Making Horror Music with FL Studio

Welcome to Chapter 9 of the FL Studio Cookbook, where we delve into the spine-tingling world of horror music composition using FL Studio. In this chapter, we will unlock the dark side of music production, guiding you through the intricate process of crafting haunting soundscapes, disturbing melodies, spine-chilling sound effects, and more. Whether you’re an intermediate or advanced FL Studio user, this chapter will equip you with the tools and techniques to create music that will send shivers down the listener’s spine.

We will cover the following recipes in this chapter:

• Horror music and its elements
• Creating haunting soundscapes and atmospheres
• Crafting disturbing melodies and themes
• Utilizing sound design for horror effects
• Building tension and suspense with arrangement techniques
• Experimenting with horror-specific production techniques
• Mixing and mastering for horror music
• Synchronizing music...

Technical requirements

• FL Studio software (version 20 or above)

Horror music and its elements

Horror music is a genre that thrives on the eerie and unsettling, using music to enhance the atmosphere and tension in horror storytelling. For example, listen to the work of Joseph Bishara in the Conjuring and Annabelle OSTs. In this recipe, we’ll explore the key characteristics and techniques used in horror music composition.

By understanding these elements, you’ll be better equipped to craft your own chilling soundscapes and unsettling melodies:

Getting ready

• Dissonance: Horror music often relies on dissonant harmonies to create a sense of unease and tension. Dissonance occurs when two or more notes clash, producing a jarring, uncomfortable sound. Experiment with dissonant chords and intervals to evoke a feeling of dread in your compositions. Minor and diminished chords are commonly used to achieve this effect.
• Irregular rhythms: The use of irregular rhythms and unpredictable patterns can add an eerie quality to your...

Creating haunting soundscapes and atmospheres

In the world of horror music, crafting haunting and immersive soundscapes is essential to set the stage for spine-tingling experiences. In this recipe, we will explore techniques for designing eerie and suspenseful soundscapes using synthesis, samples, and atmospheric effects within FL Studio. These techniques will help you create a chilling and immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall horror storytelling in your compositions:

Getting ready

• Ambient pads: Ambient pads are the foundation of many haunting soundscapes. They provide a sustained, ethereal backdrop that can evoke a sense of otherworldly tension. To create ambient pads, do the following:
  • Select a soft-synth or sampler in FL Studio with a wide range of lush, evolving sounds.
  • Experiment with sustained, evolving, or modulated pad presets.
  • Adjust the attack, release, and modulation parameters to shape the pad’s sound.
• Field recordings: Incorporating real-world...

Crafting disturbing melodies and themes

In the realm of horror music, crafting disturbing melodies and themes is paramount to conveying fear, unease, and tension. In this recipe, we’ll explore techniques for composing haunting melodies and motifs using minor scales, dissonant intervals, unresolved progressions, and a unique approach involving finding four notes that reply to each other. These elements will allow you to evoke a chilling and unsettling atmosphere in your horror music compositions using FL Studio:

Getting ready

• Minor scales: Begin by selecting a minor scale as the foundation for your melodies. The natural minor scale (Aeolian mode) is a popular choice due to its inherently somber and melancholic character. In FL Studio, you can use the piano roll to set your project to a minor key.
• Dissonant intervals: Dissonant intervals such as minor seconds, major sevenths, tritones, and augmented fourths create tension and unease in your melodies. These intervals...

Utilizing sound design for horror effects

Sound design is the heart and soul of horror music, allowing you to conjure spine-chilling soundscapes and unsettling textures that send shivers down the listener’s spine. In this recipe, we’ll dive deep into the world of sound design using FL Studio, exploring how to create eerie and terrifying sound effects through synthesis, manipulation techniques, and the incorporation of Foley sounds for organic and unsettling textures. Additionally, we’ll discuss the use of specialized instruments, such as Thrill from Native Instruments, to elevate your horror compositions:

Getting ready

• Synthesis: Sound synthesis forms the foundation of creating unique and otherworldly sounds for horror music. Experiment with synthesizers, both subtractive and wavetable, to generate original sonic elements.
• Manipulation techniques: Apply a variety of manipulation techniques to reshape and deform sounds. Techniques such as time-stretching...

Building tension and suspense with arrangement techniques

Creating tension and suspense is a crucial element in horror music composition. In this recipe, we’ll delve into the world of arrangement techniques within FL Studio, focusing on modulation effects, such as flanger, phaser, and chorus, as well as time-based processing techniques to add movement, interest, and depth to your horror tracks. These techniques will help you manipulate your soundscape, keeping your audience on the edge of their seats:

Getting ready

• Modulation effects: Modulation effects introduce dynamic changes to your sounds by altering parameters over time. In FL Studio, you have access to various modulation effects, including flanger, phaser, and chorus.
• Time-based processing: Time-based processing techniques manipulate the timing and spatial characteristics of your audio. This can include delay, reverb, and echo effects, all of which can contribute to the eerie and unsettling nature of your...

Experimenting with horror-specific production techniques

Building tension and suspense in horror music requires more than just sound design and melodies; it involves mastering specific production techniques that draw your audience into the eerie world you’ve created. In this recipe, we’ll explore horror-specific production techniques within FL Studio. These techniques encompass pacing, dynamics, the strategic use of silence, and the incorporation of crescendos and stingers for maximum dramatic impact. These tools will help you craft a terrifying and immersive horror music experience:

Getting ready

• Pacing: Pacing is the art of controlling the flow and timing of your music to create tension and release. It involves manipulating the tempo, rhythm, and arrangement to keep your audience engaged and on edge.
• Dynamics: Dynamics refer to the variations in volume and intensity within your composition. Understanding how to control dynamics is crucial for building...

Mixing and mastering for horror music

Mixing and mastering are the final crucial steps in crafting a polished and immersive horror music composition. In this recipe, we’ll explore essential techniques for mixing horror music within FL Studio. You’ll learn how to balance elements, utilize spatial effects, apply EQ and compression, and master your tracks to achieve a professional and cohesive sound that sends shivers down the listener’s spine:

Getting ready

• Balancing elements: Balancing the various elements in your horror composition is the foundation of a well-mixed track. It involves setting the right levels for each instrument, effect, and sound source to create a harmonious and coherent sonic landscape.
• Spatial: Spatial effects, such as reverb, delay, and panning, play a vital role in shaping the spatial dimension of your music. They can add depth, width, and a sense of space to your soundscape, enhancing the immersion of the listener.
• Equalization...

Synchronizing music with on-screen visuals

Synchronizing horror music with on-screen visuals is a critical skill that can elevate the overall chilling experience for your audience. In this recipe, we’ll explore the art of synchronizing horror music with visual elements in FL Studio. You’ll learn techniques for creating impactful moments of suspense, jump scares, and tension through precise timing, musical cues, and the manipulation of audiovisual elements:

Getting ready

• Visual elements: The visuals in your horror project, whether it’s a film, game, or other media, serve as the canvas on which your music is painted. Understanding the pacing and narrative of your visuals is essential for effective synchronization.
• Musical cues: Musical cues are specific musical events or motifs that align with key moments in the visuals. These cues can signal tension, fear, surprise, or other emotional responses in the audience.
• Audiovisual elements: The combination...