To get that authentic, hard-hitting sound, route your drums to hit hard. Put a soft clipper (like Fruity Soft Clipper or IK Multimedia Classic Clipper) on your master fader. Let your kick and 808 push past 0 dB into the soft clipper. This creates a controlled distortion that glues the drums together and gives them that signature "knock." Conclusion
The signature Outtatown and Starboy sound thrives on a contrast between gritty, industrial darkness and high-energy bounce. Key characteristics include:
The kit's core identity is defined by its "industrial" and "metallic" textures. Unlike the warm, organic sounds of classic boom-bap, these samples are designed to pierce through dense, distorted synthesizer melodies.
The Starboy Outtatown Drum Kit didn’t make him a star. It made him part of a current, one that carried songs between strangers and stitched neighborhoods into albums. That, he decided, was the point.
As the EP climbed through local playlists, Jonah received messages from others who’d bought the kit. Short clips arrived—city soundscapes stitched into garage bands and lullabies, a techno track that used Moonhub as its heartbeat, a folk singer who turned Starfare into a harmonica mimic. Each clip felt like a postcard from someone riding the same train he was on. Starboy Outtatown Drum Kit
: Don't be afraid to layer your claps with metallic "metal-like" foley to get that industrial crunch found in newer underground tracks.
Jonah left with new modules—small, hand-soldered elements that altered the kit’s temperament—and a sense of stewardship. The Starboy Outtatown Drum Kit had given him something he hadn’t realized he lacked: permission to trust unexpected rhythms. It taught him that sound could be a map and that maps change when other people read them.
The backbone of the bounce; heavily reliant on rolls and triplets. Glitchy rimshots, cowbells, and crashes. Fills the empty space to keep the beat rhythmic and active. FX Risers, downlifters, and vocal chops.
Instead of deep, acoustic claps, these kits feature thin, high-frequency electronic claps. The snares are tight, metallic, and often layered with white noise. They are designed to hit precisely on the third beat, acting as a anchor for chaotic melodies. 3. High-Velocity Hi-Hats and Open Hats To get that authentic, hard-hitting sound, route your
Before discussing the kit, it is crucial to understand the sound signature:
“How’d you—” Jonah started.
Integration into a DAW workflow is straightforward:
A typical Starboy Outtatown-style drum kit focuses on heavy processing and unique digital textures rather than organic percussion. Key components include: This creates a controlled distortion that glues the
Sharp snares designed to cut through dense, distorted synths.
The represents a pivotal moment in modern music production, serving as the foundational palette for the "Hyperpop" and "Rage" subgenres that dominated the early 2020s. Developed by the producer collective Working on Dying , specifically Starboy and Outtatown, these sounds departed from traditional trap aesthetics to embrace a high-energy, digital, and synthetic soundscape. The Sonic Identity
He began recording, letting the simple click-click pattern breathe. The kit felt alive—reactive to velocity, yes, but also to intention. When Jonah hesitated, the pads softened. When he pushed, the sounds sharpened, layering harmonics he hadn’t expected. It was as if the drum kit were listening not only to his fingers but to the shape of the rhythms in his head.
Closed hats with short, crisp envelopes; open hats with high-frequency content to add energy. 4. Percussion & FX: The "Rage" Texture These sounds add the signature underground feel.
