Step-by-Step Guide to Producing Tech House Like Fisher, Chris Lake, Cloonee, and Michael Bibi

Tech House is one of the most popular sub-genres within electronic music, dominating Beatport charts and club playlists globally. Artists like Fisher, Chris Lake, Cloonee, and Michael Bibi have brought a fresh, high-energy sound to the genre, creating tracks that are now anthems at festivals and nightclubs. Modern Tech House combines dancefloor-ready basslines, catchy vocal hooks, and infectious rhythms, making it an irresistible choice for both DJs and listeners. Its adaptability and broad appeal ensure that Tech House remains not just relevant but central to electronic music culture today.

In this guide, we’ll break down each step of the Tech House production process to help you create a track that stands out. We’ll cover essential techniques and tips inspired by these top Tech House artists, plugin recommendations, and sound design tricks.

• BPM: Most Tech House tracks sit between 120-128 BPM. Experiment within this range to see what feels best for your groove.
• Kick Drum Selection: Start with a punchy, clean kick. Tech House kicks need to be tight, sitting comfortably with the bass without overpowering it.
  • Plugin Recommendation: Use BigKick to create your own kick sounds or tweak pre-existing samples to fit your mix.

Tip: Choose a kick with minimal sub-bass interference, as the bassline will drive the low end. Ensure the kick is punchy enough to cut through the mix without too much resonance.

• Bassline Character: In Tech House, basslines are essential. They’re usually deep, funky, and repetitive but carry a powerful groove.
• Sound Design: Use a simple sine or square wave for a smooth, rolling bass. Apply distortion or saturation sparingly to add warmth and presence.
  • Plugin Recommendation: Xfer Serum is popular for creating versatile bass patches, or try SubBoomBass 2 by Rob Papen for more bass-focused sounds.

Tip: Sidechain the bass to the kick using a tool like LFOTool or VolumeShaper 7 for that clean, “pumping” Tech House effect. Adjust sidechain settings to taste, keeping the bass tight but noticeable.

• Core Percussion Elements: Add your claps or snares, hi-hats, and shakers to build groove. Many Tech House producers use off-beat hi-hats and syncopated shakers to add movement.
• Drum Loops and Samples: Loopcloud offers an extensive collection of Tech House one-shots and loops for adding variety to your drum patterns.

Tips for Groove: 

• Hi-Hats: Layer different hi-hat sounds to create a fuller rhythm. 
• Fills and Rolls: Every 8 or 16 bars, add small percussive fills or rolls to keep the listener engaged.

• Synth Leads: Tech House leads are often simple, rhythmic stabs or repeating motifs that hook listeners in without overwhelming the track.
• Sound Design Tips: Simple waveforms with minimal modulation work best. You can add subtle reverb and delay to give them space, but avoid making them too atmospheric, as Tech House is generally “dry” and punchy.
  • Plugin Recommendation: Sylenth1 or Diva by u-he work well for creating Tech House synth stabs and plucks.

Tip: Filter automation can give your synth sounds more dynamics. Try a low-pass filter and slowly open it up as the track progresses for a sense of buildup and excitement.

• Vocal Samples: A catchy vocal hook can make your track memorable. Keep it simple and repetitive to ensure it works well with the rhythm.
• Vocal Processing: Experiment with pitch-shifting, reverb, and delay to give the vocal sample character. Try VocalSynth 2 by iZotope for creative vocal effects.

Tip: Use short vocal phrases from Loopcloud, which you can chop and rearrange to create a unique hook. Subtle pitch changes or formant shifting can add extra flavor.

• FX Elements: Include sweeps, risers, and impacts for transitions. These subtle sounds help create tension and excitement before a drop.
• Background Textures: Consider adding ambient sounds or background textures to give your track atmosphere without taking attention from the main elements.
  • Plugin Recommendation: Valhalla Room and Valhalla VintageVerb are great for adding subtle depth and space to FX sounds.

Tip: Tech House is typically dry, so keep reverb and delay minimal. A touch of stereo widening on hats and effects can make your track sound fuller without drowning it in space.

• Intro (0:00–0:30): Build with simple drums, clap, and risers.
• Breakdown (0:30–0:45): Introduce the bassline, percussion, and possibly the vocal hook.
• Drop (0:45–1:15): Bring in all elements—kick, bass, synth, and vocal hook.
• Main Section (1:15–3:30): Play with breakdowns, drops, and arrangement variations.
• Outro (3:30–4:00): Strip down the track gradually to end smoothly.

Tip: Use quick transitions to keep energy up, but let each section breathe. Short breakdowns work best, leading to impactful drops that keep the listener engaged.

• Low-End Control: The kick and bass are central, so make sure they’re balanced and don’t overlap.
  • Plugin Recommendation: FabFilter Pro-Q 3 for precise EQ control and Pro-L 2 for clean limiting.
• Saturation and Compression: Add subtle saturation to give warmth, and use compression to tighten the groove.
  • Plugin Recommendation: Soundtoys Decapitator for warmth and character, especially on the bass or drum bus.
• Stereo Width and Spatial Placement: Use stereo widening on hi-hats, effects, and background textures to open up the mix while keeping the kick and bass centered.

Tip: Mastering is about getting the final track loud and clear. Try Ozone 11 for mastering presets tailored for club mixes, or use multiband compression with FabFilter Pro-MB to balance frequency dynamics.

With this guide, you’ll have the foundational steps, plugins, and techniques needed to create a Tech House track that grooves hard, sounds professional, and captures the high energy that keeps dance floors moving. Dive in, experiment with your sound, and remember—the simplest elements, arranged and layered well, often make the biggest impact in Tech House.