Trance Track from Scratch in Bitwig Studio
Tutorial | Apr 22, 2024
In this video, I demonstrate how to create a Trance track in Bitwig Studio from scratch, without relying on samples or loops. I provide step-by-step instructions for creating the drum pattern, bassline, melodies, and adding effects. Although the sounds may need further refinement, it shows that it is possible to create a good-sounding Trance track using only Bitwig Studio.
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In this Bitwig Studio tutorial, I demonstrate how to create a trance track from scratch, without using any presets, samples, or loops. Here's a concise breakdown of the process:
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Tempo and Basics:
- Set the BPM to around 130-135, suitable for trance but not as fast as hardcore subgenres.
- Initiate with a simple kick drum pattern using Bitwig’s e-kick at G zero tuning, adjusting pitch as necessary.
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Drum Construction:
- Add a snare or clap and a high hat, utilizing velocity to emphasize off-beat hits and applying an expression modulator for dynamic control.
- Employ peak limiters and an EQ on the drum track for clean mixing.
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Bassline:
- Use a monophonic synthesizer for the bass, crafting a pattern in A minor for simplicity, which aligns with all white keys starting from A on the keyboard.
- Apply a light reverb for spatial enhancement.
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Lead and Pads:
- Create a lead with a saw wave, unison effect for thickness, and LP-1 filter for tone shaping.
- Introduce simple melodic patterns and apply a convolution reverb for depth.
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Automation and Effects:
- Gradually introduce elements using automation on parameters like mix levels and filter settings.
- Experiment with a frequency shifter for unique textural changes.
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Chord Progressions:
- Construct chord layers using a saw wave with unison and an LP filter, emphasizing minor chords and their variations.
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Final Touches:
- Group tracks for collective processing, such as side-chaining to the kick for rhythmic coherence.
- Enhance the arrangement with additional modulation and effects like sweeps and noise for transitional elements.
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Mix and Master:
- Discuss the preliminary mixing and mastering steps, indicating that while the setup is basic, it lays the groundwork for a professional trance track that may require more detailed sound design and mastering tweaks to match current genre standards.
This tutorial showcases how to build a trance track in Bitwig Studio, emphasizing in-the-box production techniques without external samples or plugins.
Questions & Answers #
Maybe you dont watch the video, here are some important takeaways:
How can I create a Trance track in Bitwig Studio from scratch? #
To create a Trance track in Bitwig Studio from scratch, start by setting the BPM to around 130, create a kick drum pattern using the e-kick device, add in a snare and hi-hat pattern, and then create a bassline using a subtractive synth. Layer in chords using a different synth and add in modulation and effects to enhance the sound.
Do I need to rely on loops or samples to create a Trance track in Bitwig Studio? #
No, you do not need to rely on loops or samples to create a Trance track in Bitwig Studio. The tutorial demonstrates how to create everything from scratch, using only the devices and presets available in Bitwig Studio.
What are some key techniques and devices used in creating a Trance track in Bitwig Studio? #
Some key techniques and devices used in creating a Trance track in Bitwig Studio include using the e-kick device for creating kick drum patterns, using the subtractive synth for creating basslines, using modulation and automation to add movement and variation, and using effects such as reverbs, delays, and frequency shifters to enhance the sound.
How can I improve and customize the Trance track created in Bitwig Studio? #
To improve and customize the Trance track created in Bitwig Studio, you can experiment with different sounds and presets, adjust the modulation and automation to create unique variations, add in additional layers and effects for depth and texture, and fine-tune the mix and master using tools such as limiters and EQs.
Transcription #
This is what im talking about in this video. The text is transcribed by AI, so it might not be perfect. If you find any mistakes, please let me know.
You can also click on the timestamps to jump to the right part of the video, which should be helpful.
[00:00:39] So last week someone asked me,
[00:00:41] polarity please, can you do a trans tutorial
[00:00:44] in Bitwig Studio?
[00:00:45] So I'm not a trans producer,
[00:00:47] so I'm trying my best here to get something out.
[00:00:51] It sounds like trans.
[00:00:52] I'm also not using samples or loops.
[00:00:57] It's everything from scratch, right?
[00:00:59] So keep that in mind.
[00:01:00] So most of the times when you watch some people
[00:01:03] create something on YouTube,
[00:01:06] they usually rely on loops or prepared stuff, right?
[00:01:11] This one here is completely from scratch.
[00:01:13] So I'm just using devices with no presets and no samples.
[00:01:17] So yeah, we start by using here,
[00:01:21] let's say 130 BPM or maybe a bit faster, 35.
[00:01:26] I know that trans is a bit faster than the usual stuff,
[00:01:31] photo-to-floor stuff,
[00:01:33] but it's not that fast like 140.
[00:01:35] There are probably some hyper trans or stuff like this
[00:01:38] where it goes up to 150 or so,
[00:01:40] whether I keep here something more tamed, I would say.
[00:01:44] Then we put down here a kick drum pattern,
[00:01:48] kick, and there are just one note
[00:01:53] and it doesn't matter where because we use here
[00:01:56] the trusty e-kick of Bitwig Studio.
[00:02:03] We are here at G zero with the main tune.
[00:02:06] You maybe go a bit higher with the pitch amount.
[00:02:11] Then we loop here this pattern.
[00:02:18] Maybe put the peak limiter on kick.
[00:02:24] It also peak limiter on the master.
[00:02:31] Maybe put an EQ in here.
[00:02:33] That's enough for now.
[00:02:46] I need to have some context, right?
[00:02:48] So the kick drum alone,
[00:02:50] then we use E snare or E clapped.
[00:02:57] (funky music)
[00:02:59] Very basic.
[00:03:02] That's enough.
[00:03:12] E hat.
[00:03:13] Also use your short pattern.
[00:03:25] One notes and then we use velocity to single out here
[00:03:29] this off beat I had.
[00:03:31] And then we use here an expression modulator
[00:03:36] to also make this off beat higher at longer, right?
[00:03:39] The more velocity we have, the longer the decay time is.
[00:03:42] And also this off beat higher here doesn't have the FM hit.
[00:03:49] (funky music)
[00:03:52] I think that's it for the main beat for now.
[00:03:59] Call this drums.
[00:04:02] Peak limiter.
[00:04:04] Can maybe put the transient shaper on that.
[00:04:10] I really like to use transient shapers here
[00:04:13] most of the times in drum bass
[00:04:15] just to bring out the sustain.
[00:04:17] I have here, what's that?
[00:04:22] Quarter note, half note, it's two, two, two milliseconds.
[00:04:28] (funky music)
[00:04:30] That's that.
[00:04:39] Then we go for a bass.
[00:04:42] Use just a normal subjective synth here.
[00:04:45] I don't need these modulators.
[00:04:47] I also want to use a monophonic synthesizer.
[00:04:49] I use saw and retrigger the oscillator.
[00:04:53] Let's go for a short pattern here first.
[00:05:01] All this bass.
[00:05:02] We also go for A because A is the most easiest
[00:05:08] to remember scale.
[00:05:14] All the white notes when you start on A, right?
[00:05:17] Use all the white notes.
[00:05:18] You're on A minor if you start on C
[00:05:20] and you use all the white notes.
[00:05:21] You're C major, so it's pretty easy.
[00:05:24] Oh, that's not what I wanted.
[00:05:30] (funky music)
[00:05:37] (funky music)
[00:05:39] Maybe it's off like this.
[00:06:06] And maybe put a small little reverb on that.
[00:06:09] Most of the time, you just just preset your
[00:06:12] for some reason that I really like how it sounds.
[00:06:14] I always use the same reverb.
[00:06:17] (funky music)
[00:06:20] Yeah, let's make this a bit longer here.
[00:06:29] Something like this.
[00:06:32] Then we just record the modulation.
[00:06:37] (funky music)
[00:06:40] And that's what we don't need.
[00:06:59] Okay, so we have a bit of modulation in here already.
[00:07:02] (funky music)
[00:07:05] Then we can bring in here some kind of side-shading.
[00:07:20] I mean, at this moment here, we don't need side-shading
[00:07:24] because the kick drum plays every time here.
[00:07:26] There's no bass.
[00:07:27] So it's not really needed actually.
[00:07:30] Okay, so this is the bass for now.
[00:07:33] And then we lay down here some kind of simple pattern.
[00:07:38] We want to use saw, use unison, 16-fat detuned, spreading on.
[00:07:46] We don't need these modulators here.
[00:07:51] And yeah, that's eight for now.
[00:07:56] (funky music)
[00:07:58] Use an LP-1 filter.
[00:08:00] (funky music)
[00:08:03] Use also here the convolution reverb.
[00:08:06] (funky music)
[00:08:08] Here maybe.
[00:08:12] (funky music)
[00:08:15] Then we go to one, two, three, four, five.
[00:08:25] And maybe that's the fourth here and then the fifth.
[00:08:30] (funky music)
[00:08:35] (funky music)
[00:08:38] Maybe delay on that.
[00:09:04] (funky music)
[00:09:07] And then we slowly fade everything in.
[00:09:12] So we put this to zero here.
[00:09:14] Bring this in.
[00:09:17] (funky music)
[00:09:20] (funky music)
[00:09:22] And also here the mix.
[00:09:38] And also here the mix of this one.
[00:09:42] Okay, so we have here four automations already.
[00:09:49] So mix, mix, filter and modulation amount.
[00:09:54] Then we bring this in,
[00:09:58] then we hold this here for one pattern maybe.
[00:10:03] (funky music)
[00:10:16] Okay, let's try out here frequency shifter.
[00:10:20] (funky music)
[00:10:22] Yeah, we bring this in
[00:10:32] and we increase the range maybe.
[00:10:36] (funky music)
[00:10:39] And put this here into, let's use a chain device.
[00:10:46] Chain device.
[00:10:47] Um, instead of this mix, use this mix.
[00:10:56] And you put here a blur in there
[00:11:02] and maybe a chorus with the slow modulation.
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[00:12:07] And we go into this main part maybe.
[00:12:11] Up intro and we pull down at the volume and just a tad.
[00:12:19] And it closes down, use another fully sent here.
[00:12:25] And these are some chords.
[00:12:33] Whoops.
[00:12:36] (funky music)
[00:12:39] So we use, you also saw a bit of unison.
[00:12:45] And LP one sustain and a bit of low cut.
[00:12:54] (funky music)
[00:13:00] Too loud.
[00:13:04] (funky music)
[00:13:06] So we have here one, two, three, it's minor third.
[00:13:16] Four, five, six, seven, fifth.
[00:13:20] (funky music)
[00:13:21] So we get this minor chord.
[00:13:23] (funky music)
[00:13:26] Then we use the second chord is
[00:13:32] one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
[00:13:34] One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
[00:13:38] One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
[00:13:40] Or third, minor third then.
[00:13:46] Let's try this.
[00:13:49] So we pull this down, pull this up, pull this down,
[00:13:54] pull this down.
[00:13:56] Let's see all the sounds.
[00:14:00] (funky music)
[00:14:02] Okay, let's make this longer.
[00:14:14] (funky music)
[00:14:16] (funky music)
[00:14:19] That's fine.
[00:14:44] Then we use another option here is a very new one.
[00:14:49] It's called an op two maybe.
[00:15:12] And to use your layered editing,
[00:15:14] we close this down and we want to edit here this one.
[00:15:19] (funky music)
[00:15:25] You also saw here, same stuff.
[00:15:30] (funky music)
[00:15:36] Maybe one octifier.
[00:15:40] Evolution.
[00:15:41] (funky music)
[00:15:49] (funky music)
[00:16:07] (funky music)
[00:16:09] And that's that.
[00:16:19] Copy to silver here.
[00:16:36] Let me copy this.
[00:16:38] Nice.
[00:16:41] So here we want to go down to the base, of course.
[00:16:44] I want to go up to the base.
[00:16:50] So I'm using here this method instead of an op two
[00:16:55] because I can now define the melodies, right?
[00:16:58] I can say I want to play on this note
[00:17:01] and then I want go down there, maybe down there.
[00:17:06] And this one should go there and maybe this one there.
[00:17:09] And then I play on this note and then I go down
[00:17:14] and then I go up and down and down and maybe up and up
[00:17:19] and so on.
[00:17:25] So I play some kind of melody here, right?
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[00:19:08] And we need a bass.
[00:19:10] We need this bass here,
[00:19:14] but this bass now plays
[00:19:16] all the notes of the chords, of course.
[00:19:23] So we start on A probably, right?
[00:19:25] A and then E and then B.
[00:19:28] (keyboard clicking)
[00:19:31] B and then I guess it's D.
[00:19:43] D.
[00:19:47] (funky music)
[00:19:56] (funky music)
[00:19:59] (funky music)
[00:20:06] Okay, so now we can start and use some kind of
[00:20:14] grouping here.
[00:20:17] We call this
[00:20:18] melody or something like this.
[00:20:25] And then we put a tool device on it
[00:20:27] and we side chain everything.
[00:20:29] Do, do, do, do, do, do, drums, kick, kick.
[00:20:34] And then we pull everything down.
[00:20:38] Let's see how this sounds.
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[00:22:06] Oh, and then we can put a bit of modulation in there.
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[00:23:04] (funky music)
[00:23:07] Make this a bit lower here.
[00:23:09] (funky music)
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[00:23:31] (funky music)
[00:23:34] So, and the next stage is probably to put here
[00:23:50] a lot of effects in there, right?
[00:23:51] Sweeps and bushes and crash sounds and whatever.
[00:24:01] Let's start with the test tone.
[00:24:04] Oh, not that white noise.
[00:24:08] Um.
[00:24:12] (funky music)
[00:24:24] (funky music)
[00:24:26] Let's make a macro button here.
[00:24:51] Macro brings up the gain, delete the automation here.
[00:24:55] Then also brings up the frequency.
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[00:26:45] So this is how I would do it.
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[00:27:55] Okay, so most of the sounds are probably not authentic.
[00:28:00] So in terms of, you know,
[00:28:03] this is how trans in the moment sounds.
[00:28:05] So you have to probably exchange some of the kicks,
[00:28:08] you know, for the right kicks and for the right claps,
[00:28:11] or maybe put a bit of time into researching
[00:28:14] how these sounds are made currently in, you know,
[00:28:20] in these times.
[00:28:21] So I know trans from back in the day.
[00:28:25] So usually the stuff changes over the times, over the years.
[00:28:30] Yeah, and then you probably want to use more like samples
[00:28:35] and sweep sounds and probably a different mastering.
[00:28:40] I just put on here a multi-band limiter
[00:28:44] and a bit of the DEQ.
[00:28:45] So just rough, you know, rough setup for these things,
[00:28:50] but then you have to put in a bit of work into the details.
[00:28:54] But I think that's enough for this kind of tutorial
[00:28:57] because it's very basic actually,
[00:29:00] but you can do a good sounding Trance track
[00:29:05] inside of Bitwig Studio without using any VSTs,
[00:29:09] without using any samples and loops and so on.
[00:29:14] So it's possible, right?
[00:29:16] Okay, that's it for this video.
[00:29:17] Thanks for watching.
[00:29:18] Leave a like if you liked the video.
[00:29:20] Subscribe to the channel.
[00:29:21] And I think you can also download this project
[00:29:24] on my Patreon if I'm not wrong.
[00:29:27] Thanks for watching.
[00:29:29] See you in the next video.
[00:29:30] Bye.