Tips on how to get more from Your Drum Loops

A drum loop is basically that section of the music which is cut in such a way that it seamlessly plays the sound of drums indefinitely or in a loop. It can range from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the composer. They are usually created to work as a convenient underscore on which the composition is built. They can be combined with bass line loops. The following tips have been suggested keeping Ableton Live in mind but can also be used with DAW.

1. Chop the loop

Try and change the arrangement of the loops after chopping them. This comes very handy when you want to create your library drums.

2. Audio channels

After rearranging plan a scheme for placing chopped slices in their independent audio positions. This will enable you to add different effects to various parts and it wont effect the drum hits at all. The only problem with drum and guitar loops is that when you want to add an effect it affects the kick and the hi hats. The overall sound can be effected by it.

3. Return channels

Always try to put all your different effects in to the return channels instead of loading them into your audio channels. This will save a lot of space in your CPU and let you add more instruments later. Most Ableton Live users find that effects in return will help in mastering the audio drums. In other words with all of it in one return all the effects for the snare will be in one channel  and have no loads effect on layered hit of snare.

4. Multiply your drum hits

You dint need to stop at one kick or snare. You can try it innumerable times. The more the layering the bigger the sound that will be created. Most people have come to expect this with genres of bass, drum and dubstep. One layer might work once but layering is always more impressive.

5. Adding drum patterns

Be creative with drum patterns and don’t hold back when using them. The option of DJ the Prodigy will provide complexity to the underlining drum sounds in your track.

For eg- Fire Starter has a drum beat as main, but it can also be used a abreak beat loop in the back.

This technique is commonly used in Glitch and Break Beat

6. Use of transposition

When the drum hits are chopped up the glitch effect can be added very easily using transposition. When using Ableton Live always remember that transpositions can be done only in multiples in increasing order. Or else they will not sound in sync.

For eg- if a drum hit is transposed three semitones then the next one should be -6 or -9 or +6 or +9. This is just a tip not a rule.

7. Conversion into a MIDI track

The audio sample can be converted into a MIDI track very easily using Ableton Live. The arrangement can be changed of the loops and you will end up getting your own unique loop. It just not limits you here, sustain decay; release and attack can also be added for alteration.