makin drum tracks (patterns)

how do you normally start? busting off some hihats, then snare + kicks?
do you normally make the drum tracks at first, or do you make the melody? (loop) ? just wondering, would be nice if someone could give a fella a tip on how to program drums that almost sounds like its played live... if anyone in here knows, cause it seems very hard... hehe

I mean, cuzin, it ain't no CERTAIN way to do it.... peeps do shit different, ya know... Like me, I always do different.... If i know exactly the melody i'm gonna drop i'll drop that, and then throw some hi hats behind it.... otherwise i start with my hi hats first.. but everybody is different

i think that velocity and swing on hats help
keep in mind. a drummer has two arms
its impossible to hit a snare, crash cymbal and hi hat at the same time. often overlooked fact that leads to over programmed sounding drums.

eq them bad boys, let the decay overlap the other drum hits.

theres no set way homie and i know it sounds cliche, but experiment.

everybody does do it differently

i usually lay down the snare first as a "dummy" track. only because the metronome on the mp isnt loud enough for my tastes. i'll build the beat around that & once i have the basics down i'll go back & redo the drums how i think they should be.

but thats just me

i read that pete rock does the basics of the beat, then lays the high hat & uses the hats to help him tighten up the chops or whatever & then he does the drums last.

lowbudget wrote:everybody does do it differently

i usually lay down the snare first as a "dummy" track. only because the metronome on the mp isnt loud enough for my tastes. i'll build the beat around that & once i have the basics down i'll go back & redo the drums how i think they should be.

but thats just me

i read that pete rock does the basics of the beat, then lays the high hat & uses the hats to help him tighten up the chops or whatever & then he does the drums last.

very effective...........when you are laying your chops sound out the hi-hats so you know you are working with something....sometimes using the snare last works out fine also.......honestly i do things that i couldn't explain becuz it is like second nature but the basics headz you in the right direction to be advanced

Nekiw wrote:how do you normally start? busting off some hihats, then snare + kicks?
do you normally make the drum tracks at first, or do you make the melody? (loop) ? just wondering, would be nice if someone could give a fella a tip on how to program drums that almost sounds like its played live... if anyone in here knows, cause it seems very hard... hehe

hell yeah, i know fellas do shit different, just wondering how some of you doit, ill normally start of by bustin down some hats, snares, then the chops (meoldies) then i do the kick...

I usually lay down single Kicks, then single Snares. and then go back and add more into them

sample loop or chops
hats
snares
kicks

im completely opposite. I lay down the drums, then go for the chops or melodies. Then maybe latter readjust the kicks.

All depends though cause some samples you need to start with so you can match the drums just right.

wheneva i do my heat i just make wuteva sounds good at tha time. i always have melodies n mind so droppn tha melodies is easier sumtimes, or if not i drop tha kick, snare, melody, then hi-hats, crash...but hey i have to use fruityloops 4 now and also a keyboard man, but i should be gettin an mpc very soon

hey, any thoughts on which mpc is tha best deal, i would appreciate sum thoughts on that

the best deal money wise i think is the mpc1000-You will definately need a sampling program to use it with on your computer. I.e. a program that has timestetch, etc. But with the usb setup the mpc1000 is really really nice.

I prefer to leave the computer out as much as possible. I own the mpc2xl. As a standalone unit i think it is better than the mpc1000. I definately think the sequencer interface of the 2xl is better/best of the mpc series. Im unsure of the mpc60 as i never really messed with them.

The mpc4000 is very complex-so there is a steep curve (i have really hard time figuring it out in the store and i know the 2xl like the back of my hand) But by far the mpc4 is the best mpc ever-there is so many features. I wouldnt worry of the learning curve if you got the cash for the mpc4000

I would say if you are getting your "first" mpc, then the mpc1000 is the best(need computer though to take full advantage). The reason i dont want one over my mpc2000xl is because im use to the 2xl and it would be too much for me to switch and $$$ wise i would loose. Since i love my mpc2xl interface I absolutely "dislike" the newer interfface (not that its a bad interface) the interface is actually almost identical, but they put some things in menus, and the buttons are all differant.

The one thing i absolutely hate on the mpc2000xl is that if yo really want to sample you need to add a zip drive, or hard drive. Even though the mpc1000 has usb, and media cards-I still would never give up my mpc2xl-i may get both though!

peace

word, it seems like 2 me tho that tha mpc is very different and more difficult from tha otha methods of makin heat. i guess i'll find out tho when i get it, thx 4 tha advice homie!!

"it seems -- tha mpc is very different and more difficult from tha otha methods of makin heat."

I totally disagree. I have had numerous drum machines (with built-in sequencers) and I've used many a computer program, but nothing really comes close to my 2kXL in ease of use. And it's definitely not very different from a computer setup.

I back that up. There is absolutely nothing easier than using the mpc when it comes to hardware or software. Think about it-you can produce a whole album with one and its the simplest thing out.

it seems hard to some guys becuase they never sat down with one more than 5 minutes. In a day withone (maybe two) youll wonder why you didnt get one sooner.

peace

have you some experience in drummin'?apparently no? i used to play drums for many years so this helps me to program some drum patterns in my MPC....;like "real" drummer playing,i mean....but every time i just work step by step,never in real time programmin'....