Your thoughts on loops...

[BeatsBuY]

loops

Ya, we never use loops anymore. We used to when first starting out, but it didn't feel like we were being creative. I like knowing that a beat was made from scratch. The only time we really use loops is if we make our own loops by recording it on Pro Tools, like a live bass and so on...

It's cool when you are just starting out, but you'll grow out of it as you become a better producer...

 

[Trumpspade]

The way I make my beats, I BEGIN with the drum pattern. Thats the basic groove/rhythm of the song (the most important part if you ask me! -- its what gets head bobbin and asses shakin...), and everything else just gets added to compliment it -- making the beat sound "full". So when people say they start with a pre-made drum loop and then change it later, it just sounds BACKWARDS to me. Thats like forcing a round peg into a square hole, i mean you can "make it fit," but chances are it wont end up as natural sounding as it would if you had done it the other way around. IMO if you are really serious about your production, you would NEVER use a loop, it just holds you back. Working from scratch is more difficult, but it is a more "pure" method -- and in the long run the quality of your production will reflect that. This is not something that happens overnight...

Yeah, that's your opinion and I respect that. Because there is no right or wrong, but just preference. A pre-made drum loop, as you call it, for me, is a reference for me to do what I got to do FOR NOW (write lyrics and music that compliments it)........ Fortunately, you must fall in the category of the veteran beatmaker that I spoke of earlier. Unfortunately, I am still learning, and this is the path I have chosen. I UNDERSTAND that you said "In Your Opinion", and I agree working from scratch is a more pure method. But every once in a while when my battery dies, and I need a jump! That is like saying "Don't sample!"....That is not original either..... But like Bknot mentioned earlier, you would be surprised from the cuts you heard that was loops originated. Remember, we haven't heard everything!!! So what's your opinion on sampling?

 

[Pinachi]

There are many good songs made sampling,personaly i dont sample...or no more than a note,but you asked a trick question

 

[Trumpspade]

There are many good songs made sampling,personaly i dont sample...or no more than a note,but you asked a trick question

I agree!

So when people say they start with a pre-made drum loop and then change it later, it just sounds BACKWARDS to me. Thats like forcing a round peg into a square hole, i mean you can "make it fit,

I wouldn't say it's BACKWARDS, it's just not your style. I wouldn't criticize your style, so let me do me!

 

[BEATMAKERS]

Crunk Good Topic

OK so lets push the envelope a little further. since this has been the most adult handled defense of ideas i have seen on the net. for the non loopers who dont use loops because it is not creative for them but do use samples sparingly or excessively. my question is this since the main focus has been originality and creativity, couldnt using samples be class in the same category. i mean the sample was not played or created by you therefore you didnt create it. I mean if its a matter of "welll I cant go out and buy every instrument" then are you truley against loops or have you just reached a financial state which affords you the luxury of not being limited to loops by finance? If the creation is the most important wouldnt it be worth the cost to remain true to the idea.

 

[Fieva]

Hmm, I don't really use samples...unless you're counting the one shots and reason instruments/soundfonts.

I can see using a sample as part of an intro or a break, or using it in the beat here or there. Most of the time people who stick to samples can't let go of them. That's not cool. For example, the Step By Step beat has consistent sample, but I've heard other beats from you which use no sample at all. I can dig that. There's ways of doing that sloppily and ways to make it work.

 

[jugalo180]

Now technically i know the loops that come with whatever production setup you have are supposed to be royalty-free and all, but I just CANT bring myself to use them...it just feels so damn unoriginal. I listen to other people's beats and i can recognize the loop and...its just disgusting! How do you guys feel about using them???

i used to feel that way, but now i see the value in those loops that come free with different programs. i have not used any yet, but if ever wanted to, i could just use a sound and not the whole loop. in all actuallity if the loop is hot, i wouldn't see a problem with running with it. when dealing with samples it's all a matter of translating it into your own work of art. there are a lot of commercial songs that are classics and have derived from the same loop samples. to me it's actually interesting to see how another person can take that same phrase and do something totally different.

I remember watching MTV like 4 years ago, and they were featurind J.D., Timberland and Puffy. towards the middle of the show they gave them all the same loop sample and only 15 minutes to come up with a song. every body's song was hot, i personally thought puffy knocked it out the park. even though he doesn't touch the boards he directs other producers to create what's in his head. to sum it all up, i believe you can take a loop and turn it into something totally unique even if 5 other people are using the same loop.

 

[Fieva]

That would have been an interesting thing to see. I don't see a damn thing wrong with taking a segment out of a loop and sampling it, but using the whole loop and looping it over and over just to avoid taking the time to make the beat is weak.

 

[BEATMAKERS]

For example, the Step By Step beat has consistent sample, .

Why you gotta pick on my beat

lol just messing wit you

 

[Fieva]

HAHAHAHAHA would I be me if I didn't mess with ya?

 

[ThaArtist]

HERE IS MY 2 CENTS
It all depends on what you value more being original or the act of creating something. see if originality is what you crave then you would not bee a fan of loops you would want to build it from the botom to the top so you can identify with every element. you are not as in love with the thaught of creation as you are the thaught of controll and acomplishment , and the feeling of self fufilment, still keeping a smaller love for creation.

It's just the opposite kinda... I'm a creator... An artist... I love to create... I get great satisfaction from creating something thats dope... Not because i want to be in control and think of creating as being a control freak... but because i want to truly create... not "half" create...

I could not be satisfied or have any sense of accomplishment knowing that I didn't truly create what I alledgedly created! It's just not me...

Theres no sense of self accomplishment as a creator using other peoples created works...

Now with that said... I'm obviously against using loops personally... lol but i still have used some loops on beats before...

 

[usdn rep]

Old thread but I'm diggin on the hip hop o this board.......Anyways, I kinda feel what you sayin, but I think the idea is to play wit the particular sample........Like when I first started out, I'd tried to shape a beat around the loop......But I kept pushin myself to do something different, so sometimes I chop it up, or add eq's to it, or change the pitch.........spread it out thru bars........Then I'd add a synth over it.....what ever.......I understand it seems corny, but it's the possiblities of making something tight outta that loop is very challegin, rewardin and fun.....But I never use drum loops though................

 

[Change of POETS]

I love loops... Not necessarily drums, but melodies, instrumentation... Stuff I can't do in my studio. Guitar loops, string loops, whatever. Loops are dope... or, they can be. The best loops are the ones not recognized...

 

[Preci$e]

Does it really matter ? I wouldn't compare using loops or not to painting on an empty canvas or painting by numbers. I think it is more like the canvas is the software you use and the loops , samples , or sounds would be your different paints and brushes.

whatever it takes to create... at the end of the day either your hot or your not regardless what tools you use !