Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Guide To Making Hip-Hop Beats For Sale (Purchase Beats): The Sequencer

By Frank Lubsey


Today's article will focus on the role of a sequencer in hip-hop production. A sequencer allows one to be a virtual conductor, and it is the hub where a producer control the numerous hardware instruments, virtual instruments, and audio sounds that he/she has going on at once. The choice of sequencer is one of the most important decisions that an aspiring hip-hop producer can make and we'll discuss the reasons for this.

The choice of a sequencer is one of the most important choices that a producer can make for the following reason. Often, for a producer to record a sound in his/her studio, he typically must interact with the sequencer first. Thus, a producer must feel at one with the workflow that a sequencer provides. If the workflow is not conducive to the producer's needs, making music will be a chore for the producer. If the workflow complements the way a producer likes to work, making music will be a seamless and enjoyable process. It is for this reason that a producer should really spend time trying out and testing different sequencer programs in order to find one that he likes. Sequencers generally fall into 2 categories.

Linear: With these types of sequencers, the interface is designed to record each track within a song from beginning to end. A producer must go track by track to record every part. If a track part repeats throught a song, the producer can cut and paste or duplicate the track throughout the song. Cubase, Pro Tools, and Sonar are examples of linear programs.

Pattern Based: In a pattern based program, a producer builds out different song sections. One section may have drums, bass, and a guitar playing. Another section may have just the bass and guitar playing. These sections are then organized to form one cohesive song. Ableton Live, Fruity Loops, and Maschine are examples of pattern based programs.

The choice of sequencer is certainly up to the individual. However, for hip-hop artists, I'd strongly recommend a pattern based sequencer. This form of sequencer really fits the style of hip-hop really well and saves a lot of time when arranging a track. I've had the pleasure of using multiple software programs in each type of category, and I can say that once I went with a pattern based program, I've never turned back from using it in hip-hop.

Whatever your choice of sequencer may be, a producer should thoroughly research the sequencer program before making a purchase. The choice of sequencer will have a tremendous effect on the music you make.




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