Hip Hop Drum Samples - FAQs

By John Gellei

In this article, we're going to analyze a few questions on drum samples and music production. These questions have no doubt been asked before on countless music production forums and audio blogs, but another opinion on the matters can't be bad! In fact, I will try not to color the responses with my own prejudices as best as I can, so hopefully I will offer some text-book definitions and neutral responses. It's important to revisit these topics from time to time as the 'game' changes all the time with the advancement in music technology.

Do I Have to Pay for Drum Samples? Absolutely not! It is true that drum samples can be purchased both online and offline in guitar centers and other common outlets, but a number of professional hip hop producers have done fine without stocking up on every single company's drum samples offering.

If you have a lot of knowledge and have used compressors, equalizers and other, similar equipment and software in the past, you're well-equipped to start developing your own drum samples. You can end up developing your own personal collection of favorite drum sounds that you can go through a lot of times. With every project you will undertake, you will probably check here first to see if there are any suitable sounds you could use immediately or manipulate to your liking.

Second Question: Can I Use Dance Sounds for Gangster Rap? Absolutely! There are just a few things you need to watch out for. One of these things is the actual pattern you set for your drum samples. Dance music has a very distinctive and rugged pattern that sees the kick drum hit every beat in the vast majority of songs. Patterns aside, the actual sound of the drum samples doesn't matter all that much as hip hop (gangster rap included) is quite flexible in that department.

Speaking on the patterns, you can learn some patterns by listening to your favorite artists and trying to replicate what is going in their songs rhythmically. Compare the different styles and find common elements, and then try to expand on those to make your own style out of this. You can also find some great free MIDI loops on the internet by performing a Google search.

Why are some drum samples louder than others? The reason some sounds are simply louder than others is a direct effect of today's loudness war in music. More than ever, drum samples are make-or-break elements in even the most decidedly non-mainstream songs! So for sample companies selling their product, making them seem louder by over using compression or simply dialing up the volume could increase sales. I'm not sure how much better they fare, but the honest companies selling well-treated drum samples that aren't abused and lifeless are losing out - for doing the right thing! So it's all about volume. This is why ads are louder on TV than the actual viewing program. Because companies think that noise influences sales. - 18780

About the Author:

Want to make rap beats? Use online forums and communities to help you with your questions. Making rap beats can be easy!

Green Screen Studio: Choosing Correct Fabric

By Phil Guye

You have decided that because of the benefits of using fabric for your green screen studios, you will set out on a journey to find the right fabric for the area you have prepared for your studio. However, not only do you have to find the correct fabrics but also a fabric that isn't over your budget. Well, there are lots of fabric stores around and if you have the time, you can try going to every single one of them to find what you're looking for.

However, if you are finding yourself pushed for time and you don't have the luxury to go to every fabric shop there is you should simply go to the biggest shop there is for the sole reason that the bigger the shop is, the bigger the probabilities that you're going to find what you are looking for. When you have selected the fabric shop to go to, here are the rules that you have to remember when choosing a fabric:

1. The material should be opaque although it is inevitable for fabric to be just a little bit reflective, be a bit picky this one time and rummage through their collection for something that doesn't reflect light. What's the reason behind this preference? Just imagine that when you use green screen studio, it'll be the same with using a normal background. In truth, it will be a lot more sensitive than the normal backdrop or the ordinary studio. So if you tip the light in the area, a reflective green screen will create lighter hotspots

2. Look for lighter green. The brighter the green is, the better it is. You have to look for the brightest green you can find. However be wary of the transition between green and yellow. Make sure that it's a bright green but not bright enough for it to be confused with yellow. If your human eyes are confused, then the fallacy will double in the post-editing so be cautious.

3. Look for material that is crease resistant. If you have selected fabric for your green screen, you would know this is your worst enemy and that this is the largest disadvantage in using fabric in your green screen studio. Test the material if it creases easily because you will be lugging the material around and it would save everyone a large amount of trouble if it can be moved around and set up without fiddling with the smoothness of the fabric. - 18780

About the Author:

There are a lot of other websites giving a variety of forms of advice on how to use green screen but a lot of them are not very detailed or precise. Before following these, make sure to check my own articles and reviews on Green Screen and Green Screen Studios, You can also reach me at 1-323-851-3825 or phillipguy@hotmail.com