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Drum n Bass production
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:41 pm
by cracktactics
I know loads of dubstep producers have at some point done dnb and i wanna give it a try but ALL the drum breaks i make dont sound rite. Its not the position of the notes, thats fine, it just doesnt sound dnb style. I was wondering what makes that bate dnb style, is it compression or just general mixing or what? and does anyone know any good tutorials on it or good drum n bass production forums?
Cheers in advance
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:43 pm
by tempest
http://www.dogsonacid.com
Check "The Grid"... Should be useful mate
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:01 pm
by twatty vagitis
the grid is so much more informative than this forum
for a start its full of ppl that ACTUALLY know what they're talking about

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:35 pm
by cracktactics
do those people who used to/still produce dnb use pre-made breaks or do you make your own??!
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:37 pm
by tempest
twatty vagitis wrote:the grid is so much more informative than this forum
for a start its full of ppl that ACTUALLY know what they're talking about

I dunno man, theres just MORE people on there, so more shit to sift through really..
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:52 pm
by ransom
cracktactics wrote:do those people who used to/still produce dnb use pre-made breaks or do you make your own??!
Cut up pre-made breaks, edit them a bit, layer with one-hits and/or other breaks. Still learning all the time though, and it's a lot of playing around. Last thing I worked on had two sample breaks layered up, then just the kick and snare from a third break, and then hi-hats and percussion running, that was sampled from other sources. My roommate does things a bit different, friends of mine do things different. I guess I prefer my drums really busy, others want them a bit more techy.
Check out The Grid like mentioned, and maybe look for Computer Music magazine if you have access to it. Two of the more recent issues had dnb artists on the DVD that came with it. I haven't seen the videos up on any other sites, like youtube or whatever, but they're probably floating around.
The CM115 issue had video of Chase & Status doing just drum programming, and Sub Focus's video had a little bit of how he handles drums. On the same DVD was a video of the Breakfastaz, who are breakbeat producers, but their workflow methods can convey the same ideas and techniques you're asking about. Also, CM119 I think had TC on the DVD, and he was working out a quick track with just an amen break, and did it totally different from what I saw of Chase & Status's method.
And don't take it all as law, just try and work out some ideas and go from there. That's what I'm trying to do.
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:06 pm
by whineo
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:15 pm
by sonictrauma
jesus, where to start?!
u have to really understand d&b to make it... well, for me anyway. u really have to be passionate about it. & u have to know ur technical shit coz its all about twisting sounds up for maximum effect.
my d&b is here:
www.myspace.com/dnbfelon
when making d&b i tend to use single hits for drums, then layer in breaks but chop them all up & make them fit my drum pattern.
bass-wise, in albino create a 'reese' sound by having 2 saw wave oscillators, one detuned to 30 or so & the other -30 or whatever. then use the filters to add interest with the saturation & cutoff etc. if ur feeling fancy, use the matrix & set an lfo to control the cutoff frequency. if u use a band-pass filter, u can get some wicked results.
then u can run it through whatever fx u want & use sends for extra beef with more fx
hope that helps?!
ez,
matt.
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:54 pm
by djake
i usally just layer some single hits over a break n high pass filter the break.
but my drums aint amazin
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:12 am
by shonky
The grids very useful, I seem to spend half my browsing time there now. Was looking at books on music technology the other day and didn't find anything there that isn't a million times better on the grid.
There is a certain level of sarky, narkiness but then I find that quite amusing.
Whatever you do, don't ask how to make a reese, apparently there's about 800 threads on it already and they do get a bit peeved.
Check the threads of interest at the top as I think they cover most of the bases if you're starting out.
http://www.dnbwiki.com/index.php/Main_Page
Also you can check this, plenty of tips in there and links to sample packs.
I haven't really been into dnb for the last 9 years or so, but I still find it pretty useful.
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:24 am
by two oh one
Shonky wrote:Whatever you do, don't ask how to make a reese, apparently there's about 800 threads on it already and they do get a bit peeved.
Hmmm. Sounds like.
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:03 am
by FSTZ
two oh one wrote:
Look, you just detune two saw waves and modulate. how many more sodding times??
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:20 am
by djake
unklefesta wrote:two oh one wrote:
Look, you just detune two saw waves and modulate. how many more sodding times??

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:25 am
by grooki
Excellent resource, would be good if we did this on this forum sometime
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:53 am
by deadly_habit
honestly being a doa reg and grid poster it's gone the route of the board lately
lotsa sarcasm and bashing from noobs on it
best usage is to register not post and use search function
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:29 am
by shonky
Deadly Habit wrote:honestly being a doa reg and grid poster it's gone the route of the board lately
lotsa sarcasm and bashing from noobs on it
best usage is to register not post and use search function
Yeah recognized your name up there
It's quite odd though, ever since dubstep forum started attracting the gobby folks from DOA (not you mate

) it's actually become a more interesting read over there than here. Actually read some interesting discussion on the board over there which I thought as likely as Schwarzennegger being a woman.
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:03 am
by deadly_habit
yea board is good for drunk posting and random shit (damn where is the teeth smilie)

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:51 am
by batfink
subvertcentral.com's 'from the studio walls' forum is even better. but, it does get a bit deep in there, proper production guru business from the maccster. lots of great practical examples of quite complex/initially confusing production ideas too.

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:56 am
by chunkie
i messed about with a remix for nu:tone's spread love tune a while ago
he was in reason standalone and has loads of dr rex players up
basically, he modifies/re-arranges classic loops (amen, apache etc), layers them up and then adds a sparse simple break of his own on top
every d'n'b producer i know uses the old breaks - either as an accompaniment under their own drums, or as the focus, supplemented with their own stuff
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:07 am
by deadly_habit
Batfink wrote:subvertcentral.com's 'from the studio walls' forum is even better. but, it does get a bit deep in there, proper production guru business from the maccster. lots of great practical examples of quite complex/initially confusing production ideas too.

heh think i did a couple in there too that went over some peopl'es heads but macc is a don when it comes to drums and i heard he's actually doing mastering now