Trying to find a solid explanation on what "swing" is exactl

Hey guys. I've been trying to find a solid article that makes sense and explains what swing is and how the adjustment of swing plays a role in creating beats. How to use it and when to use it... Just everything about it basically.

Thanks a ton

normally each beat is the same distance apart

swing moves beats forward or backward, to be nearer the previous or next beat. 50% means no swing, the note is halfway between its neighbours. 75% means it's shifted back half the distance to the next beat.

you use it when it sounds good.

An easy way to compare swing is comparing the loose feeling of Dilla drums to the tight timing of southern drums.

Think of big band or bebop. If you notice, this kind of music is based on a rhythmic style of play (swing).

It's essentially the push and pull of timing between the different elements of your groove. Basically what Pastor and Pound were saying.

Don't simply rely on the Swing in the MP though. Try turning quantize off for some parts, with others mess around with quantize, and also if you can, don't delete that bit of silence before your sample starts. That way you can make the sample trigger slightly later which can add to the swing. Trial and error...

When your beats sound mechanical, add a little swing to them. Imagine a tight wad walking down Wall St., now give him some swing...watch his arms glide back and forth like George Jefferson with his head held up high and walking with that superfly walk..yeah thats swing.

Coz wrote:don't delete that bit of silence before your sample starts.

ah, you do that too? i dont do that on the 60 though for the most part.. some times yes but often out of habbit I try and ... cut corners (so to speak) hahaha... cause 1 floppy disk for the whole project is nice.

My beats don't really have much swing, but I still keep that silence so there's something quick to adjust if the sample isn't hitting right.

With JJ it is unnecessary but my old 2kxl habits die hard.

Swing or "shuffle" isn't just nudging all notes forward or backwards to get a rushed or pulled/dragged groove. The most important factor is that that the 2nd and 4th note gets nudged according to the grid setting wich give that swing.