How to make Dub Drum Beat Shuffle, and DubStep Music

[Nomad76]

Ok, I really just found out about dubstup a week ago. I heard it, and the sonic's snatched me by me ear and drug me to this forum.

I've decided that this is the kind of music I need to make, but I found nothing on how to get the shuffle drum groove I keep hearing over and over.

Is there a certain quantize rate you use, or a certain shift you put on the kick, or a certain shuffle settings?

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I already have a basic music making background, I just have never been exposed to this type of music (i really dont even know where it comes from) but I'm hooked and want to make it. So I want to get the necessary tools. Ive been stuck on this site for days. But sifting through it is monumental.

I see that I have to buy a synth / VI. It appears that massive is very popular. What is a good synth to use for a MAC User. I currently have Pro Tools, and Logic (just got it - so dont know how to work it well). So far my choice list is Massive, Sylenth, V-Station, and Nexus. Any comments or suggestions?
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Then to get these awesome sounding bass, I see that you wobble it, etc.... but is it just that? I also hear other artifacts like bleeps, computer noise, Talking, etc... So my question is, is the bass sound just synth or is it a combination of synth plus samples creatively patched together in a sequencer?
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I've read the many great sections on bass, sub base, production bible etc...but just need a little help to get going, my family is starting to notice my absence

~O Nomad O~
DubStep Nuubie Willing To Learn

[zerbaman]

What kind of dubstep have you been listening to?
Post some links. It will help people narrow down your drum-programming issues.

[jrisreal]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!
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A good synth for a Mac user, in my opinion would be FM8, but I'm very FM-biased. A good, easy-to-use, free synth (although ugly GUI) would be Atlantis found here:
http://jeremyevers.com/atlantis/
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There is no rules to making your bass. Usually it is synthesized, but you can really do whatever you want, just don't steal sounds from other people. Go ahead and sample stuff its all fine. Sampling is a big part of sound design and music production.

[Nomad76]

What kind of dubstep have you been listening to?

Seriously, I just found out about this music. The majority of music I've heard is by listening to everyone's sound cloud tracks on this site. (Just found out about soundcloud too looking for dubstep). So I dont own any yet, dont know how to get it.

Post some links. It will help people narrow down your drum-programming issues.

But I here this common grove with the kik. I hear it on your soundcloud clip, and the guy below -Jisreal-

It's almost like what I call the "timberland - triplelet" feel on the kick. Except its more off beat and vibrates with the whole track. If I was making hip hop on an mpc, I was just turn off my quantize and place the kiks live to get the feel. But I'm sure the science has evolved since then.

[Nomad76]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!
_____________
A good synth for a Mac user, in my opinion would be FM8, but I'm very FM-biased. A good, easy-to-use, free synth (although ugly GUI) would be Atlantis found here:
http://jeremyevers.com/atlantis/

THANK YOU JRISREAL!

If you used the FM8 on that sound cloud track. You made a convert out of me!. Also I will check out atlantis.

[jrisreal]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!
_____________
A good synth for a Mac user, in my opinion would be FM8, but I'm very FM-biased. A good, easy-to-use, free synth (although ugly GUI) would be Atlantis found here:
http://jeremyevers.com/atlantis/

THANK YOU JRISREAL!

If you used the FM8 on that sound cloud track. You made a convert out of me!. Also I will check out atlantis.

not on that one lol...sorry to disappoint, that one was made from a kick drum sample.

[nylle]

all you need is the desire to make music

[BevOh]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!
_____________
A good synth for a Mac user, in my opinion would be FM8, but I'm very FM-biased. A good, easy-to-use, free synth (although ugly GUI) would be Atlantis found here:
http://jeremyevers.com/atlantis/
_____________
There is no rules to making your bass. Usually it is synthesized, but you can really do whatever you want, just don't steal sounds from other people. Go ahead and sample stuff its all fine. Sampling is a big part of sound design and music production.

JR did you really just reccomend FM8 to someone that is just getting started...

[BevOh]

I'd say mess with all the free stuff that you can get your hands on if your really need to get anything 3rd party, but try to learn your stock plugins if you can. TAL and Antress have good free stuff.

[jrisreal]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!
_____________
A good synth for a Mac user, in my opinion would be FM8, but I'm very FM-biased. A good, easy-to-use, free synth (although ugly GUI) would be Atlantis found here:
http://jeremyevers.com/atlantis/
_____________
There is no rules to making your bass. Usually it is synthesized, but you can really do whatever you want, just don't steal sounds from other people. Go ahead and sample stuff its all fine. Sampling is a big part of sound design and music production.

JR did you really just reccomend FM8 to someone that is just getting started...

Most definitely
I also recommended Atlantis.
I would also have recommended 3xosc (FL STUDIO ONLY) but op already has 2 daw's and probably doesn't want to buy another

[amphibian]

Op has 1 too many DAWs as it goes. haha, so good choice

tbh, learn your synths inside your DAW. Almost all my synths now come from stock instruments, love em to death.

[ninjadog]

Logic has some awesome synths. The ES2 is one of the best IMO. Learn how to use your DAW before you think buying or stealing another synth is going to help you make better music.

[BevOh]

Yeh i would not reccomend FM8 or even atlantis for first synth. Learn DAW synths first.

[Nomad76]

@ BevOh and ninjadog. I'm listening to you...It just even on this board, I dont find too many people talking about how great the ES2 is. I just wanted to make sure that I have the right tools for the job. I'm sure I can build a castle with wet sand and a shovel and make it look real good. But it wouldn't stand up next to the castle you guys are building with heat rocks and power tools. I want to start with a good strong foundation too.

Thanks. I didnt know that the ES2 was worth any thing. Especially that was specific to this type of music. I will definitely experiment with it and see what I can do with it!

[bigfootspartan]

Yeah you can make dubstep with pretty much any synth. I love the synths in Logic, definitely get to know them, if you understand them in and out then you'll be golden. Sculpture is also under rated IMO. You can get some massive sounds with it if you give it a shot.

As far as shuffley drums go, that takes time. You can practice messing about with the stock kits in EXS24, but I recommend finding some breaks and chopping them up. I just started doing that recently, and found they can give a nice bouncy shuffle. Plus you start to see where the ghost notes are, which definitely helps when you decide to write up your own drums.

[grooki]

Lol I thought this was going to be an ad for dubturbo.

[3rdeye]

@ BevOh and ninjadog. I'm listening to you...It just even on this board, I dont find too many people talking about how great the ES2 is. I just wanted to make sure that I have the right tools for the job. I'm sure I can build a castle with wet sand and a shovel and make it look real good. But it wouldn't stand up next to the castle you guys are building with heat rocks and power tools. I want to start with a good strong foundation too.

Thanks. I didnt know that the ES2 was worth any thing. Especially that was specific to this type of music. I will definitely experiment with it and see what I can do with it!

ES2's a cracking all round synth!

Probably my most used along with Blue.

[ToxicBass]

Lol I thought this was going to be an ad for dubturbo.

I think Dubturbo is the next Ham...

[Electric_Head]

Lol I thought this was going to be an ad for dubturbo.

I think Dubturbo is the next Ham...

I think Dubturbo goes beyond Ham.
Some folks will start swearing by Dubturbo.
Ham was just a bad joke.

Not that Dubturbo isn`t however.

[Dystinkt]

Listen to the type of dubstep you want to make, and try to recreate what those artists do. you may not get near, but itll give you a better understanding of how to create that type of sound and where to put everything. you can use any synth you want, its the knowledge of synthesis you really need pal so you can consistently make those types of sound because you understand the process.