404 Organization

Beanz711 · Post by **Beanz711** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:59 am

What's up people? I figured I would start a thread to help people make their life easier with the 404. If we could all post how we go about the beatmaking process, from card organization to resampling sequences to using a computer to seq. etc. etc.

When I am making a 404 beat (which is now more than I use with reason), I have several cf cards for my samples: one card for drums, another for bass, and so on. I like to keep banks A & B clear so I can put the sounds I want to use on them. I like to start off with a bassline first, then fit my drums and melody to the bassline. I use a lot of fx on the drums using the 404. Once I get my bass down, I resample using the flying lotus a bunch of times, adding drums, them resampling again adding melody. Once I am done, I open pro tools and then mute out different elements in the song and make a track for each. Pan and make all levels straight, eq, mix, master, track done!

I forgot to mention that I have a card with a bunch of different stuff on it so I can groove. Then if I made a good sounding beat, I record it and then switch out certain elements for better ones.

After I am done with a beat/track, I use another card and save the files and patterns and what-not.

My way is a lil time consuming but it is what works for me. take pieces and use them yourself (if they can help you) and share your insight on how you guys do it. I am always up for learning new things.

Music is Love

Beanz

Cheenergies · Post by **Cheenergies** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:03 pm

sounds like a really cool way of working...esp the recording part

iG9 · Post by **iG9** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:48 pm

That was a good answer to the newbie question "How do I make a beat?" if anybody's lurking. I just wanted to add when I first got my 404 I would use it as a voice recorder. I'd say each item on my to-do list into a pad, then add mfx and resample them all onto one pad as a long track. Then throw the 404 in the ride and listen on my headphones to the day's mix as I drove around. More interesting and needlessly complex than a written list.

Beanz711 · Post by **Beanz711** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:00 pm

haha....yea that works.

I use voice voice recorder sometimes to beatbox a beat in my head that I don't have time to lay down. So when I get home or spare some time I hit the pad, listen to the beat, and then create. I Love This Machine.

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:05 pm

It's fun to sequence a beatbox over real drums underneath to give it some punch.

Beanz711 · Post by **Beanz711** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:32 pm

Yea it's the little things like that which really make your tracks come alive.

BTW Oackland, I really like that track Eye of Horus (i think thats how its spelled), That guitar is dirty.

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:46 am

Thanks man, I have mixed feelings about the track overall but that guitar lick was nice.

Beanz711 · Post by **Beanz711** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:48 am

I hate when I don't like one of my tracks and everybody else does. It is good in a sense, but it is awkward. But then again, I always think I can do better.

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:54 am

Which is why we always strive for improvement. The sample came from a band named LOVE and the album is out there, kanye and some others have chopped the album already but oh well. I took the drum sounds and guitar from separate tracks on that album but since it's same band I know the sounds will blend well.