How to create beats?

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IanBlack

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Hey all,

Apologies for the possible silly question but lately I've been listening to a lot more rap/hip-hop (most notable Kanye West's The College Dropout) and I'm wondering how these beats etc are actually created and put together in a professional realm. What software etc?

I understand you can get CDs with loops etc. allready created but surely these artists create original files for their work? Or do they too have a source of beats/loops etc? How do they create original loops?

Sorry If I'm not making too much sense but any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Ian.
 
IanBlack said:
Hey all,

Apologies for the possible silly question but lately I've been listening to a lot more rap/hip-hop (most notable Kanye West's The College Dropout) and I'm wondering how these beats etc are actually created and put together in a professional realm. What software etc?
Click to expand...

More than likley he's using a MPC and software with timestreching abilities.

IanBlack said:
I understand you can get CDs with loops etc. allready created but surely these artists create original files for their work? Or do they too have a source of beats/loops etc? How do they create original loops?
Click to expand...

They use the same loops you can buy at the store plus some. They also can make a loop by setting any sequencer to loop 4 bars or 8 or 12. They use a multitude of differant products to create oringinal loops, keyboards, sound modules, drume machinces, turntables you name it its probably been used.

IanBlack said:
Sorry If I'm not making too much sense but any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Ian.
Click to expand...

NP hope this helped.
 
Many thanks!!

It's interesting that they do use the same things we have access to. I guess there are so many ways to change the sounds of things today they would be unrecognisable.

I'm currently usin Pro Tools and with it is a cut down version of a program called sample tank. Reading up about it I see it was used a lot on the 8mile soundtrack. I have played around with it a little and the piano sounds do sound excellent and there's may things you can do to alter the sounds.

I may look into the full version though I'm sure it will cost quite a bit and then there's a expansion packs with the different sounds.

Thanks again for the reply.
 
I would suggest using MIDI if possible, and for that you should get Logic. It comes with an excellent sampler called the ESX24, plus a bunch of other fun synths, and stuff. It works awesome for MIDI (not so great for audio, but that's why you have pro tools). It's a great program to bring into your audio realm. The newer versions (6 and 7) only work on Mac, but if you can find an older version it will work on pc.
 
I'll have a look into Logic although I'm not sure I'm serious enough to purchase it as well as Pro Tools does offer MIDI as well. I'm guessing it doesn't offer you the same amount of control as a progrma like Logic does?

I did find plotting notes with the pencil tool in Pro Tools to be quite tricky when I tried.

Ian.
 
GamezBond said:
its instrumental not beat, you friggen hip-hop idiot
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Now that was not called for! some people call them beats so dont be an ass newbie :rolleyes:
 
Well like I said in the original post, I apologise for my ignorance. However, that is why I asked the question. So that maybe I could learn something. I saw people refer to "them" as beats in other posts and only really used beats as I thought it was what all the "hip/hop" people amoungst us may use.
 
pick up the scratch magazine and youll know exactly how they make their beats, kanye was on the cover 2 issues ago, first issue dre was and the most current issue the neptunes.
 
Thanks! Sounds like it might just be exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. Will try and find a copy! Many thanks.
 
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