Production breakdown: INSANE (Black Gryph0n & Baasik)

Summary (what’s happening in the production)

The creator explains how they built an entire song around a 1920s big band / ragtime vibe, then integrated that big band sound into both the intro and the drop using modern processing to keep it punchy and “retro.”

They begin with realistic instrument layers—session horns, upright bass, a jazz drum kit, and ragtime piano—then shape the tone using EQ and stereo width controls.

Next, they design a dubstep/glitch-style low end by sampling and slicing Serum-made loops. Finally, they detail a full vocal production chain, including tracking, tuning, compression, saturation, radio/retro effects, and creative doubles/width techniques.

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Artistic techniques / creative processes shown

1) Big band orchestration and layering (intro + drop)

Goal: Keep big band elements throughout the track because the artist is tied to a 1920s aesthetic.

Instrument sources (as described):

• Session horns (lead brass line)
• Supporting chords using an upright bass–style sound
• Jazz drum kit / studio drums
• Ragtime piano (Keyscape)
• Guitar played through a Waves guitar amp (jokingly described as “guitar horribly”)

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2) “Retro oldies” processing for the big band tone

Effects are applied to achieve a vintage, retro character (including a band-pass feel).

Tools mentioned:

• RC-20 for retro coloration
• EQ (“a lot of EQ”)
• Width knob kept close to mono
• Pro-Q3 for additional shaping to create a band-pass / “oldies” vibe

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3) Arrangement tweaks to brighten and cut through (especially brass lead)

• Lead brass octave up: copy the lead brass part and shift it up an octave
• Add OTT to make it brighter and more “in-your-face”

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4) Mix dynamics: heavy sidechain to punch the drums through

The entire big band section is sidechained heavily with Kickstart so the kick and snare stay prominent in the mix.

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5) Low-end redesign: dubstep/glitch base via sampling + loop manipulation

Goal: Since the brass is “clean,” the low end becomes grungier for contrast.

Explicit method:

1. Find suitable samples
2. Use Serum to create a loop
3. Freeze the loop (with effects)
4. Chop the frozen audio
5. Rearrange preferred parts into an audio-file bass track

Additional arrangement ideas:

• Use short reverb shots for space
• Add a “beefy” low-end section
• Include texture sounds for the final bit

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6) Drum and drop construction

• Add dubstep drums
• Ensure the drop still carries the big band sound, but using a more direct version of the core sound (not the same heavy retro processing)

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Vocal production techniques and signal chain

1) Tracking and base vocal chain

Tracking:

• Recorded vocals using Gabe’s TLM-103
• Through an Apollo interface
• Used UAD plug-ins (preamp + compressor)

In Ableton (as described):

• Melodyne tuning
• LA2A compressor
• EQ to roll off low end
• Saturation
• Additional EQ + compression
• Multiband compression
• De-essers
• RC-20 at the end for a warm “radio/retro” vibe

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2) Creative vocal widening (instead of a traditional doubler)

Uses an Alter/Effector approach:

• Send a copy with Little Alter Boy
• When the formant is set to negative 4 or lower, it creates:
  • Cool stereo width
  • Minimal phasing with the lead vocal (due to formant behavior)

The width is described as clearly audible in headphones due to left-right panning.

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3) Vocal sends and drop behavior

Send effects:

• Short verb
• Slap delay

Drop section distortion:

• Vocals distort as they enter the drop using:
  • Alter Boy double lock deluxe
  • OTT (again used to shape/emphasize)

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4) Extra vocal layers specifically for the drop/chorus

• Resampled octave-up vocals:
  • Resample the lead vocal and pitch it up an octave
  • Add delay/verb and OTT
• EQ differences for drop layers:
  • One layer has less high-end, since the brass is already very bright (to prevent competition)
• Doubler usage for width on another layer

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5) Final chorus lead emphasis

In the last chorus:

• Gabe sings an octave higher for extra prominence
• Passed through Hardtune, noted as helping the lead cut through amid the dense arrangement

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Creators / contributors mentioned

• Black Gryph0n
• Baasik
• Alistair
• Gabe