I feel like an a$s............

because most of the beats i make sound like $h*t. I just got my mpc right b4 christmas and during the holidays wasnt really using it too much. But my question how long did it take for some of yall to make some beats that you felt convident with. And at this moment i dont have a synth so i need some tips on straight sampling tracks and and making some hot $h*t. Any thing would be helpful.

study the simplicity of some of the classics, that will give you a start, you take it from there. Look for open samples, orchestral music is good for this, don't just loop chop those sounds using your trim screen.
if i assume that you have the 2kxl this is what you do:use the zone feature of the mpc. apply some effects and filter and you can create your own ish...if youve only had it for a month don't try so hard you forget to be creative..
peace.

took me about a week after I got my MPC2kxl. I already had machines before it though so I already knew what I wanted to do though, that doesn't count does it?

you see this is my first machine ever. i just wanted to try something new because i rap and i figured i might as well produce my own beats because i already know what i like.

Then you have what you need to get started right there.

Where there's a will there's a way.


I rap, produce and engineer my own stuff also and
it is because I know what I want and like. So I do it myself.

Your beats will only be as good as your samples (you don't have a synth... you can still sample a synth). Start simple then you will get an idea on how to loop in more obscure ways and like said before you will eventually use the zone/slice tools to chop.

It took me about 2 months to actually learn most of its functions and learn how to get around on it.

The one thing that I always keep in mind is that I want to make something that is friendly to the ear and something that isnt too technical. And I say that because (unfortunatly) the audience is brain dead when it comes to actually knowing what is involved in that technicaly produced beat. I have noticed a lot of tracks from underground produces that tight as F@#*, but when the average person listened to it, they mentally tuned it out.

theworks said it best, "your beats will only be as good as your samples".

Actually everyone made good points.

i think most people's beats start off less than good if not totally bad, at least mine did. Only advice I can give is keep working at it and dont get discouraged. I sometimes listen to older stuff i made and it sounds like garbage not that im on a pro level now but its a huge improvement. good luck and stay at it.

It all depends on your prodcution experience.... if your an experienced producer and simply are switching from something else to an mpc, then it can take about a week..... if youve literally just starting producing, then you cant really put a time frame on how long it will take to get 'good'

Dynamis wrote:It all depends on your prodcution experience.... if your an experienced producer and simply are switching from something else to an mpc, then it can take about a week..... if youve literally just starting producing, then you cant really put a time frame on how long it will take to get 'good'

Ive been makin beats for like a year on software and now im switchin to hardware. how long you think it gon take me to make hot beats again?

if u wanna hear some of my shit i did on software check my soundclick

www.soundclick.com/soulfulproductionsmusic.htm

Hit UP Some Goodwill/Salvation Army or Thrift Spots


Study The Process ....Samplin'.....Synthesis......Filterin' Etc
Get Some Acapellas and See What You Can Do Behind Them



Think About what U Like Or Don't Like And Produce Accordingly........



Read The ENTIRE MPC Manual And The Newbie Section Here

I think another thing to remember is not to force it. Let it flow out of you. Once you start forcing it, the song will never sound right. As for how long it will take, who knows. I have been working with the 2kxl for 2yrs now. And my stuff keeps getting better. I can listen to my old stuff and laugh at myself. I mean when I first did them I thought they were the hottest things on the streets, and nobody could tell me different. But now listening to them with what I know now I cant help but laugh at myself. Anyways, just be patient dog, it will come to you.

I would also say steer clear of exclusively using factory sounds . I bought my 1st MPC in '97 and I was just a DJ who didn't know sh!t . And I think going from toying w/ factory sounds to understanding the art of sampling changed my whole sound forever . Working w/ samples is a little more troublesome & tedious but what you can do w/ it is endless (especially if you take time to learn how to chop sh!t into slivers) . If I want new sounds I don't always have a couple bills to afford a new module or a sample CD . But you can bet your a$$ I've got a couple bucks to run down to the thrift store and come up on a couple 99 cent hits .

ask others what they think, often we ourselfs are the greatest critic!

[quote="mpc4000xl"]Hit UP Some Goodwill/Salvation Army or Thrift Spots


Study The Process ....Samplin'.....Synthesis......Filterin' Etc
Get Some Acapellas and See What You Can Do Behind Them



Hey 4k I'm a little confused what do you mean when you say "synthesis". , Does that mean the 4000 has a synthesis algorythm to apply to onboard sounds? Either way I use the 2000xl so my question probably isn't relevent.