Chopping Science episode 1 [VIDEO]
The most requested thing from me, by far, has been relating to chopping drums and making breakbeats.
And that’s what I will present to you, in the form of Chopping Science video series.
First episode is up on Patreon now (40+ minutes).
I’ll show you how I chop my drums, what I look for in a break, what device I like to use, and I’ll create a breakbeat loop in the end.
The techniques I use are universal and not DAW-specific.
With this series, I will help you build your understanding of chopping drums, programming breakbeats, as well as doing your own custom breaks.
I’ve never been one to hold back information: I feel one can only gain by spreading the knowledge, and that’s what I’ll keep doing.
Breakbeat heads, join the ride!
Lesson will continue on Episode 2 later.
PS: In the video, I'm using Ableton Live, but you can chop beats with any DAW.
I said in the video I'd link you to my slicing preset, and it's here.
To use it, place it at User Library > Defaults > Slicing (locate that folder via Ableton browser, then right-click and show it via Finder/Explorer and drop the file there).
It'll show up once you right-click on a warped audio file (e.g., a drumloop) and select Slice to new midi track; you'll see it in the Slicing Preset dropdown menu.
PPS: An old video about creating the slicing preset by me is here.
Comments (29)
Do you have a video on the sampling reset?
Hi! What do you mean by “sampling reset” exactly?
First post here and long time fan (from the 90s!). This is incredibly useful stuff! I have 2 questions: 1) isn't warping the same as stretching the break? Or is it too subtle to damage the transients? 2) the ping-pong loop thing is great and very useful, but kind of prints its own very recogniziable effect right? I guess it would be nice if we talked about alternatives when it comes to extend drum hits to avoid stretching. For example the old Recycle had a less noticable algorithm to do that (I think). I tried various kind of localized delay + reverb with unsatisfactory results. Do you think there are other ways?
Hiya! 1) yes 2) it’s completely unrecognisable if done right and the drumsound allows you to loop just the “air”. Perfect this and it’s all you need. I promise you this. Delay will be way too effecty .
Just a bit of feedback - when I go to watch this video, it launches it in Dropbox. Which is fine, except for the fact that on my iPad at least, it is impossible to move the playhead in the video. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ As the video froze at around the 20 min mark, i couldn’t FFWD back to that part when I reloaded the page.
It hasn’t always been possible to upload video to Patreon server; hence it’s up as a file. You should be able to download the file to your iPad I believe.
Hi there, I can't for the life of me get your slicing preset to use the looping sustain mode, no matter what I do the sustain mode will always just be on, any clues what I'm doing wrong?
Hmmm, weird. Can’t say! If I saw what’s happening, then maybe. But without seeing anything, can’t say much. Try creating your own similar preset and see if it works? Wouldn’t be surprised if there was something buggy about a preset that’s (probably) created with an older version…should probably test it all again myself and maybe upload a Live 12 preset.
Also, do you have any additional tips for making breaks sound as naturalistic as possible when slowing them from their original tempo and chopping them?
A broad topic for sure; can't give a short answer to that :)
Great content — thanks Fanu. Is there a way to make the slicing preset default to the back and forth looping for each slice? Mine always defaults to looping forward, even with your slicing preset.
It will work if you do it properly: create the slicing preset, save it to the right location, and select it prior to slicing a very old video of mine showing it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lWqwvCsZp4 Place the slicing preset in User Library > Defaults > Slicing (locate that folder via Ableton browser, then right-click and show it via Finder/Explorer and drop the file there). It'll show up once you right-click on a warped audio file (e.g., a drumloop) and select Slice to new midi track; you'll see it in the Slicing Preset dropdown menu.
still watching this but, you ever slice in bitwig?
Yessir!
Instead of using Sampler to play the sample backwards, can I use Recycle and set the stretch dial to 100%? It seems like it would do the same thing.
Can't say, sadly; been such a long time since I've used Recycle. Having said that, I'd say I rather loop a drumhit instead of streching, as the latter may hurt the punch/transient.
Thanks so much, i'm just switching to Ableton after only using an MPC1000 so this is great timing
Ableton rules!
Thanks for this. Worth to mention that Cubase (father of DAW's :) ) nowadays is capable of doing exactly the same thing. Firstly Markers and then Slices in Groove Agent - native drum rack like piece of Cubase. I also used to produce with Ableton. Cubase nowadays is keeping up pretty much intensively in terms of quick easy tricks and at the same time is going far beyond in other areas. BTW there's nice Clyde drum pack on Yurt Rock portal recorded again so very clean and maybe missing that vibe form back in the days but still worth to check. It's divided into fills transitions etc. Sounds very clean but still there's chance to make it dirt right ? :)
I was using Cubase around year 2000! Was my first actual DAW. Would be interesting to try it out again actually: would love to see how well the chopping works. I should check that Clyde pack too! 🥁👍🏻
Thank you for this Fanu! This is what I was missing with chopping my breaks up. I always sliced to midi via transients using simpler. Then quantized/legato all the midi notes in the clip and shifted around the hits as they existed. Would love to learn how to layer different breaks / using specific elements from breaks to create a beat like Photek / early Metalheadz releases
Glad you like! Custom breaks stuff will come!
This is exactly the kind of content I signed up for! :) Will be great to see your arrangement process going from sparse phases to busy and vice-versa which I presume is what's coming next. Was watching the Gremlinz & Jesta SampleGenie tutorials the other day and noticed they like to lay down just a simple pad or string for context when arranging, is this something you ever do? Also as far as break processing goes, do you process your breaks as a whole before loading them up for a project or would you do what you've done here and arrange and then process afterwards?
hehe yeah there are so many DNB tracks out there that have the dark pad/strong underneath and you can kind of tell it was started that way :D so yeah it does sort of set a vibe at least. also when mixing drums, having a bass (and maybe something else) there is good for context, so you wont overdo it / make too strong/heavy i do most of the processing inside the project. if i do the song with an MPC or external gear, I'll get the stems into my in the end and do the final mixing there.
Been using TAL Sampler after your other vid with a similar method...although TAL requires chopping breaks ahead of time. This way is nice for keeping it all in one app. I need to catch up on the other vid for setting up a chop preset. Its hard to think of new things I want to see as most of my questions would just be decisions based on one's own taste. I love how you treat the drums in your music so anything you share is much appreciated. One question though. Do you have a background in drumming at all or has your inner drummed developed purely out of love for drums & soaking in the irresistible breaks of the golden era?
everything i understand about the drums has come 100% thru listening…i have zero training or classical training behind me. to me, drums are like my mother tongue: i can do it well, but i dont know its rules so i cant teach them or explain them. whereas i can teach english (i have a university degree for that!) because ive studies all its rules.
Do you reinforce main kicks and snares in breaks with synths or sample layers (eg. adding more low end to kicks / white noise for more snap in snares)? Or do you mainly just use breaks as they are?
No i dont really do that sine thing…it might work though. I use Pultec EQ a lot!
Hey man, great video and a lot of really useful information. Maybe not for the next video but I'd love to know more about break switching. Every time I try it, it's really obvious that the breaks are different. I suppose the difference can be used as contrast in a track, but I still feel like some things can be done to get the breaks to play (pun intended) nicely together. Anyway, I hope you're having a good Sunday!!!