The rhythm track gives life to a song, and hours and days can vanish trying to tweak them just right. There are a bunch of ways to produce rhythm tracks. What is your favorite?
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What sound sources do you use? Do you mic real drums, use an electric kit, use loops, create MIDI sequences, use VSTis, use drum replacement techniques?
Do you use any special software when creating or tweaking your rhythm track? Do you have any hints or secret recipes for tweaking your rhythm tracks just the way you like them?
What is the most unusual way you have created a rhythm track? Beatboxing? Hitting a desk with a book? Wacky microphone choices or placement?
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By Adrian Try
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I usually throw down my guitar first, as I’m a guitar player, then I pound in a drum track via keyboard using something like Battery for my samples. Finally, I’ll put bass over the drums, trying to get my bass notes and kick together.
If I do bass first, it’s bass, drums, then guitar. Sometimes I’ll go guitar, bass, drums… Never bass, guitar, drums. The only time I’ll use drums first is if I find a drum loop I can’t live without.
I’ll use that technique to build my loops –I’m a loop-based composer, whether that’s good or bad– and build my leads over the loops. If it’s a project for other people, when I’m done laying everything down, I’ll go back and have a friend record drums, I’ll double his kick with a sample, then I’ll rerecord bass and guitar, to get rid of the loop feel.
Kind of a loaded question… However, for developing a new idea, without inspiration ( imagine that ) I’ll stick with MIDI; including the drums and bass. That way if tempo, key, or voices need to change I don’t have to replay everything.
As far as what goes down first, I try to start off with what every is carrying the groove; could be guitar, drums, bass, or whatever. If it’s melodically driven, the lines should be addressed and arranged first. Then fill in the holes with the other instruments.
Once everything sticks and I like it, I’ll commit to actually overdubbing / tracking real instruments. Mic choice and technique is all is dependent on the style of music and creativity direction.
i start with sequencing drums when I do not have a clue what my tune is going to be like – that’s most of the time. I will also do that when i actually draw in the tune rather then play it.
In other cases i just play around with a chord progression i like (usually from a favorite song) on a split keyboard (bass and keys). I try to vary it or try to get the same… I might have a kick there too, the rest will follow then drums, vox, fx’s.
It depends on the song, but start either with a synth or a guitar part and then start playing around on my korg emx1. I think that working on an actual drum machine helps with inspiration. When I feel i have nice groove I record it and add some more drum parts in Ultrabeat. The kick and the snare from the emx1 gets usually resampled and ran through Scream in reason. Most of the time I find myself using the excellent Rough Rider plugin – a must have compressor if you ask me.
Usually while I’m designing drums I’ll have a step-sequencer pattern playing. By the time I have my drum sounds designed I usually have an idea of what I want the rhythm to be so I play it in using a Midi keyboard, which gives nice variations in velocity and timing.
In Live : I’ll spend half an hour rifling through (free) sample loops until I find a nice loop, piano or synth sound. I also put aside 3 or 4 interesting spot FX which match that sound. Then I usually push each of these through VST effects to fatten a synth, modulate a flat effect or add reverb or rhythm. Then I go find some drum loops in the same key – or something that sounds right and jigsaws into the unique sound without bumping into the others. Then I’ll either go hunt for a melody or punch a simple one in on my midi keyboard.
OR
In Finale : I have no idea what I’m doing but I simply “paint” quarter notes on a piano treble and bass music sheet so that the patterns look nice. I multiply the first 2-4 bars and change just a few notes (usually on the 3rd bar). Then, if something doesn’t sound right on playback, I just rearrrange the note (up or down). Sometimes the prettier the pattern with notes, the funner the sound.
I need a process. It’s all a bit random.
i kinda wish i had a technique. i throw oil paint on a audio canvas and start moving it around. i would fail at watercolor or japanese brush painting or classical guitar (where the economy of movement and clarity is brought to the fore). my motto is ultimately been hoisted on me by the late, great frank zappa: “anything, anytime, anyplace”. never stop.