The Simple Cymbal (Dubstep Drums)

All Hail The Cymbal!

To me a Dubstep track without a cymbal is like bread with no butter, I truly believe that using a cymbal in the correct way could give your track air that could fuel the earth, maybe not fuel the earth but it will certainly give you a beautiful sound...

My general rule of thumb when it comes to heavy half timed drums is layer a cymbal underneath what is playing.

RED CIRCLE = VELOCITY OF CYMBAL (MAKE SURE IT ISN'T TO HIGH)
BLUE CIRCLE = OPENS THE MAIN VELOCITY (MAKE THE SLOPE DOWNWARDS)

By the picture you can see how the cymbal will fall down each 4th beat. Using this method will give you a rich stomping style sound which will allow you to have wide air. Your best to take out the low end of the cymbal so your mix wont be muddy.

Now onto the part which speeds your drums back up for your cymbal heavy first beat...

This practice isn't used by many producers so it is still a fresh sound waiting to be used, I started messing with high hats and found this is my favourite way of speeding up a slow sounding beat with out making it sound off.
and trust me its bloody simple!! :)

The Rattle Snake Hat


All you need is a simple closed hat sound.

Start by putting your hats in sequence like the picture below.

Now right click on the hat and click (SEND TO PIANO ROLL)
That will make the piano roll pop up and what you wrote in the sequencer should now be in a piano roll.

1st RED CIRCLE = Click and drag upwards to zoom in completely.
2nd BLUE CIRCLE = Click the magnet icon to open pull down menu for grid snap.
3rd YELLOW CIRCLE = Click 1/2 step so you will now be able to draw in 1/2 step (smaller blocks)

RED CIRCLE = Make each block into a halved smaller block.
BLUE CIRCLE = (I have left the notes that need velocity change in red) Take the velocity down on the notes highlighted and keep them in a triangle styled pattern.

Once this is played you will have a crashing starting drum which ends on a high roll to bring the power in again when the drums loop over.

NOTE : Make sure the Snake Roll Hat isn't to loud, if it is just adjust the level as you normally would when turning down a sound.