"Some very good information here, props.
I would start with learning scales. What i do is get a feel for a certain scale and stick to it for a period of time, using it in multiple productions just to get comfortable. When you have the scale down it gets a lot easier to improvise.
I would have a chord progression playing in the background while you improvise, just so you have some guidelines to follow ( i find it a lot harder to improvise and write a melody without chords and a beat playing)
While improvising find 4/8 bar melody that you are fond of. Then record and quantize (i would make certain sections on beat, but leave some slightly off. Otherwise it wont have a swing to it, and it will get stagnant quick)
From there build off the melody, or simplify. If your playing with melodic intros i am going to assume your making bro/house/complextro... A lot of times you get a 8 bar melody that plays twice.. Then after the first 16 bars it will simplify to 4 bars for 2 times, then 2 bars for 2 times and soo on.
You can do it the opposite way as well.
Make a melody, then place that at 16 bars. Duplicate to bar one and start pulling out some notes until you think there is enough space. Again depends on your style but its good practice regardless."
I wrote this up here:
http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=259189
"Use elements currently in the track and create effects with them, creates a lot of forward movement and makes the transition a lot smoother.
If your going from a synth lead, at the end of a bar send the signal to a delay.
If your transitioning from one bass line to another try HP filtering towards the end of the bar into the next bar.
If your using vocals, and then going to a section without vocals try using a phrase during that section and add effects.. try using the phrase as a synth, or using a vocoder, delay, reverb, stutter, ect.
Reverse your snares/kicks, add reverb/filtering.
When you use elements in your track as the source audio for a new effect.. It will always work.
This will be the headliner on my new EP coming out soon!!!!"
Here:
http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.p ... 36&start=0
"Usually ill drop it out in suspenseful moments like said above^..
I like to amplify natural sub bass in some samples in an intro/break down where your not using mid range/sub....
Like ill take impacts, split the frequencies, and amplify everything from 20-70hz 130-180hz, using corpus in Ableton does some crazy stuff to sub's if you know how to use it.
It makes a good effect going into a song and coming out of a drop."
Here:
http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=253939