How to Make Drum and Bass in FL Studio – Complete Guide

Why FL Studio is Great for Drum and Bass

FL Studio is one of the most popular DAWs for producing Drum and Bass. Its fast workflow, powerful piano roll and flexible mixer routing make it an excellent choice for creating everything from liquid rollers to heavy neurofunk. Producers like Culprate, Hybrid Minds and many underground artists use FL Studio as their primary production tool.

This guide covers everything you need to set up FL Studio for Drum and Bass production and start making tracks.

Setting Up Your Project

Tempo

Set your project tempo between 170-180 BPM. Most Drum and Bass sits around 174 BPM but tempos vary by sub-genre. Liquid DNB often works at 170-174 while jump-up and neurofunk can push up to 176-180. Set the time signature to 4/4.

Project Template

Create a template project with your commonly used tracks pre-configured. Set up mixer channels for kick, snare, hi-hats, bass sub, bass mid, pads, leads, FX and a master bus. This saves setup time on every new project.

Audio Settings

Use ASIO drivers for the lowest latency. Set your buffer size to 256 or 512 samples for a good balance between latency and CPU load. A sample rate of 44100 Hz is standard. Increase the buffer size if you experience crackles or dropouts.

Essential Plugins for DNB in FL Studio

Serum

Serum is the industry standard for bass sound design in Drum and Bass. Its wavetable engine, flexible modulation and built-in effects make it perfect for creating everything from Reese basses to complex neuro sounds. Load Serum as a VST instrument in your channel rack.

FL Studio Built-in Tools

FL Studio includes several excellent built-in tools for DNB:

• Sytrus: FM synthesis engine great for metallic basses and pads
• Harmor: Additive synthesis with resynthesis capabilities
• 3xOsc: Simple but effective for sub basses
• Parametric EQ 2: Excellent visual EQ for mixing
• Maximus: Multiband compressor and limiter
• Gross Beat: Time and volume manipulation for glitch effects

Programming DNB Drums in FL Studio

The Amen Break Pattern

The Amen break is the foundation of Drum and Bass drumming. In FL Studio, programme this pattern in the step sequencer or piano roll. The basic pattern alternates between kick, snare, kick-kick, snare with hi-hats running throughout. Time-stretch and chop breakbeats using Slicex or Edison for an authentic DNB feel.

Layering Drums

Layer your kick with a sub kick and a top kick. The sub provides the low-end thump while the top adds click and presence. Use FL Studio Patcher or separate mixer channels to process each layer independently. The same approach works for snares: combine a punchy transient layer with a tonal body layer.

Hi-Hat Programming

DNB hi-hats typically run at 8th or 16th note patterns with velocity variations for groove. Add ghost notes at lower velocities between the main hits. Vary the sample or pitch slightly on different hits to avoid a mechanical feel. Open hi-hats on specific offbeats add swing and energy.

Bass Production in FL Studio

Sub Bass

Create a sub bass using 3xOsc with a sine wave, or use Serum for more control. Keep the sub mono and below 100 Hz. Sidechain the sub to the kick using Fruity Limiter or a dedicated sidechain plugin. This creates the pumping effect that gives DNB its energy.

Mid Bass with Serum

Load Serum on a separate mixer channel for your mid-range bass. Use Serum presets as starting points and automate the macro controls to create movement. High-pass filter the mid bass at 80-100 Hz so it does not clash with the sub. This layered approach gives you a powerful, controlled low end.

Automation

FL Studio excels at automation. Right-click any parameter and select “Create automation clip” to draw in changes over time. Automate filter cutoffs, wavetable positions, effect wet/dry levels and more. Automation is what brings bass sounds to life in a full arrangement.

Arrangement Tips

Song Structure

A typical DNB track follows this structure:

• Intro (16-32 bars): Atmospheric elements, gradually introducing drums
• Build-up (8-16 bars): Rising tension, snare rolls, filter sweeps
• Drop 1 (32-64 bars): Full energy with drums, bass and leads
• Breakdown (16-32 bars): Strip back to pads, vocals, atmosphere
• Build-up 2 (8-16 bars): Variation on first build
• Drop 2 (32-64 bars): Modified drop with new elements
• Outro (16-32 bars): Gradual fadeout

Using the Playlist

FL Studio Playlist view is ideal for arranging. Use pattern clips for different sections and arrange them visually. Colour code your patterns by type (drums, bass, melody, FX) to keep the arrangement clear and easy to navigate.

Mixing DNB in FL Studio

Gain Staging

Set each mixer channel to peak around -6 to -12 dB. This leaves headroom for the master bus and prevents clipping. Use the mixer channel faders, not plugin output levels, for volume balancing.

EQ and Filtering

High-pass filter every track except kick and sub bass. Drums often need a cut around 200-400 Hz to reduce boxiness. Use Parametric EQ 2 for surgical cuts and gentle boosts. Avoid boosting more than 3 dB unless you have a specific reason.

Compression

Use Fruity Limiter or a third-party compressor on your drum bus for glue. A ratio of 2:1 to 4:1 with medium attack and release works well. For individual drums, faster attack times control transients while slower attacks let the initial punch through.

Getting Started with Presets

If you are new to DNB production in FL Studio, starting with quality Serum presets can accelerate your learning dramatically. You get professional sounds immediately and can focus on arrangement, mixing and the creative side of production rather than spending hours on sound design.

Preset Drive offers Drum and Bass preset packs designed to work perfectly in FL Studio. Load them into Serum, drop them into your channel rack and start making tracks.

Conclusion

FL Studio is a powerful, flexible DAW that works brilliantly for Drum and Bass production. Set up your template, learn the piano roll and mixer, and use quality plugins and presets to build your sound. With practice and the right tools, you can produce professional-sounding DNB tracks entirely within FL Studio.

Ready to upgrade your FL Studio sound library? Browse our DNB preset packs for Serum.

Related Preset Packs

Looking for professional bass music presets? Check out these Serum preset packs:

• Dirty Drum & Bass Vol.1
• Dirty Drum & Bass Vol.2
• 100x Dirty Bass One Shots
• Dirty Bass Master Bundle Vol. 1 & 2

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For a complete overview of modern drum and bass production and preset recommendations, see our Modern Drum and Bass Serum Presets guide.