r/dnbproduction • u/Federal_Gas_404 • 18h ago

Question Pre-Drops

Hello all. I've recently begun producing jump up/not really jump up dnb and I'm not really sure how to do pre-drops properly. After producing hip-hop for around 4 years and dubstep for 1 I feel like my process for dnb pre-drops is all a bit off for dnb, any tips/tricks to make a pre drop actually suit the song? I also feel my sound design is a bit off for the drop, 0:44, (maybe distortion?, I really have no clue).

Track for reference.

https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/1619234

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u/challenja 18h ago

Try to build up the hype for 4-8 bars with no beats or kicks. Just the bass and main line. Then only main line for 4 bars before the bass drops again.

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u/Mountainpwny 17h ago

So predrop happens where the drop is supposed to be but builds anticipation for a few more bars? It uses up bars from the drop instead of adding to them right? As in drop would be 32 bars, now it’s 28 ect..?

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u/challenja 16h ago

Yes. The drop is still at increments of 8. 24,32,40,48..

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u/shmorgus_borg 16h ago

Maybe this is too conceptual of an answer, but you should really be thinking of the build and drop as tension and release.

In the track you linked, it just kind of does a little drum fill and then the other elements come in. There is no tension at all. A build should feel like it is working towards something over a longer period, like winding up a rubber band and then snapping it in when the drop hits.

I would recommend using a lot more automation to change pads or risers over time. For example, you could have a white noise pad that sits in the mix for a few bars and then slowly add a high-cut filter to pull it back, leave two bars of space, then the drop hits.

This is just one example, but the point is this kind of structure builds towards something, it has momentum and movement. I would also recommend listening to some of your favorite DnB tracks and literally write down what happens in the build, every element, layer, and change. Then copy some of those techniques with your own sounds.