Logic Pro Tutorial: Creating Classic Rave Stabs with ES2 - Secret Knowledge with Matt Shadetek Pt. 10

Welcome to Part 10 of our Secret Knowledge series with producer and educator Matt Shadetek. In this tutorial, we're diving into one of the most iconic sounds of 90s rave culture: the legendary rave stab.

If you've ever listened to classic jungle, breakbeat hardcore, or early rave tracks, you've heard these stabbing chord sounds that punch through the mix with aggressive, filtered intensity. Today, Matt shows you how to recreate these sounds using Logic Pro's powerful ES2 synthesizer.

Video Tutorial

What Are Rave Stabs?

Rave stabs are short, punchy synthesizer chords that were ubiquitous in early 90s rave, jungle, and hardcore techno productions. The most famous rave stab comes from the Mentasm preset on the Roland Alpha Juno synthesizer, but countless variations emerged throughout the era.

Characteristics of Classic Rave Stabs:

• Bright, harsh timbre with lots of high-frequency content
• Resonant lowpass filter that sweeps or modulates
• Pitched up (often played several octaves higher than written)
• Short, stabbing envelope (quick attack and decay)
• Hoover-like quality when played as chords
• Heavy processing with reverb, delay, and distortion

These sounds became synonymous with the hardcore continuum of UK dance music and remain influential in bass music today.

The ES2 Synthesizer

Logic Pro's ES2 is a powerful virtual analog synthesizer that's perfect for creating rave stabs. It features:

• 3 oscillators with multiple waveform options
• 2 multimode filters with various filter types and routing
• Flexible modulation matrix
• Multiple envelope generators
• Built-in effects and distortion
• Vector synthesis capabilities

Despite being included free with Logic Pro, ES2 is a genuinely professional-grade synthesizer capable of complex sound design.

Creating the Rave Stab Sound

Step 1: Initialize ES2

Start with an initialized patch or the default ES2 preset. This gives you a clean slate to build your sound from scratch.

Step 2: Configure the Oscillators

Oscillator 1:

• Waveform: Sawtooth or Square (sawtooth is more common for rave stabs)
• Octave: Set to +2 or +3 (rave stabs are typically pitched up)
• Fine-tune: Slight detuning adds thickness

Oscillator 2:

• Waveform: Sawtooth
• Octave: Same as Oscillator 1
• Fine-tune: Detune slightly from Oscillator 1 (try +7 to +12 cents)

Oscillator 3 (optional):

• Waveform: Sawtooth or Pulse
• Octave: +1 octave below Oscillators 1 & 2
• Fine-tune: Detune in the opposite direction (try -10 cents)

The detuning creates that classic chorused, thick quality that's essential for authentic rave stabs.

Step 3: Set Up the Filter

The filter is crucial for the rave stab character:

Filter Settings:

• Filter Type: Lowpass (LP)
• Filter Slope: 24dB/oct (for aggressive filtering)
• Cutoff: Start around 40-60% (adjust to taste)
• Resonance: 60-80% (high resonance is key!)
• Drive: Add some for extra grit

The high resonance creates that characteristic "screaming" quality that defines rave stabs.

Step 4: Configure the Amp Envelope

Make the sound short and punchy:

Amp Envelope (ENV2):

• Attack: 0ms (instant attack)
• Decay: 200-400ms (relatively short)
• Sustain: 0% (no sustain - it should decay completely)
• Release: 100-200ms (short release)

This creates the stabbing, percussive character.

Step 5: Modulate the Filter

Use envelope modulation to create movement:

Filter Envelope (ENV1):

• Attack: 0ms
• Decay: 300-500ms
• Sustain: 0%
• Release: 200ms

In the Modulation Router:

• Source: ENV1
• Destination: Filter Cutoff
• Amount: +40 to +60

This creates the classic filter sweep that opens and closes with each note.

Step 6: Add Unison/Chorus

For extra thickness:

• Enable Unison mode (increases voice count)
• Or use the Chorus effect in ES2's effects section
• Slight pitch modulation via LFO can also add movement

Step 7: Effects and Processing

Within ES2:

• Drive/Distortion: Add saturation for aggression
• Chorus: For width and movement

Insert Effects (on the channel strip):

1. Overdrive or Distortion: Crank the drive for that harsh, aggressive tone
2. EQ: Boost the highs (8-12kHz) and cut the low-mids (200-500Hz)
3. Reverb: Short room or plate reverb (not too much!)
4. Delay: 1/8 or 1/16 note delay with feedback (optional)

Playing Rave Stabs

Chord Voicings

Rave stabs are typically played as triads or power chords:

• Minor triads are most common (dark, aggressive)
• Major triads work for brighter stabs
• Suspended chords (sus2, sus4) create ambiguity
• Power chords (root + fifth) are simple but effective

Pitch Range

Play the stabs 2-3 octaves higher than you'd normally play chords. The high pitch is essential for that authentic rave sound. What sounds like C5-C6 on your keyboard might actually be pitched to C7-C8.

Rhythm and Placement

• Place stabs on the offbeats for maximum impact
• Use syncopated rhythms to create tension
• Layer multiple stabs with different chords for complexity
• Vary velocity for dynamics

MIDI Velocity

Map velocity to:

• Filter cutoff (harder hits = brighter)
• Volume (for dynamics)
• Attack time (subtle but effective)

Advanced Techniques

1. Formant Filtering

Use a bandpass filter or multiple peaks to create formant-like character:

• Set multiple filter peaks at specific frequencies (vowel-like resonances)
• Automate filter frequency for dramatic sweeps

2. Pitch Bend

Use pitch bend for:

• Upward bends at the start (adds aggression)
• Downward bends at the end (creates tension)
• Vibrato during the decay (adds life)

3. Layering

Layer multiple rave stabs:

• Different octaves for thickness
• Different filter settings for complexity
• Different effects panned left and right

4. Automation

Automate:

• Filter cutoff over the arrangement
• Resonance for dramatic builds
• Distortion amount for intensity
• Reverb send for depth changes

Rave Stab Variations

Mentasm Style

• Super high resonance (90%+)
• Very bright filter cutoff
• Heavy distortion
• Pitched way up

Hoover Style

• Lower resonance (40-60%)
• Slower filter sweep
• More detuning between oscillators
• Pitch modulation via LFO

Jungle Stabs

• Fast filter decay
• Less distortion
• More reverb
• Syncopated rhythms

Modern Bass Music Stabs

• Lower pitch range
• More sub frequencies
• Heavier distortion/bit crushing
• Sidechain compression

Using Rave Stabs in Your Productions

Genre Applications

Jungle/Drum & Bass:

• Use as rhythmic punctuation over breakbeats
• Place on offbeats to enhance groove
• Layer with reese bass for contrast

Hardcore/Happy Hardcore:

• Dominant melodic element
• Play chord progressions with stabs
• Heavy processing with delay and reverb

Dubstep/Bass Music:

• Modern reinterpretation of classic sound
• Use in build-ups and drops
• Combine with wobble bass and drums

Techno/Industrial:

• Aggressive accent sounds
• Heavily distorted for darker vibe
• Minimal reverb for tightness

Mixing Tips

1. High-pass filter the stabs around 100-200Hz to avoid mud
2. Sidechain to kick for pump and space
3. Parallel compression for punch without losing transients
4. Stereo widening on the high frequencies
5. Automate reverb send (less in busy sections, more in breaks)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: Stabs sound thin or weak

• Solution: Add more unison voices, layer multiple instances, increase distortion

Problem: Too harsh or brittle

• Solution: Reduce resonance, roll off extreme highs with EQ, reduce distortion

Problem: Lacks movement

• Solution: Increase filter envelope modulation, add LFO modulation, automate parameters

Problem: Doesn't cut through the mix

• Solution: Boost high-mids (2-5kHz), increase distortion, sidechain to other elements

Conclusion

The classic rave stab sound is an essential part of electronic music history, and Logic Pro's ES2 synthesizer gives you all the tools you need to create authentic variations. The key elements are:

1. Multiple detuned sawtooth oscillators
2. High resonance lowpass filter
3. Fast filter envelope modulation
4. Short, stabbing amplitude envelope
5. High pitch range
6. Heavy processing (distortion, reverb, delay)

Start with these fundamentals, then experiment with variations to make the sound your own. Whether you're producing jungle, hardcore, or modern bass music, rave stabs remain a powerful tool for adding aggression and energy to your tracks.

Continue Learning

This is Part 10 of our Secret Knowledge series with Matt Shadetek. Be sure to check out the other tutorials in this series for more advanced Logic Pro techniques and sound design tips.

Ready to dive deeper into Logic Pro synthesis? Explore ES2's advanced features like vector synthesis, the modulation router, and creative effects routing to take your sound design to the next level.