Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
Hey, I'm interested in how you guys approach a beat, whether it's something like Pretty Lights or Gramatik, or a beat made by someone like Sap for others to rap over..
I generally find a sample, chop, tune, etc. , add a simple bassline, create a sound for some background filler (pads), then chop up a couple more samples and make a melody of some sort.
What are your guy's processes?
I generally find a sample, chop, tune, etc. , add a simple bassline, create a sound for some background filler (pads), then chop up a couple more samples and make a melody of some sort.
What are your guy's processes?
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Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
I typically work the same way. Once i find a sample, if im not using the sample as is, ill chop a section i like. Once i have a good melody down, ill lay the drums,hats,snares and perc. Once all that is sounding husky enough, ill move on to bass. I typically work on the chorus after the intro/outro and verses are complete. Then ill go back and add the spice to the entire track. I like to mix last, cause by then i have an idea how i want everything to sound. BTW its good to hear some hip hop talk on this forum.
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Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
Keydaking01 wrote: BTW its good to hear some hip hop talk on this forum.
Agreed. I've really been getting into it for the first time (making it, been listening for years).
I was actually having a little internal debate last week about whether or not you can make classic/authentic hip hop without sampling. I find it to be almost impossible. Obviously you can make plenty of cool stuff, but to me it never sounds like real, classic hip hop without some kind of sample.
the_planet wrote:Trap music is not supported in the current version.
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
Great thread! Hello Ableton hip hop family!
Gosh, where do I start...
I have about 2,000 vinyl records so obviously I love to sample but lately I've been more into classic sounding boom bap drum framework with synth melodies. Typically I'll start with the melody because the melody dictates what type of drum sounds I go with. With the type of melody structure I've been using, I'll start with a simple synth melody (like a 4 bar loop) and build on the melody by adding another melody and finally a lead melody. Even though I'm using synths more, I still like to keep things extra dirty. I'll even go as far as adding in record hiss and vinyl crackle. Once I have a dope melody I do drum work and bass last....I tend to mix as I go.
Here's one of my most recent joints
https://soundcloud.com/upright/labwrk
Gosh, where do I start...
I have about 2,000 vinyl records so obviously I love to sample but lately I've been more into classic sounding boom bap drum framework with synth melodies. Typically I'll start with the melody because the melody dictates what type of drum sounds I go with. With the type of melody structure I've been using, I'll start with a simple synth melody (like a 4 bar loop) and build on the melody by adding another melody and finally a lead melody. Even though I'm using synths more, I still like to keep things extra dirty. I'll even go as far as adding in record hiss and vinyl crackle. Once I have a dope melody I do drum work and bass last....I tend to mix as I go.
Here's one of my most recent joints
https://soundcloud.com/upright/labwrk
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
Can you elaborate on this? What sorta drums do you pick for certain sounds, what makes you decide to use those? This is really interesting and fresh to me, I'd love to hear more!Typically I'll start with the melody because the melody dictates what type of drum sounds I go with.
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
vanngogh wrote:
Can you elaborate on this? What sorta drums do you pick for certain sounds, what makes you decide to use those? This is really interesting and fresh to me, I'd love to hear more!
Well, once I get a fundamental melody laid out I'll auditioning drum loops/breaks to chop up and layer. Usually as I listen I'm paying the most attention to how the snare drum and cymbals/hi hat work with the melody. For me, it's important to get the right snare sound up front. What about you Vanngogh,..where do you usually go for your drum sounds?
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Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
damn upright, youve got a shitload of listeners on sc...cool track
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
simmerdown wrote:damn upright, youve got a shitload of listeners on sc...cool track
Thanks for listening Simmerdown! Much love bro.
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
simmerdown wrote:damn upright, youve got a shitload of listeners on sc...cool track
I used to spend a lot of time on SC..listen to other people and giving feedback...I think that's where all the listeners came from.
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
For me, I have a bunch of 128's... So I guess I do the same thing, finding sounds that fit with the sample I've cut by scrolling through the different sounds. I have 128's for each sound; Hats, snares, kicks etc, which are all in a master drum rack. I then put a multiband dynamics processor on each sound, and add two or three layers to bring out the full frequency ranges I want. Fun stuff!Upright wrote:
What about you Vanngogh,..where do you usually go for your drum sounds?
I followed you on SC, you've got some amazing stuff man!
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
vanngogh wrote:For me, I have a bunch of 128's... So I guess I do the same thing, finding sounds that fit with the sample I've cut by scrolling through the different sounds. I have 128's for each sound; Hats, snares, kicks etc, which are all in a master drum rack. I then put a multiband dynamics processor on each sound, and add two or three layers to bring out the full frequency ranges I want. Fun stuff!Upright wrote:
What about you Vanngogh,..where do you usually go for your drum sounds?
I followed you on SC, you've got some amazing stuff man!
Give me a link to your SC so I can follow you back man...thanks for the love.
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
Upright wrote:vanngogh wrote:For me, I have a bunch of 128's... So I guess I do the same thing, finding sounds that fit with the sample I've cut by scrolling through the different sounds. I have 128's for each sound; Hats, snares, kicks etc, which are all in a master drum rack. I then put a multiband dynamics processor on each sound, and add two or three layers to bring out the full frequency ranges I want. Fun stuff!Upright wrote:
What about you Vanngogh,..where do you usually go for your drum sounds?
I followed you on SC, you've got some amazing stuff man!
Give me a link to your SC so I can follow you back man...thanks for the love.
http://soundcloud.com/nickvann
And here's my latest creation - started on a plane yesterday, and it's very rough. The last few bars where it gets choppy would be ideally rapped over... Would love some feedback from you guys!!
http://soundcloud.com/nickvann/rainin-i ... -1/s-K4uoZ
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
\vanngogh wrote:
http://soundcloud.com/nickvann
And here's my latest creation - started on a plane yesterday, and it's very rough. The last few bars where it gets choppy would be ideally rapped over... Would love some feedback from you guys!!
http://soundcloud.com/nickvann/rainin-i ... -1/s-K4uoZ
Man,....fresh tracks bro! I'm a big Matisyahu fan!! Props for that,...his message is straight solid!
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Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
Upright, that's a great track man.
i have a few tracks and some dj mixes at my page: soundcloud.com/derekrusso
i'm just getting to the point of finishing tracks in Ableton, I'm not really feeling a lot of the stuff I'm doing....I have a ways to go and much to learn.
Learning workflow tricks from folks like yourselves really helps out.
i have a few tracks and some dj mixes at my page: soundcloud.com/derekrusso
i'm just getting to the point of finishing tracks in Ableton, I'm not really feeling a lot of the stuff I'm doing....I have a ways to go and much to learn.
Learning workflow tricks from folks like yourselves really helps out.
Re: Hip-hop/instrumental workflow?
boderekstits wrote:Upright, that's a great track man.
i have a few tracks and some dj mixes at my page: soundcloud.com/derekrusso
i'm just getting to the point of finishing tracks in Ableton, I'm not really feeling a lot of the stuff I'm doing....I have a ways to go and much to learn.
Learning workflow tricks from folks like yourselves really helps out.
Thanks for the compliment Boderekstits. I think the more time we spend making tracks the better we get. We are all learning...I don't think the learning part ever stops....that's part of the reason I love making music...it keeps my mind engaged.