In EDM, sound design is all about creating unique sounds that make your tracks stand out. From punchy basslines to soaring leads, your ability to design sounds or select the right sounds can make or break your track. Whether you're just starting out or aiming to stand out, understanding sound design is a must.
Learn how different elements work together in a track by checking out our Understanding the Core Components of an EDM Song article for tips on leads, basslines, and more.
Before jumping into tools and techniques, let’s start with the basics. At its core, sound design is about shaping waveforms to create the tones you want. This means understanding waveforms, filters, and ADSR envelopes, which are the foundation for unique sounds, specifically for subtractive synthesis which most of you will be using and in my experience is the most type of sound synthesis.
All sounds are made of waveforms, which are the building block of sound design. The four most common waveforms—sine, triangle, square, and sawtooth—are the main elements in subtractive synthesis, where you shape sounds by removing unwanted frequencies through filtering and ADSR envelopes.
Having said that, sound design doesn’t stop with these shapes. Synths like Serum let you create or use custom wavetable waveforms to push your sounds even further. These wavetables can produce complex, growly textures perfect for the "heavier genres" such as Dubstep or Bass house.
In Serum’s built-in wavetable editor, you can draw your own waveforms or modify existing ones. It's a cool way to discover new, unique sounds for your tracks. But then there are other types of Synths which we won't get into here. These include Additive Synthesis, Frequency Modulation Synthesis, Granular Synthesis, ROMplers and more.
Popular synths like Serum and Sylenth1 are great for this but everyone has their own favourites. You can meet other producers and explore their workflows and favourite synths in Toronto by checking out our article on How to Meet Other DJs and Producers in Toronto.
ADSR stands for Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release. These settings control how a sound evolves over time.
Tweaking these parameters can turn a simple sound into a pluck, pad, or even a percussive hit. Side note -- if you have no sustain, then your decay becomes your release, since there is nothing to decay to. Of course there is also side chain compression which can affect your sound but this is a topic we will go deeper into another time.
Now that we know the basics, let’s see how a simple lead sound is created in a synth.
Doesn't sound too complicated, does it? You can join our Production Bootcamp for expert guidance right here based in Canada.
Here are some synths that I had a good experience with.
If you're not sure which synth to start with, then read out How to Meet Other DJs and Producers in Toronto article and ask some like-minded producers.
In EDM, unique sound design can set your tracks apart. Of course good songwriting, and other factors play a big role as well, but designing your own sounds instead of using presets can not only help you develop a signature sound, but also allow you to work faster as you can create exactly the sounds you want to place into your track or hear in your head. Plus, it gives you the freedom to shape every part of your music exactly how you want.
Subtractive synthesis starts with a rich sound (like a saw wave) and removes frequencies using filters to create new tones.
ADSR stands for Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release, which shape the volume and dynamics of a sound over time.
Serum is an excellent choice for beginners due to its intuitive interface and wide range of presets and tutorials.
Not at all! Many free and affordable synths, like Vital, offer professional-quality capabilities.
Practice is key. Start by recreating sounds from tracks you love and experimenting with different synths and techniques. You can also join our Production Bootcamp .
The four main waveforms are sine, triangle, square, and sawtooth. Each has unique characteristics and uses in EDM.
Sound design allows producers to craft exactly the unique sounds they want to place into their songs.
Filters shape the tone of a sound by removing certain frequencies. For example, a low-pass filter removes high frequencies, creating a smoother tone.
Absolutely! Free synths like Vital offer excellent tools for learning and creating professional-quality sounds.
It takes time and practice, but starting with the basics like waveforms, subtractive synthesis, and ADSR envelopes makes it approachable for beginners. Most importantly, in my experience it's imperative you have good speakers or headphones so you can actually hear what you're doing.
Sound design is a major cornerstone of EDM production and understanding it will take your music to new heights and will serve your production efforts for years to come.
Join our Production Bootcamp for hands-on training in Canada. Here you will be able to to craft professional tracks and develop your sound right here in Toronto.