more realistic drum programming

this question has probably been asked a million times but, how do you guys program your drums so that they sound more realistic? I've tried everything from turning off quantize and messing with the swing but it still sounds too "drum machine". I'm gunning for that Squarepusher/Dj Shadow feel.

Any help would be great

'I'm gunning for that Squarepusher/Dj Shadow feel.'

I may be wrong, but I think shadow uses loops in some of his tracks, but layers it with other samples. I've never heard of squarepusher so I can't comment on that. Personally, I don't use quantization unless I really need to add something that my fingers can't tap out fast enough. Doing tracks this way does take a little time to get used to. It's like using chop sticks when your used to a knife and fork. When you figure it out, you'l never go back, and you can instantly know when a track uses quantization or not. But if your going for a dj shadow feel, I think it's safe to assume he's not programming the entire beat. Probably bits and pieces, but not the entire thing. Now, I may be wrong, but as deep as his music is, I wouldn't be charging folks 15 bux/cd for all that work... maybe $150!!

sqaurepusher uses yamaha stuff as it has a greater resolution meaning you can use more than 96 ticks per bar...sounds like he chop and resequences his stuff....turn off quantize and get those beats working well at sllloooooowwww tempos and then speed them up...

shadow may not get anal about every edit but squarepusher does- only have to listen to something like 'my red hot car' to hear the amount of ideas and techniques this guys spits out in just 4 bars- its crazy and i know he spends a lot of his time (like the chems or aphex) perfecting the beat....

greg

& I don't think anything of Squarepusher's sounds remotely realistic......

http://tweakheadz.com/how_to_make_origi ... tracks.htm

featherboy wrote:& I don't think anything of Squarepusher's sounds remotely realistic......

not the sequences but the sounds of the drums are live drum samples and he actually plays the bass in a lot of his songs, really well i might add. Feed me weird things is his best album IMHO and it has a more realistic sound to it. real jazzy ish

"squarepusher's theme" has some crazy ass drums,check that song out.
Thanx for all the feedback.

Anyone know what he uses? I read that he likes computers, then I hear QY700 and all that. Someone got the real info?

first off you need real drums (no drums from stock kits) ones from vinyl, and don't quantize, and add a tiny tiny bit of reverb on ur drums. or you can just get a drum break and chop it.

2 Get Realistic Drums Some Tips

USE The Note Varation Slider On Ur MPC (U Do Have 1 Right)
Load in a Closed Hat And Experiment Live With it in A Sequence ..........

Also Chrono is right U Need REAL DRUMZ Stay OFF The 808, 909 etc.
at least.

Don't Use That Maching Gun Hat Sequence................

Employ REAL SNARES u can use Claps n Snaps But TRY 2 Stick 2 SNARES
n RIMSHOTS

Use Multi Kicks n Snares Make Them Close But Different Jus Slightly and
KEEP the Full LEVEL OFF


And Chrono Is Right on the REVERB DEAL TRY TO PUT ALL Drums in A Similar ..........................ROOM / SPACE........But Don't Over Do it I Didn't Say OUTERSPACE

TRY 2 Do 8 Bars or More This Way...........................This Is GONNA Drive U

NUTZ At First BUT THIS IS NOT AN EASY EXERCISE BE Patient...............


4 REAL

ghost notes will do wonders. also play the hi hats live with no quantizing. you can push the kicks or snares forward/back a tick or two for rushed or lazy feel. adjust attack, so softer played notes arent hitting as hard. just try to be as dynamic as possibl;e

first and foremost you must understand what role the drums play in music. they are the timekeeper. so, that is the first thing you need to make sure that the drum part is in the pocket and groovin. then once you have that going on then you add your bells and whisles. like tamb, shakers, cow belll but you do not want to over do it.

try this. have you tamb follow the bass drum, the shaker follow the melody and the cow bell with a basic latin feel. switch it up and experment with it. it is not going to happen over night but first the drums should be in the pocket groovin (ie bass drum, snare and hi hat).

peezie wrote: just try to be as dynamic as possibl;e

mwalker wrote:first the drums should be in the pocket groovin (ie bass drum, snare and hi hat).

some good advice

peezie wrote:ghost notes will do wonders.

What exactly are ghost notes?

early Squarepusher was a lot of him actually PLAYING a drum kit and sampling it and chopping it up to hell. his father is an accomplished jazz drummer and he's not too bad himself. plus, he's an amazing fretless bass player. short of actually going and getting a drum kit or some pads and sticks the best thing might be to use live played drum samples and loops. cut em up and layer them with your own stuff. the MPC pads are very sensitive and have many levels of velocity response so it is possible to get a decent human feel if you take the time to get meticulous with programming them.