<Pony><Dubstep>Totalspark - Valor

[Totalspark]

Lately I've been learning how to make my Dubstep better. I realize this isn't that great, but it's a step in the right direction. So, I hope you at least enjoy it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvoV7ofAM_c

[Twy]

So far I'm enjoying the feel of the track and the composition and melodies, but I'm not sure I dig the sounds themselves as much. The instrument choices are fine, but they feel kinda unnatural to me. The piano has that bright impact to it that sounds kind of cheap and Nexus-y to me (not that there's really anything wrong with that) and the strings also feel a bit bright, and lack some of the subtle human inconsistencies that help make them sound natural, like vibratos and volume variations.

I realize this is pretty nit picky, and also quite subjective but there it is.

As for the dubstep part. It doesn't really kick my teeth in the way a lot of dubstep tracks might. I can't say for sure what the problem is, or if it's an obvious oversight for the genre or just anything personal taste thing of mine, but what I would do/have done is add more bass, not so much in the sub end but more mid bass sort of stuff, to contrast the rest of the track where these frequencies are relatively tamed. I also don't think the main lead during these parts, the kinda pad-y chords, fits super well to my ears, and some of the other sounds in general don't seem to flow into each other as well as they maybe could. These might just be some small things that could be solved with some EQing, but as it stands now they don't gel together quite perfectly.

But yeah, I definitely enjoy the direction you've gone with the strings and piano on top of the dubstep thing. Keep up the good work!

[Totalspark]

The reason the sounds are kind of "cheap" is because I use only the presets in FL, and I'm still learning Dubstep, so this is more or less a rough attempt at it. Once I can afford the plugins I want, I'll gladly get away from those cheap sounds.

[Twy]

Sure, sure. Of course, I'd only worry about it if you actually agree with me that they could perhaps sound a bit better.

Also, while some of the nice name brand synth vsts are really nice, it's also valuable to know how to use whatever you may have (especially since a lot of those skills will carry over some synth to synth), and in fact I find sometimes trying to emulate certain popular sounds from 1 synth, let's say NI's Massive, with something else, like let's say Sytrus, can end up giving the sound a much more unique flavor, and it may even surpass the original.

Either way, though, FL comes with some great stuff that you can start learning at any time. Sytrus is super good from what I've seen, and I know that people really love Harmor for crazy dubstep sounds.

[Captain Ironhelm]

I think I recognized a Harmor preset in your tune ("ugly cyborg"?), so I think it's safe to assume you have Harmor.

Look up SeamlessR on youtube. He uses only FL plugins to make bass music, so his stuff should be right up your alley.

[Totalspark]

Indeed I am an avid follower of Seamless. I wanted to use Ugly Cyborg for this one song while I work on making my own half-decent presets. The sound just seemed to fit for me when I made the song.