Dubstep Tips for first-timer?

[VolumesofPotatoes]

Okay, so I just created my very first song ever. The problem is that I don't know if it is Dubstep or not. My drop, if you could call it that, sounds very anemic to me. If anyone could maybe give some tips on how to make this better, I would be greatly appreciated!

My song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxs5EDRXQ-0&feature=plcp

[DJSpekt]

wrong forum... go to the production forum

[VolumesofPotatoes]

Okay, how do I move it? Or can the mods do that?

[SloppySeconds]

1.) Try Quantizing the notes (if you don't know what that is then google is your friend)
2.) try keeping everything in key otherwise it just sounds like mess
3.) try using Kick drums, as your tune is just snares... (which isn't even remotely dubstep by the way)
4.) Try listening to how your favorite artists lay their tracks out (intro, "drop", breakdown, 2nd drop etc)
5.) Also try to place your drums similar to theirs (obviously not copy people down to the T, but structure your tunes similarly)
6.) Don't upload anything to the internet without making tunes for at least 5-6 months.. Unless you're being tutored by youngsta then you will be shit, no offense.

I've tried to help without being that much of a prick but it was really hard listening to that all the way through.

also avoid that Fl studio voice thing lol so cheesy.

[Brothulhu]

6.) Don't upload anything to the internet without making tunes for at least 5-6 months..

Nah, feedback is really useful.

[Augment]

6.) Don't upload anything to the internet without making tunes for at least 5-6 months..

Nah, feedback is really useful.

Feedback is useful, yeah, but taking 5-6 months to really learn your daw before you start posting tunes online is a good tip. When you know your way around your daw, you should start asking for feedback imo. If you don't know what a lowpass filter is, and someone tells you to apply it and automate it, how useful was the feedback?

[Brothulhu]

6.) Don't upload anything to the internet without making tunes for at least 5-6 months..

Nah, feedback is really useful.

Feedback is useful, yeah, but taking 5-6 months to really learn your daw before you start posting tunes online is a good tip. When you know your way around your daw, you should start asking for feedback imo. If you don't know what a lowpass filter is, and someone tells you to apply it and automate it, how useful was the feedback?

Depends on the person I suppose. If someone told me that and I didn't know I would go find out what it was and that would make me learn quicker rather than stumbling upon it on my own

[Triphosphate]

Hahaha. I've heard worse. You really should start listening to established artists work, not just hearing them, but really listening. Sometimes a song or sound that seems simple is actually made up of a lot of layers, you may hear mostly a kick and snare when you focus on the drums but there are usually many many other percussive elements taking place, sometimes layered sometimes in between the main beats. Your song needs kicks (besides the kick roll) and hi-hats to start.

In any case, as the others have said really get to know your DAW inside and out, and if you want to do this you have to stick through it and be willing to learn for the rest of your life. It took me at least 2-3 years to start making sounds in FL studio that I was proud of and I make it a point to try to learn something new about audio every day.

[Turnipish_Thoughts]

why does everyone keep saying "get to know your DAW inside and out". No. Learn enough to sequence a tune and route FX and busses. The rest you can pick up when it's vital.

Learn MUSIC inside and out.



Become the thinking man. Download and read The Raven Spiral Guide. Re-read it. Get more books like these (that being the first in a series of three books my Michael Hewitt). And this.

Making music will mean changing your relationship to music. Changing your perception and experience of it so that when you hear a tune, you won't hear the same tune as the dancing man up in that image, you'll 'see' the inner workings of the producers mind, the process of sound design, arrangement, use of timbre, melodic and harmonic theory and so on. More-so, you will 'see' those elements that make the dancing man want to move the way he does, he will not know what you do, but you will know how to re-create that feeling, you might not know perfectly (no one ever will), but you'll understand your place on the path to fully realizing that.

Understand that you are to go on a journey of discovery and creativity that will take a very long time for your ability to catch up with your tastes. Understand that you cannot make a wrong choice in the creative process, more-so, the only wrong choice you can make is to hesitate. Don't listen to critique as gospel, opinions are opinions. See potential instead of limitation, go where you want to with sound and explore it with heart and confidence. Copy as much as you need to in-order to gain momentum but refrain from attempting to adhere to a genre or social 'image' of the type of music you want to make. In other words, do not limit yourself to a predefined, linear definition of what you want to sound like, it will only lead to frustration and fundamentally limit your development, your tastes will develop as your relationship with sound deepens and your music will become yours. Understand this, and begin your journey with exploratory intention. remember, nothing you do is wrong.

If it sounds good, it sounds good, and sometimes what doesn't might do in another circumstance. So be sure to nip any frustration in the bud and instead be creative with the conceptual implications of where that 'bad' sound might work. You will spend a long time trying to get a sound you're happy with, see it as a learning process and only compare your music with others as much as is necessary, if it causes low esteem, remember your place in the scheme of things and given that you are putting in heart and exploring with no pretense, you are exactly where you need to be.

Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of sound.

[VolumesofPotatoes]

Those are all great tips! Thank you for sharing. Now what would I do for a drop, like, can anyone link me to some tutorials? I feel as though you're all telling me to emulate to learn. But the problem is I'm a total n00b to dubstep and electro, (I'm a guitar player.) so if someone could explain the basics to me or tell me where to find that I would be happy.

[ehbes]

instead if trying to learn how to make x producer bass, spend that time looking for sound design in general, it may be on a system/daw that you don't use, and thats even better. for instance when i was trying to learn reason's thor, i watch massive tutorials and tried to recreate them in reason, that why i learned what waveform made what kind of sound

[SaveMidnight]

instead if trying to learn how to make x producer bass, spend that time looking for sound design in general, it may be on a system/daw that you don't use, and thats even better. for instance when i was trying to learn reason's thor, i watch massive tutorials and tried to recreate them in reason, that why i learned what waveform made what kind of sound

I know the BoyInABand stuff gets raged at on here but I honestly watched half of his tutorials and that helped me more than anything. Check him out. I use ableton and trying to do what he did in Reason with Ableton helped me figure out ableton.
Also, release your crappy music and have your friends tell you how bad you are. It helps.

[_v_]

I expected some trolling tbh,

But not one in sight.

[Hircine]

I expected some trolling tbh,

But not one in sight.

too many trolls pretending to be either beginners or pretentious brosteppas but this one is legit it seems.

[subfect]

Remember to use protection.

[VolumesofPotatoes]

What about the Dubstep Production Bible V2? Would that help me at all?

[Augment]

What about the Dubstep Production Bible V2? Would that help me at all?

Yeah, read up on as much info as you can, but not too much at a time. Focus on one subject at a time. When you've learned a bit about sound design and music theory, you'll be able to better translate your ideas into a song

[Zkeeto]

dont try to make it sound like "dubstep" make whatever comes to your mind. dont limit yourself to a specific genre. Genre's are for high school kids. Dont make "dubstep". make music.

[JockMCPlop]

dont try to make it sound like "dubstep" make whatever comes to your mind. dont limit yourself to a specific genre. Genre's are for high school kids. Dont make "dubstep". make music.

I'm not sure i agree with this. Exploring genres can come up with some strange results. For example, i used to be in a metal band, then i moved to making techno. Now when i tried to make dubstep i found that it wasn't quite dubstep, but something else. I guess i agree with you not to restrict yourself to a particular 'sound', but experimenting with genres can be a great way to find your own unique sound.

[Njamimars]

I'm not sure i agree with this. Exploring genres can come up with some strange results. For example, i used to be in a metal band, then i moved to making techno. Now when i tried to make dubstep i found that it wasn't quite dubstep, but something else. I guess i agree with you not to restrict yourself to a particular 'sound', but experimenting with genres can be a great way to find your own unique sound.

There is a difference trying to convert genres into other genres, and having influences of other genres put in your music. But I agree what you said after.