Many people ask me how I create my tunes. Well I have to tell you sometimes
they fall into place and sometimes I have to work them real hard. There
are no real hard and fast rules that I follow for inspiration. I know
if I try to create a song because I haven't created one in a while, I
come unstuck and end up scrapping the song. I find that I have to be in
the right type of mood. Songs like InfectiouZ BeatZ (You can download
the song from here)
only took an hour or so to create yet other songs like Mr DJ (No longer
available as a free download..you will have to wait for it to be released
on a CD) took me over 3 months to get the right feel behind it. One thing
I have noticed in my songs they follow the patterns set out by Jai Josef's
in his book Writing Music For hit Songs. Anyway enough ramblings here
is how I created InfectiouZ BeatZ!!!
- If you listen to the song you can hear that the underlying groove
behind the tune is the drum intro. This feel is in the mix for 95% of
the song. the only time it is not heard is in the percussion and tom's
lead break in the middle of the song. All other instruments are built
off of this groove. BTW..the groove is a trance loop that has been time
shifted down from 138 BPM to 130 BPM. This runs for 2 bars before I
added the second step
- I then added the metal shaker sound. (this can be heard as the second
sample) This sample was off of a completely different sample CD. By
using different CD's you can get a much better range of sounds and lessens
the chance of someone coming up with a similar sounding song. Once again
this runs for 2 bars before step 3.
- I then added the final sample to get the main groove which is the
metal can sound. (At this stage it is starting to sound like the "Tap
Dogs" (these are a bunch of guys that have made a good living out
of tap dancing using industrial sounds....You might have seen them on
the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games)) To give a slightly
different feel in the intro on the 6 bar of the song I add a snare roll...If
you listen hard enough it is there and sounds like it is part of the
sample but is used later in the hook back from the lead break. Both
the samples used in Step 2 and 3 did not have any altering they came
straight of the sample CD at 130BPM. The snare was time shifted down
from 138 BPM to 130 BPM.
- This takes us to the 11th Bar of the song where I used a series of
trance samples and time shifted them from 138 BPM to 130 BPM (any slower
and the would have sounded like they are dragging). This synth runs
for 12 bars playing the same riff 3 times. I also added another snare
roll to lead into the kick drum (Which also is a trance sample time
shifted) and hand claps on every second beat. After the Kick Drum has
been playing for 4 bars the synth changes the riff it is playing and
in total I have 8 different riffs used in a row. On the final riff,
the snare rolls to create a hook back to the start.
- I repeat all 8 synth samples with the same groove but this time thru
the bass riff kicks in creating another slightly different rhythm in
the song.
- I figure it's time to do something different here. Normally with a
lyrical song you can add a chorus or a vocal bridge...but i didn't have
the c-port (Check out the review on the c-port in the hardware section)
so I thought time for a percussion lead break. I decide to keep the
kick drum and the claps playing and build on what the general groove
of the song had. Only I need some percussion and tom's. Anyway after
searching a few sample cd's I found 2 tom samples that when mixed together
gave quite a nice sound that was inline with what the groove behind
the song was. I slotted them in and had a listen to that section...something
else was needed. I found a Pop percussion sample that was suitable and
time shifted it from 90 BPM to 130 BPM. I found it sound just right.
- After 7 bars I used the snare roll from the intro and kept the toms
playing and went back to the original intro. As the Metal Shaker sample
resumes I drop out the tom's and repeat the second "verse".
- To end the songs I continue the kick drums, claps, metal shaker, and
metal trash can dropping the kick drums after 2 bars, the claps and
metal trash can after another 2 bars, then the metal shaker after another
2 bars. Leaving only the original trance loop to finish.
- Ok, I now have the basis for the tune. It runs for just the right
length and needs the final touches. Now I am a firm believer in the
following. Never use one program for a song. Why?? Did I here you ask???
Well every program has it's weakness and strengths. Would you tighten
a phillips head screwdriver with a flat head screwdriver??? (Well in
an emergency I would but only if I didn't have a phillips head screwdriver).
Time to open up Wavelab and time shift all the samples that aren't at
130 BPM. Here is a good little tip when saving the files. If the file
is called say: percus_90.wav I save the time shifted sample as percus_130.wav.
I can then drag and drop the time shifted sample straight onto the original
and know I have the right sample. If any of the samples were in mono
I converted them to stereo and saved them all in one session.
- The final thing to do was the final mix down. This is where you need
to mix down a couple of times. I always have either a program like Wavelab
or Cool Edit Pro open so once I render the file from Acid I can see
if there are any clips. You need room for your songs to be mastered.
Try keeping the peak of the song well below 0 decibels. This will ensure
that your mastering guy can give you the best final mix. Sakis from
Digisound
Mastering masters all my original tunes. I asked Sakis how long
it took him to master the song...His response was 15 Minutes which indicated
that the mix down was good.
Anyway, as you can see this song relies heavily on the groove behind
the song. It has many rhythms in the tune and the hardest part about this
song was what to name it. I decided on InfectiouZ BeatZ as I couldn't
stop tapping my feet to the rhythm. I hope you have a greater insight
into how to put together a tune. Sometimes it can be done quite quickly
other times...It takes ages!!! My advice is never give up on creating
your tunes. There is always someone out there that will like it.
Happy Mixing....DJ Scott -e
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