The Secrets Behind HIGH-ENERGY Drops

FREE COURSE – The Art of Sampling
https://cymatics.fm/pages/amp-the-art-of-sampling-yt

In this lesson, Steven breaks down the full process of creating high energy build ups that make your drops hit harder than ever. Build ups are one of the core pillars of EDM, but they are also extremely useful for hip hop, trap, pop, and any genre that needs strong transitions or momentum. You will see how the right drum loop, riser, or reversed effect can completely change the impact of your drop and make your entire arrangement feel more professional.

Steven begins by showing one of his own build ups and explains why it creates so much tension before the drop. He demonstrates how Cymatics build up drum loops work, how to match them to the BPM of your song, and how to use the included stem layers to mix and match different parts. You will see how swapping snares, switching between different build up patterns, or combining layers from multiple loops can create entirely new transitions that fit your song perfectly.

He then moves into more advanced techniques, showing how he layers multiple build up hits, risers, white noise sweeps, crashes, and reversed impacts to create a massive sense of lift before the drop. You will see how these layers interact, how repeated build up phrases build tension, and how reversing cymbals or impacts fills the space leading into the drop. He also explains how to use the same concepts for pop and rap, where the build up must be more subtle to avoid overpowering the vocals.

You will learn how to tame a heavy build up by using EQ to remove lows and soften the highs, how to lower the volume to create a more minimal build up, and how to support vocal driven music without losing energy. Steven walks through multiple songs, demonstrating exactly how he adapted build up loops for EDM, pop, and rap.

By the end of the lesson, you will understand how to create powerful transitions, how to customize build ups for any genre, and how to control intensity so your drops hit harder without overwhelming the mix.

What you will learn

• How professional EDM style build ups create tension before a drop
• How to use Cymatics build up drum loops and stem layers to customize transitions
• How to stack multiple build up elements for huge energy
• How to use risers, white noise sweeps, reversed cymbals, and reversed impacts
• How to repeat build up loops for extra tension
• How to shape build ups for pop and rap without overpowering vocals
• How to use EQ and volume to control intensity
• How to combine full loops with custom layers to build unique transitions

Homework

• Download the following songs provided with the build ups removed: https://2025.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/AMP%20Homework/Art%20Of%20Sampling/Cymatics-11-HowToMakePowerfulBuildups(Homework).zip
• Recreate the build ups using the loops, layers, and risers included with the lesson
• Experiment with reversing cymbals, crashes, and impacts
• Build both a full EDM style build up and a more minimal pop or rap version
• Mix and match stem layers to create your own custom build up patterns
• Compare the energy and impact before and after your build up is added