Beatmakers!!! What are you using for your software/DAW and what tricks do you use???

[Fieva]

I just figured it'd be an interesting thread to see what some of the cats making beats are using and what's some of the signature stuff they do in their beats that defines them. Hell, since I started the thread I'll go first....


For my beats I'm using Reason 5 (6 is useless for me right now), an M-Audio Axiom 25 controller, and KRK Rokit 5's for my monitors.

With all the years I've been making beats, I've amassed a hell of a sound library. Refills, soundfonts, and one hitter wav files for my drum kits. All in all, I probably have 150 GB and growing as I add new stuff. Truthfully, I could still make a beat bang just as hard only using the refills included with Reason.

Learned a few techniques to make the faster tempo high hats with a slower tempo track (actually fine tuned that technique a couple of years ago). Also learned when to use some reverb and delay and when NOT to on certain sounds. I'll also layer some stuff like claps and snares and mix it so some stuff just adds to it without being as noticeable when the final beat comes out.

When I make a beat, it'll start out from one melody in my head and I'll record that after I figure out what tempo I want that at and then work around there. I might hit the drums right after that or I might layer that melody either with the same instrument at a lower or higher pitch or a different instrument altogether (OR BOTH). IMO layering and mixing the layering right is essential as it can give a track more presence (and every now and then will throw something extra in without you knowing it right off the bat).

After I've done all the layering, then I'll try to figure out the bass I want. Reason has a nice deep sine bass in its Malstrom synth...you just have to go deep in pitch enough and turn the synth all the way up to be able to control it better in the mix. I've layered basses before but you have to be careful to mix it right or it'll be a little muddy and when you mix in an apartment building you can't always have it as loud as it might need to be to test that bass. (this is why I'll throw it on the ipod when the beat's done and then play it in the car with the system at my normal levels...if it's not right I can usually figure out how much I need to turn it up or down and what changes I'll need to make)

After that, I'll mess around with a second melody that I'll use either in the verse to keep it from being too loopy or repetitive or it might wind up as the chorus melody...just depends on how it sounds and where I think it'd be better at.

Once I have that and mix it all down, I'll listen to it for a while to try to double check it and then make changes if I need to before I rip it to a wav.

***Since my mentor taught me on Reason, I'll teach anybody what I know on how to get through that learning curve. I tried FL Studio but I didn't like it as much as Reason. Damn good piece of software as well, but I'm comfortable where I'm at.

 

[joefoxx]

Really for me it depends on the track but I do use reason 5 to alone with a axiom 25 but I also use beat thing virtual/ guru with my m.p.c 2000 or my emu mp7 and ableton live 8 but for chopping up parts and seqeunceing parts

 

[joefoxx]

And I few tricks I use this is one if I make all my tracks with reason ill mute all the tracks except the one I want like the bass and ill export it as a loop ill do every track like that and use ablton live to mix it or song mode it or loop parts these way all your tracks are seperated for tracking to any daw you can bounce your wave from program to program or you can put all your tracks on cd and take it and lay it down in a real studio

 

[TyphoidHippo]

To increase my understanding of arrangement in beatmaking, over the years I've come up with and practiced many different exercises. In this article, I want to focus on one specific arrangement exercise that I do that involves the development of core sequences.
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are you talking about?

 

[Ape-x]

I prefer to use individual drum samples instead of drum loops, so I can eq and layer each section more easily.

Making a track sound 'full' is harder than you usually think. It helps to have instruments from varying levels of the sound spectrum instead of a few lower or higher instrumentals all vying for the same position.

Don't be afraid to break away from a particular song structure, it can make your track sound more organic. That being said you can easily lose your way and reach a dead end. I like finishing on the same melody that I start with, yet changing up the track at least once or twice in between.