Born To Produce Half-Step DnB Tutorial

Learn how to make a complete track from start to finish. From nothing, right through to the final mixdown, we show you...

• Set Up Cubase Quickly and Understand Templates (3 Min)
• Make a Fat Bass-Line using MIDI, EQ and Sidechaining (42 Min)
• Use the Cubase 'Chord-Track' feature to Create a Melody and Arpeggiator (17 Min)
• Program Your Drums including Layering, Depth, EQ, Crunch and Much More (38 Min)
• Arrange Your Track Including Interest, Dynamics, Structure, Variation (50 Min)
• Adding those important effects and fills (1 hr 19)
• Edit and Manipulate Vocal phrases (56 Min)
• Mix your track to a very high standard (1 hr 33)
• Cubase 7 and 'Massive' VST recommended but not essential

Lesson 1 : Intro & Setup (3 mins)

• How to set up Cubase quickly so you can get straight to making some awesome creations.
• How to utilise the pre-setup template from Jon Merritt, made specifically for dance music with pre-setup side chaining, groups, reverb, EQ's and all of that is pre-routed so you never have to worry about setting these up as you go. Just get stuck into making a track and it's all there ready for you.

Lesson 2 : Bass-line Creation (42 mins)

• Teaches you the technique to make a fat, wonky, chopped up bass line from using nothing more than a simple bit of midi and some VST patches. Once you know this technique, they'll be no looking back.
• How to EQ the different parts of the bass line ready for layering with a sub bass.
• How to layer with other synth patches to add depth and consistency to the bass line.
• Using the side chain easily to give the bass line a snappy feel to it

Lesson 3 : The Melody - Chord Track (17 mins)

• How to use the Cubase 7 'Chord Track' to make a 4 bar chord progression without having to have any music theory knowledge whatsoever.
• How to simply extract the pure MIDI notes from Cubase 7's 'Chord Track'.
• How to Join MIDI sections for easy editing.
• How to simply make an effective arpeggio riff out of the chords you create.

Lesson 4 : Drum Programming (38 mins)

• How to pick the right samples (one-shots) and which samples to use for effective drum layering.
• How to layer up the snare to maximise fatness, snap and crunch.
• How to add depth (and adding the correct amount) using reverb on the drums.
• How to add rhythm and movement to the drums using percussive elements.
• How to layer ride cymbals.
• How to remove unwanted artefacts (clicks / pops) from edited audio.
• How to transfer the drums to different sections of the track to create a consistent feel throughout the track in all sections.

Lesson 5 : Arrangement (50 mins)

• How to create the effective sections of your track; eg. Intro section, half-step section, breakdown / build up section, drum & Bass section, drum & Bass breakdown section, outro section.
• How to change the dynamics of the track creatively by removing elements / mixing up the different drum elements present to create variation and keep things interesting.
• How to modify the bass line to build up or end sections. This also keeps the track varied and interesting and helps in creating 'tension & release' (necessary to really create a hit dance track no matter the genre).
• How to create simple but very effective drum rolls just by removing a few select samples. 

Lesson 6 : Adding FX & Fills (1hr 19m)

• How to add personality to your track.
• Learn useful functions within the arrange window.
• How to arrange a Deep House track to get nice mellow sections and big energetic drops.
• Learn advanced filtering techniques.
• Learn how to keep the energy going in your tracks with tension and release.
• Learn some simple but advanced automation techniques to give the track life and make it flow smoothly from one section to another.

Lesson 7 : Adding Vocals (56 mins)

• How to modify a vocal phrase to fit in any track.
• Learn to chop, stretch and place a simple vocal sample to create tension & release within the mix.
• Make fills or improve current fills using a vocal sample.
• Add simple FX to make mono vocals sound bigger, give them depth and stereo presence.
• Use creative panning to give the vocals a more exciting and lively feel.
• How to quickly edit out unwanted artefacts from a vocal. 

Lesson 8 : Advanced Mixdown (1hr 33m)

• Learn how best to approach mixing a track.
• How to professionally balance all the elements within your track
• Using panning / panning automation to create space and width in your mix.
• How to use EQ to find problem frequencies and correct them.
• How to use EQ to create room for other elements and at the same time balance those elements with each other.
• Using EQ and compression to bring out and / or tame elements within your track.
• Create different depths for elements using reverb.
• How to give bite to a clean vocal to give it more presence and life.
• Maximizing the volume/amplitude of the overall mix, learn how to know how far to push it.