How to Make Tech House Drops Like HNTR [Ableton + Serum Tutorial]

If you’re looking to bring dark low-end energy into your drops without relying on overused percussion tricks, this one’s for you.

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Watch the Video:

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What You’ll Learn:

1. The Core Drum Groove:

Keep your drums minimal — a standard boots & cats rhythm is enough. The groove should feel tight, but not busy.

2. Using Mid-Bass Shots Instead of Percussion:

HNTR doesn’t fill space with hats or claps — he uses dark, detuned mid-bass one shots at low octaves to create groove and momentum.

3. Call & Response Vocals:

Adding a chopped-up hip-hop or spoken vocal gives you space to work with call and response phrasing. This adds character to an otherwise minimal arrangement.

4. Modulation is Everything:

Filter cutoff, volume envelopes — everything should move. Static sounds feel dead. HNTR’s vibe thrives on subtle automation.

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Bonus Tips (Not in the Video):

✔ Layer Your Bass Carefully:

Try adding a sub-only sine layer under your mid-bass one shots. Keep it mono and filtered low (~80Hz) to lock in club weight.

✔ High-Pass the Vocal Chops:

Use a 150–200Hz high-pass filter on your vocal chops to keep them clean and out of the bass’ way — then saturate slightly for grit.

✔ FX Reverb Automation:

On the vocal or bass, automate a high-reverb tail on the last hit of each 8-bar phrase to help transition into the next section without extra risers or fills.

🎛️ Tools Used:

• DAW: Ableton Live

• Synth: Serum 2

• Soundbank: EvoSounds Tech House Presets

• FX: Stock EQ, Filter, Utility + Valhalla Reverb