Learning how to make Hip-Hop beats?

PrettyBoy

Hi,

Just looking at Jay Ru's thread and I thought I'd ask..

I've been thinking about learning how to make beats for a while now but I've never gotten around to doing anything about it. I don't play any instruments I know being able to play piano, drums, etc. is a huge advantage when making hip-hop/R&B beats, but can it be done otherwise?

If so, what kind of equipment would I need just for starting off, learning the basics?

Sorry for being very vague, but I really don't much about this subject, but I really want to start learning. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

colin29

Native Instruments Maschine, perfect for hip hop, you really don't need any musical abilty, it comes with 14,000 sounds and can be used to sample.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46guKidiaGA

You could also consider an MPC (which are quite expensive), it's what the likes of DJ Shadow, J-Rocc etc use, perfect for sampling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0sG9yc8w0E

Shapey Fiend

Those Maschine yokes look class. I've wanted one for a while. Much cheaper than an MPC and it looks a bit more intuitive as well.

You don't necessarily need hardware mind you. A lot of very good beatmakers just use a cracked version of Fruity Loops. I find it hard to get my head around though.

PrettyBoy

Thanks Colin. Any idea on how much a New Instruments Maschine would cost over here?

EDIT: Just noticed you're in Vancouver :P I'm guessing around the €600 mark? I'll have a look on the net...

colin29

PrettyBoy wrote: »

Thanks Colin. Any idea on how much a New Instruments Maschine would cost over here?

EDIT: Just noticed you're in Vancouver :P I'm guessing around the €600 mark? I'll have a look on the net...

Thomann.de have it for 579 euro, http://www.thomann.de/ie/search_dir.html?xsid=5558b25f35afa9c055844bddb9cd372c&sw=maschine

YungJoshy

I recommend FL Studio or Reason first, thats what I started with and I still use it now.

Jay Ru

i use an MPC 1000, Zoom RhythmTrak 234 Drum Machine, a 12 track mixing desk and Ableton 8 on a mac. I had fruity loops but i cud never get into it either, Ableton is a pretty good program though.

And i wouldn't worry bout not being albe to play any musical instruments, alot of the greatest producers in hip hop are the same way.

cmx aka mexy

Howdy, I use cubase with a sh1tload of plugins.
Gonna be running some music production classes soon specialising in Dance, Pop and Urban music.
PM me if interested.

Lukasz.

Dude,


Im not even gonna start going into equipment....


it all depends on a couple of questions....

What kinda sound do you want to make? What kind of hip hop?
What sort of hip hop do you listen too?

PrettyBoy

Lukasz. wrote: »

What kinda sound do you want to make? What kind of hip hop?
What sort of hip hop do you listen too?

I listen to a lot of '90's hip-hop (mostly West Coast). I would rarely listen to 80's stuff. I'm not sure of what sound I want to make, I could name hundreds of beats that make me want to start learning how to make them myself every time I listen to them.

I mostly listen to 2pac, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Gangstarr but also more recent stuff like Game, Tech N9ne, Jay-Z, Drake and Bishop Lamont.

Most of the producers I listen to are pretty mainstream: Dr. Dre, Premier, Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, Scott Storch and I like some stuff from Kanye and RZA.

flyswatter

You could do a lot worse than pick up the demo of FL Studio and follow this guys tutorials on youtube. His vids are very good and he is currently doing a 'how to make hip hop' series. Worth a look.

Heres the link for video one of the series, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p3HAg9rPvc

Video two is out now aswell.