[ScottLevi]

Hey y'all

I've been very excited today because I got a laptop delivered, and it's the first ones I've owned in many many years.

So after scraping by installing the bare minimum on work laptops I've finally my own; and first thing I've done is dig out the AKAI MPK Mini which I got last Christmas but haven't been able to  really indulge in until now.

I know this isn't really the place to be sharing stuff but I had a little mess around and want to use it as an example; feel free to ignore.
https://soundcloud.com/namelessmc/drum-messaround-11

Really I'm just looking for the pro tips.. So far I've found it's easy to get carried away trying to make a full tracks worth, where really I want background drums to put guitar and vocals over the top. Also I'm sure there's general patterns with drums which I may find useful, like Kick, snare snare kick, kick snare snare kick?

And also there's some software I'm using (MPC Essentials) where I can pan & stuff, but would you generally export these as separate files to mix in a different DAW with your vocals and guitar, or export pre-effected?

Any obviously I want multiple sections to intertwine and add light/shade, is there an advised way to maintain continuity between them?

Any tips, advice or help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Scott.

[Boydie]

Here is a little guide to get you going...

Set up a song in 4/4 time, which means that each bar will have 4 equal beats at the tempo of the track

Now place a KICK drum on beats 1 and 3, put a SNARE drum on beats 2 and 4 and then have a hi hat playing on each beat

This then gives you a very basic drum groove that you should start to recognize

So far you have beats on the "quarter notes" - ie there are 4 notes in the bar

In-between each "quarter note" is an "eighth note" (there are 8 eighth notes in a bar - so for the length of every quarter note there are 2 eighth notes) - now put some additional hi hats on each of the eighth notes

The tempo will be exactly the same but notice how the drums have a little more "urgency"

You should now basically have the intro drum beat to Billie Jean by Michael Jackson:

Finally, in-between each "eighth note" is a "sixteenth note" (there are 16 sixteenth notes in a bar - for for the length of every eighth note there will be 2 sixteenth notes - and for every quarter note BEAT in the bar there will be 4 sixteenth notes)   - now put some additional hi hats on each of the sixteenth notes

You should now hear a solid "disco" beat - I don't know why I keep thinking of Michael Jackson examples tonight but compare the previous beat (8th note hi hats) with this beat that has the 16th note hi hats we have just discussed

Notice that the KICK and SNARE are predominantly doing exactly the same thing as Billie Jean but there is more variation (ie the quieter little kick drums to add some more movement to the drums to give more of a "groove" - as opposed to the more "solid" feel of Billie Jean

I would suggest trying to recreate these classic beats as a starting point by lining everything up "on the grid" - ie in perfect time

Then find out how to turn off the grid and slightly drag the snare hits before and after the exact beat and notice how much this changes the "feel" of the drums

The put some quieter kick and/or snares inbetween to add some interest

Once you learn to programme these 2 beats you should be able to start listening to songs and identifying the kick, snare and hi-hat patterns - once you have these locked in you can build the rest of the "ear candy" from here, but a solid beat will always give you a good foundation to build from

[Darren1664]

Really interesting read Boydie...I never thought to tinker with drum beats like that to get the feel but sure will try now...I'm wondering if it's worth setting up some basic drum beats in Reaper as templates to build from...in fact I think I will

Scott - really cool you're getting into creating drum beats and stuff, really like what you're coming up with

[Boydie]

I'm wondering if it's worth setting up some basic drum beats in Reaper as templates to build from...in fact I think I will

That is a great idea

What you are actually doing is making your own "loops" that can be re-used

When you programme some beats you like export just the beat as a MIDI File and then place this in a folder you can call "My Beatz" (you gotta use a Z to be kewl  )

Then make sure this folder is in the right place (ie with any other samples/loops you have) and you can use your DAW's browser to import your own loops as you would any others

Loads of pro producers do this

[ScottLevi]

Hey Boydie,

You're a wealth of knowledge and generosity as always, this looks exactly what I need.

Ah I was wondering what exporting as a midi did, I'll try build up a library of them - once I know what I'm doing a little better

Lots to learn I think but it'll worth the rewards I'm sure.

Cheers guys,
Scott

[Yodasdad]

Hi Scott,

Exporting as midi should allow you to open it up somewhere else that accepts midi, such as a daw, and continue working on it.

Essentially it is not exporting any sound (audio), it will just include digital information that your midi compatible device/software can read and use its onboard sounds to recreate.

If you export as audio, such as a .wav, it's pretty much final. Exporting as midi will allow you to still choose new sounds, move stuff around and basically do what you want with it somewhere else.

Hope this helps.

Yodasdad

[Johnnyuk]

Hi,
Just get stuck in there! Keep it simple like the example below. Experiment with delays and reverb and see what happens.
I made this beat up for you as an example. A simple beat that drives the music forward.
Johnny

The beat is here: https://allihoopa.com/s/lIaXq1R3

[Cawproductions]

Hi Scott.

Try this
http://www.powerdrumkit.com/

Its free and comes with loads of well played midi loop that play a pop kit. Really good for getting going quickly.

Alternatively, if you got the bucks, Toontrack superior drummer 3, Awesome drums.

Hope this helps
Andy

[Johnnyuk]

Hi cpm,
That is great advice!
I just watched the video for it, it looks ace!
Johnny

[Cawproductions]

Hi cpm,
That is great advice!
I just watched the video for it, it looks ace!
Johnny

I know right? and free, can you believe it.

[Johnnyuk]

Hi cpm,
That is great advice!
I just watched the video for it, it looks ace!
Johnny

I know right? and free, can you believe it.

If it's free i'm in line! LOL

[jacksimmons]

When you programme some beats you like export just the beat as a MIDI File and then place this in a folder you can call "My Beatz" (you gotta use a Z to be kewl  )

I've been recording with Cubase and using MIDI drums for a few years now. Why have I NEVER thought of this?? ingenious time saver

[Martinswede]

Great post Boydie! Just what I was looking for. Doing my first drum track right now. /Martin

[Boydie]

Glad it helped

Your next step will be to make sure your bass line "locks in" to the kick drum after you create the pattern 

[Martinswede]

Yes. Right now I got a song ready and I have kind of a beat but they don't mix very well. I'll keep working on it.