
Step 5. Start adding effects and layers
As you get more experienced, start creating wobbles and add distortion and other effects to form other mixes in electro music.
- Double your wobbles at the beginning and end. When you start to distort and play it at peak and mix up the whole effect, it will come together at the end if not separate from each other.
- Take your bass patch, copy the entire song with the synth, and in addition, use just one oscillator to convert it to a sine wave. When the wave has reached its highest peak, use an equalizer (About 70 Hz) and when it is at a low wave use around 78 Hz.
- Use a variety of bass sounds by plugging your samples into the audio, playing the synth a bit, and coming back again. Do it a few times, and you'll get lots of bass wobbles that will follow the previous bass. You can expand on this idea by rotating everything through the different effects.
Part 3 of 3: Making Songs
Step 1. Start from scratch
Starting from the beat. Many dubstep songs start with a beat, then mix in some simple drum sounds and slowly form a beat. After the whales, the main melody, bass, and new beats started to come in.
- Choose a simple sample or layer 3 parts to form a big, deep sound. Look for other percussion sounds you'd like to include as well.
- If the bass, snare, cymbals, toms, and cowbells are sufficient, you can create a unique beat by choosing other samples. Try adding gunshots, footprints, clapping, cars. The percussion music on dubstep also has a lot of influence so feel free to add effects to your samples!
Step 2. Create a catchy melody
You can use the same synth to compose your melody. Or you can also look for a patch that has been made to get the sound you want.
- Try listening to the song first before recording. Play the notes on the piano, keyboard, guitar, or any other instrument you want, and record the ideas.
- When dubstep doesn't overlay sounds by other genres, it might be a good idea to add an extra layer to the melody. Even though the sound is almost the same you can still add layers to make it even more appropriate, and add excitement when heard.
Step 3. Solve it
The thing to do when making dubstep music is what's known as "drop". At the climax, break the song down to just beats, wobbles, and effects. Be wild! Basically this music is digital, a machine-like guitar that can make people want to dance even more.
Build the music slowly, and do tricks by adding extra beats or wobbles at the most unexpected moments. The cool thing about dubstep is that it keeps the beat free and unpredictable. Music usually stays on the same beat but doesn't stop at the same place every time, keep the music growing and interesting
Step 4. Be creative
Recreate what you hear in your head. Sometimes what pops into your head is usually better, so you're free to expand on it if it's interesting and pleasing to hear, even if it's not really what you created. If the idea is good, it will come up again.
Step 5. Maximize it
Have a professional mixer or go the faster and simpler way -use the maximizer to compress and add each level. You'll get a volume that is more pleasant to hear.
Tips
- Do not be afraid to fail. Dubstep until now can not be defined and positioned. Many dubstep songs are still being tried on the fringes of electronic music. Many dubstep fans just want to dance, hear unforgettable music, and hear something new. A whole new digital sound.
- Use simple bass levels. If you're not careful, bass that's too thumping can drown out the melody and make the song messy. Just keep it simple. If you're not going to show it at the club, you can show it to your friends, and listen to them on their iPod through their ear phones with very little bass response. (If you've mixed it right, you can use a link that maximizes bass harmony so it can turn louder and deeper on systems that don't produce those tones. Type “Waxes MaxxBass” on Google)
- Upload on YouTube. There are many people who are looking for new dubstep songs. Add the “dubstep” tag and any other tags similar musicians have added. You will get feedback from the audience.
- An interesting thing to do is search for movie excerpts and insert them before the bass kicks in.
- Compare your work with other songs. Play back your song after hearing other dubstep songs and compare the structure (sequence), mix, volume and most importantly the mood that comes with hearing the song. You'll want people to come together in a crowd and dance and sweat together at the digital sound of the music you make. Build that mood in your song.
- Learn how to mix songs. Mixing experts usually use this type of hardware. Their knowledge is all from the internet, you just have to search for it and put it into practice. Most dubstep musicians mix it up, at least some of them do. For example, most adjust the drum and bass equalizer so that they blend into each other. There's nothing worse than spending a week just on a song, waiting to mix it up, finding out that your wobbles are already on the same frequency range as your drums… and if you learn to mix them yourself, then you're more likely to find a lot to choose from. in creating a unique sound. What's more, you don't have to pay anyone else to do it, and you can invest the money back in the studio.
- Show it to friends and be open to input, especially criticism.
- Whatever sections come next will differentiate each song depending on your inspiration, but it's safer to try humming it with either a bass or another melody to start with.
