Bitcrushing is a process that can produce some really unique audio effects in your tracks.
It takes a digital audio signal and reduces the bit resolution, which can introduce a variety of distortion and other artifacts.
This can create a unique, gritty sound that can be used to add a unique character to your mix.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the process of bitcrushing in FL Studio, one of the most popular digital audio workstations (DAW).
We’ll discuss the basics of bitcrushing and then look at how to apply a bitcrushing effect in FL Studio.
By the end, you’ll be able to add a bitcrushing effect to any of your tracks in FL Studio and create some unique sonic textures.
Let’s dive in and take a look at how to bitcrush in FL Studio.
Create a new audio track
To get started with bitcrushing in FL Studio, the first thing you need to do is create a new audio track.
You can do this by clicking “Add” in the Browser, then selecting “Audio Track”.
You can also drag an existing audio track from the Browser into your project.
This audio track will be the source material for your bitcrushing.
Once you have your audio track added, click it to open up the track’s settings.
From there, you can adjust the track’s volume, panning, and other parameters.
Insert the Fruity Bitcrusher plugin
After you have added FL Studio to your setup, you can begin to bitcrush!
To get started, all you need to do is add the Fruity Bitcrusher plugin to your project.
This plugin is a simple and effective way to bitcrush your sound.
Just insert the plugin in the effects chain, set the parameters and you are ready to go.
You can control the bitrate and sample rate settings to achieve the desired sound.
Additionally, you can also use the Fruity Bitcrusher to create pitch-shifting effects.
Experiment with different combinations of settings to find the perfect sound for your project.
Adjust the Bit rate and Resolution
Next, you will want to adjust the bit rate and resolution.
The bit rate determines the quality of sound that you will be producing.
The higher the bit rate, the better the sound will be.
Lower bit rate settings will cause the sound to become distorted and less dynamic.
The resolution also determines the quality of sound, with higher resolution providing a better overall sound.
It is important to adjust both of these settings according to your preference as this will ultimately determine the quality of the bitcrushed sound that you produce.
Set the Crush depth and Mix
The fourth step towards bitcrushing in FL Studio is setting the Crush depth and Mix.
The Crush depth is the amount of bit resolution you want the sample to have.
The higher the value, the more clarity and dynamic range the sample will have.
The Mix determines the amount of effect the bitcrusher will have on the sample.
A higher value will result in more noticeable distortion, while a lower value will make the sound more subtle.
Experiment with different settings to get the desired result.
Adjust the Filter type and Frequency
The next step in learning how to bitcrush in FL Studio is to adjust the filter type and frequency.
This will create the gritty sound you may be looking for when bitcrushing.
Start by selecting a low-pass filter and set it to 24dB/oct.
Then adjust the frequency to taste.
For a clean sound go for a higher frequency, for a more lo-fi sound go for a lower frequency.
You can also experiment with other filter types like band-pass and high-pass to get different sounds.
After you’re happy with the sound, you can adjust the filter’s resonance to add a bit of spice to the sound.
Set the Output gain and Stereo width
Now that you’ve set the Bitcrush parameters, you’ll need to set the output gain and stereo width to achieve the desired effect.
To start, try setting the output gain to 0dB.
This will make the audio sound a bit louder, but not so loud that it starts to distort.
Then, set the stereo width to 50%.
This will give the sound a wider stereo image and add some depth to the sound.
Once you’ve adjusted the output gain and stereo width, you’re ready to listen to the bitcrushed track!
Adjust the Anti-aliasing and Dithering
After you’ve finished setting up your bitcrusher in FL Studio, it’s time to adjust the anti-aliasing and dithering.
Anti-aliasing is the process of smoothing out digital audio signals for a less harsh sound.
Dithering is the process of introducing random noise into a signal to mask distortion caused by bitcrushing.
In FL Studio, you can adjust the anti-aliasing and dithering settings by going to the “Bitcrusher” tab and selecting the “Dither/Anti-Alias” option.
You can then adjust the anti-aliasing and dithering parameters to get the sound you want.
Render the track to a new audio file
Once you’ve finished tweaking all of your settings and are satisfied with the sound, it’s time to render the track.
To do this, navigate to the File tab at the top, select “Render to . . .” and then choose the audio file format you want to save the track in.
FL Studio supports many popular formats such as WAV, MP3, and AIFF.
Once you’ve selected the audio format and given your file a name, click “Render” to save the track to your computer.
Congratulations, you’ve just successfully bitcrushed a track in FL Studio!
In conclusion, bitcrushing is a great technique for adding gritty tones and unique sounds to your production.
With the help of FL Studio, it’s easy to set up and get started.
By experimenting with the different parameters, you can create some really unique sounds that will help add character and depth to your track.
From lo-fi hip hop beats to glitchy soundscapes, bitcrushing can add a lot to your music.
