| 1. Keep Your Raw Beat - Raw | | | | 6. Don't Get Crazy With The Effects |
| When designing a beat, there are several factors that | | | | Proper use of effects will enhance the energy of your |
| you have to consider during the creation phase. First | | | | track. Overuse of effects can dampen that energy, |
| and foremost, you will want to keep the basic beat | | | | causing your track to be 'un-flowable'. So, try to keep |
| prominent in the mix. Keep it dry, compressed and with | | | | your drum track as clean as possible. The key is to |
| few effects. This leaves room for creative additions | | | | find that middle ground of adding sounds and effects |
| and subtle details that can weave in and around the | | | | but not too much. |
| main drum track. | | | | 7. You Gotta Keep It Separated |
| 2. Spice Up The Track | | | | To truly become a drum guru, remember to separate |
| Use reverb and delay to add distance within the track. | | | | all your drums at the beginning, with each drum part |
| This technique will keep whatever new elements you | | | | having its own dedicated channel in the mix. So, at any |
| add from interfering with the main drum track. Next, | | | | moment during production, you can apply effects to |
| choose interesting spaces in the drum track to add | | | | any individual drum track that you deem it necessary. |
| various percussion sounds, like water splashes, or | | | | 8. Less Is More |
| breaking glass. This is what's known as 'spicing up the | | | | Another thing to remember is that sometimes less is |
| track'. | | | | more. The simplest beats can oftentimes be the |
| 3. Represent Yourself | | | | dopest beats. There is nothing that an MC hates to |
| Each new track that you create should be an | | | | see more than approaching a track, trying to apply his |
| extension of your producer personality. Over time, you | | | | flow, and finding that the mix is just too busy. Calm it |
| will start to develop a 'signature sound'. This comes | | | | down a bit. But keep your track evolving - which will |
| from experimenting with different elements in your | | | | keep your listeners guessing. |
| tracks and discovering which effects you like the most, | | | | 9. Try Playing With The Tempo |
| and subtly applying them to each track you design. | | | | Yet another concept to keep in mind is tempo. |
| 4. Always Keep 'Em Clean | | | | Sometimes, when you have the perfect new drum |
| Remember to keep your productions free of clutter, | | | | track, but something just isn't quite right about it, try |
| and only use change-ups and breakdowns that add | | | | slowing it down a few notches. Play it back at the |
| value and power to your drum track. A good | | | | slower tempo and see if that doesn't move the crowd |
| measuring stick for your track is to spit a few lines | | | | for ya. Or, try speeding it up some. |
| over it. If you can't flow with your track then you will | | | | ...And To Sum It All Up |
| need to redesign it. | | | | Sometimes, that will be all you need to perfect your |
| 5. Find That Flow | | | | track. Once you have tweaked it to the point that you |
| Ultimately, your track has little or no value if it cannot | | | | feel your head bobbing uncontrollably, you are ready to |
| be spit upon, unless you are simply trying to create an | | | | release your new masterpiece into the universe. Any |
| instrumental-only track. The focal point of each track | | | | true MC will feel compelled to spit his or her finest |
| should be to create an energy. A vibe that an MC will | | | | delivery along with your beat and that is exactly what |
| want to groove with. | | | | you want to occur whenever you press play. |