Programs for creating beats for rap. Beat program. The Best Software for Making Rap Beats How to Learn to Make Beats from Scratch

Apparently, neither beginners nor professional musicians need to be told that when creating a composition, one of the central places in the track is occupied by the drum part (naturally, if their use is provided). Of course, the best option for creating high-quality beats in the form of individual fragments or an entire batch is recording in a studio using a “live” drum kit. But many people work, so to speak, from home, preferring sequencer programs with built-in instruments. with their help? This and much more will be discussed further. It will not be possible to describe all the intricacies of the process, so we will dwell only on the most important points, using the popular sequencer FL Studio as a basis.

How to make beats: general concepts of constructing drum parts

Let's start with what exactly we need to create a drum part. It goes without saying that you can use drum VST samplers or the built-in instruments of the program itself, but first we’ll look at how to make beats for rap or any other style of music manually.

If you approach the solution from a general point of view, it is not necessary to use a full drum kit. A kick drum, a snare drum, a closed/open hi-hat and a crash cymbal will suffice. We are not taking into account violas and toms for now. Thus, the simplest rhythmic pattern can be built only on the basis of these four elements.

How to make a beat in FL Studio: the simplest technique

Now let's turn directly to the FL Studio program. When creating a new project, we immediately have a step sequencer with the above-mentioned drum kit elements (only instead of a cymbal, a clap is used). First, let's replace it with some kind of cymbal.

How to make beats? There are several options here. The simplest is to use the interactive view of the step sequencer, where you simply mark the buttons in the desired positions.

The image above shows the simplest even beat for one bar.

It is clear that it sounds too smooth and unnatural. A live drummer would never play like that. Let's try to diversify the created sequence a little and add a bass drum at the end, which will sound out of the beat for each subsequent repetition. But if you look at how such a sequence is played live, it immediately becomes clear that the weak beat at the end of each measure sounds somewhat quieter.

The beat volume can be adjusted directly in the step sequencer, but it is better to send it to the Piano Roll virtual keyboard. There are many more parameters available for adjustment here, especially since they can be changed for each note.

By the way, it is advisable to apply the change in the volume of each even bit to the hat. This will liven up the sound somewhat. If you don't like this approach, use the built-in FPC drum module. In it, the principle of creating a party is almost the same, only there are more tools.

Using VST Instruments

How to do it First of all, use ready-made sequences that are available in special libraries of drum samplers like Superior Drummer, EZDrummer, etc. Let's look at the use of such combinations in the Steven Slate Drum Sampler plugin. Once you've selected the style and sequence you want, simply drag it to the desired channel in the step sequencer, and then go to the Piano Roll window.

Since initially all the parts were played live, you can immediately figure out how to change the volume or which notes to shift so that the sound is not machine-made.

Features of the “swing” of the bit

After practicing with the plugins, we return to our beat. How to make a “quality” beat even from such a simple sequence? Elementary! It's not just the volume that needs to be adjusted. Separately, you should pay attention to setting a slight offset of the notes along the grid in order to create the so-called draw, which is very often used for the snare drum.

Set the note to start sounding not in the standard flat position, but with an offset, specifying, for example, a starting position with a value of 1.05.04, as shown in the image above. When you bring all the notes to life in this way, you'll immediately hear how much more natural even the simplest beat sounds. But you shouldn’t set the delay or volume values ​​to the same. Change them within small limits, but don’t get too carried away.

In this article we will look at the basics of creating a rap minus, and also find out what it is beats And bars in Fl Studio and why you need to adhere to a certain pattern or pattern in music.

First of all, there must be a pattern or pattern in music, and you can notice this in many famous rappers and other performers. Listen to the music and you will hear the sequence of actions.

Let's first look at what is used to create rap minus Well, at the end of the article we’ll look at the template.

On a note:

There are no boundaries when writing music as it is a creative process. And therefore, remember that there are no rules and you don’t need to listen to everyone (something like you did something wrong or you should have done it differently) except for the key of the notes. Creating music, as I wrote above, is a creative process and it is different for everyone. But this also does not mean that by drawing a bunch of inharmonious notes and placing them in you will create a masterpiece.

Instruments used in rap style:

The creation of a rap minus is based on instruments. This is the basic set of tools that we will now look at. But first, be sure to download this fl project. For a visual example.

• Bit– in any music, the beat plays an important role in creating the rhythmic picture of your backing track. We hear the beat throughout the music and therefore we need to pay attention to it. The beat is based on Kick, Clap or Snare, Hat. Can also be used as additions to Shaker, Cymbals, Percussions. They are mainly used to diversify the beat.

• Bass– gives a large amount of low frequencies from which your rap minus breaks. A necessary element in rap music.

• Pad– needed to create volume for your minus. But not in large quantities. They usually play with a long, extended sound.

• Lead or Instrument– this is the main instrument that will play for you throughout the entire composition. You can choose absolutely any instrument you like.

• Strings or Instrument 2,3,4- these are melodies that will complement the main melody. They will play on the backing track, in the chorus, at the beginning of the main melody. This is necessary so that the minus becomes more diverse and does not quickly bore the listener.

Select instruments by ear, as I don’t know any other method.

I want to tell you right away that you should not limit yourself to this list. Just keep in mind that this set of tools can grow. It all depends on your imagination and your creativity.

This is what the rap minus template looks like. It may be slightly different. It all depends on the author's idea.

I didn’t include Vocal since we are only considering rap minus, but of course it should be there. It is written down after the minus itself has been compiled.

Also, when recording vocals, they do backing vocals, where each rapper uses his own tricks and sounds. Backing vocals are an addition to the main vocals.

In general, rap minus is most often used as a basis samples. Samples are excerpts of various instrument sounds cut from songs. Here, in essence, everything is simple and the template of the tools can be said to be the same. It’s just that here you won’t have to think about how to compose chords, but if you add additional instruments, you will need to find out in what key the sample is playing in order to play a melody under it. Next, you just need to competently trim the audio track and prepare several samples to scatter them in .

Minus rap template.

I think not everyone knows what a rap minus template should look like. And so let's look at it. But I want to warn you right away that this example, which is presented below, is the most common in rap style and it may differ from the disadvantages of other genres since each genre has its own layouts.

What are beats and bars in Fl Studio? Beats and bars is a musical time interval in a track. Without them it would be hard to write negative comments. And therefore they are needed for the convenience of creating music in general.

The figure below shows in detail the division into bits and bars, as well as the rap minus template itself.

Remember, in order for your rap minus to be catchy and the listener after listening to it wants to listen to it again and again, you need to do it.

Listen to lots and lots of hip-hop/funk/music in general and enrich your mind with different rhythms. The fact is that hip-hop as such often uses quite inventive rhythmic tricks. You can learn about them if you (in addition to listening to music) study playing percussion instruments. Even by watching videos on YouTube. There they will show you fills, shuffles, swings, pulls, guest notes and many other tasty things. The problem with modern beats is boring, unmemorable rhythms. And this, by the way, is the basis of the beat. If you look at how beats were written in the 90s and 80s, you will see how much importance was attached to this.

First, highlight at least an approximate direction in which you want to work. It can be instrumental hip-hop, aggressive symphonic epic, cute trap or snotty lyrics. Study, listen to what is used in the direction in which you want to write. Choose for yourself a few of the coolest beats that get played the most and analyze them. Try to figure out why you like them, and then try to come up with something of your own based on them. And I don't mean plagiarism or repeating tunes. Try to understand the very trick of the bit that is being rolled out to you and use it. For example, I love aggressive, angry, epic symphonic beats. Many of them are built on a simple principle - there is a continuous direct melody (some kind of “bustling” in eighth notes), and under it the whole orchestra notes the accents. Well, for example. Also, in such bits there are often rises, falls, and so on and so forth. Then I simply wrote something of my own, based on this information, and then added some more of my own tricks and ideas to this skeleton. That's what I wrote at the beginning.

Learn to use the tools you will have to work with. At first, most likely, you will download all the synthesizers, effects and libraries that come to hand. But over time, you will select for yourself a small set of all this, which you will use. In the meantime, look at how to use Kontakt, how libraries work, how synthesizers work, and what libraries and synthesizers there are in general.

1) The Producers Choice - they have one bible with a bunch of different hip-hop samples. Percussion, distinctive kicks, 808 basses, snares and cymbals, thousands of them. In addition, this Bible contains clips of all sorts of voices, shouts, and phrases from which you can create fancy effect samples. One of the best hip-hop libraries.

2) Massive synthesizer. Easy to use, if you know the basic concepts, you'll figure it out. its advantage is that there is an overload of all sorts of presets for every taste and color.

3) Heavyocity - Damage. Industrial drum library. Very juicy. It’s unlikely to work in commercial hip-hop, but you can experiment.

4) Cinematic Strings - a simple and quite sound (up to a certain point, of course. It won’t fulfill any of your wishes, but for beats it’s very good) bibli with strings.

5) Thousands of them.

Learn basic music theory (aka "elementary music theory") and don't worry. It will be very, very useful, no matter what anyone tells you. If you have a creative streak, you will instantly learn to write melodies and select harmonies for them, to assemble a form. Also, study the arrangement. You will learn how to create the mood you need in a specific beat, what you need to do for this, what you need to use. And don’t watch people on YouTube that make videos on “how to write a beat in 5 minutes.” They won’t explain anything to you, they’ve already been through it, it’s trash. Or rather, you can glean something from these videos at first (some specific techniques, something else), but you won’t find the essence in them.

I met the school in the early 2000s, when they were based at the Russian Academy of Theater Arts.

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Regular studios did what they still do today - recording music. And these guys were also involved in technical education of young people, introducing them to knowledge about sound, sound engineering skills, and the ability to create modern music using modern means. At that time, the courses were short-term, and they provided basic knowledge of sound theory, as well as skills in working on digital sound stations, but the main thing was the development of creativity, the ability to apply the acquired knowledge and skills in working on your composition, on your music. Students were provided with professional studio equipment, which is not always available to university students. Many students later became professional sound engineers, producers, arrangers, and remain in touch with the school for many years.

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I tried to look for any information on this topic - books, schools, etc. At home I already had a small budget PC-based studio equipped. I was already recording something, mixing it, trying to achieve a professional sound in practice. In order to raise my level and at the same time record several of my songs, I, as a client, turned to the Cream Records studio. There were several songs for which I made arrangements at home, and turned to Alexander for mixing. Of course, I wanted to be present when the track was mixed. I wanted to watch a professional work, ask questions along the way) It was very interesting, but it didn’t help me much in learning how to mix on my own) So I made a “spy” move))) I asked Alexander to mix my track in my studio. My "spy" idea was to analyze the project after mixing. To my surprise, the mix turned out to be about the same quality as the mixes he mixed at Cream Records. This gave me complete confidence that the main thing is not the equipment, but the person. Later there were many other things that allowed me to make great progress along this path, but Alexander was definitely one of those who influenced me during that period of time.

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and performer, performed in Ukraine and North America with concerts, so technical control over my product was critically important to me. Sound engineering fascinated me, and I decided that in addition to the creative side, I was also interested in the technical aspect of creating music. The material was conveyed in an accessible and understandable way in theory and in practice, the most necessary, the most basic, without water. The main thing is that you could try everything with your own hands in real time, learn on expensive equipment that is used in the music industry in studios around the world! The student instantly finds himself in a real work process! After graduating from school, I entered the American University Full Sail University, but I turned to the notes and knowledge acquired at ProSound throughout my studies at the American university! I remember compiling student material in America, leafing through the ProSound notebook, referring to the notes “which frequency to highlight in which instrument, etc.”, and it was also possible to become smarter at the American lecture based on the knowledge acquired earlier. I received a colossal base, knowledge that can be consolidated and supplemented! I would like to add that in 2012, 2013 and 2015, several of my songs were featured in Hollywood films, such as “Chernobyl Diaries” (in Russian release – “Forbidden Zone”), as well as in the film “Arthur Neumann the Golf Gro”, with famous actors Emily Blunt and Colin Furst, as well as in the famous American series The Blacklist on the prestigious HBC channel. Search Vika Vasilevich – “Magic”, and “Want you” www.vika.mobi

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It’s beyond words when you accidentally find out that your most favorite records and compositions were recorded within these walls and by the very people who pass on their knowledge to you. Gradually, you begin to put these skills into practice, which is not only allowed at the music studio, but is also required to complete the course. It was on one of these tasks that I learned from personal experience that the same track can be mixed in completely different ways. This is what we call “directing” in the word “sound engineer.” There were 4 of us in the group and we received 4 completely different tracks in mood. Unfortunately for me at that moment, there were already evaluation criteria for mixing the track, according to which I did not score high. BUT! A huge “but” in favor of my mix was the creative component, which melted the hearts of the listeners. After the technical debriefing, Alexander Tsyplukhin told the audience that there are many examples of when the track was mixed absolutely incorrectly and crookedly in all respects, if you break down the composition according to the same criteria. But at the end, the sum of all these errors gives what we call “creativity”. I am sure that my work was most likely an accident. After all, in order to make “creative mistakes”, you need to have the same set of knowledge to make a creative composition out of a mistake!

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creating his own studio, producing numerous albums, mixing sound for films, producing major music projects, and authoring more than 70 compositions. Of course, you can refer to talent, hard work and love for your work, and this is certainly important, but you cannot do without knowledge. I remember very well that before studying at music-making school, all my actions were marking time... It seemed that I intuitively understood what and how to do with sound, but it barely reached the level of a demo recording. And only after graduating from school I was able to consciously approach working with sound. Nowadays, various working methods have already appeared and we already have our own accumulated experience, but no one has canceled the fundamental knowledge about frequency, dynamic or spatial processing. It is this knowledge that helps me find a way out in completely different situations during my work, for which I want to say a huge thank you to Alexander Tsyplukhin and his team!

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Learn a lot of new things and most importantly start making mixes at a new, modern level. The school teachers are very attentive and friendly. Upon completion of the courses, graduates receive the necessary set of knowledge to enter the profession, the ability to listen and solve problems that can be encountered in the work of a sound engineer, as well as a Steinberg music production certificate.

Some passionate rap fans may want to try their hand at this musical genre. To do this, you may need your own high-quality beats (they usually mean drum-minus parts, that is, simply put, this is the music to which rap is read). To write a high-quality beat, we will need special software tools that allow us to create such melodies at home. In this material I will tell you what programs you can use to create beats for rap, and what the specifics of their work are.

Options for writing a melody for a rapper

In most cases, when creating rap beats, two different methods are used:

• The first method involves cutting segments from other musical compositions, their correct arrangement in the music editor, overlaying drums, various effects, and so on;
• The second method involves creating music from scratch. This requires good musical qualifications of the creator of the composition, as well as high-quality knowledge of the relevant programs.

Nowadays, there are several dozen different software solutions for creating beats. The most popular and professional of them are “FL Studio”, “CUBASE”, “Magix Music Premium”, “Logic Pro X”, “Mixcraft 7”, which have the necessary set of tools for creating high-quality beats. Simultaneous work with multiple tracks, professional equalizer, automatic recording, MIDI editor, various virtual instruments, plug-ins, time stretching and other useful options.

In this material I will focus on solutions that will be useful primarily to beginners in the business of creating beats.

The best programs for creating quality rap beats

Let's look at programs that will help us create and record a beat for an MC.

"FL Studio"

The FL Studio program is a popular music editor that will be useful for beginners in music creation. It is a powerful virtual studio designed for creating and editing music on your PC.

The program window allows you to access all the necessary tools for creating music, including presets and scores. The software has an impressive set of plugins for writing music (DirectWave, Fruity Squeeze, ReFX Nexus, etc.). A powerful mixer, piano keyboard, and other useful features will help you create music. A music file created in FL Studio can be saved in mp3, wav, ogg format.

When editing tracks in FL Studio, you use a window with patterns, where all the instruments you have selected are located, and a playlist window, divided into a pattern area (top) and a music track field (bottom).

An example of creating a rap beat in FL Studio is presented in this video:

"Hotstepper"

"Hotstepper" is a free program that will allow you to easily create beats for rap and . This software includes 12 audio channels, numerous audio samples for creating different beats and other useful features. You can stretch the sound, use the BPM slider to work with the tempo, and use various musical instruments. After creating your beat, you can save the track as a wav file and export it to the desired directory.

Working screen of the Hotstepper program

You can watch a video with an example of how the Hotstepper program works on YouTube:

"MuseScore"

MuseScore is an intuitive beat making software. It is free, has a fairly user-friendly interface, supports input from a MIDI keyboard, and interacts well with other music editors through support for MusicXML, MIDI and other formats. Can be recommended to those users who are taking their first steps in creating and editing music.

Ordrumbox

Ordrumbox is a unique open-source project that has become very popular in the last couple of years due to its advanced functionality. If you are a Windows 10, Linux or Mac OSX user, then Ordrumbox will be one of the best solutions for creating your beats. You can download this program absolutely free of charge and use its capabilities. One of the advantages is that the user can change the built-in program settings to suit the style of his music.

"Hydrogen"

Hydrogen is one of the best programs for making beats. You can easily create, edit, mix, and record your music using the program's powerful tools. It has a simple and intuitive interface, and you do not need professional skills to work with this product. Music created in Hydrogen can be saved without any difficulties in various formats (mp3, wmv and others).

Conclusion

In this material, I reviewed the best programs for composing beats for rap music performers. They have a wide range of musical instruments and will be useful for beginners who want to try their hand at creating beats. I advise you to take a special look at the “FL Studio” program, which is quite popular and has many admirers. Use its capabilities, and perhaps someday there will be a rap battle with your participation.