How to Design Dubstep Growls in FL Studio

A growl bass changes tone over time. Start with a short phrase and build its movement before adding layers of processing. The useful result is a sound that follows your rhythm and leaves room for the rest of the track.

A starting workflow for growl design

1. Choose a starting tone. Use a synthesizer with a harmonic source, such as a wavetable. Keep the phrase simple while comparing timbres.
2. Add movement. Modulate a filter or wavetable position in time with the phrase. Adjust the depth before adding more modulation destinations.
3. Shape the texture. Add distortion or bit reduction gradually. Compare at similar loudness and reduce processing if it hides the rhythm.
4. Check the low end. Listen to the growl with the kick and sub. If you use a separate sub layer, adjust their overlap and check the result in mono.
5. Save a few variations. Keep the note pattern fixed while comparing timbre and modulation changes, then use the variations to answer each other in the arrangement.

Using Growler 2 in Patcher

Growler 2 combines single-knob growl control with a vocoder, bitcrusher and wavetable selector.

Before you start: FL Studio 25 (v25.1.2 or later), Serum or Serum 2, SerumFX or SerumFX 2, and OTT (latest versions).

1. Follow the supplied installation instructions. Install and scan the required synthesizer and effects in FL Studio, then load Growler 2 in Patcher.
2. Play a short repeated phrase. Explore the main control before changing several parameters at once.
3. Compare wavetable choices using the same notes, then explore the vocoder and bitcrusher separately to hear how each changes the tone.
4. Save the variations that fit the phrase. Check them against the kick and sub at similar loudness, then render audio if you want to arrange the results as clips.

Growler or Growler 2?

For an Ableton Live or Logic Pro project, check the original Growler version that matches your DAW. For the added Growler 2 controls in FL Studio, check the Growler 2 requirements. The two products are separate presets with different compatibility.