Categories: Music

Creating Dubstep Music in Fruity Loops

Fruity Loops is not the best DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for creating dubstep music, but many people including me have fallen in love with it due to its simple interface and versatility. This tutorial will help you achieve big sounds out of a program not specifically made for dubstep. First let’s start with the VSTi’s (Virtual Studio Technology Instruments) that DJs can use to create a unique sound. FL comes with a ton of these: the most popular are probably Wasp and 3xOSC. Here is a versatile sample wobble created with Wasp with a drumbeat using the preset “DNC” section in FL. http://tindeck.com/listen/khkj. (The presets can be downloaded in the resource section.)

Now that you have heard the sample, there are a couple of things I can do to make the beat sound better. First of all, I need to add reverb to all of my snare hits. Some DJs like layering claps over the snares to give it an extra kick, but the preset snare I am using is already sufficient. Next, I would recommend adding the Maximus effect to all of the bass hits, which will allow you to control the low and high ends of the frequency, as well as make the hits a little bit bigger. Finally, lower the low and high frequencies of the hat using Fruity Parameter 2. In addition, there are a number of effects you can add to the wobble, but for this I will just stick with the Vocodex. Are you excited? I am. http://tindeck.com/listen/kktw

If I want the program to operate automatically, without adjusting the effects while playing them back, I can right click any dial of any VST in FL and click “edit events,” which will manipulate the settings over time. (Check out Picture 2) Here is the new sample when I add some automations to the Vocodex settings. Keep in mind that a DJ can add these to everything- I recommend adding them to every effect to really define or layer a wobble. I also used a glitch effect that comes with FL called Gross Beat. http://tindeck.com/listen/txrz

Wasp is not the best VST to add these effects to. Normally I start with a detuned saw wave and then add the “Fruity Fast LP” effect in the mixer to create my wobble. My favorite VST is z3ta+, but many dubstep producers use NI Massive, Albino, Ham, and many others. It’s important to understand that although modern dubstep producers like Datsik use Massive, creating his sound is a creative and personal process. Each user has all of the tools they need in FL to produce something amazing, even if other DWAs have standard, simpler settings targeted towards dubstep producers. I personally enjoy adding glitch effects and experimenting with different filters. I decided to make a sample to show everyone what can be done with z3ta+ and FL. To create this, I just edited a bunch of effects like reverb and and added my own automations to them. The purpose is to show where creativity fits in to the dubstep writing process. http://tindeck.com/listen/vjpq

If you’re interested, I also posted some of the beats I made when I first started using the program in the links section.