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Cubase Pro 10 Music Production Seminar 3: Creating Melodic and Atmospheric Layers

Production RecipesPublished 2019.05.12Updated 2026.07.17
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This article explains music production techniques using Cubase Pro 10, focusing on creating melodic and atmospheric layers for hip-hop and trap tracks. Learn to build phrases by sampling and processing loops, then shape their texture with REVerence reverb to create memorable pads with depth and width, even in arrangements with few tracks. Using reverb effectively is an important sound-design skill that helps avoid a thin, cheap-sounding result and makes the overall production feel richer and more polished.

Using only the instruments and effects included with Cubase Pro 10, we will explore modern music production techniques.
Here, we will build melodic and atmospheric tracks that add color and establish the song's mood.

Video Tutorial

  1. 1Techniques for Creating Trap Rhythms
  2. 2Creating Trap Bass Sounds and Phrases
  3. 3Tips for Creating Melodic and Atmospheric Layers
  4. 4Polishing Vocal Tracks with VariAudio 3
  5. 5An In-Depth Guide to Spatial Effects That Help Vocals Fit the Song
Download the Cubase Song Project Here!

If the sampler tracks in the project do not play:

Toggle the A/B comparison button in the sampler track, then start playback.

Creating Memorable Sounds and Phrases, and Using Them in a Song

Let's look at how the melodic and atmospheric tracks and phrases in this song were created.

Creating a Loop Phrase from a New Sample (Pad)

In hip-hop and trap, sampling existing songs or loops and processing them to create new phrases is a frequently used technique.

We use this approach for the pad track that plays from the beginning of this song.

Sampler Track 1

As with the bass sound, open the Media tab and navigate to Loops & Samples → Hip Hop Vault. Right-click the sample Trap Synth Loop A Major 162bpm and select Create Sampler Track.

Audio Settings

Drag to select the section you want to use in the phrase, as shown.
Remember to enable AudioWarp to keep the playback speed constant.

Phrase

To make use of the sample's own phrase, we mainly play it with sustained notes.
Only in the final bar do we adjust the MIDI notes to introduce a variation in the phrase.

Creating a Distinctive Sound with REVerence Reverb

This song focuses on sound design that brings the rhythm to the foreground, a characteristic of hip-hop.
We therefore keep the melodic and atmospheric parts as minimal as possible, arranging them so that each individual track has a clear role.

On the other hand, I find that limiting the number of tracks can often make a production sound cheap.
One technique for avoiding this is using reverb.

Let's apply an effect to this pad and refine its texture.
We want a soft pad that envelops the song, so we insert REVerence reverb.

Cubase 10 expanded REVerence's presets with impulse responses from classic hardware units.
Here, we select the Echo Can preset.

The key is to set MIX fairly high to soften the definition of the sound.
You should hear a substantial change in character, making the sound softer and more spacious.

As this example shows, sound design and reverb need to be considered together.

Even a song with only a few tracks, like this one, can feel much richer when reverb adds depth and fullness.
Give this technique a try in your own productions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How can I create melodic and atmospheric tracks for hip-hop or trap in Cubase Pro 10?

In the Media tab, choose a sample from Loops & Samples → Hip Hop Vault and create a sampler track. Enable AudioWarp to keep the playback speed constant, then adjust the notes to suit the phrase and create a memorable sound.

Q2. How can I make a song sound fuller with only a few tracks?

Use a reverb effect such as REVerence and set MIX relatively high to soften the sound's definition and give it a softer, more spacious character. This creates a richer impression even with fewer tracks.

Q3. Why choose the Echo Can preset in REVerence?

Cubase 10 added impulse responses from classic hardware units. Echo Can is an ideal preset for creating a soft pad that envelops the song, adding depth and texture to the sound.