Groove/Rhythm

jsilver · Post by **jsilver** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:12 pm

Are you doing this by hand with your mouse or do you prefer keyboard or pad? Is it worth while to try to calculate the shift and velocity in a break and then quantize it to your beat?

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:23 pm

I place every beat by hand, but then I'm a bit of a sucker for 1/16 grids and quantisation...

jsilver · Post by **jsilver** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:24 pm

futures_untold wrote:I place every beat by hand, but then I'm a bit of a sucker for 1/16 grids and quantisation...

That's what I'm doing. I guess if it ain't broke don't fix it

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:44 pm

Well, it depends if you're worried about generica djs or not. If your beats aren't dead on, djs with no skill (or desire to really dj) may be less likely to play your tunes. (imo)

But using off kilter beats works when in the context of a whole song. If a beat is 'off' at the same place in every loop or phrase, then it will sound right overall.

It all depends........

antics · Post by **antics** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:44 pm

why do you place them by hand if a sequencer does ti way quicker? do you do alot of the grid?

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:47 pm

Well, I build beats using the paino roll as opposed to tapping them out on a trigger pad or keyboard. Also, I'm not keen on the step sequencers that old groovebox style machines have.

Placing each individual hit by hand means I can build the beat how I hear it in my head, not how the sequencer is constraining me to work. Quantise & shuffle are just two tools available for ensureing every thing is tight or lose respectively...

Ifyaknowamean?

antics · Post by **antics** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:55 pm

I get ya... maybe i'll try it some time... get some more rolly hi hats going...

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:58 pm

Good.

I'm happy that your happy

lojik · Post by **lojik** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:26 pm

I use step sequencers for alot of my beats unless a particular sample sounds better slightly in front or behind of a beat in which case I turn the grid off and do it by hand that way.

Using free hand without a grid is also good for creating weird drum rolls or percussion fill type things aswell.

Step sequencer is generally fine for basic kicks, snares and hi-hats though!

omm-0910 · Post by **omm-0910** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:38 am

I use a mixture of all three. Generally start by placing a few key hits with the mouse, add things like hi-hats with the mpd to get a more human feel, and then tidy everything up with quantization/shuffle. Then spend the next 6 hours repeating the process, adding hits, fills, tweaking the timing on this hit, tweaking the velocity on that one etc. until I'm bored, delete the whole thing and start again.

Actually, maybe I shouldn't be giving advice...

james fox · Post by **james fox** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:55 am

i tend to push elements back or forward using the track delay in ableton live, as well as global swing.

jsilver · Post by **jsilver** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:24 pm

james fox wrote:i tend to push elements back or forward using the track delay in ableton live, as well as global swing.

how do you use global swing in ableton?

doubtful · Post by **doubtful** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:27 pm

jsilver wrote:
james fox wrote:i tend to push elements back or forward using the track delay in ableton live, as well as global swing.
how do you use global swing in ableton?

It’s on the top next to tempo. Each clip can be selected to be affected by it in 8ths or 16ths etc. If I use it I usually have it on 16ths as its more subtle. I hate forgetting it’s on, then hand placing beats only to discover it’s swinging my swing and I’m stuck with the global tempo. Depends what effect you’re going for, but I’d rather spend a long time by hand getting a couple of bars or more exactly as I want than going for the one size fits all approach. I like elastic beats. If that’s not already a genre, please don’t steal it and do it better.

gravity · Post by **gravity** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:28 am

i draw it in then shift the bits i want to be swingy by hand.

Groove/Rhythm

Groove/Rhythm

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