Things You'll Need:
- A passion for Hip Hop music.
-
Step 1
Watch the volume levels. The overall mix of a Hip Hop music production can be destroyed by synth tracks that take up too much space in the frequency spectrum. For this reason, synth tracks usually go straight to the back of a mix. Techniques that mainstream producers use to get this effect are panning, EQ, and limiting. When you limit the sound, pan it slightly left or right, then EQ frequencies out of the sound that conflict with other frequencies, you get that laid back effect on your synth. If you are looking for something upfront use a saw wave, then drop out some of the bass.
-
Step 2
Create your ambience. You can get these by using synth pads, or you can create your own ambience. Some Hip Hop music producers will double a synth track several times, turn the volume on the tracks lower than the rest of the instruments, and then shift the notes on a duplicate track slightly left or slightly right. Then they pan them to different sides. This can create a fat sounding synth track, or can create the ambience you are looking for in your mix.
-
Step 3
Automate your filters. If you use a keyboard workstation or a professional MIDI controller then this step is very simple for you. All you do is record the track, then twist the knobs real-time over the track to get the type of effects you want. If you are using a mouse, you may have your work cut out for you. Automation and filtering can be very simple with proper equipment, or can become an almost impossible task that many Hip Hop music producers away from.
-
Step 4
Add in arpeggiation. An arpeggiator gives you the stutter sound that is popular in Hip Hop music. An arpeggiator basically is like programming a key to play a sequence of notes or a riff by just pressing that one key. You can use it to make drum rolls, Pop sound effects, or anything in between. You can use this feature to create complex multi tracks that fit into one sequencer track. This is something you want to be cautious of since it is easy to over do the sounds.
