5 tips I wish I knew when I started making beats

Your last point - 'the output'. make a video on it if you don't already! dope, simple and clear video

Some solid advice as always...thanks for sharing bro.

This is amazing, thanks for this. You've brought it right back to basics which is invaluable. One of the best most helpful beatmaking vids I've seen. Fundamentals.

I literally just started properly using volume as a primary way of mixing with some slight filtering and my lastest beats sound the best out of all of them lol so simple but so effective

Everything you stated is on point.

Gold tips!

That Ginga track is wonderful, love that flute (is it?) sample.

Thanks for the continued inspiration for both beat making and making videos man! 🔥

I realized, that I was (or am) doing the same thing. Super excited to play around in ableton and try different weird patterns. A couple of weeks later, when Im listening to it, its absolute garbage xD. Music experimentation is fun, but I think you can`t and shouldn`t try to reinvent the wheel all the time. Funny thing is: I don`t know if that was a coincidence, but after watching this video, I think I made my best beat ever so far :D. Chops super simple, drum-loop super simple. At the end of the day it comes down to sound/ sample choice and get a feeling/vibe going. Great video, btw, cheers!

🔥

I agree with everything but tip 4.

Such a great video, thanks man.🦁

Kev adams😂

My 5, 1 Be consistent with kick and bass, I used to be all over the place often kick could not be heard. 2 Name files and organise by date, 3 Finish more projects instead building up hundreds of unfinished projects, 4 collaborate with other producers and rapper, 5 Set up the proccess to sell beats.

Great TIPS!!!

Just to add some, if you don't mind...

The way I see it, the drums may or may not give a different perception of the groove with the melodic and stabs samples.
Sometimes it's better to emphasize the sample groove, sometimes it's better to sound "loose" and put some kick or snare here and there to "break" the numbness that "everybody agreeing" may be provoking...

That's when the "humanizing" is always welcome.

When I started to produce some rappers like Racionais MCs, Pavilhão 9, and others, I was coming from radio "supermix" programs that I used to keep all those songs hitting as one, the tape cuts should be precise as a digital clock, and stuff like that.
So, my production was a constant state of paranoic feelings about "Oh, this hihat is not 100% at the tempo! So, let's fix it."
I was suffering all the time, not happy, and struggling to convince myself that those tracks were ok.
But they sounded "weak", "muddy", "confused"...
...and that's all a huge problem.

First, start to sketch.
I recommend you that read me and start trying to mimic some producer you like.
Try to make your own beat with the same feeling, maybe with the same sounds. So, you'll probably better understand how that sample was sliced and played. How does that kick change the volume inside that bar and why.

Do it at least 50 times from scratch.
Then try to build something with YOUR OWN "face".
Avoid mimicking others at all moves you do.
At this level, "don't imitate" is the name of the game. It's a challenge.
Try it 'till you get to the point where you find your mind free enough to make your own first beat.

That was the path to make me start to produce not inclined to imitate this from those guys, and that from those other ones, and at the end, resulting in a blob of indefinable mass...

Like everything else, between the "balance" limits, the contrast is fundamental, just as Marlow said.
The relation between samples and drums, where they get your attention, where they help to fill the gaps, how they appear (constantly, repeatedly, aggressively, softly, loudly, percussively, loosely...)...
Each sound has a part like sounds in nature. Birds are not running water, and the wind on trees is not dogs barking.

Thank you very much, Marlow!!!
This video may help many...

Thanks for the great tips. I’m not a beginner,and I’m still struggling to make my tracks sound nice (to muddy or messy). And it’s true the simple tracks that I made always sounded best. Can you elaborate more on studying the master out? I normally don’t do anything on master then utility -3db.

do you think its wise to tell people what they should be doing? or just sharing your experience and your journey?

I would say tip #6 is commit. Don't be afraid to commit to sounds. I spend too much time changing sounds with too many choices and never finishing. COMMIT!

Thanks again 😊

Great tips. Obrigado

It's crazy how simple it is , i know it , but it was hard for me to realize that volumes alone are doing the job mixwize.... sometimes you just need to hear it from the one guy that is relyablle, in this ocean of over complex and often unecessary complications, simplicity is key, the creed today is do more of this and that...depends where you want to reach i guess, but truth is what you describe is all you need , those extra work might eventually come along the line if opportunities come around your way or you really want to make bigger stages..... anyway just sharing my thoughts thanks for yours vids Marlow you're the man

Note, if you're getting your tracks professionally mastered, don't put any compression or limiting on the whole mix and keep your whole mix level below -8db to leave enough room for the mastering engineer

I truly don't focus on EQ'ing so much for sure. I definitely start with simple drum patterns then build on top of it. The formula is simple for sure. My basic formula is "just go" then focus on volume and other stuff afterwards. Also, it's easier to build the samples around the drums vs. the other way around. Thx for sharing the experiences!!

Really like the "keep your drums simple" tip. I often spend too much time trying to come up with the craziest/coolest/new drum patterns but I often realize that my favorite boom bap tracks are often VERY basic kick/snare/hit hat patterns with very little complexity to them. When you're making the beat, it's sometimes hard to remember that in 90s boom bap, you want to leave room for the artists vocals to drive the track, and the beat rides along with the vocals.... whereas in "modern" hip hop, I feel that the beats drive too much of the song, and the lack of importance on vocals is starting to create this new wave of hip hop that 90s' boom bap heads like myself are starting to dislike greatly.

Keeping the drums simple is such a good way to keep the progress moving on the track, and often gives that classic boom bap feel that we are going for as a "boom bap producer". Thanks for the reminder on this one.

Tip number 1 and 3 are part of my learning experience, too. Then I create some drum variations by sample chopping (usually without hi-hats, because that would be too chaotic for my DNB). Thx bro!

I like doing too much…but doing less is harder, cooler, and actually, much more efficient. Also, if you think about volume, you can think about space in the medium you are working with…It’s fun to bullshit about audio stuff. Keep that chill, always.

🙏 Thanks! Your beats are so nice and elegant.

You don't need little or no effects if you are sampling from records. The loops and samples are already eqed and mixed

Thank you for tips !!!!! Nice to think about it ;)

Using drum sample packs is not beat making sorry guys.

So useful indeed! Thanks for the tips AND for the awesome content!!!

Great tips Marlow. I've been experimenting with compression a lot more lately and it's definitely helped my beats sound better and more like I want them to sound.

I do samples first then the drums 2nd reason is I want them to match...not saying drums 1st doesn't work but I like the other way better!! Your process is very on point bruhhhhh I like the videos.. very insightful and inspiring!!!

very nice. I agree. My tip is also to find a work flow and stick with it. If you like a program to have all your sounds do that. If you like a program for each element ( a kik program and snare program etc) then do that. I wasted time with too many work flows. I've re-invested in my MPC 4000 after realising I lost too much time re learning the newer MPC LIve and just gone back to my simple set up but adding the 8 outs so I can export into the DAW more easily and quickly.
Marlow - I still use your free samples you sent me 4 or 5 years ago - Deadly drums and francis lay and a bunch of other stuff when I was on Patreon. I may consider jumping back in later in the year. God bless

Eq...watch and listen Nick Wiz. Thank me later.

Thanks
Bro

that is quite helpful, thanks!

A tip that has helped me smooth out some rough edges in my beats is apply to the output. For example: Using a three-band EQ (SP's Isolator in my case) and cutting certain frequencies or intensifying others until I find the tone that I like most and then applying a compressor or warm type effect 4 adding a little saturation.

But, you are using an analog heat…..so….i actually don’t use effects plugins but, I have been thinking about getting that AH to master my standalone mix.

Your track, "The Smoothest" sits next to Ye and Killa Mike for 2024. I thought it was was a Dilla beat that was undiscovered or something. Love the two minute length;. Can hear DOOM on the beat for sure.

One of the biggest game changers was gain staging before the mix. If your samples are all at different levels it makes it harder than just turning it down in the pad mixer plus rms level reading than just peak levels for volume before on my 4K and 2k unbeknownst to be my levels were distorting even before I tracked out with me thinking that just turn down the main level at global stage would work it doesn’t These days I normalize if necessary and I gain stage within the program level first then use the pad mixer to mix volume . Plus the effects work and sound more efficient.

PS a lot of the prepackaged kits that come with mpc and samples bought online are as loud as hell and not gain staged, I believe this is intentional like patches on the synth because loud sounds great the audiences attention faster in isolation but it throws off your mix in context. I learned to gain stage everything in order to listen to it the right way.

The more things I take out of the picture, is when I get my best results. Less is more for a lot of aspects of making beats/music

These are solid tips for sure. Focusing on fundamentals is the best way to achieve everything you want.

YES : ears are the main instrument

I remember in an Andy Wallace interview he said something very similar about the importance of volume. Solve your problems with volume.

This really makes sense, I will take this too heart!

beautiful thank you

This was a brilliant lecture family thank you

I like to hipass Drum loop (or perc loop) then lay harder drums on top thats my favorite.