Making Rap Beats

[admin]

Maybe y'all could post some tips for people trying to make rap beats. Just to get things started here's some common mistakes I find with people that come in our studio with their own tracks:

1) Quantize. This fixes timing mistakes and human error in your programming. If nothing is quantized and you're programming via Midi, it will usually be a mess. If everything's quantized it will be too stiff.

Instruments you usually want to quantize:
Kick Drum (bass drum)
Hi Hat
Snare (usually)

2)Multiple layers. Try one track of a quantized snare, then use the same sound or different one on the fly, so it has a "human" feel. The quantized track should be your "cement", usually the one that falls on beat 2 and 4 (backbeat) or thereabouts.

3) Non musicians. If you're not a musician (most beat programmers are not), be careful about mixing too many musical instruments into your track. You're going to end up playing in different keys and it can be a mess really quick.

Couple tricks if you HAVE to have lots of music parts. Use ALL white keys or ALL black keys if it's on a keyboard, those notes won't collide too much. Your ear can guide you on the rest.

Hope that helps a little!
Cybermonsters

[dramabeats]

Those are some good tips, admin.
I've been producing for a few years and i've tripped over these finds when making beats.

1-_ Dont get a lame computer program and try to sell the beats you made with it. Chances are 500 other rapper-producers will already have something way too close to that sound.
If you wanna make beats, save up and get the midi gear. That way the music is a product of your imagination.

2-_ Drums can be done at a later time from when you start each beat, but make sure you do the majority of instruments all in the same day. If not, you'll lose the "vibes" of the track.

3-_ Solos and guitar/string riff's should never be quantized... Let people hear the work your fingers did. But always quantize the kick, snare, and hi-hat, if you dont your track will lack flow and probably sound wack.

4-_ If god has blessed you with a workstation, (Triton, Fantom, Motif)... GO DOWN 2 OCTAVES on the BASS part! if not, u'll have rediculous squeeky noises in front of you, and you'll have to reach 3 feet to the left to play a decent bass line.

5-_ Never take a wack beat to the studio.
Just save up 150 and buy one... Dramabeats.com makes em real good.. I Promise. http://www.rapdogs.com/ubb/smile.gif

[big lew]

thanks Admin & Drama, reel good advice.
i don't know a thing about music (technically), but i have an ear for music.
i just bought a roland mc 307 to start off with (what you think)? not i got to look up what the hell Quantizing is. http://www.rapdogs.com/ubb/smile.gif
thanks
Big Lew

[admin]

"Quantizing" automatically corrects rhythms to a designated selection. Example: You could play your hi hat and quantize to 8th notes, on playback the hi hat will be exactly to the nearest 8th note, even if you didn't play it that way.

Most people use quantizing for some of their rhythm parts. I even hear a lot of tracks where everything is quantized, but then it lacks feel.

Does that help?
Cybermonsters