"Drop" times.....Why always 1:00?

[Cornbreadddd]

Why is it that the drop to a tune is always a standard time between 0:52-1:00. Sometimes I feel that the same suspense and build-up can be created in a well structured 30 second time period. Commodo does this exceptionally well, typically his drops are around 30 seconds long. I find this much more interesting because he still creates the build-up necessary but also doesn't drag it on for a long time with repetitive patterns and boring pads. Even in J:Kenzo's "Therapy" tune the drop is around the half minute mark and really introduces the beat well when it drops. I just kind of wish this formulaic approach to drops would become someone reinvented and the idea of it experimented with a bit more.

What are your thoughts on drop times?

[-[2]DAY_-]

32 bars at 140? simple math i guess, 140bpm / 60seconds per minute gives you 2.33 beats per second, 32 bars X 4 beats per bar = 128 beats

128 beats / 2.33 beats per second gives you 54.9 seconds, or roughly 55 seconds

its almost comical how many tunes drop at 0:55

[-[2]DAY_-]

and yeah i almost always prefer to get things going a bit sooner, and i also enjoy when a tune builds up in a different structure than a stagnant repetitive intro, followed by an obvious drop

but its really useful for DJ's and they probably don't want to cut short the amount of time it takes to find the tempo and sync up with other tunes prior to it dropping
no one wants to introduce a tune in the middle of the drop, you want to anticipate it
so 32 bars with at least one percussive element playing in time with the beat is standard

[_cheef_]

Yeah I've noticed this as well...probably something to do w/the "dubstep" generation of dj's that are just plain lazy with mixes. Maybe it has something to do with how everything is so easy to mix with this digital bizninz these days, idk....I much rather prefer to draw out mixes for a while instead of this one minute till' the drop stuff. That's what I enjoy about mixing dnb; sure there's some tracks with short intro to the drop, but the majority of tracks give it a couple minuets till the drop.

[fractal]

cookie cutter productions

same tempo, same amount of bars, same typical drops...

[Cornbreadddd]

and yeah i almost always prefer to get things going a bit sooner, and i also enjoy when a tune builds up in a different structure than a stagnant repetitive intro, followed by an obvious drop

but its really useful for DJ's and they probably don't want to cut short the amount of time it takes to find the tempo and sync up with other tunes prior to it dropping
no one wants to introduce a tune in the middle of the drop, you want to anticipate it
so 32 bars with at least one percussive element playing in time with the beat is standard

Hmm, that's actually quite interesting. I never really considered the simple mathematics of it, I just started producing and bars don't really mean anything to me yet, I don't like the standard increments of 16,32 bars, but by you bringing that up, I see the reason now. So I guess the question is less about the actual timing of the drop, and more about why there is such a set standard of incremental sequenced bars.

@ _cheef_: minutes long? Wow, that sounds painful. I know some tunes --Heny G - Christopher, and DJG - NYC-- have drops that are around 2 minutes long, I think the DJG tune is actually around 2:30 (both amazing tunes), but I just don't see much that is offered in a 2 minute drop that can't be accomplished in 30 seconds. Am I wrong in saying that it basically seems like dead, wasted space?

[kiene]

I WANT MY MUSIC NOW BZZZTZ BZZT WOMWPOWM WOMWP WUBWUWBWIUBWUBW WPTSCH PTSH PTSH WUZT SWUWMB

OKAY NEXT SONG

[_cheef_]

@ _cheef_: minutes long? Wow, that sounds painful. I know some tunes --Heny G - Christopher, and DJG - NYC-- have drops that are around 2 minutes long, I think the DJG tune is actually around 2:30 (both amazing tunes), but I just don't see much that is offered in a 2 minute drop that can't be accomplished in 30 seconds. Am I wrong in saying that it basically seems like dead, wasted space?

wasted space? naww, just extra room for the track to build and breath a little...listened to that henry g track, good stuff! You're referring to the middle part of the track, right? That's a nice breakdown before the drop. I think the OP was pointing out how so many tracks drop after only about a minute of intro at the start of the track.

[FuDuzn]

It is so kids on youtube can say that this tune drops like a B0:55

[fractal]

wasted space? i really hope you're joking around!!
some tracks build into a drop, instead of just having a small build up to a drop. as a dancer/listener this is nice because it makes the tunes different from one another structure wise. also, as a dj, mixing a tune with a long intro is nice because it can be mixed in a lot of different ways. the long intros can be mixed slowly for a dope effect, or the tune can be used as an opener as it builds the atmosphere, or the long intro can be teased a couple of times, etc...

[fractal]

this tune drops after 1:30, the build up is nice cause it makes the drop come out of nowhere!






this tune's drop comes after almost two minutes, but i couldn't imagine losing any of that build up

[Shum]

It is so kids on youtube can say that this tune drops like a B0:55

LOL

[blackdown]

Find your own arrangements. Mala's "Forgive" has the sub in from bar 1. Burial doesn't even use a grid.

[-[2]DAY_-]

a lot of dnb tunes build for several minutes, or at least one or two, with swells and troughs of energy before fading out in anticipation of a forthcoming heavy drop that introduces the meat of the tune

some dubstep tunes say fuck an intro and go straight into the backbone of the tune

i love the diversity
UKF music is cheap
....

[fractal]

Find your own arrangements. Mala's "Forgive" has the sub in from bar 1. Burial doesn't even use a grid.

your tune "lata" introduces the sub rather quickly as well!

[crabb_steppa]

its cuz u only listen to the music on youtube



I miss the good old days, when we had to stand next to the deck with a stopwatch (actually that never happened)

[FuDuzn]

I remember when we had to use an abacus just to figure out BPM's, you kids have it easy.

[fractal]

it was all sundials and knots of string in my cave, back in the day

[Sexual_Chocolate]

Magnetic City doesnt even have a real drop, just instant sub

[Isley]

I doesnt even matter when your shit drops as long as its on beat and it's a good fucking drop.