Koala Sampler is a powerful and intuitive mobile app for creating beats, with the ability to layer and process sounds with built-in FX. One of the best ways to add depth and character to your beats is by utilizing these Bus FX allowing you to group samples into "buses" and apply effects to multiple layers simultaneously. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make the most of bus FX for your drums, melodies, and basslines in Koala.
Step 1: Setting Up the Bus Routing in Koala Sampler
Start by grouping all your samples into their respective bus'. For example: All Melodic sounds into Bus A, Lead/Vocals into Bus B, Bass into Bus C and all drum sounds into Bus D. To edit multiple sample pads at once in Koala Sampler, hold the edit button, select all your samples and then you can make changes to a group of pads simultaneously. Once all sounds are routed into the Bus FX, it's time to add the secret sauce with FX. Here are some of my recommendations:
Drum Bus
Bit Cooker: This is an excellent first choice to add some grit to your drums, mimicking the character of old-school samplers. Set the mix to a level that complements your beat. With Bit Cooker off, you'll hear a cleaner sound, but turning it on introduces some crunchy, lo-fi texture. You can also tweak the settings to fit the vibe you're aiming for.
Compression: Compressing your drums helps glue them together without going overboard. Set a low attack and release so the compression works quickly, ensuring your drums hit hard but remain cohesive. You can also adjust the ratio to taste, I prefer a smaller 2:1 or similar, but check the meter and let your ears be your guide.
Reverb: Adding a touch of reverb gives the drums a sense of space. In this example, keep it subtle, as too much can make the drums sound washed out. Just enough reverb can make it feel like your drums are sitting in a live room.
Melodic FX
Filter with LFO: Start by applying a low-pass filter with a subtle LFO to create movement in your sound. The Koala filter can be a bit sensitive, so fine-tune the cutoff and resonance to find that sweet spot where the filter sweeps naturally through the frequencies without being too drastic. This gives your melodies a dynamic feel without overpowering the mix.
Warble: Warble adds a lo-fi pitch wobble to your melodies, perfect for achieving that tape-like, nostalgic sound. This subtle detuning effect can bring more character to simple chords or melodies.
Sidechain Compression: Sidechaining the melody bus to the drum bus (Bus D) helps create that classic "pumping" effect, often used in house and lo-fi beats. Since the kick drum is typically the loudest element, it will trigger the sidechain compression, causing the melodies to duck slightly every time the kick hits. This keeps the mix clean while emphasizing the rhythm.
Delay & Reverb: These can add depth, warmth and space to the sound. You can experiment with the "tails" or ends of sound by putting these fx before or after the sidechain to get interesting interactions with the ducking volume of the side chain.
Bass Bus:
Drive: Adding some drive will introduce harmonic distortion to the bass, emphasizing higher frequencies and giving it a gritty, vintage feel. Be careful not to overdo it—too much drive can make the bass sound too distorted and lose its definition.
EQ: Use EQ to shape the bass further. Boost specific frequencies that bring out the natural picking sound or emphasize the low end to ensure it cuts through the mix. Lower some high frequencies to avoid clashing with the high-end elements.
Lead/Vocal Bus:
EQ: If you're working with vocal samples, use the EQ to clean up the frequency spectrum, especially focusing on removing unwanted low-end rumble and taming high-end sibilance. You can apply a high-pass filter to cut unnecessary low frequencies and a slight dip in the high-mids to avoid harshness.
Compression: Helps to balance the overall level of your lead or vocal allowing it to be pushed more into the "front" of the mix as the main part
Delay & Reverb: Add a stereo delay for width. A slight ping-pong delay is especially effective when you're working with vocals or melodic elements, giving them room to breathe in the mix while retaining clarity. Set the delay to sync with your tempo for rhythmic precision, or manually adjust for more experimental, off-beat effects. Add Reverb after for additional space in the mix
Chorus: Chorus adds a subtle thickness to your lead sounds, giving them a richer, fuller feel. This effect works particularly well on synths or vocals that feel too thin on their own. In Koala, the flanger effect can be used as a workaround to achieve a chorus-like sound. Just keep the depth low and experiment with the speed to find a setting that suits your lead.
Sidechain Compression (Optional): Sidechaining the lead bus to your drums can help maintain the prominence of the beat while allowing the lead to remain clear. This technique is useful when you want the lead to duck slightly when the kick hits, preventing it from competing with other rhythmic elements. However, don't overdo it—subtle sidechaining will keep your leads dynamic while preserving their place at the front of the mix.
For more FX recommendations, internal FX Mastering guide to make your tracks compete in volume with the pros and an easy to reference cheat sheet for all things Koala Sampler, check out the Koala Sampler Quick Start Guide
Check out this video for a real time example of how to apply this into your beatmaking:
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