i was wonderin how u guys do u drumloops. i kno some people use the ones that come in the loop, or sample another songs drums, but what process do u guys go thru when making ur own drumloops? do u make them based on what ur beat sounds like, or do u make them before u even make the actual beat and fit the beat around the drumloop? just wonderin cuz one of the main things i hear people saying about my beats are that the drums are off but i almost never hear what there talking about. so any tips?
------- do the heizman on dat hoe myspace.com/ncsoul
1. "some tracks i start with the drums" In response to Reply # 0
some tracks i have the other stuff (melody / bassline / chops) in place before the drums are added.
in either case, it's important to have great drum sounds. in either case, it's important to have great speakers.
my girl produces, but she's gonna shell out for monitors soon. why? Because every time I hear her drums, it sounds like a compressed kit waiting for the real drums to drop in any minute, but they never do. once she can REALLY hear what's up, she'll be able to take it to the next level.
6. "the bpm matters in the style or genre you're trying to make...." In response to Reply # 4
...hip-hop uses mid tempos from like 90 to 116...I usually bang at 97. House is generally at 120. Drum & Bass is usually very fast...around 130-160 or something like that (I don't know for sure because that's not my style).
But 140 is way too fast for hip-hop. Most emcees can't rap that fast and it's too fast to nod your head to. Go slower!
8. "Who says the program is strictly for hip hop producers though?" In response to Reply # 7
But yeah, you should download a bpm counter, and find out the bpm's of your favorite beats. That should give you an idea of what you want to go for. I recommend Mixmeister BPM Analyzer, its free. Just drag the Mp3's into it, and it tells you the BPM's. It is usually on point.
9. "RE: Who says the program is strictly for hip hop producers though?" In response to Reply # 8
Or learn to count before you try to lay down any beat at all... Try laying down a simple kick-snare pattern in FL and play it along side your favourite (hiphop) track, play around with the bpm until they are beatmatched - it'll be a learning process.
Gun control means using both hands in my land / De La
17. "Sorry, fam...but this is pure ignorance." In response to Reply # 13
...some of YOUR favorite hip-hop used drum loops (breakbeats) instead of programmed beats.
Drum breaks are the essence of original hip-hop. If DJs didn't learn to beatjuggle to extend the break, there would be no B-boys (Break Boys) and no Breakdancing. Crate diggers the world over developed the science of hip-hop by looping drum breaks.
Hell, the best drum KITS come from drum loops...respect the science that the masters have laid down. Hip-Hop is like 30 years old...know your history.
16. "As far as the tone/sound of the drums" In response to Reply # 0
It all starts with where you get them from. I have certain records that I get drums from, and I like for them to have as little hiss on them as possible so I clean the records thuroughly before I sample from them (as the saying goes, 'you can dirty down but it's hard to clean up').
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