r/FL_Studio • u/Embarrassed_Dog1494 • 1d ago
Discussion Boom bap in FL
So I want to make boom bap sounding beats. I’m a hip hop head and a sampler at that but I just can’t make boom bap for the life of me. Does anybody have any advice to get that going? What helped you out?
Edit: https://m.soundcloud.com/4flyerlearning
^ this is the music I used to make before coming back to it. I haven’t made anything yet.
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u/skategodxl 1d ago
Other than watching YouTube tutorials and listening to the main details that make up the genre.. Edison will be your best friend. Have a good understanding of it and know your way around it. It’s great for sampling and there are a lot of really cool tricks you can do with it.
On top of that. I find a big thing with boom bap is actually the swing. Listen to j dilla beats and understand how to get that bouncy swing. It’s not as simple as just adjusting the swing knob on your pattern. But when you get it, it will make a huge difference in your boom bap journey. Play around with expressiveness, especially with your hats.
But most importantly, YouTube is going to be the place for you to start.
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u/Swift_Dream 1d ago
Learning how to chop samples in slicer & sliceX helped me. After that, it's basically getting the right drum sounds, and getting the proper swing
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u/jumbomills87 1d ago
Theres dude on YouTube called Dylan makes beats he’s had a real dope 90s vibe, check it out
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u/SuspiciouslGreen 1d ago
I know this is gonna sound crazy, go listen to the stuff you like and do some research. Its all out there. Look up DJ Premier, DITC crew, Large Professor, Pete Rock
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u/purpeepurp 17h ago
To make this style I just copied some beats (didn’t release) from my favorite artists until I got a feel for the sound. Would also just use the same samples and find different ways to flip it. I find that simply chopping the sample in the playlist has been the fastest and most convenient way to chop, at least for me. Id say do some research and analyze what you like, then come into the studio and try to replicate that feeling. Also, sampled drum breaks are a must, especially for the hats
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u/Striking_Issue_999 16h ago
What do you mean by "boom bap sounding beats"? There's lots of variation to that style. Do you mean like the dark sort of Griselda sound that is becoming popular? Alchemist, Daringer, Conductor Williams, etc? Or old school wutang, nas, mobb deep?
I would say first and foremost study the music that you enjoy and would like to emulate (to some degree). Find out who produced the songs. Figure out what samples they used. Listen to the songs they sampled and which bits they used and HOW they used them. Listen for if they did any heavy lp/hp or maybe they took a small chunk and then put it on 16 levels and played it with changing pitches or velocities.
Try to recreate some of your favorite beats.
I would highly suggest a midi controller. You need to be able to play everything by hand or it will all be on grid and won't sound human. Don't try adding swing or moving notes randomly off grid or randomly adjusting velocities. You can't fake real human swing and inconsistency.
Chop samples, use drum breaks, pay attention to filtering and eq, find your own style, play everything by hand.
Also, really pay attention to hiphop songs when listening. The vocal is really what brings all the change. Most hip hop beats are 4-8 bar loops that never change. There will be parts where drums or other elements may drop out from time to time to create a sense of change, but its a subtractive method to create uniqueness Most of the time. Filter sweeps are another way to create a sense of change in your beat. The vocals are almost always going to be the driving force of hiphop songs, and the beats are almost always very simple and repetitive.
Ps There's lots of bad advice on youtube. Lots of grifters just trying to make a buck and keep an audience. They are more engagement farmers than they are beat makers. Nothing will ever beat just sitting at your workstation and practicing your craft. There's no secret formula or any advice that will ever beat simply putting the work in. Also beware of getting stuck thinking you don't have enough equipment or you need to collab with people "better" or "more successful" than you. You don't. Just work at your craft. And have fun. Thats the whole point. If you aren't doing it because you love it then there is no point.
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u/purpeepurp 11h ago
I agree with this besides the fact that you can’t replicate swing on a grid. I disagree and feel that you can definitely replicate swing using samples drum breaks in which you need no midi controller. I’m a big proponent of having a minimal setup as well as creating with whatever you have and if OP doesn’t currently have a midi controller, then OP may feel as though he needs that to create “good” beats.
This is coming from someone who’s been making boom bap off and on for 10 years, has had some success with the genre and has utilized an MPC as well as straight FL Studio. I put down the MPC years ago as nothing beats the quickness of FL to me
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u/Striking_Issue_999 11h ago
Sure, you're right you don't NEED a midi controller, but sitting there methodically bumping notes off grid in piano roll is exhausting, and I've personally never had any luck getting various swing parameters to sound right. Nothing really beats playing it with your hands. The tactile feeling will always translate faster and more accurately than trying to click notes into place.
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u/purpeepurp 11h ago
I personally don’t think it matters how it’s done, just how it sounds at the end of the day. Played or not, if it sounds good then it’s good. I see where you’re coming from though. I’ve gotten quick with drum placement but others may hate it and I get that
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u/Striking_Issue_999 11h ago
Yes, it doesn't matter how. BUT I'm saying it is harder to get there by clicking drums into place and using swing settings. Touching keys or pads will always be the fastest way to get an idea out of your head.
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u/purpeepurp 11h ago
I guess I can agree but for me, it hasn’t necessarily been the case
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u/Striking_Issue_999 10h ago
At first it is difficult. But with practice it eventually becomes the most efficient and easy way to get ideas out.
The amount of hours I've spent adjusting velocities of notes and slightly nudging them off grid only to still not capture the vibe. 😅😭 No matter what you do shit takes practice.
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u/Dangerous_Tap6350 10h ago
I'm going to start doing a few of these myself, thanks for a motivated response from your comment.
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u/TheRealPomax 1d ago
Yeah: watch some Cooking Soul