Breakbeat session: Rock Dirge [video, 40+ mins]
So let's get this breakbeat thing rolling!
Got lots of requests for that.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hrefo8z49ypnq3b/dirgepatreon.mp4?dl=0
(NO sharing the link! But feel free to tell your friends about my Patreon)
I took a break I've been working recently and I'm going thru that.
Covering some of the basics like how I chop, what do I look for in a break, how you can change its vibe and so on.
Also talking about what makes a break, how they used to sound, how things started sounding later on in DNB, etc…just a break nerd lecturing for ya'll.
Feel free to slap ANY questions in: I don't mind the interaction!
I hope I didn't miss anything super obvious; lemme know if I did.
All comments and questions will be welcome.
This break has a very interesting tone, and it was used by Photek, too, so I thought it's nice to check this one out.
Just trying to promote using and experimenting with breakbeats.
More Addictive Drums 2 stuff is also in the horizon.
But let's kick off the breaks series with this one.
More will come, trust me!
PS: The Ableton discount link expires Nov 14.
Comments (31)
Big up Fanu for this lecture on the Rock Dirge break, maximum respect! Quick question if you don't mind (I know I am late to the party on this one), but with regard to Photek (and other 'headz who used this breakbeat), back in the day, would they have used all the hits broken up in the Emu, Akai or whatever, to make a brand new set of drum breaks with a funk feel (2 or more versions) then resampled that out, reimported back in and cut it back into say 4 - 8 chops (for example)? I'm glad we have software like Ableton - thanks for showing us a modern approach.
Yo yo – I've covered how I think Photek used to work on this video: it literally shows him show the method. It's a useful one, check it out: https://www.patreon.com/posts/choppin-science-94646317 ✂️
Hi, mate ) Don't want to be that guy again... But can i ask you about this Rock Dirge drum loop too? Every version of it that i found is with crackles..
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ptp8vsqqmbzahs/Rock%20Dirge%20Break.wav?dl=0
Could I get a copy of the whole break when you get back from vacation please?
DM!
I guess I also sign up for a copy of the whole break, please! :) On dogsonacid there are a few version of the shorter part of the break. Those are very cool but I'm after the whole thing with the snare rolls
DMs!
can you please sent as well? such a sick break
sent!
Any chance you could send me a source break Fanu? my copy is pretty trash, sounds like a YouTube rip
Sent!
Damn, i only have the short version of that break, i wish i could get my hands on that longer one!
I'll send via DM!
Did you clean up the break first, as the one's I've managed to lift online so far have been a little harsh, with many from Vinyl with clicks - not an issue for slower tempo, but need a cleaner source for dnb? I'll keep hunting for a better one.
My copy was pretty clean; I'll send it to you as a message
I would love to see how you build those complex midi patterns from the 60+ slices of the break! Do you start with the heavier slices (kick and snare) and then fill in the gaps with the lighter grace snares and hihat?
Yeah that's a good question; I didn't include that here as I wasn't quite sure how to present that (should think about that). A lot of times I kind of have to hear the rhythm in my head (that's hard to teach, heh!), and then I work on the midi to create it! But yes, mostly kicks and snares first, and then the "filler" parts.
Thank you. Most inspiring construction process i've ever seen. Really. Keep going please. Understanding what's behind feeling of those partterns is not trivial.
What a great session - I'll be rewatching this for a few weeks as it sinks in! :) have you shared anything before about how to create your own custom preset for slicing, custom drum rack presets? Edit - hang on, founds some vids you put up on YT, so I'll watch those! :)
Yeah was about to link ya, so glad you found it :)
About reversing drumhits: you could make a slicing preset in Ableton which has the Sampler's Reverse option mapped to a Macro control. That way you can automate that and it would turn on/off reverse for all the slices. This could be a problem if you have multiple slaces playing at the same time - which you maybe don't do for a break. Or alternatively you could automate the "Reverse" for just a single hit or a few hits but that feels like overwhelming even for a shorter break. Not to talk about the millions of slices you have in this video :)
Veeeery good point! Aahhh I love Ableton as it's so easy and handy for stuff like that! <3
Thank you for this detailed breakdown! Found the looping samples thing and the mono reverb to fill in space tricks dope! It’d be sick if you could make a video on writing interesting and complex patterns and fills from scratch. Maybe that’ll help someone like me find how to make the most out of a single break but still keeping it interesting throughout the track. Cheers!
Yeah that's a good idea. The only "limitation" there is that I cannot formally teach those patterns, as I have zero classical training. It's all come thru listening and hearing drums. Analogy: I'm perfect at my mother tongue, but I literally couldn't teach it, as I'm completely unaware of its rules. While I can teach English, as I've studied all its rules etc (I actually majored in English at the university and got an English teacher degree, heh).
Do you find that the shortcomings of something like a polyend,m8, or pocket operator vs ableton make these tools less useful because you know you could do certain things in ableton that you can’t on the hardware? Or do you use these specifically for their limitations?
Limitations are great. That's why I love the Tracker for example! You'll fully focus on the music (and not precise EQ tweaks like in this video)
How do you decide what to use to make your break? Ableton, polyend, renoise, etc.
I can kind of use anything for any break, but if it's more complex and very "editty" like this one, has to be Ableton for me! (allows for very precise/meticulous/visual/nerdy shifting of midi notes)
Very good stuff! Such a dark vibe when you go for unpitched on the break .. those snares!😍
Thank you bro ✌️