Gimme a Beat!
December 14, 2004 10:13 PM Subscribe
My friend wants to make beats, but he is unhappy with Fruity Loops, which is all we have at the moment. He is considering the purchase of a drum machine, but I tend to lean towards software. Any recommendations or advice in choosing a new program/drum machine?
I found I can do more with Acid than Fruity, and Acid won't have as severe a learning curve as some higher end software.
posted by spartacusroosevelt at 10:46 PM on December 14, 2004
posted by spartacusroosevelt at 10:46 PM on December 14, 2004
Yeah. For drum patterns, Fruity is the absolute best ratio of simple:power you can possibly get. Tell him to play around in the piano roll, and not just the step sequencer. A nice heft groove is always good too.
But the major important thing is: ditch the Fruity samples, and obtain (legally!) your own, or make them. Actually.. pretty much the entire Fruity samples directory can be safely deleted.
spartacusroosevelt: I got over ACiD a long time ago, except for some very minor loop sequencing. It's all about Reason, baby. The learning curve on it is surprisingly non-steep.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:16 PM on December 14, 2004
But the major important thing is: ditch the Fruity samples, and obtain (legally!) your own, or make them. Actually.. pretty much the entire Fruity samples directory can be safely deleted.
spartacusroosevelt: I got over ACiD a long time ago, except for some very minor loop sequencing. It's all about Reason, baby. The learning curve on it is surprisingly non-steep.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:16 PM on December 14, 2004
Response by poster: Yeah, I think Fruity's system is good, but our problem is mostly with its drum sounds, I guess. Where do you suggest I find better samples?
posted by buriednexttoyou at 11:31 PM on December 14, 2004
posted by buriednexttoyou at 11:31 PM on December 14, 2004
Reason, or pick up a good used Drum Machine for under $100 on Ebay.
posted by weston at 11:38 PM on December 14, 2004
posted by weston at 11:38 PM on December 14, 2004
For a free solution, if you are using windows, would be to use Jeskola Buzz. A lot of people complain that it doesn't sound as professional as the commercial software does. However, as a lot of the music on buzzmusic will attest, you CAN make very professional sounding stuff if you master it's learning curve.
posted by pemdasi at 11:42 PM on December 14, 2004
posted by pemdasi at 11:42 PM on December 14, 2004
For samples, have a poke around at Zero-g or eastwest for starters.
If you have a soundfont player on Fruity, another method of producing drum samples are sf2 soundfont files.
posted by dydecker at 11:49 PM on December 14, 2004
If you have a soundfont player on Fruity, another method of producing drum samples are sf2 soundfont files.
posted by dydecker at 11:49 PM on December 14, 2004
No, don't go with Buzz. I'd be willing to bet the last thing your friend wants to do is learn an entirely different way of working. (Buzz is a tracker program, and entirely unlike any other kind of audio program--except other trackers--out there).
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:26 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:26 AM on December 15, 2004
The basis of Buzz is a tracker, yes. It's not limited to that, however. In a true tracker, you only manipulate wav files. Buzz is a full blown modular synthesizer and effects processor. To control the generators you can use (and honestly it's the easiest way) a tracker type interface; however, you can use any MIDI controller you want to tripper any generator or effect chain you want if you so wanted.
Anyway, it's just a suggestion. Learning new paths to get to the same place can give you perspective you wouldn't have otherwise.
posted by pemdasi at 1:20 AM on December 15, 2004
Anyway, it's just a suggestion. Learning new paths to get to the same place can give you perspective you wouldn't have otherwise.
posted by pemdasi at 1:20 AM on December 15, 2004
I also vote for the Rebirth (there's a linux clone named ReBorn that i use). It emulates the Roland 808 and 909 drum machines....pretty much the industry standard. (As Big Boi says, "I know ya'll want that 808....")
posted by slhack3r at 6:19 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by slhack3r at 6:19 AM on December 15, 2004
dirtynumbangelboy, he DID ask for recommendations for new programs/drummachines, so why not recommend something FREE like Buzz?
I think Buzz is a phenomenal tool. I use it in some way, with all of my tracks. However, it can be a bit buggy sometimes. And because the original source code was lost, no more updates. But Buzzle looks promising. It's basically rewriting and improving Buzz, however it's in early development still.
If you do try Jeskola Buzz flip through the manual, at least the first couple of chapters, it will help you immensely.
posted by freudianslipper at 6:53 AM on December 15, 2004
I think Buzz is a phenomenal tool. I use it in some way, with all of my tracks. However, it can be a bit buggy sometimes. And because the original source code was lost, no more updates. But Buzzle looks promising. It's basically rewriting and improving Buzz, however it's in early development still.
If you do try Jeskola Buzz flip through the manual, at least the first couple of chapters, it will help you immensely.
posted by freudianslipper at 6:53 AM on December 15, 2004
If you work in a VST/DirectX environment, Steinberg's Groove Agent has almost no learning curve (and sounds amazing). And it outputs MIDI, so you can use the samples from BFD for human-sounding drum tracks.
posted by deshead at 7:18 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by deshead at 7:18 AM on December 15, 2004
Reason/ReBirth. Don't get a drum machine unless you're (he's) planning on playing on stage and even then..... Drum machines are for people who are trying to be retro-cool and are failing. (no offense intended to drum machine users. I didn't mean you. You really ARE cool. Yeah.)
Software is where it's at! It feels more limitless which is exactly what you want when you are trying to be creative. Don't short-sheet yourself from the beginning.
posted by tinamonster at 8:00 AM on December 15, 2004
Software is where it's at! It feels more limitless which is exactly what you want when you are trying to be creative. Don't short-sheet yourself from the beginning.
posted by tinamonster at 8:00 AM on December 15, 2004
I'm a big fan of ableton lives drum sequencer, but I guess thats just me.
posted by atom128 at 10:08 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by atom128 at 10:08 AM on December 15, 2004
Music hardware has other purposes than looking cool. I have some, and it's not for the image, since no one ever sees it. I don't perform live, but I could if I were so inclined. Hardware provides an interface that is easier to use for some tasks, particularly related to playing (in the musician sense) music. I'm aware that MIDI controllers can mitigate this to some degree, but a general purpose midi controller is rarely as well tailored to an instrument as the machine iteslf.
Another point is that hardware (in small amounts) is more easily portable. A self contained sequencer is much easier to set up than a computer, screen, input devices, audio interface, etc.
Software can be more flexible, and I'm not opposed to it, but hardware does have valid uses.
posted by recursive at 11:22 AM on December 15, 2004
Another point is that hardware (in small amounts) is more easily portable. A self contained sequencer is much easier to set up than a computer, screen, input devices, audio interface, etc.
Software can be more flexible, and I'm not opposed to it, but hardware does have valid uses.
posted by recursive at 11:22 AM on December 15, 2004
Basically, drum programming (and all music, really) is made up of two things: source material and sequencing.
If your problem with FruityLoops isn't the interface or sequencing power, but is the sounds, then you simply need to find some new source material. It's an extremely flexible program that should grow with you for quite a while before you feel the need to move on to something else.
I think the best advice I can give you is to avoid downloading every new audio program you find. Stick with one until you know exactly what it is lacking, then look for something to fill that gap.
posted by hartsell at 11:24 AM on December 15, 2004
If your problem with FruityLoops isn't the interface or sequencing power, but is the sounds, then you simply need to find some new source material. It's an extremely flexible program that should grow with you for quite a while before you feel the need to move on to something else.
I think the best advice I can give you is to avoid downloading every new audio program you find. Stick with one until you know exactly what it is lacking, then look for something to fill that gap.
posted by hartsell at 11:24 AM on December 15, 2004
Good hardware also sounds great, is very fast, has a hands-on UI, and doesn't try to distract you with email or instant messages.
posted by hartsell at 11:29 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by hartsell at 11:29 AM on December 15, 2004
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dydecker at 10:43 PM on December 14, 2004