adam_in_audio
New member
hi,
Here are my tips for creating neptunes'ish style drum sounds. Drum minimalism is kind of a big thing nowadays, it's all about finding a solid rythm you can groove to. I have a lot of friends/collaborators that bring me drum tracks that just sound too lifeless and plastic, they're always concerned with advanced beats/filling in all the notes/etc. etc.. If there's one thing I've learned from the Neptunes, it's that one simple kick and a triangle here and there can literally make a song
. Note: it's all about expirementation, so take these tips and try out your own thing with them. If you come up with something cool, let me know 
I do all my 'synthetic' drums in Reason nowadays (by the way).
kicks:
1.) start off with a 'decent' kick sample, doesn't have to be spectacular just as long as it feels good with what you're doing.
2.) for kicks, I place them in the grid 90% of the time manually...(usually quantized as well) this will give you a nice solid foundation to start 'feeling' the groove.
3.) add a compressor either to the drum machine itself or by the effects sends on the rack (I go by the sends, since I don't like to compress all the drum samples the same). Set it to about 8:1 , set the attack to 30-40, and the release to 65-75 or so. This gives it a nice booming feel. If you'd like more ambience or space, feel free to add some reverb...just don't go overboard with it. A small plate or hall set to about 10-20% wet will do wonders. Reason has an effects unit called the "Scream". It's mostly a distortion unit, but for drums the 'tube' and 'overdrive' settings can be extremely useful..I use it all the time now, it gives the (kick espescially) a THUMP unlike no other I've seen yet.
snares:
1.) it's all about layering here. If you're pretty advanced with soundforge or bias, then I would suggest making your own samples by layering drum sounds. I once had a snare sound that you had to run away from because I had layered it with 25 different snares! You can also layer with reason (or fruity loops) by simple adding another snare sample directly on top (the same beat) as the previous. If you're looking for a more 'traditional' neptunes-like sound, layer the snare with either a snap, a cross-stick, or a clap. You can even adjust the start of the second layered sound, so that it has a slight delayed feel to it.
2.) If I'm compressing snares, I do so with rather quick release times. I just want it to hit and be done with it ya know? I also rarely use reverb on snares nowadays, I know this seems backwards to some people...but it's all about finding the sound you like.
3.) for snares (and most everything else), I place them in performing live with my midi keyboard. This seems to help out with the 'human' feel dillemma.
cymbals, noises, etc...
for me (espescially being a bass player) the most important elements are taken care of with the kick and snare. For the rest, it all depends on the song. I play off the groove a lot, so I don't go overboard with hats or other cymbals. This is also a good time to expirement with panning, effects and space. Shakers have become a good thing for me lately. I'll pan a shaker to the right and a hat to the left and instantly have this cool percussion thing going that has a nice sense of space. It's up to you, just make sure you can groove with that kick and snare!
Hope this helps some newbies out there, I know there's a lot of great musicians on this board...just trying to share some of what I've learned that's all. Good luck with your grooves!!
Adam
Here are my tips for creating neptunes'ish style drum sounds. Drum minimalism is kind of a big thing nowadays, it's all about finding a solid rythm you can groove to. I have a lot of friends/collaborators that bring me drum tracks that just sound too lifeless and plastic, they're always concerned with advanced beats/filling in all the notes/etc. etc.. If there's one thing I've learned from the Neptunes, it's that one simple kick and a triangle here and there can literally make a song
. Note: it's all about expirementation, so take these tips and try out your own thing with them. If you come up with something cool, let me know I do all my 'synthetic' drums in Reason nowadays (by the way).
kicks:
1.) start off with a 'decent' kick sample, doesn't have to be spectacular just as long as it feels good with what you're doing.
2.) for kicks, I place them in the grid 90% of the time manually...(usually quantized as well) this will give you a nice solid foundation to start 'feeling' the groove.
3.) add a compressor either to the drum machine itself or by the effects sends on the rack (I go by the sends, since I don't like to compress all the drum samples the same). Set it to about 8:1 , set the attack to 30-40, and the release to 65-75 or so. This gives it a nice booming feel. If you'd like more ambience or space, feel free to add some reverb...just don't go overboard with it. A small plate or hall set to about 10-20% wet will do wonders. Reason has an effects unit called the "Scream". It's mostly a distortion unit, but for drums the 'tube' and 'overdrive' settings can be extremely useful..I use it all the time now, it gives the (kick espescially) a THUMP unlike no other I've seen yet.
snares:
1.) it's all about layering here. If you're pretty advanced with soundforge or bias, then I would suggest making your own samples by layering drum sounds. I once had a snare sound that you had to run away from because I had layered it with 25 different snares!
You can also layer with reason (or fruity loops) by simple adding another snare sample directly on top (the same beat) as the previous. If you're looking for a more 'traditional' neptunes-like sound, layer the snare with either a snap, a cross-stick, or a clap. You can even adjust the start of the second layered sound, so that it has a slight delayed feel to it. 2.) If I'm compressing snares, I do so with rather quick release times. I just want it to hit and be done with it ya know? I also rarely use reverb on snares nowadays, I know this seems backwards to some people...but it's all about finding the sound you like.
3.) for snares (and most everything else), I place them in performing live with my midi keyboard. This seems to help out with the 'human' feel dillemma.
cymbals, noises, etc...
for me (espescially being a bass player) the most important elements are taken care of with the kick and snare. For the rest, it all depends on the song. I play off the groove a lot, so I don't go overboard with hats or other cymbals. This is also a good time to expirement with panning, effects and space. Shakers have become a good thing for me lately. I'll pan a shaker to the right and a hat to the left and instantly have this cool percussion thing going that has a nice sense of space. It's up to you, just make sure you can groove with that kick and snare!
Hope this helps some newbies out there, I know there's a lot of great musicians on this board...just trying to share some of what I've learned that's all. Good luck with your grooves!!
Adam
) you see pharrel and face using drumsets. Its obvious that they use samples on a lot of songs, but a good majority of the time, they record their own, as well as create live loops.
