Samples/mixing/"Nu-Soul" sound?

[klemke89]

Hey everyone, I have been experimenting and producing drum and bass tracks for about 2 years now. I mainly use reason with refill and sample packs as well as creating my own synth patches. I am having a very hard time with getting my drum kit sounds/loops to sound paired with each others sounds. One of my favorite shows on Bassdrive's radio is ATP's Nu-Soul set. Some of the Drum Hit samples I draw from are: David Carbones Loopmasters, Nu-Tone, and some the Vengence packs. Mixing the kit's sounds (especially the shuffles) to match and suit it each other is proving to be rather difficult to my ears at least. It never fits like some of the amazing tunes on ATP's set (Yes, I understand they are made by talented professionals). I've been patiently trying to bend pitches and EQ each sample so frequencies do not cluster and I have had decent results, but nothing I am proud of.I would be most appreciative if anyone has suggestions for a better realm of drum hit samples/loops, or possibly better mixing techniques.

[ATP]

Hey everyone, I have been experimenting and producing drum and bass tracks for about 2 years now. I mainly use reason with refill and sample packs as well as creating my own synth patches. I am having a very hard time with getting my drum kit sounds/loops to sound paired with each others sounds. One of my favorite shows on Bassdrive's radio is ATP's Nu-Soul set. Some of the Drum Hit samples I draw from are: David Carbones Loopmasters, Nu-Tone, and some the Vengence packs. Mixing the kit's sounds (especially the shuffles) to match and suit it each other is proving to be rather difficult to my ears at least. It never fits like some of the amazing tunes on ATP's set (Yes, I understand they are made by talented professionals). I've been patiently trying to bend pitches and EQ each sample so frequencies do not cluster and I have had decent results, but nothing I am proud of.I would be most appreciative if anyone has suggestions for a better realm of drum hit samples/loops, or possibly better mixing techniques.

Hey mate,

glad you're diggin the tunes I play on the show. Only thing I can advise is to use clean samples to begin with. The ones you've mentioned are pretty good quality to start with so you're on the right track. One other thing that works for me when I'm making breaks is to get something working first and then tweak it afterwards, using a DAW like Ableton will healp you do this easily and its one of the main reasons I use it still, I can get a tune working with samples warped in time with a break in under 5 mins and then i build upon that!

Hope this help bro,

Dave (ATP)

[zerbaman]

I used to have the same problem making my shuffles, so I don't know what vibe your going for, but this is how i do it now

Instead of using the Nu:Tone shuffles (if that's what your using), just take a rim shot or other form of single hit percussion, should be fairly quiet and mid-ranged. Just lay it down on the four steps between the first snare and second kick, then the second snare and first kick. I don't think that sounds very clear, to me at least it doesn't, so I'll try and give some basic visual representation of what I mean:

k--------k Kick Channel
----s------s Snare Channel
-----rrrr----rr Rim Shot Channel

This probably fails, If it doesn't let me know

[polyrhythmic]

You can put a shuffle anywhere, as long as they appear often enough they will 'speed up' your tune with the 16th note fill. But yes, that is a popular place to put a dnb shuffle. Tambos, shakers, light hats are all popular for shuffle sounds.

[zerbaman]

Watch the chase & status tutorial on youtube, that's how I learned
The brookes brothers' one may help too

[klemke89]

Thanks a lot everyone. Since my first post I have been using a lot more of modified softer snare sounds for my shuffles and I experienced a big "duh" moment after doing so. All I've been doing now is trying to getting a "tighter" drum sound that does not overwhelm the mix. I'll have to post a tune or 2 when I come up with finished product that I'm happy with. Thanks for your advice guys!


K