Ableton Forum

what are some basic DJ technique tricks for dub...i like to put a delay->reverb on the track i'm mixing into, then when the bass hits.......boom

what you guys do?

yeah, well, delay and reverb are great, of course. I'm not going to go into a whole lot of detail about settings/which plugs to use, but i will give a quick tip.


One really fun thing in live that lends itself perfectly to dub style mixing is the fact that sends can be assigned to keys or buttons, they don't need to be on sliders or knobs. This can work great for big dub effects that have a really long tail. ---> example, track plays, i hit the button that sends that track to my HUGE reverb for just a bit of the snare hit. That little chopped bit becomes a big ass reverb tail now. other example ---> play track, rhythmically hit button that sends to delay that is loosly synched to the tempo. = fun.



another tip ---> play around with FX matrixes. What i mean is have a group of return trtacks with different fx and feed them to each other.



just play around, brah.



.lm.

thanks for those tips.....i guess my question was really regarding dub music itself....not using live to create it. Classic techniques or kind of dub-only type of effects, times to bring tracks in...bass drops. Also mixing structure....is there any place that list some of the main characteristics that make something dub?

oh, i did mean as DJ'ing techniques.



but, to get the vibe, i suggest listening to some good classic dub stuff. Augustus Pablo meets Rockers uptown is a good one.

or prince far-i cry tough dub encounters chapter 3


or, well, tonnes of stuff. Try google, or keep asking here, i know there are a bunch more dub heads on board.


.lm.

Listen to heaps of Scientist. The CD heavy weight dub champion is the most beautiful dub record ever. Computer Music Mag did a dub special recently. There is a website called dubscrolls which i was directed to here recently. All the drops etc come naturally after listening to dub for a long time. Some of the most interetsing tracks dont follow a formula and have really strange and sparse intros. For some modern vibes check out the stuff by Rhythmn and Sound. Taking out all the tracks and just letting the vocal through with a mega delay on the last word is common before dropping it all back in. A really nice effect was how even when the tracks were dropped out parts of them would bleed into the other tracks and you could just hear what was dropped out slightly with bvery low fidelity. I am not sure how to recreate that on a computer though but would love to know.

leisuremuffin wrote:
Augustus Pablo meets Rockers uptown is a good one.

.lm.

+1

leisuremuffin, you nailed it.

However, the actual title of the LP is "King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown" - Artist is Augustus Pablo.

This is the quintessential dub record. Listen to this, & you will know most of what dub is all about. Absolutely brilliant to this day. Check out the track "Brace's Tower Dub No 2"

Listen to those flying faders being whacked around! Massive.

Trypset
-the best way to learn about dub is to listen & emulate. Outside of the obvious dub formula it's all about being in the moment: riding the faders, punching buttons, twisting knobs, & being creative. Using chance & accidents, as well as skill.

Kingrad wrote " Taking out all the tracks and just letting the vocal through with a mega delay on the last word is common before dropping it all back in. A really nice effect was how even when the tracks were dropped out parts of them would bleed into the other tracks and you could just hear what was dropped out slightly with bvery low fidelity. I am not sure how to recreate that on a computer though but would love to know."

thanks, thats awesome and thats a good description of what i like, a long buildup all the while cutting out tracks, then a high whining distortion and BOOM, bass dropp!

if you want to emulate bleed - create a return track with something like an eq8 into a Saturator, or a valve device. Set the EQ8 so it has no bass, set the saturator so it gives a nice fuzz.. Now send everything you want to 'bleed' to that return channel .. drums bass, vocals, etc.

Now, when you drop the drums out, you will hear a tinny crunchy noise in the background.
Turn the return channel down so that it sits where you need it, quiet.

thanks for these tips guys, i am really starting to understand how they are working.

oblique strategies wrote:

leisuremuffin wrote:
Augustus Pablo meets Rockers uptown is a good one.

.lm.

+1..."Brace's Tower Dub No 2"

this is actually my favorite song of all time. so far i've found four different versions of it. "Brace's Tower Dub No 2" is most definitely my favorite though. +100 on recommending that one.

go to the Interupter's Dub Scrolls website

kingrad wrote:Listen to heaps of Scientist. The CD heavy weight dub champion is the most beautiful dub record ever. Computer Music Mag did a dub special recently. There is a website called dubscrolls which i was directed to here recently. All the drops etc come naturally after listening to dub for a long time. Some of the most interetsing tracks dont follow a formula and have really strange and sparse intros. For some modern vibes check out the stuff by Rhythmn and Sound. Taking out all the tracks and just letting the vocal through with a mega delay on the last word is common before dropping it all back in. A really nice effect was how even when the tracks were dropped out parts of them would bleed into the other tracks and you could just hear what was dropped out slightly with bvery low fidelity. I am not sure how to recreate that on a computer though but would love to know.

try turning the reverb send up & taking the level right down

Thanks Meef Chaloin you are a great source of info on dub on these forums. Thanks to everyone else too on the mix bleed techniques suggested.

BTW was the bleed through on the desk or was it things like the drum mics picking up some of the other instruments playing. I always notice this effect when just the drum and bass is playing but you often hear some of the vocal or other instruments just audible. It sounds really beautiful on many tracks

oblique strategies wrote:the LP is "King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown" - Artist is Augustus Pablo.

thats my favourite too. amazing record.

another one to check out is The Scientist : meets the space invaders. de-materialize is probably my favourite dub track of all time..what a bass line..