Unveiling the 5 Simple Strategies to Craft Riddim Similar to Subtronics

Unveiling the 5 Simple Strategies to Craft Riddim Similar to Subtronics

Desiring to compose a Riddim track but unsure where to start? This comprehensive tutorial will guide you through the process, delving into each essential aspect of Riddim music production.

In this guide, we will explore:

• Formulating a kick and clap sound
• Re-sampling various basslines
• Creating tension prior to the drop

... and much more! Let's embark on this creative journey.

For those coveting the project files for this track, we provide:

• A fully-equipped Ableton Live project
• Each utilized drum sample (kick layers, hi-hats, claps)
• All melodic components (pads, leads)
• Each Serum preset employed in the project

What is Riddim?

Before delving into Ableton, it's beneficial to grasp the essence of Riddim.

Riddim is a subgenre stemming from dubstep, with a primary focus on heavy, consistent basslines and minimalist drums. Rooted in the UK dubstep scene, Riddim possesses a raw, gritty sound. Its tracks employ simple, syncopated drum patterns and extensive use of wobbles and growls. The term "Riddim" refers to the Jamaican word for rhythm. Unlike melodic dubstep, Riddim emphasizes its underground character.

Eminent artists such as Coki contributed to shaping the early Riddim sound. Today, artists like Subtronics and BadKlaat are pushing Riddim boundaries.

Preparing Our Riddim Project

Before selecting samples or engaging in complex sound design, let's establish a strong foundation for our project (bonus points if you possess a template).

Specifically, we will focus on two key aspects here:

• Setting the appropriate tempo
• Structuring our track according to a reference song

Innumerable producers bypass this critical stage, yet it will save you numerous headaches later.

Typical Riddim tempo ranges between 140 and 145 BPM. Let's opt for 140 BPM.

With a reference track in place, we can ascertain the desired song structure. This serves as a roadmap to guide us as we develop our arrangement. Naturally, we may deviate from this structure later if we wish. For our purpose, we will utilize the track 'SHUTUP' by RAK.

Instead of importing the actual audio file, we will use dummy MIDI clips. These blank clips are named and colored to reflect our track structure. Below is the preliminary structure we will begin with:

• Anacrusis: 2 bars
• Intro Ambience: 8 bars
• Build (synths): 8 bars
• Build (drums): 8 bars
• False drop: 4 bars
• Drop 1A: 8 bars
• Drop 1B: 8 bars
• Build (drums): 8 bars
• False drop: 4 bars
• Drop 2A: 8 bars
• Drop 2B: 8 bars
• Outro Ambience: 8 bars

Now, we have a solid framework to implement when constructing our track. We can discard the reference track from the project and proceed with our creation.

Composing Riddim Drums

As in most electronic music genres, let's commence with the drop, as it usually encompasses the most elements of the track (drums, bass, synths, etc.). To manufacture other sections, simply omit certain elements (I'm oversimplifying, but you grasp the principle).

We will start by establishing a group channel, as we will process all our drums collectively. Pro tip for staying organized: Name your groups in all caps 😉

Like many electronic music genres, Riddim boasts a classic two-step pattern, with a kick on the 1 and 3, and a snare/clap on the 2 and 4. Yet, what sets Riddim apart is that an additional kick is added on the 2 and 4, which tends to be quieter. This sound provides the "whack" characteristic of Riddim.

Let's begin with the kick, then.

Choosing the Ideal Kick

Deciding on a single, perfect kick drum can be almost impossible. Consequently, we usually recommend layering different kicks together. The secret lies in retaining only the sections you appreciate.

Following this philosophy, let's layer our Riddim kick drum.

For our first layer, we're focusing on the "click" of this kick:

This necessitates shortening the sample and applying high-pass filtering. Here's the updated sound:

Next, let's layer in this kick:

We will employ a simple limiter to regulate the peaks of our new kick. This ensures no noticeable transients protrude.

Finally, simply create a new audio channel, set it to resample, arm it, and record our new kick!

Before crafting our Riddim drum pattern, let's introduce a clap.

Snares and Claps

For this track, we shall utilize a bright clap adorned with reverb.

Suitable for the project, we require a second layer with increased weight. For this, I sourced a suitable clap from various Riddim sample packs:

I simply trimmed the tail to remove all built-in reverb:

Due to the clap's brightness, I'll incorporate a thicker second layer. For this layer, I sourced another clap from the aforementioned Riddim sample pack:

As we process each sample at every stage, I'm EQ'ing to retain only the frequencies I want. I'm also employing clipping to eliminate some of the transient on the claps group.

Ultimately, all the layers combined produce the desired sound:

It's simple yet effective, and that's good enough for now. We can further expand and refine our drums as we progress. Before doing that, let's delve into the bass.

Want the complete project files for this track? They're free!

• Ableton Live project
• All drum samples (kick layers, hi-hats, claps)
• Each melodic component (pads, leads)
• All Serum presets used in the project

Designing a Riddim Bass

Typical tutorials would lead us to sound design at this juncture. However, we will commence with a sample this time. I'll employ this loop from our free EDM Starter Kit:

Here's the loop:

I'll chop a brief snippet, set the clip to "Complex Pro," and pitch it down an octave. I'll then play around with timing and start points to accommodate our drum loop:

Post-processing the Bass

Now we have our loop, let's experiment with effects!

First, I'll introduce Roar—Ableton Live's latest distortion plugin. After examining various shaper modes, I chose "Noise". I also increased the Feedback amount for a traditional Riddim effect.

Subsequent processing to enhance the grittiness consists of:

• OTT
• Auto filter, set to envelope movement

Here's the current bass sound:

Now, if we maintain this pattern rolling for the entire track, it would become monotonous. To prevent this, let's introduce some bass chops:

I'll remove a bass hit and replace it with something different to create variety:

For sound design, it's always advisable to begin with a preset, then modify the wavetables, envelopes, filters, and more to achieve your desired tone.

Here's the preset I've opted for:

Several bars later, we will repeat the process, incorporating a different Serum preset:

Our loop is coming together nicely! You can experiment further by layering bass sounds and drawing automation.

Creation of an Engaging Intro

At this point, let's shift our attention to the intro.

Oftentimes, the intro is disregarded by producers. However, it's crucial to captivate listeners immediately, or they may skip to the next track.

Let's initiate with this sound, which is actually a bass chop with some delay and reverb:

Following that, we'll assemble a pleasant synth pad in the key of our track. As usual, I'm commencing with a Serum preset and then tailoring it to our needs. I've also layered in some railway sounds (because why not):

Impacts and FX are essential for generating tension:

I've also considered incorporating a choir:

These components comprise the first part of our intro. To conjure an atmosphere of tension, aim for a dark, eerie vibe in the intro.

The Build-Up

Now that our intro is shaping up, let's explore the build-up.

Essentially, the build-up is a continuation of the intro, with progressively more drum elements stoking excitement.

A common approach to swiftly create a build-up is to add a clap on each beat:

Here's how it sounds:

I also feel an Amen break could complement this section:

Finally, let's include the following elements for our build:

• A kick build-up towards the end of the build
• A shortened version of the choir that gradually pitches up
• Create a brief silence gap by omitting drum elements before the drop
• A few reverse sweeps leading into the drop
• Add automation to the lead, reducing the volume and introducing some bitcrushing
• Preview the bass

Hence, this is what our intro, with its build-up, currently sounds like:

Closing Remarks on Producing Riddim

We hope this tutorial has proven helpful in your Riddim music production journey! We recommend utilizing the aforementioned tips to enrich your tracks. Do not forget to acquire the project files and sample packs mentioned for convenience. If you have any questions, drop a line to our website!

Want the complete project files for this track? They're free!

• Ableton Live project
• All drum samples (kick layers, hi-hats, claps)
• Each melodic component (pads, leads)
• All Serum presets employed in the project

1. As we delve into sound design for our Riddim track, we'll begin by forming a kick and clap sound, following the principles explained in this tutorial.
2. In the creative process of our Riddim production, we'll re-sample various basslines, adhering to the gritty, raw sound that defines the genre.

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