How do I make a lo-fi beat?

Lo-fi beats thrive on imperfection and warmth. Focus on using low-quality samples, dusty drums, mellow basslines, and subtle effects to create that nostalgic, tape-recorded vibe.

Sample Selection

Start by loading sounds with character. Look for kicks in the 1-99 range that sound muffled or rounded, not punchy. Choose snares from 100-199 that have texture or noise. For hi-hats (200-299), select closed hats that sound softer. Assign these to Group A for drums.

Set Your Tempo

Press TEMPO and set it between 70-90 BPM using KnobX. Lo-fi lives in this slower range. Hold TEMPO and type an exact number on the pads if you want precision.

Build Dusty Drums

Press MAIN and select Group A. Press RECORD then PLAY for count-in. Play a simple pattern: kick on beats 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4. Add hi-hats on every 8th note. Don't quantize perfectly. Press TIMING and select PLUS for free time mode to keep those human imperfections.

Add Swing

Press TIMING and turn KnobY to add swing. This creates the signature off-kilter groove. Try setting it around 55-65%.

Create a Warm Bassline

Switch to Group B. Press SOUND and browse bass sounds in the 400-499 range. Pick something warm and round. Press KEYS to activate chromatic mode. Press RECORD then PLAY and play a simple 2-4 note bassline. Keep it repetitive and mellow.

Add Melodic Elements

Switch to Group C. Load a sound from 500-599 (melodic range). Use SHIFT + SOUND to enter sound edit mode. Press MINUS or PLUS twice to reach trim mode. Turn KnobX to start the sample partway through, creating a chopped or degraded feel. Press and hold for 2 seconds to save.

In KEYS mode, record a simple chord progression or melody. Lo-fi often uses jazz chords and melancholic progressions.

Degrade the Sound

Press FX and use MINUS or PLUS to select the filter. Move the fader up and turn KnobX to create a low-pass filter effect, cutting high frequencies for that muffled sound. Turn KnobY for resonance if you want more character.

Switch to reverb with MINUS or PLUS. Add subtle reverb by moving the fader up slightly. Turn KnobX for a medium room size and KnobY for darker color.

Add Texture with Punch-In FX

Hold FX and tap pads to trigger glitch effects, stutter, or pitch drops. These create those signature lo-fi imperfections and transitions.

Lower Sample Quality

Press SHIFT + ERASE to access system settings. When transferring samples via USB using the EP Sample Tool, use lower sample rates (down to 11.025 kHz) for authentic degraded sound.

Master Compression

Press SHIFT + FX to access the master compressor. Turn KnobX for gentle drive and KnobY for slower compression speed. This glues everything together with that warm, compressed tape feel.

Commit Your Beat

Press SHIFT + MAIN to commit your pattern as a scene. Build variations by adjusting the melody, adding vinyl crackle samples to Group D, or automating the filter by holding RECORD and moving the fader during playback.