My favourite trick to create a build-up to drop out of a simple, four bar loop:
1.Start with a hi pass filter – engage it and cut the lows
2.Activate a reverb effect with minimum wet signal and short decay
3.Gradually do all of these things – sweep the filter to upper frequencies, increase the wet signal of the reverb (but not more to 50% if you have a dry-wet configuration) and increase the decay of the reverb
4. After 2 or 4 bars (depending on how much you want your audience to wait) instantly deactivate all the effects – the effect is nicer if the reverb’s signal is not cut – in other words if your software allows you to stop signal going TO the reverb effect but NOT the reverbs output. (i.e. keep the remaining “tail” of the reverb once the beat has dropped).
5. You can also drop a small delay effect right before dropping the beat for added crescento!
😉
.
