Getting into Dubstep: Gear, Techniques and Practical Advice from Established Artists

Dubstep has come a long way since its inception in South London in the early 2000’s, in this article we pay respects to its foundations in dub and roots, and shine a light on the artists currently pushing the envelope.

By Aron PeakContributing Author

Article photo - Getting into Dubstep: Gear, Techniques and Practical Advice from Established Artists

 

Dubstep has come a long way since its inception in South London in the early 2000’s, not just in terms of seeing worldwide commercial success, but in how it’s sound has morphed over time. In 2020 it’s harder than ever to accurately describe what ‘dubstep’ actually is to someone that doesn’t know. The sound has been influenced by such an eclectic pallet of artists, styles and innovations, that the creative freedom for artists and myriad of options for the listener is greater than ever before.

With that being said, in this article it’s crucial to not only focus on the genre in and of itself, but to pay respects to its foundations in dub and roots, and shine a light on the artists currently pushing the envelope and championing the sounds that have branched off and thrived from its success.


EGOLESS

Article photo - Getting into Dubstep: Gear, Techniques and Practical Advice from Established Artists

How can you talk about using gear as a live performance in dub/140 without mentioning Egoless? Hailing from Croatia, and featuring regularly on some of the biggest record labels in the scene, he masterfully incorporates a live aspect in his performances that deliver something truly unique and engaging every time. We caught up and he has a lot of fantastic information and advice.


Musicngear: What gear do you use in your setup?

First I need to say that I’m not creating the tunes live, for bass oriented genres like dubstep / 140 / dnb it would be nearly impossible because of more complex nature of the music and would require loads of gear on stage. What I’m doing is deconstructing & blending and reconstructing existing tunes (mine or from other producers) in form of multitrack stems on the spot utilising the old school Jamaican live dub techniques.

Gear / setup usually varies from year to year, or even from gig to gig sometimes. First I used a lot of analog mixers (Midas Venice F-16, Soundcraft FX8, Soundcraft Signature 12MTK), multichannel interface (MOTU UltraLite MkIII Hybrid), Akai APC 40 / MacBook Pro, 2 delays (Evans tape echo & Melos BBD analog echo) & Vermona Retroverb Lancet spring reverb / filter / distortion unit. The more I got booked, this setup turned out to be a bit tricky for airline transport because it didn’t fit in cabin overhead space so I always had to check-in the luggage which resulted in a lot of damaged gear over the years. After that I decided to go “in the box” when it comes to mixing and switched to digital setup with external effects so the core became Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII Duo / MacBook Pro/ Novation Launch Control XL. External gear varies from gig to gig but recently I bring Benidub siren, SOMA Lyra-8 White Angel synth / delay, Tape echo or my whole Eurorack modular travel system mainly for some crazy, synced fx processing using modules like Make Noise Echophon / Make Noise Erbe-Verb / Make Noise Morphagene sampler. Sometimes I bring Roli Seaboard Block keyboard also. The new “in the box” system, that I can travel safely with, turned out to be as exciting as mixing on an analog desk with some benefits like being able to utilize some amazing UAD plugins for live mastering like Ampex ATR tape / Precision limiter

 

Dare to experiment and be different. Dubstep / 140 is a relatively young genre that is completely open to innovation and creativity. 


What gear do you recommend?

The core of the setup should be of good quality. If you’re mixing on an analog desk make sure it’s a good one, that’s the main sound of your mix so think Soundcraft / Allen & Heath and similar brands. If you are mixing digital make sure the interface is great as it’s the end chain of your setup. Would definitely recommend Universal Audio Apollo Twin models as they are compact and very sturdy for travelling + you get the benefits of UAD DSP processing & amazing sounding plugins that don’t load your main laptop CPU


What practical advice do you have for performing dub/140 as a live production?

Make sure your rig is as compact as it can be. It is easier for travelling, and sometimes if you’re playing in small venues, unfortunately space on the table can really be an issue with all the CDJ’s / DJ mixer / turntables around. It is extremely important that it fits in the overhead bin & under your seat because, trust me, you don’t want to be in the situation where airline lose your luggage / gear and you have a gig to play! That happened to me once when I played Sequences Festival in Bristol during the day, and then a club gig in Sheffield on the same day… it was a nightmare, but fortunately with a positive outcome because of friends / organisers who helped out immediately.


Any useful tips for new artists, both in terms of generally starting out and also using gear in their sets?

Production wise, dare to experiment and be different. Dubstep / 140 is a relatively young genre that is completely open to innovation and creativity. Live performance-wise, master the art of dub mixing and get very comfortable in quickly controlling multiple faders / aux sends / fx units. That will allow you to deconstruct and rearrange tunes in completely new ways, on the spot, basically creating new versions / dubplates in the moment on every single gig. Genre is not important, dub mixing is a universal technique that can be applied anywhere.


Connect with EGOLESS ​​​​​​

Instagram / Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Spotify


Jon1st & Shield

As two very successful artists in their own rights, together they are a force to be reckoned with.

Article photo - Getting into Dubstep: Gear, Techniques and Practical Advice from Established Artists John 1st….where to begin? – DMC champion, who’s recorded for the likes of Ninja Tune, Serato, DJ Mag, Solid Steel, as well as playing alongside the likes of MF Doom, Grandmaster Flash, Badbadnotgood, Om Unit etc…. a true master of his craft and a genius turntablist.


Article photo - Getting into Dubstep: Gear, Techniques and Practical Advice from Established Artists Then there’s Shield, a man who has stood out over the years for his distinct and eclectic production and mixing style that has garnered support from so many top names across multiple genres. A true powerhouse combination.


Musicngear: What gear do you use in your setup?

Hey guys! For live we're currently using: 1 x Pioneer DJM S9 mixer with Serato DJ, 1 x Pioneer PLX-1000 Turntable, 1 x Pioneer DJ DJM900 NXS2 Mixer, 2 x Pioneer Toraiz SP-16 Samplers, 1 x Roland A-300 Pro Midi Keyboard, 1 x DJ Techtools Midifighter, Ableton Live.

Pick equipment that is robust and can take

a bit of a beating...


What gear do you recommend?

We'd always recommend choosing equipment that is reliable and allows you to perform your music in a number of ways but is also intuitive and not overly complicated. Each piece of gear we use is really flexible and has a set job within our setup. We know all of it is pretty sturdy too and can handle being in a suitcase or bag on the road too.


What practical advice do you have for performing dub/140 as a live production?

Be aware that you'll eventually have to travel with your equipment, so pick equipment that is robust and can take a bit of a beating as well as doing everything you need it to. Something is no doubt always going to go wrong too, so knowing how everything in your setup works really well is crucial to rescue those moments too.


Any useful tips for new artists, both in terms of generally starting out and also using gear in their sets?

The most important thing is to do you, have fun and enjoy the journey.


Connect with Jon1st & Shield

Jon1st's Instagram / Shield's Instagram / YouTube / BandcampSpotify


Von D

Article photo - Getting into Dubstep: Gear, Techniques and Practical Advice from Established Artists

French dubstep veteran and owner of Dubs Galore, Von D, is well known for utilising various gear in his work to continuously evolve his style and sound. With such a jam-packed career already under his belt, it was a pleasure to hear his advice.


Musicngear: What gear do you use in your setup?

I use a lot of analog outboard effects such as analog delay, spring reverb, a real Leslie cabinet that I record with 3 different mics, analog console, Eq etc.

Τhe main vibe behind using hardware is to get a special sound you cannot simply do with plugs-ins


What gear do you recommend?

Anything that makes you happy and gets you creative in the studio, everyone has a different way of doing things and sits all down to individual preferences.


What practical advice do you have for performing dub/140 as a live production?

I would say try to really bring something to the table when you perform a 'live' set…. standing out is something that is important.


Any useful tips for new artists, both in terms of generally starting out and also using gear in their sets?

Just get creative and try things for yourself and stop listening to what people say. A lot of people in music always try to tell you how you should do things, and its good to know what you are doing with the basics, but then stop listening to what people say and try things out for yourself. That’s really how you’re going to develop your own signature sound, which is so important. For example, using specific hardware machines has given me a certain sound, like studios would have a sound back in the days e.g. you could tell what was produced/mixed at 'Tubby's - Channel One - Black Ark - Wackies and so on. To me the main vibe behind using hardware is to get a special sound you cannot simply do with plugs-ins, and to be able to create and record sounds you would have never expected or imagined which is what makes it so fascinating.


Von D remix of Everytime by Numa Crew

Connect with Von D

InstagramSoundcloudBandcampSpotifyFacebook


BREAKFAKE

Article photo - Getting into Dubstep: Gear, Techniques and Practical Advice from Established Artists

After relocating from his homeland of Latvia to exotic Leeds, UK, Breakfake has cooked up a storm across the 140/dub scene, playing a pivotal role in nights such as Beneath the Surface, and teaming up with the likes of IrationSteppas and Sinai Soundsystem. 2020 sees him further develop his discography and musical performances, with some advice for others looking to do the same.


Musicngear: What gear do you use in your setup?

Soundcraft Signature 12MTK, Space Echo RE-201, TC M300 FX unit, Benidub DS-01, Akai APC 40 for DAW control, Korg Triton for creative sessions, TLA A2 for warmness

Get to know what each device is fully capable of before buying more equipment


What gear do you recommend? 

To start with I’d recommend looking into classic drum machines. If your budget is tight, Behringer did some decent clones of classic 808 / 909 units. They have also nailed the analog bassline synth with Behringer TD-3-SR. Those are slightly smaller than original models too, which makes it easier to carry around.

If you are looking for synths, I’d recommend checking out Nord Modular G2. You can come up with some decent sound design and it’s also a great introduction into modular synthesis. Also Moog Subsequent 37 is great if you are looking for that classic analogue sound. If you’d like to add the warmth and presence to your sound, have a look into Elektron devices such as Elektron Analog Heat mkII. These are a bit pricey but results are quite impressive if you are looking to thicken and warm up your productions.


What practical advice do you have for performing dub/140 as a live production?

If you are using your DAW as the main sequencer, I would recommend getting a mixer to route your buses and a few effects units for dubbing. Make sure to get at least 2 aux units to keep things interesting. Get creative with grouping your channels. Also, remember that using just 4-track mixers made some great music we are into.


Any useful tips for new artists, both in terms of generally starting out and also using gear in their performances?

I would start with the question such as why do you want the gear in the first place. If this is about live performances, you have to decide whether you want to stick within the box and use your laptop as the main sequencer or go fully live and use the gear as your main sequencer. Depending on this you will find yourself looking into different types of equipment.

If this is about adding flavours to your own productions, get a mixer and route your channels from a DAW through the mixer so you can use it with the effects. Get to know what each device is fully capable of before buying more equipment. Always learn and experiment.


Connect with BREAKFAKE

Facebook / InstagramBandcamp / Soundcloud


Mexican Stepper

Article photo - Getting into Dubstep: Gear, Techniques and Practical Advice from Established Artists

A true love for reggae and sound system music was developed at an early age, culminating in the inception of Mexican Stepper in 2009 to fulfil the desire of contributing to the music in his own way. After a year of intense learning, Mexican Stepper published his first EP whilst continuing his output both in terms of releasing regular new music and performing around the world.


Musicngear: What gear do you use in your setup?

I use Reason Studios 10 from Propellerheads to manipulate my sounds live and create beats on the fly.

Technology, wires and gearcan often betray you at times…even in the best or the important moments, so don’t get nervous, s*it happens...


What gear do you recommend?

All DAW's are good; all of them have advantages and their limitations. It depends more about what kind of workflow is more comfortable for you.


What practical advice do you have for performing dub/140 as a live production?

What I do is I make several repetitions of the tune, with the goal to study different perspectives and possibilities of how the tune can be mixed, then in a live setting you already have an idea of where to go, where to improvise and then can go back easily to the base pattern.


Any useful tips for new artists, both in terms of generally starting out and also using gear in their sets?

Technology, wires and gearcan often betray you at times…even in the best or the important moments, so don’t get nervous, s*it happens...

Connect with Mexican Stepper

Instagram / Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Spotify / Facebook


IMAJIKA

Article photo - Getting into Dubstep: Gear, Techniques and Practical Advice from Established Artists

Imajika is a Leeds based producer & DJ who has been active for several years carefully crafting his signature sound. His bass driven music has been gaining support from the likes of Mala and N-Type, and recently he has been stepping into the realm of live performance to add to his growing repertoire. Here’s what he has to say:


Musicngear: What gear do you use in your setup?

I’m currently using my Macbook Pro, running Logic Live Loops and Ableton Live via a Novation Launchpad Mini MK3 and a Soundcraft Signature 12MTK Mixing Console, as well as a Boss RE-20 Space Echo Tape delay emulator pedal.


What gear do you recommend?

So far I have found the mixing console to be the most integral part of the set up as it provides the most amount of versatility in terms of what synths, drum machines or outboard FX you want to use at any one time. Definitely recommend starting off by working out what desk best suits your needs/budget.


What practical advice do you have for performing dub/140 as a live production?

There are a lot of different options, but what I have been doing so far is taking songs I want to perform live, and splitting them into the key stems; Kick, snares, hats and percussion, subs and so on, ensuring the tracks are mixed and sound like a ‘’good premaster’ with maybe -3db Headroom. Then I split those down further into either 4/8/16/32 bar loops and load that into the live player, doing the same for each track in order.


Any useful tips for new artists, both in terms of generally starting out and also using gear in their sets?

When preparing a live performance I found it more important to really think about what you want to play, as you don’t have a USB or record bag with say 3 to 4 hours worth of music. If you are doing an hour set you are not going to have time to prep a song live on the fly to then load into Ableton, so it’s important to really think about what you want to play. With all of that said, you still have unmatched versatility with what you can do within a given piece of music when you have all the elements to play with.


Connect with IMAJIKA

FacebookSoundcloudSUBALT025 - 12’’ Vinyl & Digital


Also checkout Getting into SynthwaveGetting into Alternative/Indie Electronic and Getting into Synth Pop for gear, techniques and practical advice from Vincenzo Salvia, Dana Jean Phoenix, Morgan Willis, ArvoParty, SYLK, Anna Mullarkey, Bantum, Xylo Aria, Double Screen, CYNEMA, True Tides, Flecks, Lunnah, Host and Peachface.

About Aron Peak

A passionate writer with diverse interests, an eclectic range of styles and over 5 years of experience writing for the likes of global music festivals, market leading technology companies and national arts and lifestyle outlets. Aron is also a professional music producer and runs his own record label Bare Bones. Over the past 7 years he has had multiple releases that have been supported both in the UK and Internationally (e.g. BBC Radio 1, EDC Las Vegas etc), and has toured across the world as a DJ.

Contact Aron Peak at aron.peak@musicngear.com

About Music Production

In this section of the blog you will find recording advice, tips and tricks from fellow artists and music producers.

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