How to Make Heavy Metal Music in FL Studio

Get tips on how to make heavy metal music in FL Studio, including how to create drum tracks, bass lines, and guitar riffs.

Intro

Welcome to our guide on how to make heavy metal music in FL Studio! In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of setting up your project, adding tracks, and putting together a heavy metal song. We’ll also touch on some of the unique aspects of metal music that you’ll need to keep in mind while composing. By the end of this guide, you should have a good understanding of how to get started making metal music in FL Studio.

What You Need

To make heavy metal music in FL Studio, you will need a few things. First, you will need a drum machine. Second, you will need a bass guitar. Third, you will need a lead guitar. Fourth, you will need a microphone. Finally, you will need speakers.

Software

There are many software programs that you can use for making metal music. Some people prefer to use Pro Tools, because it is a very popular program that is used by many professional studios. Others may prefer to use FL Studio, because it is a very user-friendly program that is perfect for those who are just starting out. No matter what software you choose to use, make sure that you have the latest version so that you can get the best results.

Hardware

In order to create heavy metal music in FL Studio, you will need a few key pieces of hardware.

First, you will need a computer that is powerful enough to run FL Studio and all of the virtual instruments and plugins that you will be using. A laptop can work for this, but a desktop computer will usually provide more power for a better price.

Second, you will need a MIDI keyboard. This does not have to be an expensive piece of equipment, but it should have enough keys to play the parts you want to write. It is also helpful if the keyboard has pitch and mod wheels, as well as octave buttons.

Third, you will need audio interface. This is necessary in order to record your guitar or bass parts into FL Studio. There are many different audio interfaces available on the market, so it is important to do your research to find one that will work well with your computer and other equipment.

Finally, you will need speakers or headphones. This is so you can hear your music as you are working on it. Again, there are many different options available, so it is important to find something that sounds good and that you are comfortable working with.

Setting Up

Before you can start making heavy metal music in FL Studio, you need to set up your workspace. This includes creating a new project, adding a drum track, and inserting a bass guitar. Once you have your workspace set up, you can start exploring the different features of FL Studio and start creating your own metal masterpieces.

Installing Plugins

Before you can make any noise in FL Studio, you need to install at least one virtual instrument plugin. These come in many different flavors, but they all simulate real-world instruments, giving you the ability to play anything from a piano to a full orchestral score. Some plugins even emulate the sound of classic analog synthesizers.

There are three ways to get plugins into FL Studio. The first is to buy them from the Image-Line store. This is the simplest and most straightforward method, but it can get expensive if you’re planning on buying a lot of plugins.

The second method is to find free plugins online. There are many websites that offer free plugins, but beware of download sites that bundle malware along with the plugin files. It’s always best to download plugins directly from the developer’s website if possible.

Finally, you can always create your own plugins using FL Studio’s built-in ZynAddSubFX synth engine. This is a bit more advanced, but it’s a great way to get exactly the sound you want without spending any money.

Configuring MIDI

MIDI or Musical Instrument Digital Interface is a technical standard that describes a protocol, digital interface and connectors and allows a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers and other related devices to connect and communicate with each other.

The MIDI standard was developed in the early 1980s by a consortium of companies – Roland, Yamaha, Korg, Kawai and Sequential Circuits – who saw the need for a common language that would allow musical instruments from different manufacturers to work together.

Today, MIDI is an important part of almost all computer music systems and is widely used by musicians for everything from recording and composing to live performance and sound design.

In order to use MIDI in FL Studio you will need to connect a MIDI device to your computer’s MIDI input port. This can be done using a MIDI interface or by connecting a USB cable from your controller/instrument directly to your computer’s USB port. Once your device is connected you will need to configure FL Studio to recognize it.

Writing a Song

In order to make a metal song, you’ll need to create a basic song structure. This includes a intro, verse, chorus, and bridge. You’ll also need to add in some heavy metal elements such as palm muting, double kicks, and down picking.

Drums

As with any genre, the drums play a vital role in heavy metal music. They provide the rhythm and foundation that the rest of the instruments build on. In FL Studio, there are a few different ways to create drums. You can use pre-made drum loops, create your own drum loops with midi instruments, or usedrag and drop samples.

Drum loops can be found in the “loops” tab in FL Studio. To create your own drum loop, first choose a midi instrument from the “instruments” tab. Then, open up the piano roll and start creating your drum pattern. Once you have a pattern you like, you can tweak the sound of the drums by adjusting the voice, pitch, envelope, and other parameters in the instrument’s settings window.

Samples can also be used to create drums in FL Studio. To do this, first load a sample into an empty mixer track. Then, open up the sample’s properties window and change the “playback” mode to “granular.” This will allow you to play around with the start and end points of the sample to create different rhythms. You can also add effects to further customize your sound.

Bass

The bass is the foundation of the song, it’s what the guitars and drums play off of. A good place to start is by finding a groove that you like and playing it for a few minutes. Experiment with different rhythms and note placements until you find something that you think sounds good.

Once you have a good groove going, start thinking about what kind of melody you want to play over it. Basslines in metal are typically very simple, so don’t worry about getting too complicated. Just find a few notes that sound good together and play around with them until you come up with something you like.

Once you have your bassline down, it’s time to add some distortion and effects. This will help give your bassline some more punch and make it stand out against the other instruments. Try different settings until you find something that you think sounds good.

Now that you have your bassline complete, it’s time to add the rest of the instruments. Start by adding a basic drum beat, then add some guitars and vocals. Experiment with different sounds and arrangements until you find something that you think sounds good.

And that’s it! With a little practice, you’ll be writing heavy metal songs in no time!

Guitars

No matter what genre of music you’re making, guitars are going to play a big role. In metal, guitars are often distorted to create a heavier, more aggressive sound. If you’re using FL Studio, you can easily add distortion to your guitar tracks using the Fruity Loops distortion plugin.

First, open up the Fruity Loops plugin window by clicking on the “Fruity Loops” button in the top toolbar. Then, click on the “Instruments” tab and select “Guitar” from the list of available instruments.

Now that you have the guitar window open, it’s time to start adding some distortion. To do this, click on the “Effects” tab and select “Distortion” from the list of available effects.

Once you have the distortion effect added, you can tweak it to taste. For example, you can adjust the level of distortion by turning the “Drive” knob. You can also add other effects like reverb or delay by clicking on the “+” button and adding them from the list of available effects.

When you’re happy with how your guitar sounds, click on the “OK” button to close the window and start recording your metal masterpiece!

Vocals

When writing vocals for a metal song, remember that the goal is to create something that is both aggressive and melodic. The vocals should be an important part of the song, not just something that is tacked on at the end.

There are a few things to keep in mind when writing metal vocals. First, the aggressive nature of the genre means that the vocalist will need to have a powerful voice. It is also important to be able to stay on key, as off-key vocals can quickly ruin a metal song.

Another important consideration is the lyrics. Metal songs often deal with dark subject matter, so the lyrics should reflect this. The use of metaphors and imagery can be particularly effective in metal songs.

Finally, remember that the vocalist will need to be able to sing (or scream) for an extended period of time. This means that the vocal melody should be relatively simple and easy to sing. The focus should be on delivering the lyrics with power and emotion, not on showing off vocal gymnastics.

Mixing and Mastering

steps to take to make your metal music sound great in FL Studio. These steps are mixing and mastering.

EQ

EQ, or equalization, is an essential tool for mixing and mastering heavy metal music. With EQ, you can adjust the frequencies of your audio to create the perfect sound.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using EQ. First, you want to avoid over-EQing your audio. This can make your sound muddy and cluttered. Second, you want to be careful not to boost too many frequencies at once. Boosting multiple frequencies can create a “buildup” effect that can make your audio sound loud and distorted.

When EQing heavy metal music, you’ll want to focus on boosting the low end for a heavier sound, and boosting the high end for a sharper, more aggressive sound. You can also use EQ to cut frequencies that are clashing with other instruments or vocals.

Overall, EQ is a powerful tool that can help you create the perfect sound for your heavy metal music. Use it wisely, and don’t be afraid to experiment!

Compression

Compression is an essential tool in music production, but it’s also one of the most difficult to master. When used correctly, compression can add power and punch to your tracks, but when used incorrectly, it can ruin your sound. In this article, we’ll show you how to use compression to add weight and impact to your tracks.

There are two types of compression: dynamic and static. Dynamic compression is the most common type, and it adjusts the level of a signal based on its amplitude. For example, if you’re compressing a vocal track, the compressor will reduce the level of the signal when the singer is singing quietly, and increase the level when they’re singing loudly. This makes thetrack sound more consistent overall. Static compression is less common, but it can be useful in certain situations. With static compression, you set a threshold, and any signal that falls below that threshold will be compressed.

Compression can be used on individual tracks or on groups of tracks (known as busses). In general, it’s best to compress individual tracks if you’re trying to achieve a specific sound, and to compress busses if you’re trying to achieve a broader sonic effect.

When compressing a track, there are four main parameters that you need to adjust: threshold, ratio, attack, and release.

Threshold is the point at which compression begins. The higher the threshold, the more dynamic range there will be in your track; the lower the threshold, the less dynamic range there will be.

Ratio determines how much compression is applied. A low ratio (2:1 or 3:1) will result in light compression; a high ratio (5:1 or 6:1) will result in heavy compression.
Attack controls how quickly the compressor responds to transients (sudden changes in amplitude). A fast attack will make transients sound punchier; a slow attack will make them sound smoother. Release controls how quickly the compressor “releases” after transients have passed. A fast release will make transients sound sharper; a slow release will make them sound more rounded out. In general, you’ll want to set your attack and release times based on the tempo of your track; for example, if your track is in 4/4 time at 120 BPM, you might want to set your attack time to 20 ms and your release time to 50 ms

Reverb and Delay

Reverb is an effective way to make your tracks sound bigger and more professional. By default, FL Studio comes with several quality reverbs, but you can also buy 3rd party plugins if you want more options. To add reverb to a track, first click on the mixer track you want to add it to. Then, click the “FX” button and choose “Reverb 2” from the list of available effects.

Delay is another common effect used in metal music. Delay can be used to make your tracks sound thicker and more powerful. To add delay to a track, first click on the mixer track you want to add it to. Then, click the “FX” button and choose “Delay 2” from the list of available effects.

Conclusion

Hopefully this guide was of some use to you. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Also, be sure to check out our other FL Studio tutorials, as well as our articles on making music in general. Thanks for reading!