Simply automate a wave’s pitch with an LFO and adjust the rate and amount, while applying delays and the sort. You can find a lot of impact and riser FX samples with this kind of sound, but they aren’t too hard to make yourself. You can combine this with foley elements to add nice intimate textures that ‘weave’ in and out of the crackle.Īpart from that, there isn’t a hard and fast rule for FX in lo-fi hip hop, although you tend to hear a lot of pitchy ‘bleep-bloop’ type sounds (for lack of a better term). So find a nice sample, try low-passing it to see if it sounds more suited, and make sure to turn it down into the background of the track. One key effect to add into a lo-fi track is vinyl crackle, to emulate the sound of a record player which helps to contribute to the dusty/sampled aesthetic. The track so far Step 4: FX and Creative Elements It doesn’t have to be perfectly mixed for now, but just enough so it compliments nicely. Once you have a bass line that fits with the chords, blend the volume to allow it to sit nicely. Some good processing tips are:īy the end, you should have something like this.Īltogether with the drums, this is the loop we have come up with. Group processing on drums is very important, as doing this not only (once again) contributes to the aesthetic, but helps to glue the drums together for a more cohesive sound.
#Lo fi hip hop free#
So feel free to mess around with a variety of hat sounds. You’ll hear what I mean.įeaturing an open hat as the last in the pattern adds a sense of continuation and interest to the beat. Swing is crucial in hip hop as it creates a more relaxed atmosphere to the track, so feel to bring the first hat back a bit and the second a bit forward, and repeat with slight differences each time. This is typical in lo-fi hip hop, but you can experiment with other patterns to mix things up. The kick and the snare usually are quantized (or close) to the grid, and the second kick for every bar is featured on the offbeat. If you’re in another DAW like FL Studio, simply record the audio into Edison and drop it back into the arrangement. Once you’re done, freeze and flatten the audio (right-click on the track and select freeze, wait and then select flatten). If you struggle with writing chords, check out Connor’s article. It can be as long as you want, but lo-fi hip hop typically features shorter loops that repeat throughout. Sketch out some chords over about 4 bars. Once you’ve got a suitable sound, create a new clip. If you’re in Ableton, there is a nice variety of ePiano and Rhodes-type instruments that work nicely.įL Studio additionally has FL Keys with a decent Rhodes preset. In the video, I went for a Rhodes/keyboard type sound. So find a sound that suits the vibe of the track you are going for. In this example, I’m going to write my own and resample it to show you both workflows. But you can also just write your own progression. So when it comes to lo-fi hip hop, sampling chords and melodies is commonplace, especially from old funk and jazz records. Once you’re ready, let’s begin with step 1. Prepare your project file by setting the BPM between ~70-100 and by making sure you have all your sounds at hand.
So take a few minutes to prepare yourself before just jumping into the studio – you’ll thank me later. One thing that helps me write in this genre is getting into a specific headspace before, by recalling a memory from my past or introducing some nostalgia.īeing in this frame of mind will help guide the creativity in the production process, but make it suited to your workflow and specific situation. One thing I mention in the video is that lo-fi hip hop is quite a moody genre and is designed to have that effect on the listener. If you after something more introductory, then check out our electronic music guide.
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