Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • EVH trance state
  • Antonoff on Please Please Please
  • “Mick looked peeved. The Beatles had upstaged him”
  • 95k+ free music samples

Recommended reading

Marshall Jefferson
Samples SampleRadar: 267 free deep house samples
eats everything in his studio
Tech “Entrance Song is a massive 808 sub and a 909 kick. Those two shouldn’t work together - I’m not sure they were even in key”: Eats Everything on his ever-changing approach to production and DJing
Djrum
Artists “I'm always starting sessions and not finishing them, I don't see that as unproductive”: Djrum talks creativity
50 producers
Music Production Tutorials 50 production secrets from the pros
Best beginner DAWs: Cockos Reaper 6
Music Production Tutorials New to making tracks? Start here
dr dubplate
Artists “If you've got one follower or 10 million, that doesn't matter”: Dr Dubplate on "gatekeeper mentality"
Lawrence Hart
Artists Watch UK electronic artist Lawrence Hart build a track from scratch in his hardware-stuffed studio
  1. Tutorials
  2. Music Production Tutorials

How to make filthy dubstep wobble sounds

Tuition
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 7 July 2010

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Getting started

Getting started

Step 1: For this tutorial, we’re going to use two plug-ins from the CM Studio, the suite of software that comes included on ever Computer Music magazine cover DVD. There are many synths in the Studio, but the most flexible one for making big, bad virtual analogue sounds is ZebraCM. Load it into your DAW and turn oscillator2’s Volume level all the way down - we’re going to start with just a single oscillator. While you’re at it, set the first oscillator’s voice mode from Dual to Single.

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Oscillator 1 and filter

Oscillator 1 and filter

Step 2: Set oscillator1’s Wave knob to 2.00 to select a square shape. In the Filter section, right-click the modulation source knob that currently says Env2 and change it to LFO2. Set its level to 52.00, and adjust the filter Cutoff to 36.00. Turn the Resonance up to 12.50, and change the filter mode from LP Xcite to LP Allround.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Modulation

Modulation

Step 3: In the modulation panel, select LFO2 and change the Restart mode from Free to Gate. Change the Waveform of the LFO from Sine to Saw Up. You can now sweep or automate the Rate knob to dynamically change the rhythm of the LFO2-to-filter-cutoff automation.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Adding some fuzz

Adding some fuzz

Step 4: In your DAW, insert CM Fuzz into the ZebraCM mixer channel (or download CamelCrusher). Turn off the Filter and Compressor sections and copy the Distortion and Master settings shown here for a chunky, distorted sound without too many nasty high frequencies.

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Other waveforms

Other waveforms

Step 5: This simple sound is based around a square wave. To use more complex waveforms, sweep the Wave knob over to the right. These waveforms don’t have the raw power of the square, but have more interesting textures. For instance, a setting of 10.00 will give you a spongy timbre with a crunchy top end.

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Finishing off

Finishing off

Step 6: Set the Wave knob back to 2.00. Another cool way to get nasty top-end frequencies is to use ZebraCM’s Sync feature. Activate this by clicking the Sync button and turn up the knob below it to 24.00. To get more from these nasty high-end sounds, turn the filter Cutoff up a bit so you can hear them more clearly.

Liked this? Now read: How to make a dubstep bass sound

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Get MusicRadar straight to your inbox: Sign up for the free weekly newsletter

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Computer Music
Computer Music
Social Links Navigation

Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

Read more
Marshall Jefferson
SampleRadar: 267 free deep house samples
eats everything in his studio
“Entrance Song is a massive 808 sub and a 909 kick. Those two shouldn’t work together - I’m not sure they were even in key”: Eats Everything on his ever-changing approach to production and DJing
Djrum
“I'm always starting sessions and not finishing them, I don't see that as unproductive”: Djrum talks creativity
50 producers
50 production secrets from the pros
Best beginner DAWs: Cockos Reaper 6
New to making tracks? Start here
dr dubplate
“If you've got one follower or 10 million, that doesn't matter”: Dr Dubplate on "gatekeeper mentality"
Latest in Music Production Tutorials
Reference tracks
Reference tracks can be your secret weapon when mixing - but be mindful of replicating other artists' choices too much
Yune Pinku
10 more things producers can learn from our In The Studio With... series
50 producers
50 production secrets from the pros
Oasis
"The din was huge": Noel and Liam Gallagher perform behind closed doors for the first time in 16 years
Lexicon 480L
Why reverb is one of the most reliable effects in a producer's arsenal
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
Latest in Tuition
Piano basics: the black notes - what are they for and how do you use them?
Circle of fifths
The ultimate guide to the circle of fifths and how it can help you make better music
From Parlour to Jumbo: The beginner's guide to acoustic guitar body shapes (and which one is right for you)
Tokyo Dawn Records Nova
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: TDR Nova
Podcasting
The head of Audacity shares his top 5 tips for beginner podcasters
Pedalboard
The ultimate guide to pedal board essentials (and what order to put them in)

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...