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Quick Tip: How to Make Beats With Logic Pro’s Built-in Drums Samples
basix

Quick Tip: How to Make Beats With Logic Pro’s Built-in Drums Samples

on Jun 1st 2012 with 6 comments
Tutorial Details
  • Difficulty: Beginner
  • Time: 10 minutes
  • Requirements: Logic Pro or other DAW

Logic Pro comes with a lot of drums samples to create advanced beats. Not only are there drum kits, but also individual kick and snare sounds that are used in EXS24.

By layering different drum parts that come with Logic Pro, you can make basic to advanced beats. By making each drum part on it’s own track, you can easily create the drum structure for a song. All you need is Logic Pro (you can use this same technique in other DAWs or plugins) and a little creativity.

Step 1: Make a New Track With EXS24

First, create a new virtual instrument track using EXS24, which is a sampler that comes with Logic Pro. EXS24 is required to read the sample files that are included in Logic Pro.

The samples we will be using are all included with Logic, but you may need to install the Logic Pro & Mainstage additional content or the Remix Tools Jampack (all included with Logic).

Step 2: Open a Kick Drum Sample in EXS24

Open the EXS24 plugin, and the library on the right will show the EXS24 content installed. Go to 03 Drums & Percussion.

I used 03 Single Drums > 01 Kicks > Electronic Kicks > Electronic Kick C1 1

Step 3: Record a MIDI File on the Kick Drum Track

Record a MIDI file for the kick part of the drum beat. You can always mix it up a bit or change it completely for different parts of the song.

Step 4: Make a New Track for the Snare Drum

Create a new track for the snare drum part of your beat. For this, I used 03 Single Drums > 02 Snares > Electronic Snares > Electronic Snare D1 4

Step 5: Record a MIDI File on the Snare Track

Record the snare’s part of your beat on the snare track. The piano role is very handy when using
the pencil tool to make a beat. You can use the piano roll like a drum sequencer.

Step 6: Make More Drum Part Tracks

You can keep adding to your beat by using the different individual drum part samples and drum kits included with Logic Pro.

Conclusion

With so many drum samples included with Logic Pro, you can make elaborate beats very easily. It’s very simple to create cool snare fills or add elements to the beat as the song progresses.

Here’s the short and simple beat I created:

Tags: BasixTips
 
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Taylor Casbon is a programmer/web developer in Chattanooga, TN. He also does graphic design, video, and audio work.  

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  • http://robertanthonyperez.com Robert Anthony

    I may be missing the entire point of this but I notice a lot of producers, especially those starting out, sequencing their grooves and percussion this way. I personally don’t think it’s the best. While I don’t use the EXS24 for my grooves, a single instance of an EXS24 in multi output mode is well capable of doing everything you described, while saving you valuable RAM and processing power.

    It may be marginal amounts but from experience it can very well be the difference between a project playing and getting the “Audio engine could not render in real time” error.

    A single EXS24 in multi output mode will save you from having 20+ instances of the plug-in loaded, as well as having 20+ sequencer tracks to deal with when arranging your grooves and percussion throughout your arrangement. All the while still giving you each sample on it’s own mixer channel with independent insert effects, pan, volume and bus control , and individual control over the midi notes; only in a single midi track (much like Propellerhead Reason’s drum modules).

    • Taylor Casbon
      Author

      I appreciate the suggestion. What the tutorial describes is a simpler way to do it, although less efficient as you mentioned. Setting up a track with ESX24 multi-out and running different effects on different outputs from the plugin with different samples is an entirely different tutorial. This tutorial is designed to show how to get the job done in a more simple way so anyone can do it.

  • Thomas Bailey

    You could also use Ultrabeat, which is specifically tailored for triggering drum samples.

    • Tangalan

      Indeed manizzle

  • http://www.dubturbofree.com Dubturbofree.com

    It seemes pretty confusing as to which beat maker is the best to use to make my own beats. I don’t have a lot of money, but still, will the cheaper beat makers really halp me make pro beats?

    What about free beat makers like or Drumbox?

    Confused

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qozKHU9khRs Mike

    I do see the advantage of recording your drum parts this way, as it is nice to see each individual part in the main window. However, there are many advantages to using Ultrabeat. You can hear what you are creating in real-time and then just click and drag the whole rhythm to the main window. This is certainly easier for beginners.