When it comes to creating beats, you have to first acquire the knowledge about getting a good beat maker that has a good quantity of samples and sounds. Sound quality is also something that you need to take into consideration. The software must provide wav 44.1 stereo 16 bit because it gives you a decent sound quality that is nearly at par with the quality that you usually find in studios.
Furthermore, the software must also allow you to import your identifiable sounds. For instance, if you produce your own drum beats or hear a beat that interests you, then you can bring in those beats into the file manager of the software and employ them in your own hip hop or rap tracks.
Technically speaking, things should be easy but if you want to learn the ropes, there are free training videos available that you can watch online. As soon as you become skilled at using the software, you can start producing your own beats. Now, how does one produce a beat? Each time you listen to the radio or streaming music online, you chance upon a beautiful beat and you instantly think about how its creator managed to create such a splendid sound.
You can also go to the sites such as Beat Generals for more knowledge and some great video tutorials. When you pursue this, bear in mind that you would learn through trial and error because there is no magical spell that producers throw on their beats to make them sound fresh.
Instead, producers keep track of a predictive formula that allows them to create top-notch beats. If you want to know more, keep on reading and following the rest of this article.
The Composition
When working on a beat, you have to first make up your mind about how you like to compose or build the beat. A rap or hip hop composition is composed of the following:
- Intro
- Verse
- Chorus
- Verse
- Chorus
- Bridge or break
- Fade out
Remember this formula as you undergo the entire procedure of making your beats. Keep in mind that the intro, as the word implies, should strike the listener with a sample of the whole track until it eventually segues to the first verse of the song.
The first verse will then be supplied with several more sounds to contribute to the whole beat. A regular intro and chorus are 8 bars while the verses are 8 to 16 bars. In the meanwhile, bridges or breaks come up to 8 bars and so do fade outs.
BPMs or Beats Per Minute
You need to set your beats per minute or BPM prior to playing down the bass or drum beat. When it comes to rap and hip hop, majority of tracks usually clock in at 80 to 100 beats per minute. However, if you want to go your own way and discover what tempo works best for your song, you can tinker and play around with this aspect.
Parts of a Beat
A beat has a few important parts. By means of your keyboard, drum machine and sequencer, you can incorporate these components into your planned beats.
Drums
The drum sounds act as the glue for your beat. You would need to produce a drum pattern or loop that covers the course of the track. A lot of software that specialize on beats include preloaded drum patterns that you can apply to your beats with minimal effort.
You can also sample or sequence those drum loops through several software or hardware selections. Majority of excellent drum machines usually include plenty of drums that producers can pick from therefore you are not actually required to produce your own.
Bass
Bass is the backbone of a track. If you have ample knowledge, you can make your own bass lines with a digital synth machine. However, if you acquire software that is meant for making beats, the software must contain plenty of bass lines that you can apply to your track. Bass is an important factor in rap and hip hop as well as electronic music. Therefore, make sure that you apply one that proves to have good potential.
Samples
The other important aspect of a track is inclusion of samples or dubs. Typically, dubs originate from a brief selection of resources from guitars, vocals or any distinctive sounds. Majority of sequencers often include a variety of samples. If you want, you can also buy extra samples online. If you want to be unique, you can create your own samples.
