How It Was Made: Ravyn Lyte – 11111 (Just Be The One) 

Drum and bass is a more technical genre than it often gets credit for. It’s nuanced in how it’s mixed, the sample selection, sound selection, and everything like that. It’s no surprise to those who know the genre well that it leans into modern technology to get the most polished, clean, groovy, snappy sounds—you know, all the technical buzzwords associated with music production.

When an artist named Ravyn Lyte came onto my radar with their latest song, “11111 (Just Be the One),” I saw that they leaned into AI in a cool and creative way, not as corny as most assume AI to be. This song explores love and longing set against a futuristic drum and bass-influenced soundscape. The lyrics delve into the complexities of unspoken emotions and the push-and-pull dynamics of relationships, with the chorus’s repetitive call to “just be the one” echoing the universal desire for human connection.

Ravyn Lyte is the brainchild of Marcus “Bellringer” Bell, the son of former national tennis champion Carolyn Bell, who toured the country with Arthur Ashe. Marcus was a child prodigy who started playing the piano at age two, wrote his first songs at eight, and started his own record label at 12. In 2023, Marcus lost his voice during a grueling recording session. As a technophile exploring technology throughout his career, he decided to use AI to clone his voice to complete the last of the project. That’s when the potential for creative innovation through AI tools became clear for Marcus.

”With AI, I could create images, sing a woman’s voice, and use automation tools to speed up the process. What if I could use my own music catalog of songs I had written, sung, and produced to create new ones? I created a tool to help me do that. That was the birth of Ravyn Lyte. She’s an artist that embodies an inspirational brand to connect visually and sonically with new audiences and give voice to peace in a distraught world,” Marcus says.

I had to figure out how she did it, so we invited her on for the latest iteration of How It Was Made to figure out the tools she uses, along with some quick tips on making awesome liquid drum and bass. Listen to the track a few times below to acclimate your ears to the sounds she’s using and the production tricks she’ll detail later. Then we’ll dive into the latest of our How It Was Made series. Ravyn Lyte, “11111 (Just Be the One).”

Suno

For “11111 (Just Be the One),” we used Suno’s AI audio generation tool to craft a unique sound. We started by writing the chorus lyrics and creating a detailed prompt that guided the sonic direction we envisioned. Our proprietary AI model, explicitly designed for Ravyn Lyte, played a crucial role. We collaborated with a vocalist, and with the help of AI technology, we shaped her voice to fit our vision.

The initial pad synth in the song was also generated using this AI prompt. Since the pad and vocals were combined, we used Moises, an excellent desktop stem separation tool, to separate them. Additionally, the iZotope RX 11 Music Rebalance plugin helped us achieve perfect stem separation.

MYTH

For the bass synth, we turned to MYTH, a plugin recently released by the talented musician and developer Dawesome. We used the preset called BETRON, which added a powerful dimension to the track. Dawesome’s other plugin, LOVE, is another favorite of mine, and it is perfect for creating unique FX and drones.

It adds an innovative touch to our music, spicing up tracks with unheard-of effects.

Oeksound Soothe 2

During the mixing process, the Oeksound Soothe 2 plugin was indispensable. It’s mighty for balancing high-end frequencies, especially when dealing with AI-generated vocals that can sometimes be harsh and sibilant. Soothe discreetly tamed those frequencies. Another essential tool was the Ultravox plugin by Leapwing, which enhanced the vocals with subtle compression, saturation, and a touch of air to lift the breathiness when needed.

Discussing “breathiness” in the context of AI-generated vocals is fascinating. These models’ remarkable capability of emulating the human voice is remarkable. For producers and songwriters who don’t sing, AI offers a fantastic tool to convey ideas, melodies, and lyrics. As a creative asset, it broadens our expressive possibilities.

JST Side Widener

I also frequently use Joey Sturgis’ JST Side Widener plugin. It’s phenomenal for bass and synths, preserving mono content while making everything sound massive. Among the many widening plugins available, this one stands out as my go-to, consistently delivering exceptional results.

Quick Tips For Making D&B

Tip 1. Choose Your DAW and Set the Tempo:

   Select a DAW like Ableton Live, FL Studio, or Logic Pro, and set your project tempo to 170-175 BPM. This tempo is standard for liquid DnB and provides a solid rhythmic foundation. For Ravyn Lyte songs, we use Logic Pro.

Tip 2. Create Drum Patterns:

   Use classic breakbeats like the Amen break, and layer them with individual drum samples for added punch and clarity. Program syncopated rhythms with ghost snares and varied hi-hat patterns to keep the beat dynamic. Blend genres in your drum patterns to make your track unique. For “11111 (Just Be the One),” we fused DnB drum patterns with urban/pop influences.

Tip 3. Design Your Basslines:

   Create a deep sub-bass using a sine wave or low-passed square wave, and layer it with a mid-bass that has more harmonic content. Ensure that the DnB section of your song is accessible to a broad audience.

Tip 4. Add Melodic Elements:

   Incorporate lush pads and chord progressions to create an atmospheric backdrop. Add a lead melody or arpeggio to provide a sense of progression and emotional depth. In “11111,” we used a rhythmic pattern that evokes the feeling of an arpeggio.

Tip 5. Record and Process Vocals:

   Write lyrics that resonate emotionally with your audience and record clear, expressive vocal takes. Process the vocals with EQ, compression, reverb, and delay to ensure they blend seamlessly into the mix and enhance the overall mood. Great songwriting is crucial; no matter how well the vocals are recorded, a song won’t succeed without compelling lyrics and storytelling.