Message 20/115
Date: 16-Nov-99 @ 03:44 PM -
RE: Creating Beats
Well, there r no rules really, I guess thats the point of dance music in general and I dont want 2 advocate "Music by Numbers" formulas either but, d+b is made 4 dancefloors and the DJ, basically, has 2 ride the tunes he (or she) is playing to move the floor. So basic things which I guess u already know r 2 put plenty of movement in the to rythym section throughout the tune - constantly evolving drums so the DJ can use each change in rythym as an index 2 work the EQ, faders etc. Another thing is to put cues (stabs, breaks, FX etc.) at the start of 16/32 or 64 bar phrases 4 the same reasons. Intros r something that really piss me off, if you`re gonna have a nice long synth intro without any beats in yer tunes that fade in, PLEASE put a little bit of perc; fx or even the sound of yer dog breaking wind so u know where the tunes actually starts and can cue from it (I know that sounds obvious but u wouldn`t believe how many producers go through the bother of orchestrating an epic opening to their track and then leave nothing 4 the DJ 2 cue, or even index from). Also, in intros and just b4 and after the 1st break in the rinse, have lots of nice drum edits and FX, stabs etc. - maybe something a little bit wilder than the rest of the track so the DJ can segue in and out these bits and also say, the last bar of 16/32 or 64 phrases, kill the beats and just have a bit of bass or kill the bass and just beats 2 ease the transition into the next record. Same again in intros. Dont have a big long bassline running through the intro either, its impossible 2 EQ out and mooses up the mix. Instead, put little stabs of bass or FX for the last bar of 8/16/32, again, for seguing. Theres plenty more, but really, what I`m getting at is this: think about the dynamics of the tune you`re making both in structure and in sonic movement. Dynamics, dynamics, dynamics; movement, movement movement..................