In 2012, the "loudness wars" were in full swing. To get that snappy, competitive sound, producers moved away from just using a single loop.
Producers would create a basic saw or square wave in Operator or NI Massive , then run it through a brutal chain of Overdrive , Erosion , and the Cabinet effect. Drum Bass 2012 In Ableton Live
On the flip side, 2012 saw the peak of the "Liquid" sound (think Hospital Records ). In 2012, the "loudness wars" were in full swing
The Glue Compressor (introduced around this time) became the secret weapon. Putting it on the drum group with a soft clip enabled helped "squash" the transients into a cohesive, driving wall of sound. 2. The Bass: Synthesis and Resampling The "Neuro" sound of 2012 was all about movement. On the flip side, 2012 saw the peak
Here is a look at the workflow and DNA of 2012-era DnB in Ableton. 1. The Foundation: The Breakbeat