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In the beginning, there were soft synths.... And it was these virtual oscillators that generated the sound of early dubstep.

Created entirely on a computer, the first dubstep tracks were a testament to the mastery producers such as Skream and Benga had over their soft synths.

Knowing your weapon of choice inside and out is key to getting the sounds out of your head and onto the dancefloor - and these guys knew. See Skream's track Filth for proof and some mind-bending examples of synth sculpture.

O is also for:

Offbeat: Inheritedly directly from dub and reggae, offbeat chords stabs and hi-hats are an intrinsic part of dubstep's sonic style.