Composition within a sampled beat?

[Cell 2Dee]

For example, I've just started making a sampled beat and got some ill horn chops to start the bar with, and need to come up with something in between.

When you dudes are making a sampled beat and need to come up with a composition to fill the gaps, how do you do know which instruments will fit the track? Just experimenting with different instruments? Or do you always know what will and what won't work?

 

[Vice]

just experiment.... That's how new styles are created man! There are the obvious choices of what will "match" depending on your sample and the style of music it is. Like lets say for instance you have a very dramatic horn chop, then you could easily add strings to fit that selection. There are hundereds of different things you can do to change it up though, let's say you wanted to add a synth in the mix. It would give that same beat an entirely different feel.

 

[mono]

imagination. try to have as much instruments available as possible. a certain vst violin might not match your idea, while some nnxt string does. i rarely end up with what i had planned in the first place, it develops, but you have to start somewhere.
but basically its idea, trial and error

 

[Cell 2Dee]

imagination. try to have as much instruments available as possible. a certain vst violin might not match your idea, while some nnxt string does. i rarely end up with what i had planned in the first place, it develops, but you have to start somewhere.
but basically its idea, trial and error

I see, and how long, roughly, does it take you to make and finish a beat?

Thanks for the advice Mono and Vice, I'll give it a go and see what happens.

 

[LDB]

The number one key to what will work in the department of composition instruments is the sample itself! Listen to the record, what instruments do you hear in the sample? Write that shit down then dial up those instruments and go to work.

 

[Cell 2Dee]

^^^ I tried that, but I can't find no damn trumpet refills that actually sound good.

 

[slik da relic]

not all beats are done in 5 min... some mite take a few days, weeks, months, even a few yrs b4 its complete...and if u have the melody in ur head, just lay it down with whatever sounds u have that sound similar to what u want... u can always change it later... just dont rush it.

da relic

 

[2GooD Productions]

I compose on probably every sampled beat I make, for example i always compose basslines, piano, strings etc.
I have found the hardest sounds to get a good result from are brass and acc guitar. Its really hard to get them to sound authentic and not just synthetic. Now when it comes to making beats for me Im comfortable sampling and composing mixing and matching depending on my mood or where the track is going.
I have found the reason factory soundbank along with the reason plugins are pretty good at getting the job done.

 

[TheMost]

^^^ I dont know being a guitar player i have more ease making guitar sound real and not synthetic.

Brass , piano can be easy as well what i have problems with is a good string texture.

Any tips for strings?

 

[Cell 2Dee]

Any tips for strings?

I'd like to know this too.

 

[TheMost]

I mean do string compositions add a lil reverb some strings samples are already pretty good in sounding realistic but then some other are a piece of work.

For guitar rock tracks i oculd give a few tips if anyone wants, its nothing groud breaking but i do got a good ear for it playing guitar for the last 10-12 years

 

[Step Soprano]

yea, would love your guitar tips, what would u say bout makin em sound good? i know how to emulate the strumming sound, but what else

 

[spartan265]

ive got samples of guitarits hitting ''bum notes'' and just genral imperfections while playing. when you compose a riff using a midi guitar, throwing these ''human errors'' in along with it make it seem more realistic. coz for'real if its a midi guitar, electric or acoustic, your prolly gonna know straight away. i mean theres some good vst's out there, but for the most part you know whn shit aint real. imperfections make it sound human. oh and just to add to this threads first point. somtimes less is more... i mean... this beat your making, i assume there will be a m.c on it eventually? if so.. maybe you dont need to fill up the ''in between'' bits with composition. somtimes cats can over do the beats with too much ish. i know i do it all the time.. somtimes you gotta keep ot simple... all the best shit is simple.

 

[dbit]

Acoustic is definitely harder to get to sound authentic. I find that the better electric guitar emulations with amp simulators give you enough dirty harmonic activity to add to the realism.

 

[Fury]

idk i knoe for me i just knoe what instruments would sound good as im hearing the track ..i guess its from all the records and samples ive heard thru out the years..

 

[LDB]

In every era of music i.e 60's, 70's, 80's there are base instruments that define it.

For instance in the 70's you had the infamous Electric piano, Trumpets, String sections, distorted guitars, Fender bass, Moog bass. For drama you always had big brass and string sections.

Use instruments from that era and throw in a couple from today to bring it current and it's hard to go wrong.

If u find it hard to make the brass and other instruments sound authentic, take samples from old records of that era where that particular instrument might be isolated and finely chop it up. That way you'll have all the authentic pitch bends and modulation that was used during that time. If you chop it by note you can surely replay it and come up with a new melody.