Hip Hop, Pop and RNB Drum Layering
Drum Layering is a very common beat making technique in RNB, Pop and Hip Hop Tracks.
Here is the basic Drum Loop before layering.
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Here is the basic Drum Loop after layering the kicks and claps.
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Here is a sample of the finished beat which I’ll also put on youtube. Check it out, Leave some comments and questions.
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This is a quick snapshot of the mixer. Sorry I did not label it. You can still get a clear picture though. You are only hearing 3 drum parts. Kick Clap, and Hi Hat, but there are many different sounds layered together to make the track sound big.
Interview with Pete Rock
This is a dope real quick interview with hip hop legend Pete Rock.
The Neptunes using Logic Studios ES1 Plugin
The Neptunes are using Logic Studio Pro’s ES1 plugin.
Chad is pretty fast at making a beat using the QWERTY keyboard to.
Making A Beat In Logic
Here is a quick tutorial using Logic Studio and the Step Ya Game Up Drum Sounds to make a beat.
Funniest Logic Studio Tutorials
If you took an engineer, logic studio pro, and a redneck, and then shook then up into one you would get tutorials like this. Ive have got to say I these are educational, funny and a times sick.
Hot Tips for Big Bottomed Bass
Better Bass
* Please be careful with your speakers. Professional studios use fuses inline with their speaker systems to prevent them from overloading and being destroyed. All becareful not to have anything sitting on top on your speakers, especially your moms favorite crystal vase. It will fall, It will break. That’s said read on.
The first step to getting better bass in your beats is using better sounds. Its always better to start with a sound that has what you want right from the beginning instead of “ fixing it in the mix. “ If your just trying to add a really low sub bass sound look no further then the sine wave. After you’ve dialed up a sine wave in your synth or sampler begin playing your bass line . Try playing the bass line in a few different areas of the keyboard. While you do this listen to the sound and see where its sound the best. You’ll notice that certain areas of the keyboard have a very resonant and full bass sound while other sound very thin or in audible. Play around until you find what sounds best for your track. Kick drums also sound better pitched up or down sometimes. If you your using an MPC you can assign your kick drum sample to 16 different pitch levels, keyboard beat makers can use the pitch bend or modulation wheel to do the same thing.
Another easy way to build up your bass sound is to layer programs or sounds. To do this play your bass line once into your sequencer. After it is recorded copy the part to different track and midi channel and assign a different sound. You can do this as many times as you like or until the sound is thick enough to blow your speakers. When using different combinations of sounds look for contrast. I usually use two sounds for bass line and kick drums. One sound is usually for the attack or start of the sound. The other sound usually fills the bottom or body of the sound. By mixing a good hard rock kick drum with an old 808-kick sample you get a drum sound that has a clear attack and a killer bottom. This works with bass lines just the same. Try playing a bass line with a slap bass or plucked bass sound. Then double it with a fretless bass sound or sine type sound such as organ, or my secret weapon the general midi “whistle sound” down a few octaves. At least those general midi patches are good for at least one sound.
Tuning is also an important factor in making the back windows of the jeep buzz. At the bottom end of your beat there is no room for clashing kick drums, basses and subs.
If you main bass note or home tone is and E then you want to pitch your sub bass or 808 kick drum to an E also. To find out the pitch of your 808 you can plug it into a guitar tuner. Both hardware and software versions of these can be found for less then $20 dollars online at at your local music store. If your using an acoustic sounding kick drum that’s not really that low this really isn’t that important because it doesn’t coexist in the same space as your groovy sub.
You might notice that after you get this really hip low bass sound going you want to use it non stop in your beat. Don’t . Have your regular bass line playing when ever you want but only use the super bass to accent it. To much low end all the time will make everything very hard to hear. Things have much more impact when they are used sparingly in a track.
At this point you should have some pretty thick bass lines and kicks. If not your last chance to beef up everything is in the mix. Although everyone’s first thought would be to boost all the bass frequencies, such as 40hz to about 200hz , there is another option. Good equalization usally comes from cutting frequencies and slightly boosting. Since your not going to need the high frequencies in your kick drum and bass lines cut them. Try experimenting by cutting the frequencies about 200 or 400hz until something sounds good. Keep in mind that each frequency you cut alters the color or chareteristics of the sound.
If your still have problems making your dad’s house speakers explode its time to enlist some help. There is a plug in for everything. The answer to your prayers will come in the form of Max Bass. Although I won’t go into details about how it works I will offer some advice. Don’t over do it.
An engineer once told me the secret to his bass sound was an old Chinese secret. Until you uncover the mysteries of zen and the art of the low end try some of the techniques above to get your beats bumpin
Drumsandsounds.com provides the highest quality Sample CDS available to producers and beat makers today. All of our sounds have been edited and eqed and processed to cut through any mix and let you make bangin beats and hard hitting tracks.
