Setting up Your Sound

I first start off by choosing an audio-sample on which we are going to build up our beat. In this case I took it from a free sample pack by Vision which I found on www.freebeatsandsamples.com. Additionally, I add some bass notes to give the track a harmonic direction.

The Intro

The tempo I’m aiming for is a 130.00bpm. Now, I am setting up a 1st instance of UJAM’s Beatmaker HU$TLE to prepare the intro. The Preset I used: COCAIN CUBEZ, Style: $WAG, Kit: TIGHT, Pre-mix: GUTTER
The first intro-pattern is played on C#3 where I solo just the 1st hi-hat. To lead over into the main part/1st verse, I open another instance of Beatmaker HU$TLE to chose the drum-fill on D#3. Preset: COCAIN CUBEZ, Style: $WAG, Kit: RUFF, Pre-mix: Gutter.

The Main Part

For the main part I chose the preset KYDZZ IN DA FRONT, the same named style, the kit: RUFF and the pre-mix: GUTTER. The ambience button is pulled up to 3 o’clock to give the drums some room. I am muting here the 808 bass kick to have just the raw beat playing the 1st chorus pattern on A3. Now I duplicate the drum track, solo the 808-kick, tune it on E and increase the decay to 3 o’clock. In the workstation, I draw the automation of the bass notes that I want HU$TLE to play (E, C & G).

The Chorus & Bridge

The drum pattern of the following chorus is played on B3. The chorus part finishes with a hi-hat roll on D#3 that I use as a concluding break.
The Bridge/Second Verse I switch the drum kit of my respective instance of HUSTLE to ‘BLEAK’. Here I use the same drum pattern that we used in the first verse, but I mute the 1st kick the 1st snare as well as the 808-kick drum in Beatmaker HUSTLE. I add a drum fill on A#3 (preset: KYDZZ IN DA FRONT, style: Kyddz in da Front, kit: BLEAK and the pre-mix: GUTTER).

The main beat of this bridge part is played by the same drum pattern that I used in the 1st verse. The significant difference is the support of the rhythm through shorter 808 bass-stabs. To generate this shorter sounding 808, I simply turn down the decay of it to 12 o’clock and match it manually to the rhythm of the melody.

The Final Part

In the final part, I am using the same parameters as I used for the chorus (VD plays the respective drum pattern on B3). However, I am integrating parts of the melody from the bridge/2nd verse. To conclude the production, I now add my vocals to the beat. Check the sample pack London Grime Bars.

 

Check out the Track

About the Author or Article

Martin Seyer is a composer, sound designer and music educator who works for the music and media industry in close collaboration with artists, directors and theatre productions.

 

Website: www.martinseyer.com

 

We hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to spice up your production with Beatmaker HUSTLE!