KVR Audio

mixandgo · Post by **mixandgo** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 1:37 pm

Hi guys, anyone can recomend some tutorials or share some tips on making your own RNB or pop/rock/etc loops rom singleshots that sound as good as the ones on the groove cd's ? Or how do they do it ? I've tryed a lot and I always get some no life sounding groove...

Thanks !

Rune L-H · Post by **Rune L-H** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:01 pm

Make sure you have some good quality samples, and don't just use the same kick over and over again. Mix different kicks, snares etc in the same beat. And perhaps layer samples to give them fatnes.

Some eq is probably also a good idea on each sample to either enhance..or better, to "dirt it up" a bit.

Most importantly is compression. Compress individual samples to make them tight and punchy. And then when you have the beat run the whole mixdown through another compressor and you can really start playing around with pumping effects etc.

If it still lacks life, try mixing the your beat down to a wav and slice it up in single elements. Then rearrange stuff.

This is what I tell myself all the time, but I am still frustrated over my own beat-abilities

It aint easy.

Some links:

http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic. ... highlight=

http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic. ... highlight=

http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic. ... eate+beats

http://www.illmuzik.com/articles/tutori ... ydrums.php

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/articles7.htm (scroll down to drums)

Rune L-H · Post by **Rune L-H** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:07 pm

Btw... A really good way of getting better at this, is to simply sample a bar of a commercial beat you like. Then drag it into your sequencer and start replicating it by using your own singleshot samples. Pay attention to tempo, quantizing, timing, variation, and of course levels.

Armadillo · Post by **Armadillo** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:14 pm

mixandgo wrote:Hi guys, anyone can recomend some tutorials or share some tips on making your own RNB or pop/rock/etc loops rom singleshots that sound as good as the ones on the groove cd's ? Or how do they do it ? I've tryed a lot and I always get some no life sounding groove...

Thanks !

I think they spend a LOT of time processing a loop. E.g adding delay on the hihat, reverb on the snare, doubling two kickdrums. Loads of compression on all hits individually.
And then off course.....adding the good stuff, cause a great loop doesn't just consist of a hihat, snare and kick. There might be subtle noises in the background, tons of percussion, ghost notes etc.
Listen carefully to loops that impresses you and you will probably notice that there's quite a lot to it. Maybe cut a loop up so that you can hear the individual hits, and you will notice all the "extras".

Try and spend twice as long on your drums as usual, it will pay off.

wrench45us · Post by **wrench45us** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:43 pm

I noticed listening to some streaming mp3's from epitonic.com last night that a lot of the better drum parts have the snares or hi-hats in a very different stereo space than the kick.

i'm sure you've all heard something like this -- the subtler ticky noises are centered and really 'up front' and the kick is wider and further back.

anyway i'm thinking this is another reason to justify lobbying for the Sonitus Surround fx

anyway another feature of those quality drum loop samples

Natural or RNB drums loops programing