Plus, low-pass filtering is the best way to reign in the exaggerated high end that lo-fi processes such as distortion and bitcrushing can create.

So to get a lo-fi edge, you can simply roll off high frequencies with an EQ or low-pass filter! It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that signals with more high-frequency content will naturally sound more refined and polished. Collect these files over time to compile a collection of bespoke noise samples for use in your tunes. When working in the studio, keep an ear out and record any analogue hiss, system noise, hum, feedback or other seemingly undesirable signal that might occur. Then there are the subtler types of saturation and drive, which can still add noticeable heat and aggression when pushed to overt settings. Somewhere in the middle sit digital distortion, bitcrushing and sample-rate reduction, for applying harsh aliasing and waveform-munching. At the extreme end of the scale, you’ve got nasty-sounding guitar amps, pedals and overdrive, which will completely obliterate a signal into distorted mayhem. When embarking on a journey of lo-fi sound design and processing, your first move should be to reach for a distortion plugin or analogue drive stage of some sort.

Fl studio export distortion