Arranging Drum & Bass (Patreon)

The video tutorial focuses on expanding a 16-bar drum and bass loop into a full arrangement. Key points include:

1. Arrangement Overview: Emphasizes that arrangement is more about putting in work (80% work, 20% creativity) compared to creating loops (purely creative).
2. Structure: The track is structured in 8-bar sections, making it DJ-friendly for easy mixing.
3. Extending and Varying Sections: Begins by duplicating sections to extend them. Introduces variety by alternating percussion sounds, such as hats, and adding new percussion loops using XO plugin.
4. Dynamic Elements: Implements dynamic changes like filtering drums, using EQ on the kick drum, and introducing modulation for bass energy and tension. Suggests frequency shifting for additional texture.
5. Sound Design: Adds rides, crash samples, reverse crashes, and creates custom sounds using Synth Land for the intro. Proposes altering the snare and kick drums to refine the groove.
6. Arrangement Tips: Advises on using the Bitwig Polymer for arpeggios and pads, adjusting their introduction in the track. Recommends generating random sounds for intro variation.
7. Final Touches: Focuses on supporting the main idea without altering it drastically. This includes adding claps, tweaking the bassline, and applying filters for subtle changes.
8. Overall Strategy: The approach is to support and enhance the existing loop, not to overhaul it completely. Emphasizes the importance of small edits and additions for a cohesive arrangement.
9. Next Steps: Mentions plans for further variety in bass and drums in future tutorials.

The tutorial is practical for producers looking to transition from loop-based compositions to full arrangements, particularly in a drum and bass context.

• Watch the loop creation - Part 1
• Download the current State of the Project for Bitwig 5.1.2