How do you make your sample based beats?

[Realziment]

So ive been producing for a long time, and out of all my music ive only used samples a few times, I have a friend who does a lot of really good sounding west coast beats, and he wouldnt be the greatest engineer but damn his music bangs and hits hard and is all sample based, from ol records, ive done this a few times with the results been ok, but i cant find any decent videos on youtube or anything to see what way these really get done, i wanna see a start to finish sampling beat. If anyone got any good clips links. and please share your process if your a sample guy, if theres any vids using kontakt/rex would be sweet. But i guess its all the same.

And please share your process at this. Im interested to see different work arounds. thanks

[Realziment]

nice link thanks. some good articles!

[CRACKPIPE]

OP is not a byatch. He koo.

Experimenting, trial and error is the best way to learn IMO. Stones Throw has weekly beat battles where they supply the sample. Not really my thing but seems fun for someone trying to learn. It's interesting to see the varied interpretations of how the sample is used. Some of it's cringeworthy, but some is real good. More about the process I think.

STMB -> Beat Battles

[Realziment]

ok cheers ill look into that, thanks mayne.

[TonyBelmont]

Seriously? Just sample something, it's not that hard.

[Lifted]

Originally Posted by Realziment

So ive been producing for a long time, and out of all my music ive only used samples a few times, I have a friend who does a lot of really good sounding west coast beats, and he wouldnt be the greatest engineer but damn his music bangs and hits hard and is all sample based, from ol records, ive done this a few times with the results been ok, but i cant find any decent videos on youtube or anything to see what way these really get done, i wanna see a start to finish sampling beat. If anyone got any good clips links. and please share your process if your a sample guy, if theres any vids using kontakt/rex would be sweet. But i guess its all the same.

And please share your process at this. Im interested to see different work arounds. thanks

When I use the samples I usually find the phrase/lyric that will work in the song context and drop it onto the waveform later, and nudge to perfection.

Keep the same length between the samples, and repeat if it's the hook.

[Realziment]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Seriously? Just sample something, it's not that hard.

I know how to sample i know how to get chops, its just making the track with the chops where i guess for lack of better statement, im coming stuck. A big thing that baffles me about dr dres work is how the hell does he take multiple musical sample from different records and make them work together? I just would like to see somebody before or after they chop put the beat together with the chops.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Realziment

A big thing that baffles me about dr dres work is how the hell does he take multiple musical sample from different records and make them work together?

It's called talent, and having a good ear for it. It's not rocket science.

[Realziment]

That I also understand. I have a lot of talent thats why most of my music is played musically without samples. I wont deny i lack talent in the sampling department, therefore my reason for posting here so within a few weeks of practicing i will be talented in that area too. trying to broaden my horizons here, since my friend landed a gig at aftermath i wanna do more sample based music so i can get some quality material over there too to try get a shot. I mean no disrespect but as the moderator you should be the first to understand that this forum is a place for people to learn new things and get some advice in weak areas, you know, i didnt expect such remarks from the moderator, what is the problem with me trying to get some info, tips, help on one of my weak spots? And the reason is im new to it. if had of been more into sampling a yr ago, 2 months ago, 2 weeks ago, im sure id be pretty dope at it by now. I fell in love with this forum when i first found it, and i still do, but im tired of seeing a lot of innocent people been bashed because there asking a beginners question. This is the first time ive had that from any of my posts. and its just not right, just because its easy to you, it probably was not always. And after i see 1 or 2 examples of how its done, i will master it. Just like i mastered everything else i do, from interning at studios, to watching people before me do it. I really wish people would have more understanding on here. Plus a big part of my qustion in this post was to see people different methods how can that hurt any of us on here?

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Realziment

I mean no disrespect but as the moderator you should be the first to understand that this forum is a place for people to learn new things and get some advice in weak areas, you know, i didnt expect such remarks from the moderator, what is the problem with me trying to get some info, tips, help on one of my weak spots?

I've made two comments:

Seriously? Just sample something, it's not that hard.

It's called talent, and having a good ear for it. It's not rocket science.

They are the REAL answers to your question. So, what exactly are you upset about? If you have the talent, then go sample some things and develop your ear better. There is no YouTube video that will show you how to make beats with samples like Dre (which is what you are asking for if I'm not mistaken).

[wreckingstuff]

Have search on youtube for 'Boondoc/boonie mayfield' . Doc quite often skips the part where he actually breaks the samples up, but his clips will give you a good idea of how to take a record and manipulate it into something new.

Tuning samples is something quite a lot of people struggle with, you might try using a tuning plug in in your daw, or run the signal through a hardware tuner.
Starting out I would recommend working with 'clean' material, where only one or two instruments are playing, you might find it easier to blend stuff from different sources.

Listen to Pete Rock, Madlib, RZA, Prince Paul etc. for a masterclass in sample timing/tuning/variation.

Good luck to you man.

[Realziment]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

I've made two comments:





They are the REAL answers to your question. So, what exactly are you upset about? If you have the talent, then go sample some things and develop your ear better. There is no YouTube video that will show you how to make beats with samples like Dre (which is what you are asking for if I'm not mistaken).

You have mistaken that was just a comment i made about how hes good at doing that, i also know no youtube video will make a dr dre. the fact you are speaking to me as if im idiot is my problem, lighten up man. I was asking what are people on heres process and if anyone had any good links to vids etc, to share them, but if u see twice in the original post i stated for people to share there methods.

[Realziment]

Originally Posted by wreckingstuff

Have search on youtube for 'Boondoc/boonie mayfield' . Doc quite often skips the part where he actually breaks the samples up, but his clips will give you a good idea of how to take a record and manipulate it into something new.

Tuning samples is something quite a lot of people struggle with, you might try using a tuning plug in in your daw, or run the signal through a hardware tuner.
Starting out I would recommend working with 'clean' material, where only one or two instruments are playing, you might find it easier to blend stuff from different sources.

Listen to Pete Rock, Madlib, RZA, Prince Paul etc. for a masterclass in sample timing/tuning/variation.

Good luck to you man.

Thanks man, i appreciate it, so there are actually tuning plugins to tune one sample into the same key as your track or other samples? can you point me toward some of these plugins so i can read up on them? is another way of tuning just using your pitch settings on your sampler, i.e kontakt?

[wreckingstuff]

Originally Posted by Realziment

Thanks man, i appreciate it, so there are actually tuning plugins to tune one sample into the same key as your track or other samples? can you point me toward some of these plugins so i can read up on them? is another way of tuning just using your pitch settings on your sampler, i.e kontakt?

No mate, what I meant was you could use a tuner to reference the material you are using, so you can work out what you would need to do to the pitch of other material to make it work together. Logic has one built in. There is a tuner in Guitar rig (I think you can get a free cutdown version of that from Native Instruments.) I expect there are some freeware tuners out there. Blending stuff by ear is best, but if you get stuck with something, a tuner may help you dial it in.

[JaeOne3345]

Find a cool sample that catches your ear, cut if up if you want, or loop it, replay it back in the sequence your own way, etc.

The process is quite basic.

As you get better you learn to do it better, of course, add other samples, etc.

Just do it.

Tony is right. Just find a sample and start manipulating it.

[Realziment]

thanks guys, yea i have guitar rig so cool i get what you mean, thanks. again. guys.

[ncoak]

while we're at it, can anyone shed some light on how people 'rap' with their mouths?

[3rd Degree]

Everyone here is acting like it is so easy but it isn't the 90's and the creativity level is really high compared to even a few years ago.

My main peice of advice is learn how to chop your samples. I will chop my samples even when looping. If you don't have drums, just chop what sounds good. I tend to make sure my chop can loop with itself, meaning that when it cuts off, it can start where it left off and not sound bad. This is simple but insures that you don't have any extra space, and more importantly that your sample chops are not too short creating gaps.

If there are drums, always chop at a snare or you will get a snare where you don't want. Kicks, you can usally get rid of by hi passing the sample, but you may need to chop here too, depending on how present the kick is.

In terms of sound, you need to learn how to layer and eq SAMPLES. Forget what you know about composing as you are eqing something that usually will have a pretty full spectrum of sound. In the same way, look at arrangement differently than when creating from scratch. Work with the inflexibility of the sample, rather than fight it. You can't easily just make something out of nothing like you can with composing.

In the end, you just keep doing things over and over and at some point you will figure it out. Try simple things, try complex things and it gets easier and easier.


Mainly, don't discount the source. People say they can sample anything, sure anything can be sampled. But great sampled beats start with a great sample so go out and get a lot of material. When starting out, get all types of things and slowly learn what type of source material works best for you.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Seriously? Just sample something, it's not that hard.

You "beat" me to it,Ant'ney!!!

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by ncoak

while we're at it, can anyone shed some light on how people 'rap' with their mouths?

they mostly rap very badly,Im afraid

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

It's called talent, and having a good ear for it. It's not rocket science.

Hey Tony,my sarcasm is quite contagious

[Nahuel]

turn off the internet, borrow all these records from your mom/bro/friends whatever and listen, get busy with that sampler. find your own formula(s).

[Chris Lago]

The only thing I'm wondering is, how much $$$ do you need to clear a longer sample? Tons I assume?

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Hey Tony,my sarcasm is quite contagious

[rhodesp04]

i'll see if i can help in providing some videos:

chopping with the mpc 1000: YouTube - Chopping a sample on the Akai Mpc1000

chopping with the mpc 2000xl: YouTube - Chopping a sample on the Akai Mpc2000XL

chopping in logic: YouTube - Just Blaze Explains sample chopping in LOGIC for www.mikechav.com

chopping in ableton: YouTube - Re-Chop That Sample in Ableton: Way to Go (By: Skyzoo & 9th Wonder)

chopping in recycle: YouTube - Making the Beat: Chopping a sample in Recycle

chopping in fl studio: YouTube - FL Studio - FL Slicer to Chop Samples - Warbeats Tutorial , YouTube - FL Studio - Using Edison to Chop - Warbeats Tutorial

i figure you gotta have at least one of these programs. if not many of the same ideas apply to other software/hardware. mainly you look for the transients (helps to keep it on beat) and chop so you can replay that section.

[Realziment]

Thanks for all the informative comments there much appreciated.

[Karloff70]

Originally Posted by chrislago

The only thing I'm wondering is, how much $$$ do you need to clear a longer sample? Tons I assume?

None, if you chop it up and use it for 'sound food' for your own angle as opposed to lamely replaying/nicking the original dudes music......

[excLOUsiv]

Something that helped me a lot in developing techniques was finding the samples that my favorite producers have used and sitting down and comparing the original sample to the resulting beat and analyzing to the best of my ability what the producer did.

I actually started doing this before I even got equipment. Once I got equipment I tried to duplicate what I heard, then I took what I learned and applied it to samples of my choosing in creating a sound that I wanted to hear.

After a few years of this I'm at the point where I can hear samples and often be able to make the beat in my head before even turning on the MPC, or I already got something in mind and know where to find and how to manipulate a sample into what I want.

Also realize that a sampler is just like any other instrument. It takes a lot of time and patience to really master, and you always come across challenges in making things work and manipulating sound.

Lastly, crate digging is beyond a lot of people (I grew up with vinyl so it's no big deal to me), so if that isn't your thing just use google, the-breaks website, and a few other resources that you can find to uncover what samples were used for what songs.

[godphaser]

What I like with sampling is that there is absolutely no rules at all.

[Realziment]

excLOUsiv, thats a pretty good way of studying it, can anyone shed some light on when you have a song, and you want a partcular sample later on, and its in a different key, is this where you pitch it to the right key or how does it work?