What the hell is dubstep?

[icecycle66]

So...I've read the "live dubstep" and "Source Audio Dubstep" threads and listened to a bunch of Youtube stuff, but I still don't know.

What is dubstep?

Can someone give me a mechanical breakdown of what this is?

I prefer more productive answers than "crap" or "The best."

[5StringBlues]

Subbed.


Been wondering this myself.

[electracoyote]

YouTube "Skrillex," one of the more popular in this genre.

Skrillex - Rock n Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain) - YouTube

I think it's badass.

[21niko21]

Not a master on dubstep, but Kode 9 is my favorite dubstep artist and what I think of for dubstep. I kind of consider The Bug dubstep as well, but I don't think he's true dubstep.

Kode9 &The Spaceape - Backward - YouTube

[bass12]

This should help:

Dubstep - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[21niko21]

There's always Wikipedia too. :-)

[Codymb]

Dom Mazzetti vs. Dubstep - YouTube

I hope that clears things up.

[icecycle66]

I've read the wiki article and watched the youtube videos. ALl I get out of it is "blah blah blah, drum and bass, blah blah blah".

Also, that Skrillex guy can really wail on the Macbook Pro.

[Codymb]

Here, let one of the masters break it down for you.

UKF Dubstep Tutorial (Presented by Dubba Jonny) - YouTube

Enjoy.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by icecycle66

Also, that Skrillex guy can really wail on the Macbook Pro.

Indeed.

Most dub step sounds to me like techno with tons of samples and filters applied, and occasionally taking the 4/4 dance beat to a half time feel.

Stoners seem to like it a lot.

[icecycle66]

Even though this guy is making a comedic drag out of dubstep, he has provided the most coherent description I have yet heard.

It seems like every time I ask dubsteppers to describe it, the response is along the same line Mazzetti provides. It's as though he is making fun of a group by acting exactly like them without exaggeration.

This can't be all there is to it, is there?

If so, that's very upsetting and I’ll go ahead and cram dubstep under the “douchebag hipster” file.

Originally Posted by Codymb

Dom Mazzetti vs. Dubstep - YouTube

I hope that clears things up.

[bass12]

Originally Posted by icecycle66

I've read the wiki article and watched the youtube videos. ALl I get out of it is "blah blah blah, drum and bass, blah blah blah".

Also, that Skrillex guy can really wail on the Macbook Pro.

Well, what kind of explanation are you looking for? Most of the answers about what constitute dubstep stylistically are right there in the music. In terms of other musical connections, dubstep is closely linked to grime, 2 step, drum & bass and the electro of guys like Kurtis Mantronik (have a listen to his "I Sing The Body Electro" album).

[5StringBlues]

Hmmmmmmmm.


One more infraction and I'm permabanned,so I'll just say......




Unsubscribed.

[tdub0199]

Dubstep is WAY over reated IMO......

[M0ses]

Dubstep is techo made less sophisticated by mixing it with bad contemporary sample music. Not hard to understand.

[icecycle66]

Originally Posted by bass12

Well, what kind of explanation are you looking for? Most of the answers about what constitute dubstep stylistically are right there in the music. In terms of other musical connections, dubstep is closely linked to grime, 2 step, drum & bass and the electro of guys like Kurtis Mantronik (have a listen to his "I Sing The Body Electro" album).

Okay, this is actually kind of helpful.

Is calling electronic dance music names like “Grime”, “UK Garage”, and “Dubstep” the same as calling heavy metal “Black”, “Goth”, and “Doom”?

So:
Daft Punk is to electronic dance as Skrillex is to dubstep.

-The same as-

Metallica is to heavy metal as Mortemia is to goth metal.

True?

[michael_atw]

Bass + drums + nerds + Apple products + urban landscape = dubstep.


That's all you need to know. Or should want to know.

[Codymb]

Originally Posted by icecycle66

Even though this guy is making a comedic drag out of dubstep, he has provided the most coherent description I have yet heard.

It seems like every time I ask dubsteppers to describe it, the response is along the same line Mazzetti provides. It's as though he is making fun of a group by acting exactly like them without exaggeration.

This can't be all there is to it, is there?

If so, that's very upsetting and I’ll go ahead and cram dubstep under the “douchebag hipster” file.

You hit the nail on the head. Dom Mazzetti is a comedian who's humor usually revolves around mocking popular social trends. And frankly, his parody of the Dubstep community is freakishly accurate.

If you're looking for a more "definition" type of explanation I would summarize it thusly; Dubstep is a brand of techno music started in London in the late 90's, that is characterized by entirely digital production, slower tempos, hip-hop style percussion, and the modulation of digital bass tones and sound effects to create the rhythmic and melodic structure.

So basically, it's hip-hop meets techno meets broken computer sounds.

[Phendyr_Loon]

From what I can tell Dubstep is a variation of house, dance, techno, club whatever you wanna call it this time around.
It sweeps the US about every decade in the underground cultural circles and gives people an excuse to do ecstacy again.

I can reference the Henry Rollins bit which asks the question, which came first the drugs or the music?

[P-oddz]

Not sure if I fully understand Dubstep myself (although I think I have a good grasp). Not all of it is produced by loops though.

This is kind of a cool video with a guy using the Source Audio Hot Hand (you need to watch past 20 seconds):

Dubstep Bass Guitar (Nathan Navarro) - YouTube