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Fowles wrote:just find something that inspires you, thats not dubstep...

I recently tried making a downtempoish song. I focused mostly on the precussion

Sorry...but come one...dubstep is all about complex percussion and poly-rhythms.

Yeah if it wasnt rhythmically complex it would be boring, E.G bro.

Sinestepper wrote:Yeah if it wasnt rhythmically complex it would be boring, E.G bro.

...or it would be Trap...

Crimsonghost wrote:^ this.

Another thing I like to do is take a song and drop it into my daw, then try to recreate it. Not the sounds themselves, but the song structure. Beat pattern, ect. I wanted to make a complextro song so I currently have Porter Robinsons say my name loaded up. It's defiantly helped me get some ideas down as well as the structure for making something I'm not used to.

This is what I do - It's a great way to work in my opinion.

Dustwyrm wrote:

Crimsonghost wrote:^ this.

Another thing I like to do is take a song and drop it into my daw, then try to recreate it. Not the sounds themselves, but the song structure. Beat pattern, ect. I wanted to make a complextro song so I currently have Porter Robinsons say my name loaded up. It's defiantly helped me get some ideas down as well as the structure for making something I'm not used to.

This is what I do - It's a great way to work in my opinion.

Another variation on this I've used is to take MIDI files of famous songs you like (outside the genre) and rework 'em with new sounds. Sometimes this even leads to a whole new song for me.

fragments wrote:

Fowles wrote:just find something that inspires you, thats not dubstep...

I recently tried making a downtempoish song. I focused mostly on the precussion

Sorry...but come one...dubstep is all about complex percussion and poly-rhythms.

depends on what style of dub your making I guess. Also what kind of percussion your using.

Dub or dubstep?

i think you loose any mentality over time. long ago i thought that some dubstep big names are cool but in the end its all rather uncool guys making rather cool music so i dunno how anybody could wanna be part of any genre or living a mentality of sth

Sinestepper wrote:Dub or dubstep?

Exactly

wub wrote:Never start with the drums IMO.

Let key sample/element dictate beat structure, not the other way round.

Never say never in music, IMO

that said, rarely do i ever begin with drums. but in this case, it would help.

Kongret wrote:

JTreeZY wrote:I've got my default bpm set 140 so when ever I open up Reason I just start tryin to make dubstep, try setiing yours to 125 or whatever and just start tryna make it

Nah, won't help. You can make dubstep in 125 too

Totally, stuff I am trying to master ATM is at 125-128, some more, some as low as 110.

Fowles wrote:just find something that inspires you, thats not dubstep. also using real instruments/ more traditional synths will make things easier to produce outside of dub step. if all you've ever produced is dub step, then you probably only know how to make dub step sounds. Listen to whatever inspires you and replicate the sounds they're using, but with whatever tools you use.

I recently tried making a downtempoish song. I focused mostly on the precussion, and the other elements are mostly plucks, and real instruments such as a piano or strings.

Funnily enough I have been working on an orchestral / dubstep EP with DSK overture heavily in there.

Cheers for all the tips lads, keep this going though if you got something to add as I'm sure it all stands to help someone else too.

Breaking any workflow involves stepping out of what feels comfortable. Sometimes that actually means simplifying your production a little bit depending on the genre. I have this problem when I try to produce more mainstream style pop or hip hop...I keep over complicating the bass and percussion elements.

The thing I always do to make a different style track is start with the synths. I make a synth, mess with the sound until I get a nice tone I'm in the mood for (sometimes it's a heavenly sort of building synth, sometimes it's a square with some delay and reverb on it to give it feeling).

Then mess with composition to get a melody laid out. Then build from there.

As George said "Free your
mind and your ass will follow".
Oh look! A haiku!

Try starting tunes differently.

When I quit dnb it was by accident. Instead of using my preset drum loops, I just started working on my own ones each time and checking things at different tempos.


Also, construct two or more drum loops and alternate between them to get a feel for alternative rhythms for a tune.







Actually, now I think of it, you seem a little like me. You go in thinking "I wanna do this" then do it for a while and want to do something else, just roll with it. You'll probably break out fairly naturally. Especially if you listen to other kinds of music.

Focus on the groove more than anything house tracks fall apart fast if its not a strong groove.

Why escape the mentality?

Why not make something to remix? (Think it was in a young punks interview i heard that)

Make a full house/80s/techno/psy tune with the idea that you will make a dubstep remix later. This way you will have the inspiration to finish said tune and also wont be bothered about making it into a dubstep track as you know you will be doing that once your done.

Fbac wrote:Why escape the mentality?

Why not make something to remix? (Think it was in a young punks interview i heard that)

Make a full house/80s/techno/psy tune with the idea that you will make a dubstep remix later. This way you will have the inspiration to finish said tune and also wont be bothered about making it into a dubstep track as you know you will be doing that once your done.

One might argue, though, that having the end destination of Dubstep still in mind won't do much to remove him from dubstep-tunnelvision. Maybe something outside the idiom of "EDM" (for lack of a better lump term) like a rock song, or symphonic/orchestral number with no beats...

alphacat wrote:Try playing a physical instrument like piano or guitar or something instead. I find the Ukulele doesn't make me want to shit filthy drops all over the place, for example.

Dont quite know why I laughed so hard.

Actually, its probably because I pictures someone shitting midi notes and running down the street.

This whole discussion is just baffling...just don't make a dubstep track. Just don't. Seriously. I just can't imagine what's so hard about just not doing it and doing something else. Just make music. Who cares about genres.