Nice boom bap beat! Did you repitch it on the MPC or in Ableton? Also, is the beat only 1 track?

I'm massively behind on your tracks, sorry! Also, I feel like I have the same MPC dilemma. I want to rent one for a bit but I have the feeling I'm going to be sorely disappointed with the workflow.

Nice boom bap beat! Did you repitch it on the MPC or in Ableton? Also, is the beat only 1 track? I'm massively behind on your tracks, sorry! Also, I feel like I have the same MPC dilemma. I want to rent one for a bit but I have the feeling I'm going to be sorely disappointed with the workflow.

I feel like the beatz and the synth parts gel really nicely here. Like a neo-Jarre. Breathes nicely. I'm probably over interpreting your note, but the feeling of disconnection is captured awesomely.

I feel like the beatz and the synth parts gel really nicely here. Like a neo-Jarre. Breathes nicely. I'm probably over interpreting your note, but the feeling of disconnection is captured awesomely.

After years of working with synth/sampler hardware, I'm sticking with software.

But, hey, nice job with the lemonade :-)

After years of working with synth/sampler hardware, I'm sticking with software. But, hey, nice job with the lemonade :-)

I'm in the same boat, my sc is a bit back-logged!

[url=http://giphy.com/gifs/fight-ninja-paint-Z88n9Xk7NYqZ2][img]http://media0.giphy.com/media/Z88n9Xk7NYqZ2/200.gif[/img][/url] I'm in the same boat, my sc is a bit back-logged!

Love the combination of beat and synth line. To me the beat feels really modern while the synth connects to classic kraftwerk-style pop. Wonderful!

Love the combination of beat and synth line. To me the beat feels really modern while the synth connects to classic kraftwerk-style pop. Wonderful!

I second the MPC remorse! I picked up a 2000 a few years back and it sounded goooood but.... that workflow After already wrapping my head around Ableton I just couldn't go back.

Anyways, great track!! I really like those swingin drums

I second the MPC remorse! I picked up a 2000 a few years back and it sounded goooood but.... that workflow :( After already wrapping my head around Ableton I just couldn't go back. Anyways, great track!! I really like those swingin drums

+1 what Plantrain said!
wonky beats and kraftwerky synths ROCK this!
I also wanted mpc for a long time, but when I had it, didnt end up using it that much:)
I kind of like the limitations, sequencer, quantization and small packet that you can take everywhere to make beats, but as it sounded so "clean", editing samples was hard, I kind of never got in to using it
and I could do that stuff easier with computer
I now have ASR-X( that was cheap btw) that has some self made drum banks and a SWsampler with kits of drum sounds
recorded from vinyl->asrX->tube preamp->computer.
And I mainly use those.
But if someone would make sp1200/mp60 ad/da or modern sampler with "old parts", that would be interesting:)

+1 what Plantrain said! wonky beats and kraftwerky synths ROCK this! I also wanted mpc for a long time, but when I had it, didnt end up using it that much:) I kind of like the limitations, sequencer, quantization and small packet that you can take everywhere to make beats, but as it sounded so "clean", editing samples was hard, I kind of never got in to using it and I could do that stuff easier with computer I now have ASR-X( that was cheap btw) that has some self made drum banks and a SWsampler with kits of drum sounds recorded from vinyl->asrX->tube preamp->computer. And I mainly use those. But if someone would make sp1200/mp60 ad/da or modern sampler with "old parts", that would be interesting:)

I was hoping that by the end of the year I'd be able to read peoples' technical comments and descriptions and know what they were talking about, but no such luck.  I guess I'm still mostly a guitar guy.

One thing nice, though, is that at the beginning of the year most everyone's electronic music sounded pretty much the same to me, although there were definitely some things I liked and others I didn't.  Now I can recognize a lot more things.

Also, thanks again for all the mixing tips throughout the year.  Your advice has greatly enhanced my art.

I was hoping that by the end of the year I'd be able to read peoples' technical comments and descriptions and know what they were talking about, but no such luck. I guess I'm still mostly a guitar guy. One thing nice, though, is that at the beginning of the year most everyone's electronic music sounded pretty much the same to me, although there were definitely some things I liked and others I didn't. Now I can recognize a lot more things. Also, thanks again for all the mixing tips throughout the year. Your advice has greatly enhanced my art.

Thank you, man... And sorry for the late reply.

The beat was built using bass and snares sampled from a Korg DDD-1 (crappy fake 80's acoustic) and Casio MT68 hihats (kinda like yours). BD and SD were filtered using Akai's internal and the whole mix was "bit distorted" (Akai weird half distortion / half bit reduction). Everything then resampled, repitched 7 semitones down on the apc and chopped.

I didn't even sampled the output of the MPC back to Ableton, just took the .WAV chops and the midi file associated with the sequence and then rebuild the loop in Ableton (1st track)

A "trick" I usually use is work on my beat and almost in the end, resample the whole track, pitch it down and place it as a "beat shadow" in the moments where more low end is needed.

So finally, 2 tracks for drums with some compression and reverb in Ableton. MPC effects suck in 2014, definetely.

My 2 cents about the MPC: borrow it, rent it, try it for a couple of intensive days of work and decide if the workflow is for you. I come from a similar background as you (trackers) and it helped me understand some of its nuances (like the most hated SEQ MODE, also used for fine editing in the Boss SP-5*5 and SP-8*8 series). I personally think that the swing is fantastic and the basic way of introducing the beat live is really intuitive for a quick loop, but I constantly wanted to repitch and resample without losing several minutes in the process. It is not that is not a capable machine, but I felt I was fighting agains it (managing files and projects is horrible!) instead of making music. In Renoise, Modplug or Fast Tracker the envelopes and filters were a basic building block, but here the amount of control is minimal, and forget about automation... Yes, I ended looking "very hip hop" mashing pads but I found no "hidden magic" in the sound or anything... while my cheap and overlooked Boss SP-505, with its crappy and crunchy FX and severe limitations, add some fun and dirt quality to any beat.

You'll find other alternatives around, and neither you nor me are sampling 4 bars of Marvin Gaye and call it a day so... Try different things. Not a bad machine, but maybe overrated now in 2014 (like you couldn't make 12 bit grittyness inside Renoise)

[quote=gify]Nice boom bap beat! Did you repitch it on the MPC or in Ableton? Also, is the beat only 1 track? I'm massively behind on your tracks, sorry! Also, I feel like I have the same MPC dilemma. I want to rent one for a bit but I have the feeling I'm going to be sorely disappointed with the workflow. [/quote] Thank you, man... And sorry for the late reply. The beat was built using bass and snares sampled from a Korg DDD-1 (crappy fake 80's acoustic) and Casio MT68 hihats (kinda like yours). BD and SD were filtered using Akai's internal and the whole mix was "bit distorted" (Akai weird half distortion / half bit reduction). Everything then resampled, repitched 7 semitones down on the apc and chopped. I didn't even sampled the output of the MPC back to Ableton, just took the .WAV chops and the midi file associated with the sequence and then rebuild the loop in Ableton (1st track) A "trick" I usually use is work on my beat and almost in the end, resample the whole track, pitch it down and place it as a "beat shadow" in the moments where more low end is needed. So finally, 2 tracks for drums with some compression and reverb in Ableton. MPC effects suck in 2014, definetely. My 2 cents about the MPC: borrow it, rent it, try it for a couple of intensive days of work and decide if the workflow is for you. I come from a similar background as you (trackers) and it helped me understand some of its nuances (like the most hated SEQ MODE, also used for fine editing in the Boss SP-5*5 and SP-8*8 series). I personally think that the swing is fantastic and the basic way of introducing the beat live is really intuitive for a quick loop, but I constantly wanted to repitch and resample without losing several minutes in the process. It is not that is not a capable machine, but I felt I was fighting agains it (managing files and projects is horrible!) instead of making music. In Renoise, Modplug or Fast Tracker the envelopes and filters were a basic building block, but here the amount of control is minimal, and forget about automation... Yes, I ended looking "very hip hop" mashing pads but I found no "hidden magic" in the sound or anything... while my cheap and overlooked Boss SP-505, with its crappy and crunchy FX and severe limitations, add some fun and dirt quality to any beat. You'll find other alternatives around, and neither you nor me are sampling 4 bars of Marvin Gaye and call it a day so... Try different things. Not a bad machine, but maybe overrated now in 2014 (like you couldn't make 12 bit grittyness inside Renoise)

Thanks mate; really appreciating that you found those Jarresque influences in it. I'm trying to create some heavy hip hop for synthheads... More Public Enemy and Klauss Schultze, definetely less Kanye West. I think fat beats can go along perfectly with more spacy ambiences, in a more IDM way, and be free from (mediocre and overproduced) rappers with no lyrical content. Don't get me wrong: I DO LOVE hip hop and good mcs, but I can't stand designer-clothed "celebrities" rhyming about their Blentleys over some mediocre American Idol-esque beat.

About the disconnection part... Maybe I just wanted to sound loud and hypnotic, which usually happens when I'm deeply concentrated or sad

[quote=colorful grey]I feel like the beatz and the synth parts gel really nicely here. Like a neo-Jarre. Breathes nicely. I'm probably over interpreting your note, but the feeling of disconnection is captured awesomely. [/quote] Thanks mate; really appreciating that you found those Jarresque influences in it. I'm trying to create some heavy hip hop for synthheads... More Public Enemy and Klauss Schultze, definetely less Kanye West. I think fat beats can go along perfectly with more spacy ambiences, in a more IDM way, and be free from (mediocre and overproduced) rappers with no lyrical content. Don't get me wrong: I DO LOVE hip hop and good mcs, but I can't stand designer-clothed "celebrities" rhyming about their Blentleys over some mediocre American Idol-esque beat. About the disconnection part... Maybe I just wanted to sound loud and hypnotic, which usually happens when I'm deeply concentrated or sad :)

Still trying to post all that remastered stuff, rotten in the hard drive

That's an "Ink" gif, BTW?

[quote=Ipaghost][url=http://giphy.com/gifs/fight-ninja-paint-Z88n9Xk7NYqZ2][img]http://media0.giphy.com/media/Z88n9Xk7NYqZ2/200.gif[/img][/url] I'm in the same boat, my sc is a bit back-logged![/quote] Still trying to post all that remastered stuff, rotten in the hard drive :) That's an "Ink" gif, BTW?

THanks, Plaintrain. If you read my answer to Colorful Grey, you'll see...

I would love to see a whole generation of beat makers equally interested in both low and slow hip hop beats and "berlin school" synth harmonies and patterns.

Kinda "Tangerine Dream tracks to play in your Hummer"

[quote=Plantrain]Love the combination of beat and synth line. To me the beat feels really modern while the synth connects to classic kraftwerk-style pop. Wonderful![/quote] THanks, Plaintrain. If you read my answer to Colorful Grey, you'll see... I would love to see a whole generation of beat makers equally interested in both low and slow hip hop beats and "berlin school" synth harmonies and patterns. Kinda "Tangerine Dream tracks to play in your Hummer" :)

Thanks Dashcam, and sorry for the late reply. I got the swing making the beat with a regular amount of swing, then resampling it, slicing chops of it, and then repitch them at slightly different pitches, plus the "human touch"

About the MPC... I wrote a long comment for Gify, if you would like to check it. Basically yes, fine machine, good swing, nice sequencer to sequence external stuff but... So outdated in some ways!!!

I expected some kind of "sampler plus sequencer" in a sense of having a full bloated A3000 onboard, so I could play with envelopes and velocities and instead of that... a "phrase sampler": volume, pan, some crappy fxs... Looked very "producer" in my studio but I constantly wondered why did need that instead of using some nice drum racks.

No "MPC magic" for me, although I could hang pictures of every hardware sampler and drum machine just for the aesthetics

By the way, your tracks from last weeks were killing me, man. Absolutely fantastic stuff!!!

[quote=donnyjankowski]I second the MPC remorse! I picked up a 2000 a few years back and it sounded goooood but.... that workflow :( After already wrapping my head around Ableton I just couldn't go back. Anyways, great track!! I really like those swingin drums [/quote] Thanks Dashcam, and sorry for the late reply. I got the swing making the beat with a regular amount of swing, then resampling it, slicing chops of it, and then repitch them at slightly different pitches, plus the "human touch" :) About the MPC... I wrote a long comment for Gify, if you would like to check it. Basically yes, fine machine, good swing, nice sequencer to sequence external stuff but... So outdated in some ways!!! I expected some kind of "sampler plus sequencer" in a sense of having a full bloated A3000 onboard, so I could play with envelopes and velocities and instead of that... a "phrase sampler": volume, pan, some crappy fxs... Looked very "producer" in my studio but I constantly wondered why did need that instead of using some nice drum racks. No "MPC magic" for me, although I could hang pictures of every hardware sampler and drum machine just for the aesthetics :) By the way, your tracks from last weeks were killing me, man. Absolutely fantastic stuff!!!

[quote=laguna][quote=Ipaghost][url=http://giphy.com/gifs/fight-ninja-paint-Z88n9Xk7NYqZ2][img]http://media0.giphy.com/media/Z88n9Xk7NYqZ2/200.gif[/img][/url] I'm in the same boat, my sc is a bit back-logged![/quote] Still trying to post all that remastered stuff, rotten in the hard drive :) That's an "Ink" gif, BTW? [/quote] [youtube]gsyMiTx_CF8[/youtube]

Badass!  Great riff and penetrating drums.  Totally digging this.  (And good luck with the personal-life stuff--it gets complex!)

Badass! Great riff and penetrating drums. Totally digging this. (And good luck with the personal-life stuff--it gets complex!)