Dubstep Tips for first-timer?

[Zkeeto]

I get what your saying for sure and that is great. I do that to but what I mean is don't classify YOUR music to a specific genre. You can make it sound that way but don't always make it sound that way. Ya know?

[NinjaEdit]

Genres and -isms make clear that one approach is only one perspective and that there are others, which is what you were trying to acheive: Diversity. If you say 'dubstep is just music,' then is music to you just dubstep?

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I think my best advice to you is to view, understand then apply the concepts in tutorial material. There is plenty on Youtube for example. Also wikipedia, other web pages obviously, forum searches, academic texts, magazines (Computer Music had a dubstep special). Look for things like programming a beat, bass synthesis, the drop, dubstep production, and whatever else you're after.

There are free courses, and you can also consider studying music technology or music.

Some of the sources I recommend:
Thinking inside the box (EQ)
How to make a sound (synthesis)
The MONEYSHOT thread (gain structure)

I don't have a lot of experience with it, but one way of looking at the drop is a variation of other themes in the tune (look up "theme and variations ). You can create variations by editing up bounced audio of other stuff in the tune. Editing like that is a good thing to do, btw.

[Zkeeto]

[quote="jonahmann"]Genres and -isms make clear that one approach is only one perspective and that there are others, which is what you were trying to acheive: Diversity. If you say 'dubstep is just music,' then is music to you just dubstep?

If you look at it that way then you could say any genre is just music. You shouldnt try to make dubstep. If you want those dubstep sounds and fx then make them and good on ya for doing that but I dont think you should say I want to make dubstep. Make music and if it comes out like dubstep then youve achieved what you want to do.

[Turnipish_Thoughts]

Genres and -isms make clear that one approach is only one perspective and that there are others, which is what you were trying to acheive: Diversity. If you say 'dubstep is just music,' then is music to you just dubstep?

Yeah I have to second this in league with what I was saying before.

Learning Genre definition and what comprises and lies behind the hall marks of genres can be an amazing tool in speeding up your understanding of the underlying ingredients of music in general. You know, what makes good music (to you), Good music. The point being not to restrict yourself to genre definition but to be aware of an explore the specific fundamentals of different areas of sound enjoyment. This would also imply broadening your tastes in music and sound design, listening to things you wouldn't normally under a critical eye, film scores, sound designers, Classical, Jazz, obscure and unique stuff. Also finding a few role models within the world of sound outside of the traditional producer label, Hanz Zimmer, Diago Stoko, Durk Kooistra, Carmine Coppola, Walter Murch e.t.c. I feel that this is one of the most important aspects of developing a keen ear and love for sound. Getting yourself into the headspace of these people, find documentaries, interviews e.t.c. of your role models and take in their perspectives on what makes music and sound design so infinitely appealing, nothing inspires and drives you more.

Genre definition is important, it's the sort of higher iteration detail underlying the meta-theory of traditional musical practice (Scale, tonality, progression, melody, harmony e.t.c.). So yes, it would be within the interest of a musical mind to realize that and take to use it as a tool of development.

[Triphosphate]

Turnipish Thoughts, man, you've got a way with words.

[Turnipish_Thoughts]

Turnipish Thoughts, man, you've got a way with words.

[VolumesofPotatoes]

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 find that funny 'cause I'm a high school kid (Junior!)

[Turnipish_Thoughts]

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.

Genre's are actually more about culture grouping things of a similar nature so people with a taste for a certain thing know where to look for it. It's a pretty deeply routed and important aspect of the cultural process.

Would you call the Neo-Bazinian avant-garde film genre Dogme95 'for high school kids'?...

[twilitez]

I spent alot of time looking for good bass techniques and when i found them i barely used them. Ive built up a collection of 'production tricks' by now though that suit me well, its just annoying to have to reinvent the wheel now and then. Ive got this 4 months old track that is pretty good according to almost everyone and im still piecing together what the magic element was in there. Im rambling but i digress, the world is full of nasty and loud FM bass filled tracks that lack a proper mix. Get out there and try something else, it will probably be rewarding.

[VolumesofPotatoes]

Now, if anyone could point me in the proper direction for making something like this? Because I haven't the foggiest idea where to start. And all the things you guys have said I shall look at soon, but I really just don't know where to start...

[Sinergy]

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?

Agreed, I have been producing for under a year, probably 6 to 8 months and am only now finishing up a tune that I feel is somewhat presentable to anyone but myself.

Sure I'll play bits for friends or pst WIPs for feedback, but I'd rather concentrate on getting better than thinking up my own cheesy stage name and over-shopped logo, which usually leads to spamming your links and just being "that guy". It's just pretentious.

Very few successful producers can you dig very far to find absolute shit tunes or very amateur sounding ones, cause they usually keep whats not good, to themselves.

Just keep working at it, forget about giving it a name, uploading to youtube, giving it a picture, it's just a waste of time you could be using to learn.

I tink of it like this:

There is a kid at my school who "produces", his tunes are a bunch or bought massive presets lined up with messed up drums over them that don't even go to a beat. He constantly is changing his soundcloud bio, uploading to youtube, google imaging pics for his tracks, changing his name (went from "Zio" to "BassRAZR". He constantly spams his facebook page, soundcloud links etc.

He gets his "rewarding" feeling from getting more views or "likes", the dopamine rush. Whereas "good" producers get that when they're in their DAW and go "damn, I just made that, and it's kinda sick", so they keep chugging to create a masterpiece. they feel rewarded when they progress skill wise. Controlling what makes you feel satisfied and good is very important to production. Plus it'll feel great when you finally make something you're proud of

Not saying you are that, but so many producers go down that really shitty road. And you've uploading something to youtube, and soundcloud, put it in your signature,etc. And it seems like a slippery slope when people start uploading "junk", get some views, and then crave more views, so upload more junk, it's in human nature those sorts of things.

You must produce for yourself, before you produce for others.

But hey, not like I have anything to show for myself haha. I just promised myself to take things step by step and not force the process. Go with the flow, I've sat messing around in my daw for hours on end not actually ending up with anything worthwhile other than the knowledge I gained.

so just my 0.02$.

I've had too much caffeine today.

[audiowaves]

use the search button alot and often. if you don't find your answer, ask in the thread you were looking for it.

[WhaddupBrew]

Do What YOU want, Not what is known to be successful already.

[NinjaEdit]

^^^ Why?

Just keep working at it, forget about giving it a name, uploading to youtube, giving it a picture, it's just a waste of time you could be using to learn.

But you get feedback. I find the feedback is of a higher quality if you ask for it (not necessarily more of it though).

[ehbes]

^^^ Why?

Because its a lot more fun to make music that you like to listen to.....

[NinjaEdit]

I see. I wasn't sure what he meant by "do." As in you could take somebody who is where you want to be and emulate what they did to get where they are to get where they are.

[dickman69]

LOL ppl like YO HOW I MAKE DUBSTEP MAN

if u trying to MAKE DUBSTEP u obv dnt know what ur doing

just try 2 make SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS COOL

thats how this world works, y u copy someone else

BE ORIGINAL

[dickman69]

^^^ Why?

Just keep working at it, forget about giving it a name, uploading to youtube, giving it a picture, it's just a waste of time you could be using to learn.

But you get feedback. I find the feedback is of a higher quality if you ask for it (not necessarily more of it though).

12 views on youtube = feedback?

or maybe 2 of ur friends commenting "SIIIICKKK DROPS BROOOO"

helpful

[Sinergy]

^^^ Why?

Just keep working at it, forget about giving it a name, uploading to youtube, giving it a picture, it's just a waste of time you could be using to learn.

But you get feedback. I find the feedback is of a higher quality if you ask for it (not necessarily more of it though).

12 views on youtube = feedback?

or maybe 2 of ur friends commenting "SIIIICKKK DROPS BROOOO"

helpful

.

If you want good feedback, send it to someone who knows the music. Another producer perhaps, maybe.

This is clearly demonstrated by the youtube link to a "dubstep" tune with only snares with comments like "you're getting better!" or "sickkkk".

[NinjaEdit]

^^^ Why?

Just keep working at it, forget about giving it a name, uploading to youtube, giving it a picture, it's just a waste of time you could be using to learn.

But you get feedback. I find the feedback is of a higher quality if you ask for it (not necessarily more of it though).

12 views on youtube = feedback?

or maybe 2 of ur friends commenting "SIIIICKKK DROPS BROOOO"

helpful

No?

EDIT: For example

Soundcloud