DRUMS!

Hi,
I got an mpc 500, now for about half a year.

I know the functions, I know the basics. Still, the results aren't really satisfactory.

Its not about melodical samples (like sampled orchestras, rock or jazz)...anybody can chop these....but

I'm talking about the DRUMS!

I'd like to know how you guys make your drums sound crisp and syncopic?
I'm talking about guys like Factor, Dj Krush, Jel, Kutmaster Kurt, Shapeshifters (LA), Kool G. Rap on "4,5,6"...hope you get the idea.

Where do you get your kits from?
How do you blend your drums? Do you use layers?
What kind of kits do you use? (909? Linn? 808? Mixed with sth else?)
How do you get shufflebeats ?
What settings ought to be done to get drums in the vein of the artists I mentioned?

NO - I won't browse youtube!
I did that and couldn't find anything worthy for me. Further, I can't trust the compression of youtube-files.
Also, I looked through the forums, but no real information for me.

This is a topic barely touched here.


SO, everybody, bring it on.

bambam69 wrote:This is a topic barely touched here.

Pardon?

Kits from sampling anything. Most choose vinyl. Any source is acceptable if it gets the job done.

Blend your drums using layers. ANY layers that work from any sound source... you see where i'm going with this.

Learn about compression.

Youtube is a good source for this, so I suggest you suck it up and get watching.

Lastly, why don't you experiment a little bit? You're going to get it wrong, but you'll have more fun doing it that way than if someone tells you what to do.

you can create your samples from every source you want, or you can download a collection of samples and programs like this:

“Rock da 500” library. In this package you can find a lot of programs and sounds specially designed for MPC500
http://rockda500.us.to/

enjoy

I've gotten a lot of mileage out of the samples on mpc-samples too. just sayin.

uuhmmm,


ok, let me rephrase:
I want to add groove to the beat. is there any method doing it on the 500?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_22vKR62aNQ
THIS what I wanna do! (next question, is the 500 appropriate for this? or should I ran for a machinedrum?)


what settings do I need? I tried all kind of things, and it didn't work.
youtube didn't tell me s**t!
why the hell you think I'm HERE asking?

bambam69 wrote:This is a topic barely touched here.

http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=138284
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=138883
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=138928
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=137624
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=137163
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=137100
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=127610
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=134241
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=133796
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=131462
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=130290
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=129189
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=130229
http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=129379


Get the **** outta here

bambam69 wrote:uuhmmm,


ok, let me rephrase:
I want to add groove to the beat. is there any method doing it on the 500?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_22vKR62aNQ
THIS what I wanna do! (next question, is the 500 appropriate for this? or should I ran for a machinedrum?)


what settings do I need? I tried all kind of things, and it didn't work.
youtube didn't tell me s**t!
why the hell you think I'm HERE asking?

You can do anything with the 500, but if your not making it work for you then perhaps you're in the wrong business.

A true master doesn't rely on settings or gear. He has only one pursuit and thats to make shit pop by all means necessary.

Peace

bambam69 wrote:uuhmmm,


ok, let me rephrase:
I want to add groove to the beat. is there any method doing it on the 500?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_22vKR62aNQ
THIS what I wanna do! (next question, is the 500 appropriate for this? or should I ran for a machinedrum?)


what settings do I need? I tried all kind of things, and it didn't work.
youtube didn't tell me s**t!
why the hell you think I'm HERE asking?

What settings do you need... you need to set your brain out of f*cking neutral for a start you lazy fool. Get off the internet and stop begging to be spoon fed it's pathetic.

Youtube didn't help... get off your arse and read a book on syncopation. Go and speak to a drummer or a music teacher in a local college. Learn about quantise settings from the MANUAL.

Or wait... is that too much effort because it isn't immediately available from the internet?

Better yet... throw some more money into it... buy another piece of kit that you will give up on in a week because it doesn't give you immediate results.

bambam69 wrote:uuhmmm,


ok, let me rephrase:
I want to add groove to the beat. is there any method doing it on the 500?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_22vKR62aNQ
THIS what I wanna do! (next question, is the 500 appropriate for this? or should I ran for a machinedrum?)


what settings do I need? I tried all kind of things, and it didn't work.
youtube didn't tell me s**t!
why the hell you think I'm HERE asking?

They really tore into you! But they are all technically RIGHT! Its not about the machine, its about the operator! You can really do anything you put your mind to, well, depending on your drive and mentality.

Ok peep it, just refering to the track at the end of the link you posted...
Sounds like live drums possibly sampled from a break, or even analog drums, but you never know. I hear some pretty heavy compression on the overall mix, and I can tell by the way some of the sounds tend to cancel eachother out..

As far as groove, and getting more of an analog feel, you might want to experiment with the Swing percent, which is located under the timing correct function. You will have to change the swing percent BEFORE recording, or you will hear no difference.
Another idea is to just eliminate quantize all-together, and practice laying stuff down like a real drummer would instead of a machine. Sometimes I will forget quantize even exists.
(In that case, the track delete function becomes my best friend until it sounds right!)
I am a huge fan of layering my drums, but in the case of a straight drumloop, its not always the best option in my opinion.

If you want groove....

The MPC is definitely the right machine for the job wether its the 500 or the 5000!

That being said, the rest is up to you so good luck!



On that note: I'm on my way to make my first beat of the year without quantize!

ok, thx.

I used quantize too ("experimented", LOL), but I couldn't really find out how to use it right.
usually, it just sounded off-beat and arytmical and uncool. In my experience, moving the tc towards 75% just distorted the rhtythm in a bad way.

so I was asking about alternatives.

I played with the step-edit a bit, it works a bit better, thats for sure. at least this comes closer.

layering drums is a touchy point, I did it, resampled it and added all kinds of fx (and I think the sp-404sx-fx are way superior than those from the newer akais, same goes for the 1000). honestly, fx suck completely!

I got the 500 for a half a year now, and the workflow is unnatural and a piece of shit. thats why I'm thinking about selling it, finding gear that suits me better.

youtube, once again, don't tell you shit!!

so I'd rather ask "real" people in a forum of 500 users (thats what this shithole is here for!) but they're just acting up - lol. all too human. monkeys, all of you f###ing haters!!
but thats ok. I listened to some beats submitted here - and its what I felt about the 500: no real frigged-friggedy possible.
so why don't you silly f###s just tell people who want to know how to set it up right.
oh, no, wait: I'd rather spent 50 bucks for another tutorial ebook and a piece of sampled drums (damn, why do most of these samplepacks sound so shitty? could please anybody tell me that?) - which means: spending money again, lol.








thx to that guy who compiled those links, nice work, thats what I wanted - sometimes I need to provocate to get the result



oh...and btw.: I bought the 500 half a year ago, spent 2 hours on it, daily since then...and yes, beats sound mad whack, drums don't sound right, (also, a lot of those download-files available really sound shitty),
but I could live with that....
face it: 500-workflow is just a super-pain in the ass!!!!

thats why I was thinking about another piece of gear that would suit me better.

it's not the fault of the people of this forum if you have choosed the wrong product

bambam69 wrote:so why don't you silly f###s just tell people who want to know how to set it up right.

cause silly **** like you are too **** lazy to put in a little bit of effort to figure it out themselves

bambam69 wrote:thx to that guy who compiled those links, nice work, thats what I wanted - sometimes I need to provocate to get the result

you could have done that in 5 minutes had you put forth the effort

bambam69 wrote:face it: 500-workflow is just a super-pain in the ass!!!!

nah son http://www.mpc-forums.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=121710

bambam69 wrote:thats why I was thinking about another piece of gear that would suit me better.

So, let me get this straight. You can't make phat drums with your your 500?? Thats absurb

Man, just give me any sampler and I'll make drums bang like World War 3.

The 500 can produce a natural feel of drums and there's tips all over this forum on how to accomplish this, there's no secret. Just search and google and ye shall find.

bambam69 wrote:...sometimes I need to provocate to get the result

Good luck with that strategy for soliciting advice douchebag. And it's "provoke" you stupid ****.

bambam69 wrote:ok, thx.

I used quantize too ("experimented", LOL), but I couldn't really find out how to use it right.
I got the 500 for a half a year now, and the workflow is unnatural and a piece of ****. thats why I'm thinking about selling it, finding gear that suits me better.

face it: 500-workflow is just a super-pain in the ass!!!!

thats why I was thinking about another piece of gear that would suit me better.

Well, if it doesn't suit you, then yea, maybe try something different.

In my opinion... The limited effects, the workflow, the quantize and swing, the screen, and ANY LIMITATION at all... just makes it that much better for me. But thats just me.

I came from 10 years of making beats on a PC with every function imaginable.. Especially the GIGANTIC wav display.. So you would think the limitations would be an issue.. No it is the opposite for me. The more limitation, and less features allows for even greater artistic expression.

When I want natural sounding drums, I turn the quantize off. Works great. The only issue left is the timing of the human that is beating on the pads.

There's computer software that will give you the functions and workflow you desire, and the plus side is that you wont have to keep spending a ton of money on new gear until you find the right system that works for you.

Oh yea... I am a monkey!