Three tips for learning how to make EDM from the popular DJ Martin Garrix
Good news, everyone!
Are you familiar with Martin Garrix, the masterful EDM DJ?
In music production, heFL STUDIOIt’s also famous as a good offering to the gods!
If you search YouTube for “Martin Garrix + FL STUDIO,” you’ll get quite a lot of hits.
However, since the language being spoken is, of course, English, I recommend you keep your eyes wide open and focus closely on the screen he’s operating!
This time, I’m going to explore tips for learning effectively from the great Martin Garrix’s FL Studio tutorial video.
3 tips for learning with FL Studio tutorial videos
Tip 1: Watch YouTube on your PC
When you try to learn something by watching YouTube, play it in a PC browser whenever possible.
The reason is to fully take advantage of YouTube’s convenient features!
If the speaker in the video is Japanese, you don’t need to worry much. But for explanatory videos by overseas musicians, there are a few features that are useful to know.
Tip 2: Turn on subtitles
For videos that support subtitles, please turn on the subtitle feature.
On YouTube, a high proportion of presenters in hit FL Studio tutorial videos are Westerners, so if you turn on subtitles, English captions will appear in sync with their speech.
When the subtitles are turned on, even if you don’t understand English, once DTM terms pop up, you can kind of tell what they’re trying to operate.
For example, things like the synthesizer’s filter cutoff frequency, or shaping dynamics with automation curves.
Usually the operation screen is shown while someone is chatting away in the background, so my plan is to check the knob operations and such, confirm the words I recognize in the subtitles, and get a grasp of the content!
If Japanese is available in the language settings, choose Japanese (though this is quite rare).
Tip 3: Slow down the playback speed
If you’re playing a video and feel the playback speed is too fast, go to Settings, select Speed, and choose 0.75.
Doing this will slow it down to a leisurely speed of 75% of the original playback rate.
Moreover!!
It keeps the pitch the same and slows down the playback at the original pitch.
By doing this, instead of frantically trying to keep up with the video, you'll be able to watch it much more calmly.
Furthermore, this feature that lets you slow down the playback speed seems like it would be really powerful for things like transcribing phrases by ear or copying chord progressions!
If you slow the speed down to 0.50, it goes beyond calm and becomes downright tedious.
For spoken parts it's a bit too slow, but for fast-picking phrases it feels just right and becomes easier to listen to.
Let's try analyzing Martin Garrix's track.
What is Martin Garrix?
Let me briefly introduce his career.
A DJ, lyricist, and music producer born in the Netherlands in 1996.
Released the solo single 'Animals' from the Dutch record label Spinnin' Records in 2013.
"Animals" took Europe by storm in the blink of an eye.
At the time, at 17, they suddenly became a star.
You're quite precocious (sweat).
I get the sense that you possess exceptionally rare talent and a remarkable depth of dedication to music.
Wow, much respect!
However, the fact that a song that became a worldwide hit was made with the same DAW software we use somehow makes me feel a kind of attachment to it.
Characteristics of Martin Garrix’s music
As for recent EDM drops (choruses), I feel like they can largely be divided into two trends.
The first drop increases the number of sounds, and the second drop decreases the number of sounds.
And I feel that he is a master of drops that reduce the syllable count in the latter.
For example, in his signature track “Animals,”
In the latter half of the bridge, just as you’re thinking, “Oh! Is the chorus coming?!” and the excitement builds, it strips down to a simple arrangement centered on that striking synth phrase—‘te-te-ten-te-ke’—and a punchy kick.
It's a great example of a track you can really groove to vertically, even with fewer notes!
Just adding more notes doesn’t automatically make it exciting!
They're showing us a model/example to follow!
Let's check out Martin Garrix's track production video!
First, this.
In this video, they’re carefully explaining the recreated data for “Animals,” seemingly in a private studio, but unfortunately the subtitle feature can’t be used.
Here you go.
In a live broadcast, you can watch the process of programming in FL Studio while getting real-time commentary explaining how to get started with music production.
This video can display subtitles, right?
Moreover, it seems that the Dutch has been translated into English.
YouTube is smart!
Summary
- Tip 1: Watch YouTube on your PC
- Tip 2: Turn on subtitles
- Tip 3: Slow down the playback speed
Result
To produce output, you need a tremendous amount of input.
To ensure even slightly better-quality input, it’s best not only to stick to what you like but to be greedy in your intake—even if it puts a bit of strain on you.
Even if it departs from Japanese.