Use a tempo of 160 BPM for lo-fi tracks
Problem: inconsistent or flat tempo
Setting the tempo to 160 BPM gives lo-fi tracks a more energetic and rhythmic feel, which is common in the genre. This tempo allows for a natural swing and groove that complements the laid-back yet rhythmic nature of…
Use a childhood piano sound for lo-fi keys
Problem: bland or synthetic-sounding keys
The 'Childhood Home Piano' is a great sound for lo-fi tracks due to its warm and organic tone. It adds a nostalgic and authentic feel to the keys, which complements the overall vibe of lo-fi music. This is a recommended…
Use a sample pack with kick, rim shot, hi-hats, and other lo-fi drum samples
Problem: lack of quality drum samples for lo-fi
Using a curated sample pack with specific lo-fi drum elements like kick, rim shot, and hi-hats can save time and provide high-quality sounds that fit the lo-fi aesthetic. This approach ensures consistency and quality in…
Delete high notes from the bassline to make it more appropriate for lo-fi
Problem: bass is too high and clashing with other elements
Lo-fi music typically has a lower, more mellow bass sound. By deleting high notes from the bassline, you ensure that the bass sits well in the mix and complements the kick and other low-frequency elements. This helps…
Use the transpose function to adjust the pitch of the bassline
Problem: bass is not in the right key or pitch
The transpose function allows you to shift the pitch of the bassline up or down, which is useful for making the bass fit better in the mix. In lo-fi production, this can help the bass sit comfortably with the kick and…
Adjust the decay of the bass sound to control its length and sustain
Problem: bass is too long or lacks punch
Adjusting the decay of the bass sound allows you to control how long the notes sustain, which is important for creating a natural and rhythmic feel in lo-fi music. By shortening the decay, you can make the bass more…
Add real-world atmosphere by recording ambient sounds
Problem: track lacks depth or realism
Recording ambient sounds from the environment, such as birds or wind, adds a unique and authentic atmosphere to a track. This technique is especially effective in lo-fi production, where the use of real-world textures…
Apply sidechain compression to atmospheric elements for rhythmic cohesion
Problem: atmosphere clashes with the kick or feels disconnected
Using sidechain compression on atmospheric elements like ambient sounds or pads ensures they duck in time with the kick, creating a cohesive and rhythmic feel. This technique is commonly used in lo-fi to maintain a sense…
Use a limiter on the master channel for mastering
Problem: track lacks loudness or dynamic control
Applying a limiter on the master channel helps control the overall dynamics of the track and ensures it meets loudness standards. In this example, the limiter is set to 'soft clip' with a look-ahead of 1.5ms, which helps…
Lofi music typically consists of four core elements: drums, bass, keys, and atmosphere
Problem: unclear structure for lo-fi production
Ethan Davis outlines that lo-fi music is built around four main components: drums, bass, keys, and atmosphere. This structure provides a foundation for producers to experiment with different sounds and textures.…
Experiment with the clarity and texture of your lo-fi track by adjusting the atmosphere
Problem: lack of atmospheric depth in lo-fi tracks
Ethan explains that the atmosphere in lo-fi music can be manipulated to make the track sound either clear or 'underwater.' This gives producers creative freedom to shape the mood and feel of their track. Adjusting the…
Don't be afraid to experiment with different instruments and sounds
Problem: creative block or lack of inspiration
Ethan encourages producers to swap out instruments and sounds to create new variations of their lo-fi tracks. This approach fosters creativity and helps producers avoid getting stuck in a repetitive or uninspired…
Try using vocals to add a unique character to your lo-fi track
Problem: track feels incomplete or lacks character
Ethan mentions that adding vocals can give a lo-fi track a unique character, similar to the style of artists like Bruno Major. This is a creative way to elevate a track and add an emotional or narrative element. Even…
Use the B bass option in Ableton to simplify basslines for lo-fi tracks
Problem: complex basslines overwhelming lo-fi tracks
Ethan suggests using the 'B bass' option in Ableton to create simple, effective basslines for lo-fi music. This is a quick and easy way to generate bass that complements the overall vibe of the track without…
Take 10 minutes to build a drum loop and experiment with your own lo-fi track
Problem: procrastination or lack of motivation
Ethan suggests taking just 10 minutes to build a drum loop and start experimenting with a lo-fi track. This is a great way for beginners to get hands-on experience and see immediate results. Even a short session can help…
Use tape delays for vintage warmth
Problem: digital delay feels sterile or lifeless
Tape delays emulate the analog characteristics of old tape machines, adding saturation and a warm, textured sound. This is ideal for adding character to leads or pads in retro-inspired genres like synthwave or lo-fi. The…
Structure songs with a pre-chorus section before the chorus
Problem: chorus lacks impact, structure feels flat
Hip-hop tracks often benefit from a section before the chorus that lacks 808s and drums, using only a clap to build tension. This creates a natural progression from the verse to the chorus, making the chorus feel more…
Use Simpler's groove settings for organic feel
Problem: stiff, unnatural kick samples
When using one-shot kick samples in Simpler, enable the groove settings to randomize timing and velocity. This mimics the imperfections of live drumming. The speaker demonstrates adjusting the groove amount in Simpler's…
Set BPM to 170 for lo-fi tempo
Problem: incorrect tempo for lo-fi feel
Lo-fi music typically uses a relaxed tempo around 170 BPM, which creates a laid-back groove. This tempo choice is crucial for the genre's signature feel. Setting the tempo early ensures all elements align with the…
Use the five-element formula: drums, bass, mids, vocals, effects
Problem: incomplete track structure
This framework ensures a complete musical structure. For lo-fi, focusing on drums, bass, and mids (like guitar/piano) simplifies the process while maintaining depth. It provides a clear roadmap for beginners to build…
Use 'kick bricks' for punchy low-end
Problem: weak or muddy kick
This specific kick sample is recommended for its clarity and punch, essential for lo-fi's warm, textured sound. Choosing the right kick ensures the low-end is present without being overwhelming. This is a sound-design…
Apply reverb to shaker for spatial depth
Problem: flat, lifeless percussion
Using a room reverb on the shaker adds dimension and places the sound in a virtual space. This enhances the track's atmosphere without overwhelming the mix. The technique is simple but significantly impacts the overall…
Lower MIDI notes one octave at a time using Shift + Down Arrow
Problem: melody too high for lo-fi vibe
This technique allows producers to quickly adjust the pitch of a melody to fit the lo-fi aesthetic, which often favors lower, more subdued tones. By using Shift + Down Arrow, the notes are transposed down an octave,…
Use hot swap to quickly replace sounds in MIDI clips
Problem: time-consuming sound replacement
Access the hot swap option by clicking the arrows in the MIDI clip's circle to replace sounds instantly. This is ideal for experimenting with different timbres or textures in a lo-fi track without manually re-sampling or…
Copy and paste MIDI chords for consistency across tracks
Problem: inconsistent chord progressions
Copying chords from one MIDI track and pasting them onto another ensures rhythmic and harmonic consistency, especially when layering instruments like synths and guitars. This is useful in lo-fi production for maintaining…
Use EQ8 to scoop lows on guitar to avoid muddiness
Problem: guitar muddying the low end
Apply a high-pass filter on the guitar track using EQ8 to remove unnecessary low-end frequencies. This prevents the guitar from clashing with other low-frequency elements like the bass or kick, ensuring clarity in the…
Transpose guitar an octave higher to avoid mid-range clashes
Problem: mid-range frequency clashes
Shifting the guitar an octave higher using Shift + Up Arrow helps avoid frequency masking with other mid-range elements like pianos or synths. This is a common fix in lo-fi production to ensure each instrument has its…
Scoop lows and highs on guitar with EQ8 for a balanced tone
Problem: guitar too harsh or muddy
Use EQ8 to reduce both low and high frequencies on the guitar, creating a more balanced and lo-fi-friendly tone. This reduces harshness and muddiness, making the guitar sit better in the mix. This technique is…
Lower lows and highs on master channel with EQ for lo-fi warmth
Problem: track sounds too clean or modern
Reducing low-end frequencies (sub-bass) and high-end frequencies (air) on the master channel creates a muddier, more vintage sound characteristic of lo-fi. This mimics the frequency roll-off of analog tape and vinyl…
Use vintage tape channel for analog saturation
Problem: lack of analog warmth
Ableton's Vintage Tape channel plugin adds harmonic distortion and frequency coloring that mimics analog tape machines. This introduces subtle saturation and warmth that enhances the lo-fi character. The plugin's…
Apply Redux plugin to reduce bit depth for lo-fi texture
Problem: insufficient lo-fi character
Using Ableton's Redux plugin to lower bit depth and sample rate creates a gritty, low-fidelity sound by introducing quantization errors and aliasing. This is a fundamental technique in lo-fi production to simulate the…
Add vinyl crackle using Crack plugin on master channel
Problem: lack of vinyl authenticity
Dragging the Crack plugin onto a new track and routing it to the master channel adds authentic vinyl crackle and surface noise. This enhances the lo-fi aesthetic by simulating the imperfections of vinyl playback. The…
Use vintage EQ presets on the master track for lo-fi warmth
Problem: lack of character in the master bus
Ableton's filter section includes presets like 'gentle vintage' and 'E base vintage' that emulate analog EQ characteristics. Dragging these onto the master track adds subtle coloration and texture, instantly giving the…
Add reverb to create space in lo-fi tracks
Problem: flat, lifeless mix
Dragging a reverb plugin onto individual tracks or the master bus adds depth and atmosphere, a key characteristic of lo-fi music. This technique helps separate elements in the mix and creates a sense of distance,…
Use guitar samples and effects like chimes for unique textures
Problem: predictable, generic sound
Incorporating unconventional elements like guitar samples and chime-like effects adds organic character to lo-fi tracks. This technique expands the sonic palette beyond typical lo-fi samples, encouraging creative…
Experiment with the five-element formula (drums, bass, mid, etc.)
Problem: creative paralysis or overcomplication
Focusing on core elements like drums, bass, and mid-range textures provides a structured approach to lo-fi production. This mindset encourages exploration while maintaining focus, helping producers avoid overwhelm and…