Masterclass | Emperor - Sound Design Process

Drum & Bass producer, Emperor gives our Electronic Music Production students a sound design masterclass and track breakdown. Emperor takes a look at using Serum and how it's influenced his approach to sound design.
Find out more about Emperor:
Instagram: / emperordnb
Bandcamp: emperordnb.ban...
Facebook: / emperordnb
Twitter: / emperordnb
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dBs Institute is a multi-location, music, audio and digital education specialist based in the UK. Our mission is to effect positive social change through the creative arts, providing excellent specialised training and support for our students, fostering enduring relationships in our community, and developing innovative solutions to make the world a better place.
We're here to help you craft your passion in music production, live sound, game development, sound design, music and sound for screen, electronic music and more.
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[@banton9368]

Absolutely fair play to emperor, its fuckin hard to sit in front of a group of people and explain what you do in sound design for over an hour and a half and keep people engaged, but this is genuinely interesting even if youre not a serious producer and just want to know somewhat what goes in to making the wobblers and rollers at the moment

[@dampeification]

WHAAAAAT? Emperor Masterclass? In a video that's well producer (both audio and video is good)? 10/10

[@MonsterDubClub]

HOLY SHIIIIIT!!! Best channel on KZbin for drum and bass production, hands down. Thank you so much for this.

[@Frobbl]

Not only drum and bass. I don't even produce drum and bass anymore but even for other bass music genres there is soooo much helpful things to learn from this.

[@neanderhamilton3595]

Emperor is a legend. The way he forms his ideas is so inspiring.

[@busywl69]

one of the very few 'masterclasses' that are actually insightful.

[@kontraktofficial]

i like how Emperor embraces the idea of less being more. nothing really is that much better if it's mastered through 15 buses and 7 OTT's. just playing around with random sounds creates a highly unique track every time. i basically do this too.

[@JaimeDuendeDeGongora]

Yeah, totally agree, i do the same, keeping that random thing in music production always gets you to new ideas, and leaving the technical thing to mix and master makes you have more fun playing around with the synths in a track from scratch

[@kelvynification]

Here we go again... Less is not more! Less is less = minimal whereas ‘More’ is more = maximal. I find personally that minimal music holds no surprises after a few listens but if an arrangement is quite thick there are still surprises tucked away after listening more than a few times. This is not to say that minimal music is boring as it always depends f something is on point. The unending idea that less = more as an ideal is better is completely dumb. The planet suite from Holst is a fantastic argument for more is fantastic. Double orchestra, complex arrangements that never cease to reveal little musical flourishes that pass you by on first hearing. So once again LESS IS NOT MORE!

[@kontraktofficial]

@@kelvynification meanwhile seamless and even mau5 said that sometimes less is more. Ofc this does not mean always but sometimes. Quit being an elitistic asshole calling people dumb when you clearly state an opinion and not facts.

[@futilerecordings]

Cool sidechaining tip in FL: Instead of using the peak controller to duck the entire audio channel of your bass, insert parametric eq 2 on bass, create band around 100 Hz (or approximate fundamental of your kick). Have peak controller inserted on kick drum to cut the 100 Hz band on the bass, leaving the higher harmonics. This achieves the same goal of freeing up low end for the kick, but sounds more natural. Obviously this doesn't work in every situation, but give it a shot.

[@itsdakun]

people still sidechain with peak controller? wtf

[@t7H2si0vß2]

or a limiter

[@t7H2si0vß2]

lmao but i have used this technique but i never have the cpu space to put it in a final mix

[@craigsteel9736]

@@t7H2si0vß2 I found using a limiter can fuck up your drum bus.

[@nexusobserve]

@@craigsteel9736 right because no one put an 1176 on a drum bus and went platinum....

[@ThirdFocusMusic]

i used to try find Emperor new streams on twitch but all got deleted, But wow this was a surprise! Emperor one of my fav producers to listen to for crazy mojo sound Design and well done mix downs, THANKS DBs Music!

[@Dorgrident]

he is not marking his streams as highlight, so they get deleted after 30 days.

[@JaimeDuendeDeGongora]

@@Dorgrident which is his ttv chanel?

[@dOTS-xm2cj]

first thought: why am I looking at Dan from 'TheSlowMoGuys'?

[@demolinertom2981]

^^

[@TheEqualityComedy]

@@demolinertom2981 I thought the same ahaha! Praise the lord, it's emperor giving a lesson

[@TheEqualityComedy]

same xD

[@LUXXY1984]

Could not agree more...dont be a sheep and follow the flock...thinking out of the box...i like to think so far out of the box at times that i cant even see it. having passion and being creative is defs a big part of my love music...as an audio engineer and independent artist. Great Class! Loved it!

[@konjurednb5642]

Can't wait to apply some of these techniques in my own way! This is a gem. I gotta remember to hit record in Ableton when im making my bass patches!

[@officialkronix]

This is an amazing masterclass

[@Projacked1]

People often forget the _FX version of the plugin, you can load it directly in the mixer and play it with MIDI and(!) external sounds....faster ways to crazy shit lol ;)

[@RobinDeKoch]

I like to put 3 layers of serum subs with different wavetables eq and compress those then bounce it out load it back in and eq it again this method is a lot of work but makes a way better sound and you have more control over what part you want to boost or cut out cuz the sub function in serum can often cause some phase issues ^^

[@P1I2E3R4R5E6B]

Awesome! So much value to get from this upload

[@sebprovision]

Great watch, Emperor's the man!

[@ghostinplainsight4803]

Man that fruity eq is so good at showing resonant peaks! Epic masterclass!

[@dBsInstitute]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@surroki]

Olafur Arnalds is one of my favourite compsoers. 1/2 member of Kiasmos too :) interesting masterclass

[@dBsInstitute]

Find out more about how you can learn from pros like Emperor on our degree and diploma courses in Bristol and Plymouth. www.dbsmusic.co.uk

[@ishopatlidl]

Yes that is quite cool I must admit!

[@DJCouchKing]

Those Genelec monitors on the wall tho...

[@FilthyAnimal893]

oh man, seeing the Ozone 5 UI triggered some nostalgia

[@AdamsBrew78]

Would love to find a max for live utility that will automatically split a long, continuous resampling session like Emperor did here, into multiple .wav files, split between the silences, then send the dozens of separate .wav files to a user folder for very efficient auditioning. Then you could just spam arrow key to find and tag the gems.

[@MrGolakteon]

From this moment i can say i know Kung FU!!! :DDD Awesome skills representation, and a workflow, and everything being said. Thanks a LOT!

[@colinallcars5239]

Great vid, thanks! Also makes me remember why I moved from FL to Bitwig... it takes a million clicks to get things done in FL.

[@Barnes0420]

FL’s workflow makes me feel like I’m having a stroke

[@eye_producer]

Yet He's making money with his music. To each his own

[@Barnes0420]

Eye yeah but that has absolutely nothing to do with my comment lmao

[@malm1231]

using windows on a mac to run FL... confusing to me but hey you do you mate XD

[@antonkokic]

I love FL but that is kinda my biggest grip with it, Ableton for sure is faster, but I still somehow prefer feel of FL

[@Asa-bh7zi]

It's really fast if you learn it. I've been using FL for five years and I have no fucking idea how to start a track in Ableton. FLs workflow is more like logic's

[@spencermoran2970]

dude speaks wisdom fo sho

[@SpEEcEsclan]

Thank you so much for this video!

[@wesleyleigh4063]

YO has this man got a Macbook pro but with Windows OS? Great video btw!

[@clarkfielduk]

probably dual boots mac and windows

[@tristanevansevans9026]

This is amazing thank you !

[@CJMattias]

Can hear a bit nervousness, but great job man! Doing great

[@grindedfranz]

what kind of keyboard does he use? Pretty sweet dude!

[@dBsInstitute]

We believe the MIDI keyboard is the CME X Key. www.thediscdjstore.com/cme-x-key-portable-usb-midi-keyboard-brushed-aluminium.html there's a longer 37-key version too.

[@cyberforte]

36:18 nice beat

[@internationaleanziehungskr7817]

The tutorial is worth watching solely for the likable voice of this man.

[@internationaleanziehungskr7817]

but it's only the voice - otherwise the man is completely NOT likable ;-)

[@ct5822]

@@internationaleanziehungskr7817 ok Josef

[@internationaleanziehungskr7817]

@@ct5822 ok?

[@gxjit]

E... E... Ok! Lol nice way to start a new project 😂

[@sebprovision]

@6:28 it doesn't look like anything is turned on in Trash 2? Is it just the dynamics section that creates that loud jump?

[@masterbeethoven8209]

Nah he's got the trash tab selected, he's just adding a bit of distortion to it to add harmonics

[@enbawatches]

37:53 did he just play happy birthday there?

[@zpawn1]

haha good catch

[@mosley3485]

It sounded like happy birthday transposed to harmonic minor, lol. I'm pretty sure that's how they play happy birthday in hell.

[@BulletFever1]

@@mosley3485 They do, in fact they play it on the same instrument as in this video too.

[@sorgtheblack]

I was expecting Ihsahn from the legendary band Emperor.

[@endosick3998]

emperor mierder yeahhhhh

[@tbg6nb]

is resampling in FL Studio really that complicated ? In Ableton you just select input channel and record it directly in the track, no need for plugins, exporting etc.

[@Dave1507]

there are different ways, depends on what you're planning to do with it afterwards, i guess

[@francoissioarnaud236]

In logic you just right click, then « bounce in place », tadaaaaaa

[@Pazaluz]

I always used the built-in plugin "EDISON". A very useful tool actually with many editing options.

[@_matty]

what a legend, still using fl studio 11 l

[@nunchisoul5924]

did he show the settings on the peak controller? curious to know what curve he is using

[@DannerzDJ]

Awesome video

[@perrybryan]

Is the intro tune released?

[@jameshainer-violand461]

Could also use facetime to collaboration or skype realtime.. just saying.

[@claudiolongo2971]

Inspiring

[@Dorgrident]

I am at minute 1. How many E errors do we get this time?

[@whothefrickareyou4490]

what is the midi keybord he is using?

[@Dorgrident]

This is great. the most unprofessional professional :D i would like to see what noisa is thinking about this good sounding mess. and also: lets delete the project, anybody got questions about that?

[@Scyber_Official]

How is he able to have the same name as the black metal band? Wouldn't there be a copyright problem?

[@itsdakun]

not unless they start shit

[@cerberiosssss]

Do someone know how he get this kinda "ducking" effect from the reverb (15:13)? I mean, the reverb seems to be turned off when the serum is playing and then fades back in when it stops. Also the reverb is set as an insert and there is no sidechained compressor on it to do that. So is it special function of FLs reverb? Cheers.

[@dBsInstitute]

You can achieve this with clever routing and using side-chains and gates. Check our tutorial in logic to understand advanced routing here. You can apply similar techniques on reverb sends and delays to let them "open" - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXzXequIlsZ_pNU

[@mattwilson3417]

Whats that midi keyboard hes using

[@BlackAera]

Man you have come a long way. I used to hate on you back on Newgrounds when you were using your old Para alias but you have improved so much since 2009, it's crazy. Much respect. Any chance for future projects with Alex Centra?

[@unpronounceablename]

not everybody is a music producer wannabe. lol.

[@romastep6576]

Заебись 👍 только по тексту почти нихера не ясно😁 Cool masterclass. Thanks 🙌

[@bci3937]

sidechaining via the master volume fader???

[@danielnicholson5147]

hi just wondering if you could help me I just wanted to know if you was to upload a full mp3 track can you take some ones drum loop out of there track so you can keep the drum loop to make music with if you can help that would be great thanks dan

[@dBsInstitute]

Here's a good resource explaining how you could do that - www.audiomentor.com/audioproduction/how-to-extract-drums-from-a-song

[@alexpardon585]

Day made!

[@finchstep]

Whats the Logic X equivalent of having a sidechain channel to put everything through?

[@mattdyne]

You mean like a bus?

[@mx676]

1:36:18 konnakkol metal? wow that was something...

[@lewisjones284]

1:36:24

[@ezassegai4793]

the funny thing is that the secret to this is not being a top engineer but simply messing around and knowing where to mess around at.

[@mosley3485]

The funny thing is that knowing where to mess around at is what makes someone a top engineer...

[@manuxiamusic]

2:08 is that wavetable stocks from serum ?

[@Lofi-Dreamscapes-Radio]

kangoroo from old nl massive 2007 .. are free on tri sample

[@tst3264]

Indian Djent!

[@automationtesting8781]

Pretty sure that all waveforms in Serum weren't produced by Connor but it'a not a big deal, huge respect to that guy anyway! Inspires me in every stream/tutorial etc. Question is - what's the soundbank names for these sounds ?Did somebody recognize them ? Could be awesome if somebody know and can share it, names at least. Thanks a lot in advance.

[@chancebarnett4096]

He def made them

[@chancebarnett4096]

@Bilbous Bagoda He might have made some of them although? You can resample into serum using resample to osc A/B

[@brettpiggott2664]

What's that dope shirt you're wearing?

[@P1I2E3R4R5E6B]

It's a Bioshock Infinite tee shirt

[@tommygun9543]

42:56 - 44:22

[@HAKOBO]

Why does his FL look like it came out of the turn of the century?

[@lookatthestateofyourkneesl7877]

because it isn't fl12

[@craigsteel9736]

Really don't understand his sidechain method, route bass through both channels?

[@The_Matanos]

thanks

[@Basedboomerchadbear]

8:20

[@Bollingersound]

that's funny I have a project i'm working on that samples the same indian dude lol 1:36:00

[@ID1visor]

Any idea of source? Nvm, found it. Dope. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6bVmZ2id9qgZtE

[@MrHelgeKuhl]

If Spor had just changed his name to SPQR instead of Feed Me, they would have had the perfect names for a collab 😅

[@internationaleanziehungskr7817]

ANOMALY - is this a break? Or a single hit?

[@internationaleanziehungskr7817]

@@Noizbleed ok, thank you. So he sampled out the break from a point in the tune where the break runs without any other instruments? Or does he have connections to Noisia and they gave the break to him?

[@OpletalRobin]

Anyone knows what that little midi keyboard is?

[@dBsInstitute]

Hi Robin, glad you like our video. We believe the MIDI keyboard is the CME X Key. www.thediscdjstore.com/cme-x-key-portable-usb-midi-keyboard-brushed-aluminium.html there's a longer 37-key version too.

[@OpletalRobin]

dBs Music thank you very much! :)

[@rivagti]

omg why this looks like 20 years ago??

[@dBsInstitute]

The scourge of ambient lighting! We've got ourselves some proper lights now ;).

[@ezassegai4793]

DnB tutorials in the 2020's: Hey guys today Im gonna show you how to make DnB Me: Great, time to take notes DnB tutorials in the 2020's: IN SERUM Me: nooooooooooooo

[@orlandoramirezgarcia44]

😲

[@ishopatlidl]

Rolf Harris

[@Silica_UK]

Press F for drum and bass

[@nilswurmser2426]

F

[@ioannisme7495]

57:10 aaaahaaahahahaaahahahahahhaaahhaahahahahhaaha

[@paulmoss6857]

FL Studio is a goddamn mess. Great tutorial though! Thank you!

[@DJCouchKing]

Agreed. Some people swear by it, but I hate the workflow.

[@wired-up5677]

Once you get used to it it's so hard to is anything elese

[@wired-up5677]

Use*

[@ismann9148]

Not a fan of sidechaining everything then compressing into a sausage. It's lazy mixing and sounds horrible to me. However, there are some decent tips throughout the video. I love resampling. Also, coming from Reaper, he could save so much time bouncing and resampling.

[@dmitrysablin1163]

cutie bassface

[@bambok306]

Gay

[@itchydez]

Bambok - So?

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

To my fellow producers out there that don’t use FL Studio: Is anyone else confused as fuck by the workflow of this DAW? I’ve been a Ableton dude for a long time and some say Ableton makes no sense. Just was curious

[@heisenberg3099]

Started on Fl Before Ableton became my everything....yeah Fl is fucking whack for workflow, turns into a frigging mess after awhile. Works for some people still

[@RicHardAndHeavy]

Worst daw for workflow, ableton is way more clean

[@simongrozov1801]

Musicbix

[@dontlooksiko1529]

Sas

[@xXEverymanXx]

E

[@akmedia8206]

The Audience are not feeling it

[@wesleyleigh4063]

What why would they not be feeling it? what are they suppose to be doing?

[@vroteg]

I’m completely lost now in this fruity loops. I just don’t understand it….

[@RinzlerNLA]

Maybe this masterclass is okay for beginners, but I find some decisions pretty bad (for example, he is trying to fix the sound using notch eq instead of tweaking that weird reverb reso).

[@t7H2si0vß2]

Really dont agree with his workflow, I always sidechain to compressors and use frequency splitters to compress the highs and lows separately on my drum bus. I also use maximus to separate transients from kicks and snares to a separate insert as a sidechain trigger. His workflow reminds me of my way of using fl 5 years ago, nothing really impressive he just seems like a sample junky. Not trying to be offensive but theres nothing really amazing here.

[@SuperPeakey]

Everyone has their own techniques, end of the day he’s realising music that people are buying 🤷‍♂️

[@TheEqualityComedy]

Where's your music buddy, let's have a listen :D

[@chancebarnett4096]

Your an idiot

[@UaraBeyKO]

indeed, show your music mate, we'd wanna check it out

[@bevolkisch4628]

That's not really a good way to make drum and bass, it's a good way to mimick drum and bass tracks. Actual drum and bass would use tracker software and break beat samples from a sampler and vinyl I think. You are a basically trying to replicate sounds whereas I think it is better if you actually use the actual hardware that makes those sounds instead of trying to replicate those sounds using software plugins, because when you try to replicate the sounds to use an analogy you are basically sketching those sounds using a pencil rather than taking a high resolution digital photograph. Sure the pencil sketch will resemble the sound but the digital photograph will replicate it exactly... Just my opinion.

[@ghostinplainsight4803]

Ok bro! Use that knowledge to become a modern day international Drum and Bass legend or STFU!

[@temphemp9251]

there's no right or wrong way to produce music. nobody cares how you make your music as long as it sounds fresh, good and aren't copying someone else then that's all that matters. almost every single producer that has made it did it because they created an unconventional sound in unconventional ways.

[@MrBrownstone98]

Actually most of drum and bass today is made this way, there’s a top ten dnb single in the charts right now made this way, it’s come a long way from hardware samplers

[@Capo_Renzo]

This wasn’t very well explained unfortunately

[@RobinDeKoch]

I like to put 3 layers of serum subs with different wavetables eq and compress those then bounce it out load it back in and eq it again this method is a lot of work but makes a way better sound and you have more control over what part you want to boost or cut out cuz the sub function in serum can often cause some phase issues ^^

[@RicHardAndHeavy]

Interesting, I always use the lfo 1 n 2 cause they allow to modify the phase, but in wave its way more stable :)

[@Basedboomerchadbear]

1:21:49

[@RobinDeKoch]

I like to put 3 layers of serum subs with different wavetables eq and compress those then bounce it out load it back in and eq it again this method is a lot of work but makes a way better sound and you have more control over what part you want to boost or cut out cuz the sub function in serum can often cause some phase issues ^^

[@RobinDeKoch]

I like to put 3 layers of serum subs with different wavetables eq and compress those then bounce it out load it back in and eq it again this method is a lot of work but makes a way better sound and you have more control over what part you want to boost or cut out cuz the sub function in serum can often cause some phase issues ^^

[@entity6966]

I'd rather remove the low in the ott inside serum then add the internal sub, adding a much cleaner sub than what most ppl think about