How to Make a Lo-Fi Slowed + Reverb Version

Slowed + reverb is dreamy. Lo-fi makes it warm and a little dusty, like listening to an old record or cassette. Together you get that late night study sound you know from lo-fi playlists. Here is what that sound is made of and how to put it on your own track.

What makes something lo-fi?

Lo-fi literally means low fidelity. In practice it comes down to a few recognisable traits, which sources like Yamaha and Splice keep mentioning:

  • Less top end. The highs get filtered off. Yamaha mentions a low-pass around 2 to 4 kHz.
  • Noise and crackle. Vinyl crackle or tape hiss in the background.
  • Wobble. The pitch drifts ever so slightly, like a tape or record that does not spin perfectly evenly. That is called wow and flutter.
  • Warmth and an edge. Some saturation, like tape, or a bitcrusher that lowers the quality on purpose.

You do not need all of them at once. Two or three are often enough.

In a few clicks: the slowed + reverb maker

The free slowed + reverb maker has a lo-fi and a vinyl effect. Here is what they do:

  • Lo-fi removes the lows below about 130 Hz and the highs above about 3.4 kHz, adds soft saturation and lets the pitch drift very slightly.
  • Vinyl adds a layer of crackle and noise under your track.
  • Bass boost adds extra low end around 110 Hz. Handy when lo-fi makes your track too thin.

Combine them with Slowed + reverb, or with Sped up. Trying them is free. With Slowed + Reverb Pro you download your version with the effects, as MP3 and as video too.

Doing it yourself in your DAW

Want full control? Build it in this order on top of your slowed version. How to make that is covered for FL Studio, Logic Pro, Ableton Live and Audacity.

  1. Roll off the highs. Put an EQ with a low-pass on your track and slide it down until the top end starts to sound dull. Do not go too far, or the lyrics disappear.
  2. Roll off some lows. A high-pass removes the deepest low end, which sounds more like an old speaker. If you want lots of bass, skip this step.
  3. Add warmth. A little saturation or tape emulation makes it fuller. Keep it subtle and compare at the same volume.
  4. Make it drift. A chorus or vibrato at a slow rate and small depth gives that light wobble. Yamaha mentions chorus as a way to imitate wow and flutter.
  5. Add noise underneath. Put a vinyl crackle or tape hiss sample on its own track, quietly under your song.
  6. Then the reverb. Put the reverb on a send, after the lo-fi filtering. Otherwise the reverb itself turns dull and muddy too.

Tips for a lo-fi version that does not get boring

  • Less is more. Too much noise and too little top end makes a track tiring. Listen again after a minute.
  • Check on your phone. That is where a thin lo-fi mix shows first. Add some low end if needed.
  • Keep the vocal clear. Especially with rap. Raise the filter a bit if the words get lost.
  • Making a lo-fi beat from scratch? Read how to make a lo-fi beat in FL Studio.

FAQ

What is the difference between lo-fi and slowed + reverb?

Slowed + reverb is about speed, pitch and reverb. Lo-fi is about the tone: less top end, noise, wobble and warmth. They combine well.

What speed suits lo-fi?

Around 0.80× is a good start. Lo-fi songs tend to sit at a relaxed tempo. BPM by genre shows which tempos fit which styles.

Can I make a lo-fi version of any song?

Making one for yourself is different from uploading it. Read can you upload slowed + reverb songs.

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