How do you add dynamics to programmed beats or loops?

[Sebastian]

Assuming a pre arranged song, when sections of the song peak with softer or stronger dynamics, what are the main tricks out there?

What are the difs between what you do to a Midi beat vs an audio beat?

Im clueless on this.

Thank you

[tarai]

Hi Sebastian,

Do you understand what Midi is? If you don't, I would suggest going to this site and reading everything.
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

A midi beat is something you program on your own. Midi is information you send to an instrument for it to do something (like play a note).
So with a midi beat, you would probably send information to a drum machine (drum racks in Live) to play something (typically a sampler that plays an audio sample or a synth).

An audio beat is an actual recording. If it's a beat, you can loop it and do many other things to it.

As for dynamics to a programmed beat, there are many methods out there.

The easiest thing to do would be to change the velocity of the notes you program.

Something more advanced might be like getting a multisample pack of something (like a hi-hat) and have the Sampler in Ableton play the different samples according to velocity of the midi note. There are also many Drum instruments out there that have done this for you.

Hope you got an idea where to start. Good luck!

[darkenedsoul]

Hmm, didn't think about doing it that way - use Sampler and put in different snare clips and use velocity to play either one depending on level (or had read about similar thing using Sampler). I could conceivably do this with Battery 3 samples but seems more time consuming vs tweaking velocity via drag/scroll/whatever you term it in the velocity window.

[tarai]

It definitely makes the drums more realistic sounding.
Try getting a hold of the Drum Kits from Hell Sample pack. They are sampled at various velocities, and you can experiment.

[darkenedsoul]

Those may be fine for people doing hip-hop/dub/dance but don't think it'd be usable for say, martial style? I'd have to take a look around and see what's there and then figure how to apply it to a track to see if I notice anything different. Could save some folks some time if it fits what they are creating.

Or is it for the lazy man?