how do i make a good drum loop?

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:07 pm

hi all
ive been having some real difficulty getting a good drum loop togeather. i can get the usual kick hi hat snare togeather its just the other stuff that makes it groove. I have tried to look at drum loops in my wave editor to disect them. But having trouble understanding the other sounds that make it groove
can anyone offer me any advice on whatk kind of sounds to use or if you know of any good tutorials
that would help a lot
thanks
fred

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:11 pm

everybody is so helpful

Poster · Post by **Poster** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:19 pm

maybe have a look at the Live clips that came with the installation instead of audio files..

I guess those are better study objects..

stew · Post by **stew** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:34 pm

Your ears. Really, you can learn a lot about making muic by listening to other people's music, analyzing and also trying to recreate it. Just take one of your favorite drums on a CD an try to recreate it.

scottwallis · Post by **scottwallis** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:39 pm

Hi

Im into house music

i usually loop like 8 or 16 bars....chop anything up really from little bongo sounds to things like small vocal samples (chop up like a lady saying "Ooh")..add some redox to it, maybe some saturation, basically i just fuck it up.....maybe even reverse that at the evnd of every 16......

i stick my kick in 1st, then usually a hat along with the kick,maybe in between (make like a pattern with it) but low down in volume so its not loud in the mix..........try a clap on every 2nd bar of the kick

I love experimenting with percussion....there is no rules, just fire anything in and if it doesnt work....take it out. I usually do this in seperate audio tracks...then bounce them down and do a few different variations of them

Using operator is great as well....but it just comes down to personnal preference mate

Play with reverb in ur hi hats....like make every 3rd hat sound apply reverb...just to make it different....

Hope this helps you

scottwallis · Post by **scottwallis** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:41 pm

I also like to send all my percussion except the kick to a seperate bus channel and compress them in there or apply whatever effect, maybe some reverb or whatever)

Just experiment until you find a way that is comfortable and exciting for you

djfm · Post by **djfm** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:55 pm

thats awsome thankyou so much!!
so chop,pitch and effects

FaX-01 · Post by **FaX-01** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:02 pm

I program nearly all of mine using midi data myself .....
So unless you want a huge post about signature's , subdivisions , use of velocity , ghost notes , using triplet hats aganst standard 4/4 , moving the accent , pushing and pulling the beat within the same tempo, shuffle vs swing, syncopation, flams, rolls and all that boring shite I'll leave to other people.
A word of advice though - a drummer only has Two hands and Two Feet .
Program your main grooves, fills, breakdowns etc with that in mind.
And as someone else has said use your ears.
Oh and lastly Your rythm section in generally (but not always) reliant on both the rythm and the bass line.
How you Bass and Kick patterns interact can make a huge difference also.

OrsanKart · Post by **OrsanKart** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:15 pm

With practice!!!!!!!!!!!!

stale bread · Post by **stale bread** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:40 pm

FaX-01 wrote:I program nearly all of mine using midi data myself .....
So unless you want a huge post about signature's , subdivisions , use of velocity , ghost notes , using triplet hats aganst standard 4/4 , moving the accent , pushing and pulling the beat within the same tempo, shuffle vs swing, syncopation, flams, rolls and all that boring shite I'll leave to other people.
A word of advice though - a drummer only has Two hands and Two Feet .
Program your main grooves, fills, breakdowns etc with that in mind.
And as someone else has said use your ears.
Oh and lastly Your rythm section in generally (but not always) reliant on both the rythm and the bass line.
How you Bass and Kick patterns interact can make a huge difference also.

doesn't get better than that my friend, and if that doesn't work slap b0unce in the back of the head and sample that.

thumperjack · Post by **thumperjack** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:52 am

the key to a good drum loop is the level of variation that occurs within the loop, and ways you can avoid the robotics of a standard loop. BEAT REPEAT is your answer. the simplest way to do it is make a loop that you like and slap a beat repeat on it so it imporvises naturaly, then assign a key or midi button to the on/off on the beat repeat. or to get really realistic, route the hihat, snare and bass drum to different tracks respectivly and put a beat repeat on each, then you have three buttons assigned to the three beat repeats on/off buttons that you can make your loop go ape shit just by toggling three buttons. it can get very VERY inspiring instead of having the exact same pattern repeat over and over and over again like a metronome.

djadonis206 · Post by **djadonis206** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:10 am

velocity curves in your clips, the swing feature and good use of effects

experimentation, practice and patience

hacktheplanet · Post by **hacktheplanet** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:36 am

Velocity, velocity, velocity.
Most human drummers vary how hard they hit their drums. This is groove, and even a few irregular velocity changes can make a huge difference in how the loop sounds. And don't forget to change it up as much as you can. Keep it interesting.