Make hip hop beats better than you ever have before with these helpful tips. Whether you’re working to make your production sound better, or just beginning, these tips are essential for everyone.
1. Dissecting Sounds
In order to make good beats you have to dissect the ones you hear. Many people don’t know where to start, so I tell them to start by listening. I understand you want to be a leader in the industry, but if you’re not a good follower you may end up lost, failing to see, read, and listen to the obvious signs. You want to pick up instrumentals from the store, listen to them while you drive, while you cook, and in any free time you have. While you listen, you are dissecting the beat in your head making note of every last noise and sample. Once you have noted the nice sounds and the way they’re constructed, you then take those same sounds and reconstruct your own.
2. Beginner Software
A good program to begin constructing your beats with is Fruity Loops Studio. This is the program I began with that didn’t break the bank and there are tutorial videos all over YouTube for it.
3. Compression
The compression process is the key to any musical production whether you make hip hop beats or rock beats. Instrumentals without compression are meals without drinks. The compression process tops it off, puts your records on the radio, and puts you in the big league. A basic compression interface consists of a threshold level for when you want it to kick in, the ratio level for how much compression will occur in the mix, the attack level for how fast you want it to come in, and the release level for how fast you want it to release. Most programs come with this interface so play around with the presets until you get good enough to set it your self.
4. Keep Your Rent Money for the Rent!
You do not have to clear out your bank account to make great beats. If you are reading this online, you must have a computer or access to one. Technically you’re halfway there and all you need is more guidance to help you make hip hop beats.