Essential Beats Production Techniques Part 2

Sample Module - Adding Snare Layers to Breakbeats

Course Breakdown

Nu-Disco Beat

Module 1 - Getting Started
Simon provides a wealth of advice on how to source and locate the relevant samples to start crafting a beat, identifying the sonic characteristics of various loops and oneshots to understand each of their purposes within the break.
11.00

Module 2 - Kick Blending
Multiple samples are artfully combined to produce an enormous kick to form the foundations of the beat. Sample waveforms are edited and processed with numerous effects, before a kick loop is bounced.
25.30

Module 3 - Snare Blending
Much like in the previous module, Simon layers numerous snares to eventually form a phat, comped snare loop, using editing and effects processing techniques.
23.22

Module 4 - Nu Disco Loops
The backbone of the beat is put together through the forming of a Nu Disco ‘straight loop’, which is made by skilfully editing, combining and processing several samples, paying particular attention to the layering, character, frequencies and placement within the stereo field.
26.17

Module 5 - Top Loops
Higher frequency components are combined to create a number of top loops, used to add pace and energy to the break. Reversed drums are integrated to apply casual swing to the groove and meticulous EQ is carried out to ensure rogue frequencies are dealt with.
26.05

Module 6 - Finishing Touches
Once all the drums are in place, Simon adds the atmosphere and vibe through various foley samples, which are carefully mixed into the break so as to add presence without becoming overt.
14.47

Breakbeat

Module 1 - Starting Points
To get going with the last beat, Simon explains the thought processes behind all of the samples selected, including the character and rhythm of each drum, and the differing requirements of the specific genre compared to the previous styles featured on the course.
8.00

Module 2 - All About The Breaks
This beat is begun by forming the main break, which takes one main loop and then reinforces is with a number of additional loops, used to supply complementary textural layers, groove components, musicality and colour to the beat.
22.30

Module 2b - Bouncing The Breaks
Now that samples have been sequenced and the break laid down, Simon uses his complex processing chain to roughly master the beats with EQ, compression and saturation. Send reverb is also applied to gel and add depth and character to the beats. A number of comped loops are then recorded into the project.
11.07

Module 3 - Kicking It
Kick and Sub oneshot samples are used to reinforce the breaks, adding extra bottom end punch and tone, making the beats solid and phat. Advice on tuning and compression is included, to ensure kicks sit comfortably within the beats.
13.27

Module 4 - Snare Additions
Two additional snares are layered onto the break to provide extra snap and texture to the beat. Normal and mid/side EQ are used to apply relevant frequencies to the mono and stereo components of the mix, whilst send reverb is automated to add variety to the break.
12.16

Module 5 - Top Loops
Much like with previous styles, higher frequency drums are edited and woven into the beats to add pace. Particular attention is paid to reverb tails and enveloping to keep things clean, as well as editing out unnecessary sounds and applying EQ to bed things down into the mix.
16.49

Module 6 - Finishing Touches
Additional atmos samples are once again applied to the finished beats, considering any tuning and carefully blending them with the drums. Finally, some mastering is carried out, with glue compression, limiting and light saturation to gel everything together.
19.40

CONCLUSION
4.13