Dubstep without Wobble?

[MRPPony]

So for the time being, this is just a question about the genre (or subgenre) and not on how to do it. I want to give it a try first before looking at a tutorial on how to do it.

Anyway, while I like dubstep and wobble this and wobble that, its something I just like listening to. What I really like are the tracks that's usually just a steady sub bass (or a very subtle wobble) and usually a mid or mid-high bass that's gone through this and that to give the melody. Something like these examples:


(When I do give this a try, my track will be based off this drop)


I was just wondering if these type of tracks are still considered dubstep or is it just dub? Cause to me, a dub mix of something just sounds like an instrumental of a track (confirmed this on my older sub that I used to listen to DnB before it died). In fact, I think this is better than just having the subwoofer go apeshit.

[the4thImpulse]

I would consider it dubstep, someone out there likely has a more 'proper' name for it but I have never heard this music being called anything different so dubstep it is!

I think the key factor to dubstep is the drum patterns and rhythm rather a 'wobble' bass/lead/synth/whatever.

[XXDarkShadow79XX]

Yeah, it's dubstep. Dubstep = 140, half time beat, (Usually) heavy focus on bass. Wobbles were never on the package. It's just something that people started doing. I think this is called smooth dubstep or something. IDK. But there are hundreds and hundreds of dubstep songs without wobbles. HUNDREDS.

While I'm on this topic, I think old school/deep dubstep should just be a tad bit more popular. Listen to this:



You see, this has wobbles, but it doesn't really have a mid-range drop. Actually, it doesn't have one at all. Contrast it to something like this:



This song does have a mid-range drop, but no wobbles. (As far as I can tell) But it is still dubstep.

Finally for one last piece of dubstep weirdness:



It's not hard to say that dubstep is one of the most specific yet most diverse electronic genres. It truly deserves to be this popular, and there's something for everyone in it.

[MRPPony]

Thanks for the reply guys. I still don't know that much about dubstep since I shop once in a while on beatport and I just usually go with whatever is new or just random select....most of em turns out to be promoted by UKF Dubstep

Anyway, I'll give dubstep a go. Its probably not for me, but never hurts to try, right? I mean what could possibly go wrong?

[XXDarkShadow79XX]

Thanks for the reply guys. I still don't know that much about dubstep since I shop once in a while on beatport and I just usually go with whatever is new or just random select....most of em turns out to be promoted by UKF Dubstep :P

Anyway, I'll give dubstep a go. Its probably not for me, but never hurts to try, right? I mean what could possibly go wrong?

Do you mean try to produce it? Because I think you should. :)

[Counterwise]

Genres can evolve over time, and that's what's happening to dubstep, the style of it is changing. If you compare most dubstep of today to dubstep when it was first created, they sound very different. As 4th said, the drum patterns are the key in defining dubstep. There are smaller sub-genres in dubstep, but I'm not going to bother going into detail with them.

[the4thImpulse]

since I shop once in a while on beatport and I just usually go with whatever is new or just random select

Beatport is the worst at genre labeling; I often see 'dubstep' tracks in the electro and sometimes house sections, progressive house is now the electro house from three years ago, trace is the old prog house, breaks and hip-hop always make their way into the dubstep section, drum and bass is far too often not drum and bass.

Point is don't go by what beatport says. Its still a good site and I will keep buying from them regardless.

[Nine Volt]

Shadow I thought we told you to stop being so anal with genres

But yeah, the heavier/more mechanical stuff like Firestep or Cryptex would probably be considered brostep. You would probably just label it as dubstep though.

[XXDarkShadow79XX]

Shadow I thought we told you to stop being so anal with genres :P

But yeah, the heavier/more mechanical stuff like Firestep or Cryptex would probably be considered brostep. You would probably just label it as dubstep though.

Wait, how am I being anal if I'm just very disapproving of an unnecessary term. Separating dubstep and brostep is more "anal" and bitchy.

But this is NOT something I would like to get into right now, and NOT an argument you would want in this thread.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

I consider dubstep to be more of an umbrella term. Anything that's 140, half time, and has a lot of bass can be considered dubstep. However, many dubstep songs sound nothing alike.

Kinda like metal. So many metal bands, but none of them sound the exactly same as the other.

[Nine Volt]

Shadow I thought we told you to stop being so anal with genres

But yeah, the heavier/more mechanical stuff like Firestep or Cryptex would probably be considered brostep. You would probably just label it as dubstep though.

Wait, how am I being anal if I'm just very disapproving of an unnecessary term. Separating dubstep and brostep is more "anal" and bitchy.

But this is NOT something I would like to get into right now, and NOT an argument you would want in this thread.

Sorry, it was a joke, and yes, we do not want another genre war
I really don't have a problem with it, classify genres however you like
I don't want to make someone dislike me over a stupid thing like this

[XXDarkShadow79XX]

Shadow I thought we told you to stop being so anal with genres :P

But yeah, the heavier/more mechanical stuff like Firestep or Cryptex would probably be considered brostep. You would probably just label it as dubstep though.

Wait, how am I being anal if I'm just very disapproving of an unnecessary term. Separating dubstep and brostep is more "anal" and bitchy.

But this is NOT something I would like to get into right now, and NOT an argument you would want in this thread.

Sorry, it was a joke, and yes, we do not want another genre war
I really don't have a problem with it, classify genres however you like :D
I don't want to make someone dislike me over a stupid thing like this

Ok, good. I'm not up for this right now. (Or ever) Don't worry, I don't think I hate you. ;D

And as for YOU...

I consider dubstep to be more of an umbrella term. Anything that's 140, half time, and has a lot of bass can be considered dubstep. However, many dubstep songs sound nothing alike.

Kinda like metal. So many metal bands, but none of them sound the exactly same as the other.

Ya pretty much. Though from what I've seen a lot of people are REALLY bitchy about "Real metal" or "This aren't metal".

[MRPPony]

Do you mean try to produce it? Because I think you should.

Yeah, technically its called producing but I'm pessimistic and don't refer to myself as a music producer since its implying I'm good at what I do. But in either case, jumping on remixing becoming popular and make this dubstep sound trancy as sh...well you know. =P

Speaking of which, lets talk about the drum pattern. Isn't it typically:
1+2+3+4|-1+2+3+4|
Kick: |-x-------|x-x-x----|
Snare: |-----x---|-----x---|
Clap: |-----x---|-----x---|
Hihat: |-x-x-x-x-|-x-x-x-x-|

Hope that translate okay...this normally shows up perfect with courier font. Anyway I know its open for variation through out the track, but for intro/outro, its like that right?

Beatport is the worst at genre labeling; I often see 'dubstep' tracks in the electro and sometimes house sections, progressive house is now the electro house from three years ago, trace is the old prog house, breaks and hip-hop always make their way into the dubstep section, drum and bass is far too often not drum and bass.

[/quote]

Yeah, I've noticed that. Often they mix disco and house together, but man with so many genres and subgenres out there, I guess it sort of narrows it down a bit unless their completely wrong like hiphop = dubstep. More than likely it was probably trap music (thanks XXDarkShadow79XX for making me aware of that lol) and assumed it was dubstep. Hehe I did.

[Watashig]

Speaking of which, lets talk about the drum pattern. Isn't it typically:

Code: Select all

            1+2+3+4|-1+2+3+4|
Kick:  |-x-------|x-x-x----|
Snare: |-----x---|-----x---|
Clap:  |-----x---|-----x---|
Hihat: |-x-x-x-x-|-x-x-x-x-|


Hope that translate okay...this normally shows up perfect with courier font. Anyway I know its open for variation through out the track, but for intro/outro, its like that right?

fixed, kinda. i don't know what you were trying to do up top

[XXDarkShadow79XX]

Kick on first, snare on third. Other than that, you can do whatever the hell you want.