beat writing technique

ok, so im just wondering how everyone does it, me i find a sample chop it up find sum drums, then sometimes i lay down drums first, then tune the sample chops ans lay them down, for the bass line i use one bass sample in the 12 levels, sometimes i use multisamples, or sometimes i record a bass loop using reason or fl studio, i record it into the mpc, then chop it up with recycle, then back to the mpc to assign it to the pads,.............. how do you guys do it??

It totally depends but it comes close to what you describe. Fiddle around with a sample for a while, lay down a beat first... whatever suits me that day.

I generally don't write 'beats' - I go for full-length, evolving tracks. More often than not, I'll spend a while getting some drum sounds (chopping a break, or finding the right kicks & snares to layer) and then I might jump to a synth patch and see what comes out.

I'm just getting into the step editor, so alot of what I do is generated on a step-by-step basis; lots of lovely crescendo rolls and drags, and intricate PPQ editing.

Tasty.

i usually find my samples, or some of them, get my drums, lay my drums down, then i just beat the pads and see what i can come up with. I'll start with the same sequence with the drums copied over like 10 sequences, then just fill them all with the samples, then i go back and choose the ones i like best for say, an intro, or a verse, or the chorus, ect ect. Then i record into logic and lay down the bass.

I get a sample, It get chopped and imported to the MPC, find my tempo, record basic melody line with the samples, then I will get some drums samples or breaks to match the feel and the sound of my melody. Once I got my drums I go back to the melody to make it complete. Export all that stuff to protools and mixing start.

i used to play with samples first, but these days, after i find a sample i bang out my drums and have them all eq'd and going through my daw before i even touch the sample. imo since i make hip-hop, it's all about the drums. chopping the sample and laying it down is easy afterwards.

Samples usually dictate the drums. I could sample something and hear the entire song just from a 3 note guitar riff.

Then sometimes I create drums and make something from there with records or keys.

Each beat can be a different process, and thats a good thing. There should be a certain amount of randomness when making a machine beat.
For rap beats (the only thing I make) I've found that it helps to find the "catch" or "hook" and then build around that. Without a good catch its just the kind of obnoxious banging that drives old people crazy and is pretty much disposable a month later.


But the other good thing about having 12 minutes stereo is that beats can continually morph.
I've started a beat from one sample, put a beat behind it, dropped the first sample and then put a new sample over the beat left over from the first one.
Basically keep the good stuff and build from that, and clip out the bunk IMO.

Theres also starting from, and manifesting a concept. But thats the highest individual level that is different for everybody.