Introduction to the Beat Slicer

roach

Hi guys,

This is my first post here, and I thought I'd start off with something i was doing today. I've been using FL Studio for a while but never looked at the Beat Slicer until today. I just thought I'd put this up to see what you all think. It's a little bare-bones, but like I said, it was mainly just a play with the Beat Slicer. Also, I'm not too sure about the mix as I'm on my uncle's computer at the moment (I just moved and haven't got my stuff yet). The song is basically:

- Drums = A sliced up DnB loop and a crash
- Bass = A simple 3xOsc
- Lead = Another 3xOsc (there is a 3rd one as well which is one note)
- Rhythm = FL Keys Rhodes

http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/M...8_000000922.mp3

That's it! Hope you guys like it. Constructive criticism always welcome.

EDIT: I was just listening to it and doing some soloing with my acoustic and it fitted really well (If only I could record it! doh!).

Tempo

Hi mate welcome to the site

Just listened to your track. Thought it was quite nice, i love the sound Rhodes piano's make!

I thought it was a little bit bland but youve already mentioned that, Just needs a few more layers, possibly another piano melody on top, and maybe a sub bass when it properly kicks in. It's definetely something you should carry on with and finish.

It was nice and mellow, just the sort of thing i like.

Ive only used the beat slicer once, I dont really need to use though as I make my drum patterns with individual samples.

Sounds nice though mate, keep up the good work

roach

Thanks man!

I know what you mean about it being a bit bland (and repetitive). I find that I often have trouble finding instruments that sound right and work well with the song, even though I can conjure something up in my head quite easily. Any tips for adding more layers and making sure things gel?

I would have spent some more time on the bass, but like I said I'm on my uncle's computer and, well... let's just say his specs and speakers aren't all that great haha.

I must say I like the Beat Slicer (although it doesn't work quite as well with slower tempos unless you have a slow-tempo loop). Maybe it's because I have a hard time getting my drums to sound the way I want with one shots (maybe it's just my samples?).

Thanks again for the help, and I'm sure we'll be talking more!

Tempo

Your rhodes melody was 4 notes right? What i normally do if i have a long backing peice like that and i want to put another melody over the top, i put the notes of the new melody, the same note as the backing peice and at the same place, then add other notes and chords in between.

Im quite crap at explaining myself as you can probably see so ive attached a screnshot.

If you assume the long notes at C5 are the rhodes melody, and the Shorter parts at C6 are a piano melody (obviously you'll have to do these through different channels, ive done it on the same one for the benefit of this example)

Notice ive put the first notes of the main melody at the same place as the rhodes, but added extra notes in between.

Hope that makes sense. Obviously you can use different notes, as long as it goes with the backing peice.

Hope this makes sense!

Attached Thumbnails

 

roach

Thanks for the reply. At first I was like "what?" but then the pic got me straightened out. You basically mean when the Rhodes hits, have the melody play that same note at the same time, but fill in the rest of the chord with a melody? I don't think I explained thta well either but I'm pretty sure I understand.

Any tips on selecting instruments, etc.?

Tempo

lol yeah thats what i meant, as i said im a bit crap at explaining!

Tips on instruments, hmm i'd probably try a nice piano played at about C6 first to get the melody down in the Piano Roll, if the actual sound doesnt sound right you can easily just change it to another instrument.

Usually the best things for that sort of melody are:

piano (theres so many types e.g. grand, dark, honky tonk etc... so why not try em all if youve got them)

Maybe a high pitched string

Guitar

Or even make a nice synthy sound using the 3xOsc or another plugin.


Have you ever used the dreamstation plugin? thats got some real nice presets on it.

roach

No, I've never tried it. I was just working on it and was using the Rhodes again (but with different settings), one on the left and one on the right, and it sounds pretty good.

When I get my computer I might try using the orchestral plugin I have instead, as three Rhodes together can be a bit muddled (although it does sound kinda cool how sounds seem to just pop-up sometimes hehe). I wish I had a nice mic and pre-amp so I could try out some soloing! Oh well, maybe later in the year!

sonicwurst

Roach,
I love your track and wish you the best of luck with your music. I'd also love to hear more and even learn a bit how you went around in BeatSlicer to get those sweet drums. I registered with ukmusic just to tell you this.

I want more Roachbeats