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How to Produce the MELODY of Snoop Dogg’s “Serial Killa” with FL Studio 12
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to re-compose the melody of Snoop Dogg’s “Serial Killa” with FL Studio 12.
Make sure you have the drums finished before following the instructions in this article. If not, click here to compose the drums.
1 Bass (Just the Sub GOL)
On top of your FL Studio 12 screen, click “ADD.” When the menu pops up, click “Harmless.” This should add the “Harmless” instrument to your Channel Rack.
In the “Harmless” window (that should be open as soon as you add it to the Channel Rack), go to its upper left corner, left-click the tiny triangle, and choose “Presets” on the select menu that appears. In “Presets,” click “Just the Sub GOL” in the “Bass” section.
Now ADD A NEW Pattern. In this new Pattern, go to the Piano Roll of “Just the Sub GOL” and insert this.
(Note range: D#4 – G#4)
2 Keys (E Piano B NUC)
Now click the ADD option atop your FL Studio 12 window again. Select “Harmless.”
For this “Harmless” instrument, open “Presets” in its window, like you did last time, and select “E Piano B NUC” in the “Keyboards” section.
Add a new Pattern. In this Pattern, go to the Piano Roll of “E Piano B NUC” and insert this.
(Note range: A#4 – G#5)
Make sure the duration and “control” knobs down below match the levels you see.
3 Keys 2 (3xOsc)
Select “ADD” atop your FL Studio screen and choose “3xOsc” in the menu.
For the “3xOsc” window that should appear (by clicking its “rectangle” in the Channel Rack), adjust these levels, circled below.
Now that those changes have been made, make a new Pattern. In this new Pattern, open the Piano Roll for “3xOsc” and insert this.
(Note range: D6 – G#6)
4 “Funky Worm” (3xOsc #2)
I said in an earlier article that “Serial Killa” samples “Funky Worm” by the Ohio Players. Here, we’re gonna re-compose that sample using 3xOsc.
Get the 3xOsc from “ADD,” on top of your FL Studio screen. Select it. Then open its window (left-clicking on its Channel Rack “rectangle”). Change these options.
The top and bottom “FINE” tune levels should be adjusted slightly to the left and right, respectively.
Now click on the “knobby” icon to the left of the “wrench.” In the new window, make the adjustments you see circled below.
Once you’ve made those adjustments, click the “wrench,” to the right of the “knobby thing.” Select “Porta” and increase its “SLIDE” level to what’s circled below.
Now add a new Pattern, go to the Piano Roll (for “3xOsc #2”) and add this… for BARS 1 THROUGH 3.
(Note range: G5 – G6)
That was only for bars 1 to 3. For bars 3 to 5, compose this.
5 Whine NUC
For a second synth, go to the “ADD” menu and select “Harmless.” In the “Harmless” window, left-click the tiny triangle, open “Presets,” and choose “Whine NUC” under “Leads.”
Add a new Pattern. Go to the Piano Roll and compose what you see below.
(Note range: G4 – D5)
6 Adding Patterns to Playlist
Underneath the drums from the last tutorial, place your melodic Patterns to the Playlist as shown.
Pattern 2: Drums
Pattern 3: Bass (Just the Sub GOL)
Pattern 4: Keys (E Piano B NUC)
Pattern 5: Keys 2 (3xOsc)
Pattern 6: Funky Worm (3xOsc #2)
Pattern 7: Whine NUC
Before doing anything else, cut the first repetition of Pattern 7, or Whine NUC, 7/8 of the way through, using the knife tool.
Delete the first 7/8 of that repetition.
7 Mixing
Add each track to the Mixing Board. There are so many ways to do it. Choose one.
After that, adjust your volumes (and panning) to what you see below.
(Left to right: FPC_Ride_GLite_004, HIP_Kick_9, HIP_Snare_9, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Hat_5, FPC Snare 1, Just the Sub GOL, E-Piano B NUC, 3xOsc, 3xOsc #2, Whine NUC.)
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest West Coast beats available from exclusive industry producers.
How to Produce the DRUMBEAT of Snoop Dogg’s “Serial Killa” with FL Studio 12
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to re-compose the drumbeat of Snoop Dogg’s “Serial Killa” with FL Studio 12.
There will be a melody tutorial following this one. For now, just focus on the drumbeat.
1 Silencing Fruity Limiter
Before composing anything with FL Studio 12, I recommend silencing Fruity Limiter, the default effect on the Master Channel in your Mixing Board.
Select that Master Channel. In its “Slot” menu, on the right of the Mixing Board, “Fruity Limiter” is there. Left-click the green dot to its right. This should turn it dark gray and mute its effect.
2 Change Tempo
On top of your FL Studio 12 screen, your default tempo will most likely read 130. Left-click and drag it down to 99 beats per minute.
3 Adding Hi-Hat
The hi-hat of your drumbeat can be found in “Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Hat_5.” Look for it on the “left window” of your FL Studio 12 screen. Once you find that “HIP_Hat_5,” left-click and drag it to the Channel Rack.
Now insert this to the Channel Rack for “HIP_Hat_5.”
4 Adding Snare 1
For “Snare 1,” go to the “left window” and find “Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Snare_4.” Drag that to the Channel Rack. Once it’s there, insert this… at the bottom, below “HIP_Hat_5.”
5 Adding Snare 2
For “Snare 2,” which is softer than “Snare 1,” go to the “left window” once again to find “Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Snare_9.” Drag it to the Channel Rack. Now insert what you see below for “HIP_Snare_9,” pictured at the bottom.
Before doing anything else, we need to make some adjustments to “HIP_Snare_9.” Left-click on its “rectangle” in the Channel Rack. A window should open. Click the “tiny triangle” on the upper-left corner of that window and select “Piano Roll.”
Once you’re in this “Piano Roll,” move the placement of the second and fourth repetitions of “HIP_Snare_9” to where you see circled below.
(Second repetition?)
(Fourth repetition?)
6 Adding Kick
The kick drum can be found in “Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Kick_9.” Drag it to the Channel Rack and insert what you see (on “HIP_Kick_9,” below the other three drums).
7 Adding Ride Cymbal
This song is heavy on its “ride cymbals.” I’m sure there’s a sample in the background being looped, but when you compose these “ride cymbals,” you’ll be sure to recreate the “filling effect” of that “sample.”
Find this “ride” in “Packs > Legacy > Drums > FPC > Cymbals > FPC_Ride_GLite_004.” Drag it to the Channel Rack and insert what you see below. Once again, it’s shown way at the bottom.
8 Adding Snare 3
I’ll have you use a third snare to fill in the lack of “loudness” those two snares have. It’s found in “Packs > Drums > Snares > FPC Snare 1.” Drag it to the Channel Rack and insert the two snares below.
Now your drumbeat is DONE!!! Let’s add it to the Playlist.
9 Adding Drumbeat to Playlist
This is too easy. To open the Playlist, left-click the first option to the right of the Pattern display. (It should say “Pattern 1,” or “Pattern 2,” or whatever Pattern you’re using.) Your paint brush tool should be selected. If it is, just left-click over the Playlist to add the Pattern. Let’s add it 16 times, stopping when the bar marker reaches 17.
10 Mixing
Add each track to the Mixing Board. To do this, there are many ways, but my favorite way is this… Left-click on each “rectangle” in your Channel Rack to open its window. In that window, drag its “TRACK” option, on the upper-right corner, to any number. That’s the track to which your inserting your instrument in the Mixing Board.
Do that for all six of your “instruments.”
Once they’re in the Mixing Board, adjust the volumes like so. (Also, pan the “HIP_Hat_5” to what you see circled below.)
(Left to right: FPC_Ride_GLite_004, HIP_Kick_9, HIP_Snare_9, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Hat_5, FPC Snare 1.)
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest West Coast beats available from exclusive industry producers.
How to Produce “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugz-N-Harmony on FL Studio (Melody)
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to re-compose the MELODY of “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugz-N-Harmony on FL Studio 12.
Continue this tutorial from composing the DRUMS of this song, which you can find right here.
1 Bass
Go to the “file window” on the left of your FL Studio screen and find “Packs > Instruments > Bass > Classic 80.” LEFT-CLICK and DRAG that to the Channel Rack.
ADD A NEW PATTERN.
In this new pattern, go to the Piano Roll of your “Classic 80” bass. Add this.
(Note range: F#4 – E5)
Make sure the duration and pitch matches what you see.
2 Piano
Go to that same “file window” and find “Packs > Instruments > Keyboard > Grand Piano.” Drag it to the Channel Rack. Once again, add a new pattern.
In this new pattern, go to the Piano Roll of your “Grand Piano” and add this.
(Note range: F#3 – E4)
This is the same melody as the bass line. Copy and paste it from your bass and MOVE IT AN OCTAVE LOWER.
3 Rhodes
Go to “Packs > Instruments > Keyboard > Rhodes.” Drag it to the Channel Rack. Once again, add a new pattern.
In this new pattern, go to the Piano Roll of “Rhodes” and add this.
(Note range: F#5 – G#6)
4 Cinematic FG
To add this to the Channel Rack, start by clicking “ADD” on top of your FL Studio screen and selecting “Harmless.” It should automatically go to your Channel Rack.
Now LEFT-CLICK the Channel Rack’s “rectange” reading “Harmless.” You should see a subwindow. LEFT-CLICK the upper-left corner of this subwindow and select “Cinematic FG” in the pop-up.
Once you’ve chosen “Cinematic FG,” change its attack/decay/release options. They should be seen on your subwindow. Adjust the four circled knobs to the levels you see below.
Select a NEW PATTERN. Now go to the Piano Roll of “Cinematic FG” and compose this between beat-lines 1 and 3.
(Note range: B6 – B7)
5 3xOsc
Go to “ADD” on the top of your FL Studio screen again. Select “3xOsc.” It should end up in your Channel Rack.
Left-click the “rectange” in your Channel Rack reading “3xOsc.” You should see a subwindow. Adjust the circled knobs to the levels you see below.
The circled knob farthest to the upper right should be adjusted DOWN one or two notches. The one farthest to the LOWER right should be set UP one or two notches.
Now left-click the “wrench” up top your window. Select “Porta” and turn the “SLIDE” knob halfway up.
Now ADD A NEW PATTERN. Go to the Piano Roll of “3xOsc” and compose this.
(Note range: B4 – C#6)
6 Add Patterns to Playlist
Add your melody Patterns to the Playlist as shown below. (Your drums from my last tutorial should be there, too.)
Pattern 2: Cinematic FG. (Track 1)
Pattern 3: 3xOsc. (Track 2)
Pattern 4: Rhodes. (Track 3)
Pattern 5: Piano. (Track 4)
Pattern 6: Bass. (Track 5)
Patterns 7-9: Drums (Track 6)
See the first repetition of Pattern 3 (3xOsc)? We want to cut that. How? Select the “knife” tool up top your Playlist window (fourth from the right of all little “tools”) and cut 7/8 of that pattern off from the left, as shown below.
When it’s cut off, it should look like this.
7a Add Tracks to the Mixing Board
Add your new melody tracks to your mixing board, to blend with the drums from my last article. (Change the “track” number in each track’s Channel Rack window.) Once all your tracks are mixed, adjust their volumes as such.
(Left to right: Cinematic FG, 3xOsc, Rhodes, Grand Piano, Classic 80, RD_Tambhit, 808 OH, 808 CH, HIP_Snare_6, HIP_Kick_2, Grv Crash 02, Titey Tom)
7b Pan Grand Piano Track
Pan it 30% to the right. Drag its knob below the green dot 30% to the right.
8 Add Reverb to 3xOsc
Click “3xOsc” in your Mixing Board. LEFT-CLICK any “tiny triangle” to the left of any of its “Slots.” On the pop-up menu that should appear, select “Fruity Reeverb 2” and don’t change anything else.
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from exclusive industry producers.
How to Produce “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugz-N-Harmony on FL Studio (Drumbeat)
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to re-compose the DRUMBEAT of “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugz-N-Harmony on FL Studio 12.
1 Disable Fruity Limiter
Left-click the green dot to the right of the “Fruity Limiter” display on the master channel in your Mixing Board.
2 Change Tempo
LEFT-CLICK and DRAG the tempo from the default 130 bpm to 144 bpm.
3 Add Drums to Channel Rack
You’ll find these drum sounds on the left of your FL Studio 12 screen. LEFT-CLICK and DRAG each one to the Channel Rack.
Tambourine: Packs > Legacy > Drums > RealDrumkits > RD_Tambhit
Open hi-hat: Packs > Drums > Hats > 808 OH
Closed hi-hat: Packs > Drums > Hats > 808 CH
Snare/Rimshot: Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Snare_6
Kick: Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Kick_2
Crash: Packs > Drums > Cymbals > Grv Crash 02
Tom: Packs > Drums > Toms > Titey Tom
4a Compose Drum Sounds
Once all your drum sounds are in the Channel Rack, compose what you see below.
(Top to bottom: RD_Tambhit, 808 OH, 808 CH, HIP_Snare_6, HIP_Kick_2, Grv Crash 02, Titey Tom)
4b Edit Tambourine Volume and Copy
Go to the Piano Roll of your tambourine track, “RD_Tambhit.” You should see only four tambourine sounds. Change their volume by LEFT-CLICKING and DRAGGING the velocity levels below.
The velocity levels should match what you see circled. Once that’s over, copy your tambourine cluster FOUR TIMES.
4c Change Pitch of Open Hi-Hat
Left-click the “rectangle” for your open hi-hat track, “808 OH.” You should see a new subwindow. In it, drag the “Pitch” level all the way up, only if the range reads “2,” which it should.
Now your open hi-hat will stop at the instance your closed hi-hat starts.
5a Add Pattern to Playlist
Add 16 repetitions of your Pattern to the Playlist, as seen below.
5b Make The Eight Repetition Unique
The two pattern repetitions circled above are the ones we wish to “make unique,” meaning to add variations to the loop.
For the pattern at the bar-line reading “15” (the eighth repetition out of 16), LEFT-CLICK its upper left corner and select “Make unique” on the drop-down menu.
You now have a new pattern with the same loop. Open it. Make the changes you see below.
Yup. Delete the snares (HIP_Snare_6) and add toms (Titey Tom).
Now change the pitch of the toms. Go to the Piano Roll of “Titey Tom” and make the alterations you see below.
Leave the first three notes as is. Only change the second-to-last note from C to B-flat, then change the last note from C to A-flat.
5c Make the 13th Repetition Unique
In the Playlist, make the Pattern repetition at bar-line “25” unique. (This is the 13th repetition out of the 16 you have.) All you need to add for this new Pattern is a crash, “Grv Crash 02.”
6a Mix Tracks
Sync each track in your Channel Rack to your Mixing Board. (‘Member how? Change the “track” number in each track’s window. That sends your Channel Rack “instrument” to the Mixing Board track you selected.) Once all your tracks are mixed, adjust their volumes as such.
(Left to right: RD_Tambhit, 808 OH, 808 CH, HIP_Snare_6, HIP_Kick_2, Grv Crash 02, Titey Tom)
6b Pan Some Tracks
Pan RD_Tambhit 35% to the left, and pan 808 OH and 808 CH 35% to the right. Do this by LEFT-CLICKING and DRAGGING the knobs below the track’s green dots.
7 Add Reverb To Toms
Click the “Titey Tom” track in the Mixing Board. Now left-click the “tiny triangle” on any empty slot the right of the Mixing Board and choose “Fruity Reeverb 2.” Don’t adjust any volume of this reverb.
8 Add Reverb to Snare
Do the same for the snare, “HIP_Snare_6.” Only this time, when you insert your “Fruity Reeverb 2,” change its preset to “Large Hall.”
And decrease the volume, as seen on the right of the below pic.
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from our exclusive industry producers.
Beat Breakdowns: How to Produce the Drumbeat of “Forgot About Dre” in FL Studio 12
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will teach you, with this article, how to compose the drumbeat of Dr. Dre’s, “Forgot About Dre,” on FL Studio 12.
To compose the MELODY of “Forgot About Dre” when you’re finished with the drums, click here to learn how.
1 Disable Fruity Limiter
Usually, when you first open FL Studio 12, the effect “Fruity Limiter” is enabled for your new project. Disable it for this tutorial.
To do this, click the green dot to the right of the “Fruity Limiter” slot on the master track of the Mixing Board. This silences that effect.
2 Change Tempo
The tempo of “Forgot About Dre” is approximately 134 beats per minute (67 if you count beats from the kick to the snare). Change the tempo from the default 130 to 134 by LEFT-CLICKING and DRAGGING it in the tempo window atop your FL Studio 12 screen.
3a Add Drums to the Channel Rack
You’ll find most of the drums you’ll need in the Browser (on the left of your main FL Studio 12 window). Find the below drums and left-click/drag them to the Channel Rack.
Snares
Packs > Drums > Snares > Linn Snare
Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > Hip_Snare_4
Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > Hip_Snare_2
Kick
Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > Hip_Kick_2
Hi-Hat
Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Hat_5
Reverse Cymbal
Packs > Drums > Cymbals > 909 Crash
(Note: I’m having you use three snares to play at the same time. They do a great job capturing the “vinyl snare” heard in “Forgot About Dre” and most of Dre’s 2001 album.)
3b Add “Zip” Sound
In “Forgot About Dre,” there is a “zip-zip… zip-zip” sound near the end of every other bar. Most likely, a clone of that sound cannot be found in your FL Studio 12 software. You can find it in a downloadable sound kit or copy it from any other recording.
For this tutorial, I’ll use “Packs > No Windows – DJ Relly Rell > FX, Sweeps, Risers > Rell_Zip” as a clone of the “zip sound.” (It’s from DJ Relly Rell’s “No Windows” kit. I reviewed it and taught you how to download it.) If you have that sound, or something similar to it, drag it to your Channel Rack.
4a Composing Drums
Your drums consist of this two-bar loop. Add it to the Channel Rack.
(Top to bottom: Linn Snare, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Snare_2, HIP_Kick_2, HIP_Hat_5, 909 Crash, Rell_Zip)
Don’t do anything with the 909 Crash yet. That’s your reverse cymbal. It belongs in another Pattern.
4b Adding Reverse Cymbal
Insert a new Pattern by LEFT-CLICKING and DRAGGING the number in your “Pattern ?” window to a different one. In this new Pattern (the number doesn’t matter), place the “909 Crash” sound where you see it in the picture below.
Now you need to REVERSE the crash sound that “909 Crash” makes.
Left-click the “rectangle” reading “909 Crash.” You’ll see a new window. In this window, there is a “Reverse” option. Left-click the button next to it in order to REVERSE the sound of this cymbal.
5 Adding Patterns to Playlist
Add your Pattern containing the main drums EIGHT TIMES, right after one another.
Add your reverse cymbal Pattern FOUR TIMES, but place their repetitions to where you see below the main drums.
(Top: Main Drums / Bottom: Reverse Cymbal)
6 Mixing Board
Add all tracks in your Channel Rack to the Mixing Board. Don’t worry about the channel’s numbers.
(The simplest way to add your sounds to the Mixing Board is to change the numbers in the “Track” option of each sound’s window.)
The levels of your Mixing Board should be set to what you see below.
(Left to right: Linn Snare, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Snare_2, HIP_Kick_2, HIP_Hat_5, 909 Crash, Rell_Zip)
7 Add Stereo Shaper Effect to Zip Sound
Select the “Rell_Zip” channel in your Mixing Board. See the Slots on the right? Left-click the tiny triangle on the left of any “Slot” and select “Fruity Stereo Shaper.” For the “Fruity Stereo Shaper” window, change the levels to what you see circled below.
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from exclusive industry producers.
Beat Breakdowns: How to Produce the Melody of “Forgot About Dre” on FL Studio 12
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will teach you, with this article, how to compose the MELODY of Dr. Dre’s, “Forgot About Dre,” on FL Studio 12.
The DRUMS should have already been composed by now. Find that drum tutorial HERE.
1 Bass
Find the bass in your Browser. It’s located in “Packs > Instruments > Bass > Classic 80.” When you find that, drag it to the Channel Rack.
Add a new Pattern. (Drag the “Pattern ?” window to a different number, one that hasn’t been used yet.)
Once you’ve got a new Pattern, it’s time to add the bass line. Go to the Piano Roll of “Classic 80” and compose what you see below.
(Note range: G3 – A#4)
Make sure the duration and pitch match what you see.
2 String Chords
The strings you’ll need to compose chords with are located in “Packs > Legacy > Instruments > Orchestral > Strings > MIXO_F3(L)ogg.” Drag that sound to the Channel Rack and insert a new pattern.
Before composing anything, change the attack and decay of this “instrument.” How? Left-click the rectangle reading “MIXO_F3(L)ogg.” In the window that should open, left-click the “knobby thing” to the left of the “wrench.” Change the levels of “ATT” and “DEC” to what you see below. (“ATT” is only ALMOST empty.)
Now that’s over, go to the Piano Roll of “MIXO_F3(L)ogg” and compose this.
(Note range: A#3 – G4)
3 Muted Guitar
On Dre’s album, 2001, there is a “muted guitar” appearing here and there. It gives the album its signature vibe, and no doubt it loops throughout “Forgot About Dre.” Find your own muted guitar in “Packs > Instruments > Bass > Guitar > Picked Humb.” Drag that to the Channel Rack and, once again, insert a new Pattern.
Go to the Piano Roll of “Picked Humb” and compose what you see below.
(Note range: G4 – A#5)
The notes are delayed from the precise beat lines, as you can see. Make sure the duration and spacing of your notes match these.
4 Electric Guitar
An electric guitar plays briefly in the middle of Eminem’s verse. (It’s reminiscent of what you hear in No Doubt’s “The Climb.”) If you wish to compose it, here’s how.
Go to “Packs > Legacy > Instruments > Guitar > Guitar > Electric Guitar 01” and add it to the Channel Rack. Insert a new Pattern.
In the Piano Roll for “Electric Guitar 01,” add this.
(Note range: G2 – A#3)
5 Add Patterns To Playlist
You should have your loop from my last drum article already stored in your project. Underneath those drums, add your four new Patterns to the places you see below.
It’s difficult to tell what Pattern contains what instrument. Here is a guide.
Track 1 > Pattern 5: Drums
Track 2 > Pattern 6: Reverse Cymbals
Track 3 > Pattern 1: Muted Guitar (Picked Humb)
Track 4 > Pattern 3: Bass (Classic 80)
Track 5 > Pattern 4: String Chords
Track 6 > Pattern 7: Electric Guitar 01
6 Mixing Board
Connect each sound in your Channel Rack to the Mixing Board. Remember how? If you don’t, do this. Left-click each rectangle in the Channel Rack to open its window, and in each window for each sound, left-click/drag the “Track” number to whichever digit you choose. (Make sure you don’t select any numbers assigned to your drum tracks from my last article.)
Now that all of your tracks are in the Mixing Board adjust their volumes to what you see in the below window.
(Left to right: Linn Snare, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Snare_2, HIP_Kick_2, HIP_Hat_5, 909 Crash, Rell_Zip, Electric Guitar 01, Picked Humb, MIXO_F3(L)ogg, Classic 80.)
7 Additional Notes
Unlike many of my other beat breakdowns, this one teaches you to re-compose every instrument used in the song. I’m not leaving anything out due to word limits or production complications. This is the blueprint for the entire beat of “Forgot About Dre.” For that reason, you are allowed to extend your loops to make an approximate clone of the 1999 hip-hop classic. And when you play this clone beat for your buddies, and they hear that electric guitar and go “chicka chicka chicka Slim Shady” at the end, you’re welcome!
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from exclusive industry producers.
Purchasing Soundkits from License Lounge and Opening Them in FL Studio 12
If you’ve got FL Studio 12, and you wish to buy/download a drum kit from License Lounge, here is a step-by-step article on how to do it.
For the example of downloadable drum kits, we’ll use DJ Relly Rell’s “No Windows.” You can use any drum kit you want, but “No Windows” is the example chosen for you in this article.
1. Have License Lounge Open
You obviously have License Lounge open if you’re reading this article, haha.
Now that it’s on your computer screen, click “SOUNDKITS.” You’ll see it at the top right of your window.
2. The Sound Kits Window
This window offers you a list of drum kits or sound collections compatible with many beatmaking programs, like Protools, Reason, Logic, Ableton, FL Studios, and more.
Once again, for this article explaining downloads, we will use FL Studio 12 as a beatmaking software example and “No Windows” by DJ Relly Rell as a drum kit example.
Find “No Windows” on this page by either typing Ctrl+F and inserting “No Windows” into the search box… or just scrolling down until you see it.
3. The Drum Kit Window and Buying/Downloading
Once you are at the drum kit window, you are given a list of what sound files come with the drum kit, a link on how to buy it, and an occasional playback option to hear how it sounds.
To buy this drum kit, click “Add to Cart” and continue with the site’s prompts.
4. Extracting the ZIP File
Once you’ve finished your payment, a link containing the drum kit’s sounds will download to any folder it chooses. It is a .zip file, a compressed collection of all the necessary files you need for your drum kit.
The link for the downloaded file should be visible in your browser. (On the bottom if you are using Chrome.)
If you have trouble finding the .zip file you downloaded, search for it in the box in any explorer window. Type in “No Windows” or anything in its file name.
Once you find it, go to its folder by RIGHT-CLICKING the file and choosing “Open folder location.”
Now you should see the .zip file in the folder to which you downloaded it. RIGHT-CLICK it. A pop-up menu should appear. LEFT-CLICK “extract all.”
When the “Extract Compressed Folders” window appears, you have the option of renaming your folder. This is optional. You can call the folder whatever you want or leave its default name. After that, click “Extract All.”
Files from the .zip should be stored in the folder you chose.
5. Cutting and Pasting the Files to the “Packs” Folder
Once you’ve extracted all files, they will appear in your chosen folder. In that folder, you will see “_MACOSX” and “No Windows – DJ Relly Rell.” If you are using FL Studio 12, you have a PC. So PC users should cut the folder “No Windows” by selecting it and a) RIGHT-CLICKING the folder before choosing “Cut” on the drop-down menu or b) typing Ctrl+X.
Once that “No Windows” folder is cut and saved to your clipboard, you need to copy it to the folder that displays in your FL Studio window screen.
That folder should be “c: > Program Files (x86) > Image-Line > FL Studio 12 > Data > Patches > Packs.” That is the default place of sound storage and available file usage saved to your computer when you installed FL.
Go to that folder on your computer and simply PASTE the folder, “No Windows – DJ Relly Rell,” to this “Packs” folder. Paste by either RIGHT-CLICKING a white area in the folder and choosing “Paste” …or typing Ctrl+V.
6. Viewing the Drums/Sounds
The drums and sounds should appear on the left side of your FL Studio window. They should look like this.
Ironically, for a drum kit called “No Windows,” it works well on PCs.
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License Lounge Soundkit Review: “No Windows”
In a series of sound kit reviews, I will discuss the kit, “No Windows” by DJ Relly Rell.
808s
These 808s are the types of bass lines you hear in most current hip-hop or trap-style songs. They are essential to a heavy yet synthesized bass track. I recommend you sync some of them with your electronic kicks, which I will later get to.
These 808s sound authentic, like you are producing a current banger.
The tone of “Money_808” is a deep D-note. It can be used as a bass synced with electronic-sounding kicks.
“Rell_808_1” is a B-note. Like with “Money_808,” you can vary its pitches, similar to how I taught you with the breakdowns of Cypress Hill’s “Rap Superstar” and Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” With “Rell_808_1,” I don’t recommend it, though. Neither with “Rell_808_2,” “Rell_808_3,” or “Rell_808_4.”
“Rell_808 Bend” is interesting, since it has a bending tone at its beginning. However, the most intense, hard-hitting 808 I highly recommend using as a bass is “walk_808.”
Bass
In this sub-folder, there are bass lines. They sound as if they came from a synthesizer, not an acoustic bass. This helps fit the electronic vibe most of this whole sound kit seemingly aims for.
“HouseGang Synth Bass Cnote 2” resembles what I think is a “Moog bass.” Very “funky.” Like what you hear in Lil Dicky’s “$ave Dat Money,” only less intense. “HouseGang Sub Bass Cnote 2” is great, too. Quieter, more solid, without the “funky” effect.
“Rell_Bass Synth” is long and over-the-top.
Crashes
The crashes have a more extended release sound than the usual crashes you hear from actual cymbals and built-in drum kits with FL. You can still use them for your beats, yet sparingly.
According to my other beat breakdowns, you don’t need to start your bars with crashes. These still sound cool, though.
FX, Sweeps, Risers
These contain sweepers that sound similar to one another.
“Rell_Arp & Bass Bend Combo” is quite a dope effect. Play it, and you’ll hear a descending staccato beeping sound synced with an 808-esque bass pitch-bending downward.
“Rell_Delayed Siren” works well if you’d like to use an airhorn effect to build up your beat. The other sirens are nice, but they don’t work as well.
Hats
These hats are essential for music containing the current “trap” sound. Many of them sound like that.
“Be Real_Hat Loop” is a one-bar loop sounding like a drummer hitting 16th notes on a slightly open hi-hat. It’s more “acoustic,” but it can spice up your beat, if you are producing a “non-electronic” track.
Keys
There are only two options for the “Keys” folder. Like the hi-hats, they have an “electronic” vibe.
“Be Real_Keys” would make a great key loop in my breakdown of Drake’s “In My Feelings,” as many other sounds in this kit would do, also.
“Rell_Memorial Bell” can be used for a good monophonic loop, only if you add a heavy reverb or delays. Think Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow.”
Kicks
For sounds that sync with your 808s, I recommend using some kicks starting with “Rell…,” as in “Rell_Kick 1,” “Rell_Kick 2,” “Rell_Kick 3,” and so on. Those listed below it are reminiscent of samples from other songs, quite contrary to the electric vibe given from most of this whole sound kit.
Loops
Many of these loops have that “trap” vibe, especially “Rell_HiHat Loop 1.”
If you’re searching for a crisp breakbeat to add to your instrumental, try “walk_Drum Loop.” Very old school, yet fitting a non-electronic mood.
Snares & Claps
My favorite of all these. Many snares are claps followed by reverb, which is what many hip-hop producers use nowadays. “Be Real_Clap” is the epitome of a great one.
“Rell_Snare 5” is the ULTIMATE “trap” snare you’ll hear in many popular songs of the late 2010s.
Vox
“Vox” means vocals. You’ll find plenty of ad-libbed vocal samples here, most of them loud and distorted.
I highly recommend buying this kit to elevate your production to the next level, keeping it relevant, too.
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from exclusive industry producers.
How To Produce The Melody Of “In My Feelings” By Drake On FL Studio 12
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to compose the MELODY of “In My Feelings” by Drake, using FL Studio 12.
Before composing the melody, make sure you’ve followed the instructions on making the DRUMS for this song. This melody article is a continuation of that drum tutorial.
- Adding Bass 1
Go to the top of your FL Studio 12 screen. Click “ADD.” When the drop-down menu appears, select “3xOsc.” This automatically adds “3xOsc” to the Channel Rack.
Left-click the “rectangle” for “3xOsc” in the Channel Rack. You should see a window. Adjust the knobs and buttons in that window to the settings you see below.
Now click the “knobby thing” up top of that window. It’s to the left of the wrench. Adjust the six circled knobs below to the levels in the picture.
Don’t compose anything yet. Add the SECOND bass.
- Adding Bass 2
There is another bass line I recommend you add for this song. Find it on the left of your screen, in Packs > Legacy > Instruments > Bass > HIP_Bass. Drag that to the Channel Rack.
When it’s in the Channel Rack, left-click its rectangle. The window should open. Click that “knobby thing” up top. Adjust the six dials in the circles below.
- Composing a Bass Line 1
Make sure to insert a new Pattern, separate from the drums you’ve composed when following my last article.
Go to the Piano Roll of “3xOsc.” In that Piano Roll, insert this for a four-bar loop.
You’ll need to copy what’s in this Piano Roll. Select all (CTRL+A) and Copy (CTRL+C).
- Composing a Bass Line 2
Select a new Pattern. Open the Piano Roll of “HIP_Bass.” Paste your selection from “3xOsc” into the “HIP_Bass” Piano Roll. (CTRL+V)
This isn’t the correct pitch for “HIP_Bass.” You need to move it up TWO OCTAVES. Select it all and drag it up to the C4-C5 range, with most notes on C4.
- Adding An “Electric Keyboard”
Go to Packs > Instruments > Keyboard > Electric. Drag that to the Channel Rack.
Before you compose anything, you need to make adjustments to the duration of the “Electric Keyboard” sounds, like you did with the bass.
Left-click the rectangle for “Electric” in the Channel Rack. A large window should appear. On that window, select the “Zone” option on the lower left. With this “Zone” option selected, you should see an “AMP / ENV 1 / ENV 2” sub-window. Make sure “AMP” is selected. Below that, adjust the A, D, S, and R approximately to what you see in the below picture.
Now compose some stuff in the Piano Roll.
Insert a new Pattern. Go to the Piano Roll of “Electric.” Add this for a four-bar loop.
For your notes, make sure the duration and pitch matches what’s in the picture.
Now select all of these notes and copy them, just like you did with “3xOsc.” We’re gonna copy all that into the “Rhodes.”
- Adding “Rhodes.”
Go to Packs > Instruments > Keyboard > Rhodes. Drag that to the Channel Rack. You don’t need to change anything, like you did with “Electric.”
Add a new Pattern. Go to the Piano Roll of “Rhodes.” Paste your selection from “Electric” into this Piano Roll.
- Adding Patters to Playlist
Go to your project’s Playlist by clicking the first option to the right of the Pattern display, on top of your screen.
You should already have the Pattern for your drums in the Playlist. Place the other Patterns below it, for a length of only four bars, like the drums.
Pattern 2 is “Rhodes.” Pattern 3 is “Electric.” Pattern 4 is “3xOsc.” Pattern 5 is “HIP_Bass.”
- Mixing Board
Add all the Channel Rack’s tracks to the Mixing Board. Remember how? Left-click each of their “rectangles” and change the track numbers in their windows. Simple.
Once all tracks are in the Mixing Board, adjust their volumes like so.
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BEAT BREAKDOWN: CREATING DR. DRE’S “STILL D.R.E.” IN FL STUDIO – PART 2 – THE MELODY
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to re-produce the melody of Dr. Dre’s classic, “Still D.R.E,” with FL Studio 12.
Before beginning with the steps in this article, make sure you followed my instructions on producing the drumbeat for this song.
1 ADD PIANO CHORDS
“Still D.R.E” contains a two-bar loop of piano chords stretched throughout the whole song.
Add “FL Keys” to your Channel Rack. You’ll find it when you go to the top of your screen, select “ADD,” and the drop down menu appears. Select “FL Keys” on that menu so it snaps to the Channel Rack.
When FL Keys is in your Channel Rack, add a new pattern, go to the Piano Roll of “FL Keys,” and compose this.
Make sure the top notes in your chords are slightly delayed past the middle notes, and the middle notes are also further out than the bottoms, like so.
This gives the illusion of playing actual piano chords.
2 ADDING HIGH STRINGS
There are two string tracks in “Still D.R.E.” One is higher pitched than the other.
For this higher pitched string sound, we’ll need to select “packs > instrumentals > orchestral > string solo” and drag it from the left menu to the Channel Rack.
Once it’s there, add a new pattern and compose this in the Piano Roll of “String Solo.”
3 ADDING LOW STRINGS
There are low strings in “Still D.R.E,” playing the same notes as the bass (which we’ll later get into).
You must add another “String Solo” track for this instrument, even though you already have one. Clone “String Solo” by right-clicking its rectangle in the Channel Rack and selecting “Clone” on its menu.
You’ve got yourself a “String Solo #2.” Add a new pattern and compose what you see below in the Piano Roll of “String Solo #2.”
Make sure you copy what you see below. This way, you save it to your clipboard in order to add it to the bass.
4 ADDING A BASS LINE
There is a bass line to “Still D.R.E.” It’s synched with the “cello” sound (String Solo #2), meaning it plays the same notes.
Go to “packs > instrumentals > bass > classic 80” and drag it to the Channel Rack.
Did you copy the notes in “String Solo #2”? (The picture above.) If so, once you add a new pattern, paste your copied material into the Piano Roll of “classic 80.”
5 ADDING “BUZZCLAV NUC”
In “Still D.R.E,” you’ll hear this cool sound in the hook. It’s hard to explain what instrument that is, but it’s easy to compose if you follow these next mini-steps.
Click “ADD” on top of your screen. When the menu drops down, select “Harmless.” This adds it to your Channel Rack.
Open its window by left-clicking its rectangle in the Channel Rack. On that window, left-click the upper left “tiny triangle,” and when a large menu appears, find “BuzzClav NUC” on its bottom left and select it.
Now that your instrument is selected, add a new pattern and insert this into the “BuzzClav NUC” Piano Roll.
6 ADDING YOUR PATTERNS TO THE PLAYLIST
If your drumbeat from my last article is in this file of yours, add your “instruments” to it by placing them in the “Playlist” as shown.
Track 3: Piano. (FL Keys) / Track 4: Low Strings (String Solo #2) / Track 5: High Strings (String Solo) / Track 6: Bass (Classic 80) / Track 7: Thing (BuzzClav NUC)
7 MIXING
Add all your instruments to the Mixing Board. Mix them as shown.
8 ADDING EFFECTS TO BUZZCLAV NUC
To add these cool effects to that “sound from the hook,” select BuzzClav NUC on the Mixing Board, go to its “Slot” window on the right, left-click any slot, and select “Fruity delay 2.” With that “Fruity delay 2” window, change the options as shown below.
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Beat Breakdown: The Melody of DMX’s “Ruff Ryders Anthem” – Part 2
In a series of beat breakdowns and production tutorials, this article will teach you how to compose the melody of DMX’s “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” with FL Studio 12. If you are looking to create the drumbeat to Ruff Ryders Anthem check out our previous Beat Breakdown.
To follow these directions properly, you must first compose the drumbeat of “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” by using my last article. Then the melody should have an almost-accurate sound to the actual song.
Note: I said “almost accurate.” Your final project will not sound completely accurate to the “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem.” It will sound close, with a little twist on it.
BASS LINE (3xOsc)
The first instrument to add to your drumbeat (that you composed following my last article) will be 3xOsc. Find it on your FL Studio 12 menu by clicking “ADD” on top of the screen and selecting 3xOsc in its drop down. After you click it, it should appear in the Channel Rack.
Left-click the “rectangle” for 3xOsc in your Channel Rack. In the appearing window, adjust the “coarse” knobs to the center and select the smooth wavy lines on the left (in the circles). This should give the 3xOsc an 808 sound to it. (It will be hard to hear in your final track but make it bump if you play it in your car or something.)
Now add a new Pattern. Then go to the Piano Roll for 3xOsc. Compose what you see below. (Make sure the duration and position of the notes match what you see in the picture.)
- LOOPED “INSTRUMENT”
“Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” has a stand-out “instrument” looping throughout. DMX’s hook even matches its melody at points. It’s difficult to tell what kind of instrument is looping, but I’ve found one on FL Studio 12 that matches somewhat closely. Find it in the same “ADD” drop down you found 3xOsc. Click “ADD” on top of your FL Studio screen, and in that drop down, select “Harmless.”
Once “Harmless” is in the Channel Rack, left-click its “rectangle.” Its window should open. Left-click the window’s tiny “triangle” on its upper-left side. When a menu appears, select “Presets,” then “BuzzClav NUC” in the appearing pop-up menu for that. (Under “Keyboards.”)
Once that’s selected, add a new Pattern. Go to your Piano Roll and add this to the first two bars (between bar markers 1 and 3), with pitch and duration matching what you see in the picture.
Scroll to the right until you see the empty space between bar markers 3 and 5. Insert this in between those markers.
Before you finish, let’s move this entire selection slightly to the right. Select the entire thing, shrink the top horizontal scrollbar, move that scrollbar all the way to the left, and slide your selection as far right as shown below.
- PLAYLIST
Now it’s time to add these two Patterns to the Playlist and let ’em join the drumbeat you probably inserted from following my last article. Select both new Patterns and insert them to the Playlist as shown below. (In the picture, Pattern 4 is the bass. Pattern 6 is the “Instrument.”)
- MIXING BOARD
Your bass and your “instrument” must be inserted to the Mixing Board for your beat to play well. Remember how to insert Channel Rack tracks to the Mixing Board? There are many ways. Now… insert ’em.
The bass and “instrument” can be any levels you want, but I’m showing you my recommendations.
- “INSTRUMENT” REVERB
The “BuzzClav NUC” could use a little reverb. Add it to that track by first selecting “BuzzClav NUC” on the Mixing Board, selecting any “Slot” on the right of that Mixing Board, and choosing “Fruity Reeverb 2” on the pop-up menu that should appear.
This way, your “instrument” has a fluid “echo.”
- FILLER
Even if composed correctly, your re-composition of DMX’s “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” shouldn’t sound exactly like the real song. It should sound close, close enough to make anybody listening to you playing it sing along and think you’re awesome!! You’re welcome!
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from our exclusive industry producers.
Beat Breakdown: Creating The Drumbeat of DMX’s “Ruff Ryders Anthem”
In a series of beat breakdowns and production tutorials, this article will teach you how to compose a clone of the drumbeat of DMX’s “Ruff Ryders Anthem” with FL Studio 12.
Note: The version I’m having you compose with FL Studio 12 is not identical to the drums of the actual song. It sounds slightly different, but this breakdown is still for aspiring producers to practice re-composing real songs like pros.
Here’s an example of the finished track we made:
- ERASING “FRUITY LIMITER”
Before you begin your composition, you must delete any built-in effects on your mixer. Mostly, FL Studio 12 opens default files with a “Fruity Limiter” in the Master track. If this is the case, remove that effect by a) left-clicking it (in the right of the Mixing Board) and selecting “none” in its pop-up menu, or b) clicking the green dot to its right, so it’s gray, therefore silent.
- CHANGING TEMPO
After you’ve deleted the “Fruity Limiter” effect, change the tempo to 93 bpm, by simply left-clicking and dragging the number in the tempo window down to 93.
- ADDING DRUM SOUNDS
To add the drum sounds, you’ll need to go to the browser panel of your FL Studio screen (on the left side) and drag the below sounds to the Channel Rack.
KICK
Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > Hip_Kick_2
CLAP
Packs > Drums (ModeAudio) > Claps > MA Riddles Clap
SNARE
Packs > Drums > Snares > Linn Snare
OPEN HI-HAT
Packs > Drums > Hats > Grv OH 02
CLOSED HI-HAT
Packs > Drums > Hats > 808 CH
Each of these sounds are recommended for closely recreating the drums heard in the DMX song.
Drag all these sounds to the Channel Rack by left-clicking and moving them there. Simple.
- COMPOSING DRUMBEAT
This drumbeat is surprisingly simple. It doesn’t require any tricks with the Piano Roll, as I’ve had you compose in other beat breakdowns. All you’ll need is the spaces on the Channel Rack.
The drumbeat is a four-bar loop you’ll find repeated in the song. You need to begin by inserting the below spaces in the first bar in your pattern.
To compose material in the second bar, you’ll first need to SEE the second bar by scrolling to the right with the tiny “dash” on the bottom of the Channel Rack.
Left-click and drag that “dash” to the right until you see the first empty gray-red-gray-red pattern after the one you’ve filled up.
Now insert THIS in the second bar.
For the THIRD bar, scroll until you see the next gray-red-gray-red pattern… and insert THIS.
Repeat the same process for the fourth bar.
Now your four-bar drum pattern is done.
- THE PLAYLIST
Inserting this four-bar loop to the playlist is very simple. Have the pattern with your drumbeat selected (in that case it’s the only pattern you’ve used), choose the “paint” tool in your playlist, and left-click the earliest space in the playlist. The pattern should end up there.
Insert it twice, as shown.
- MIXING BOARD
Now to mix these tracks to the Mixing Board, you can try several methods, as I’ve made clear in other breakdowns. My recommended method is left-clicking each “rectangle” in the Channel Rack and selecting a track number in its window’s “TRACK” option.
(Assign a number like you assigned the tempo, by left-clicking and dragging.)
When each of your tracks are in the Mixing Board, adjust their volumes like this.
Optional: If you look closely at “Grv OH 04” and “808 CH,” you will see the panning knobs adjusted. The “Grv OH 04” is panned a little to the left while “808 CH” pans to the slight right. So to follow that, drag the panning on “Grv OH 04” a little to the left, like 10-15%. With the “808 CH,” pan it about 15-20% to the right.
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