Making more interesting drum patterns

Hi
I feel like I've kind of hit a block when it comes to creating drum patterns on the mpc and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to create more interesting beats. For example something like this which is apparently made on an mpc:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smZfeZ7O7IE
How would I go about created a beat like that, would i record each bit in or use grid edit or what?

Thanks

I've always had the idea that everyone has his own tricks to achieve what he wants. Just mess around with all the things you can change, I like to mess with velocity.

No one is gonna want to hold your hand down the beat makin path. We all figured it out, and interesting beats are peoples bread and butter. Work and work and more work usually, nothing beats time with the MPC. Listen to the beat, break it down to each instrument and try write it. Alot is swing in timing and not always timing correct either, but sutble time shifts, and as above, change velocities as human drummers never really hit a drum exactly the same like a sampler or drum machine.
I can do any beat. You name it i can do it. I use above method as well, just takes time effort and some thinking. And of course you have the net so no excuse for not being informed as im sure there is lots out there about this. Sound on sound have written a bit about this. I cant give you link as i just work at it myself, SO I LEARN.....

Um... Just by making more interesting rythmik patterns? You'll get there... eventually... if you try... and succeed...eventually

its all experimentation...if you never try to step out of the box and try patterns you've never done, you'll never grow.

listen to some artists who have particularly interesting patterns and try to imitate them.

or create a synth line or bass or some samples, and then program them with some shifty drums to match.

or dont use quantize, play everything without that option on

I didn't look at the link..

however try this as an experimental exercise.

Make a beat as usual, however for ALL of the drums .. turn the timing off entirely... make the entire thing straight up with your own timing for the drums. Keep adding stuff... sometimes you hear a bit of a rhythmic pattern looping that you may not have thought to try and program otherwise.

the link u posted dont seem to far fetched what is it u dont understand about how that could be achieved on the mpc


like folks already said listen and imitate then create ur own, u can hear how the snare goes program that first then layer in the rest of the instruments.

try putting the kick on 16 velocity levels to program some bounce to ur kick and maybe mess with roll feature

velocity changes and using more than one hit from a break beat like longer and shorter kicks and such. different hi hats. using your own patterns along with parts of a break (i.e. - a complicated drum roll you wouldn't be able to play out yourself), layering. there a lot of things you can do to make your patterns more interesting.

when i first started my patterns were really basic during this time i would use note repeat with the timing on and just pressed the pads at random times to see where the drum hit and if it sounded right.

this allows you to hit the notes you would otherwise not be able to time correctly by hand because of inexperience.

Some ideas...

1. Forget the 'rules' of drum programming.

2. Experiment with double-time rhythms.

3. Experiment with alternative time signatures.

4. Program without a kick drum.

5. Layer your own patterns over loops, then discard the loops.

6. Turn midi instrument tracks into midi drum tracks.

7. Use a vocoder on your drums.

8. Reverse some of your drum patterns (play them backwards).

9. Layer your own drum patterns over each other.

10. Make patterns that are odd lengths such as 1, 3, 5 bars.

http://www.berkleemusic.com/store/category-browse?category_id=21
something to read!!

How about buying some percussive instruments and recording them into the mpc? Just an idea, it'll also give your drums that natural feel if done right

Good tips there Clint

For a more human groove you can always shift snares back 10-12 ticks. This is just a basic tip in drum nudging.

MoreBuck$ wrote:Good tips there Clint

Cheers, programmers need to think outside the box and be unconventional in their approach.