I’m a beatmaker. Please tell me how to make the sound lo-fi.

Lo-fi (Low Fidelity) music is known for its “imperfect” quality, often featuring raw, analog-type sounds. Below are some methods you can use to achieve a lo-fi sound:

Sampling

1. Use Vintage Samples: Sampling from old records or cassette tapes can instantly add a lo-fi quality.

Instruments

1. Electric Pianos and Organs: These instruments are often used in lo-fi music and can lend a vintage feel to your tracks.

Effects

1. Bitcrusher: This effect reduces the sample rate and bit depth, adding digital “dirt” and imperfections to your sound.
2. Vintage Emulators: Plugins that emulate old recording equipment or tape machines can add warmth and some distortion.
3. EQ: Cutting the high frequencies and boosting the mid-lows can make your music sound more ‘muffled’, a common characteristic of lo-fi music.

Noise and Texture

1. Vinyl Crackle and Tape Hiss: Adding these elements can make the listener feel like they’re listening to an old record or tape, adding to the lo-fi aesthetic.

Arrangement and Mixing

1. Simplicity: Lo-fi often favors simpler instrumentations and arrangements. Instead of complex chord progressions, simpler, more repetitive progressions are often used.

These are general guidelines and can vary depending on your style and what you’re looking to achieve. The most important thing is to understand what you’re looking to express and to choose the techniques that best help you convey that.