lesson 1 beat making (electronic music 2014)

Benjamin Ang (www.cosmicarmchair.com)

Software: Ableton Live (preferred)

Logic, Cubase, FL Studio also accepted

Hardware: Windows or Mac

computer

Headphones Samples Save into one folder e.g.

C:\samples

Optional Audio interface

Keyboard controller or pad controller

Menu Zoom in and zoom out

Tempo

Start, Stop, Record

Select a section

Loop

Switch between Arrangement and

Session mode

Switch on or off

Volume control

Click on Add Folder and look for your Samples

folder

Zoom in and zoom out

1. Choose Drums, Kit-Core 909

2. Highlight one bar. From the menu, click

Create-Insert MIDI Clip

3. Double click on the MIDI clip to edit it

4. Scroll to the bottom and click to insert beats

1. Choose Instruments

2. Simpler / Bass / Analogue Bass

3. Highlight one bar. From the menu, click

Create-Insert MIDI Clip

4. Double click on the MIDI clip to edit it

5. Scroll to C1 and click to insert notes

Duplicate the clip, move the notes to make variations

Copy and paste variations Popular chord progressions are:

A – C – G – F

E – D – C – G

C – G – A – F

Change octave up or down

You can also use the computer keyboard to play notes

1. Click Samples

2. Type ‘house’ into the search bar

3. Choose a sample

4. Drag the loop into an Audio track, then

stretch it out

Reverse Transpose Detune Volume Half speed

Loop Length Envelopes

Volume

Transpose

Pan

Try it

Make your own beat, using a combination of drums and samples

Add your own bass line

Next week

Introduction to Synths

How to record lead lines, riffs, pads and other important instrument parts