> Technique

14. Hangover cure

We’ve talked a lot about creating impactful contrast between builds and drops, and that usually means killing reverb and delay tails when the drop kicks in. How about making these ‘hangover’ FX a deliberate feature of your track? Simply cut off the source sound – be it a riser, sound effect or vocal snatch – but allow its reverb and delay tails to carry into the following section. You can use volume and filter automation to slim the tails down if they’re clouding your drop too much. A related technique is to add cavernous reverb or delay to the final clap or snare (or any element your listeners are anticipating) of a section so that these effects wash over into the drop.