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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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Popular Songs Sampling “COMPUTER LOVE” by ZAPP
“Computer Love” is a classic by R&B group Zapp. Made in 1985, it’s mostly remembered for its heavy use of the “talkbox,” the voice-altering vocoder which is a 1980s equivalent of Auto Tune. Hip-hop seems to love “Computer Love,” since the song has been sampled and interpolated many times in the genre’s history. Hip-hop music has ties with R&B and funk, and sampling/interpolating “Computer Love” is one way to make that fact more obvious.
Redman – Blow Your Mind (1992)
This is the first single in Redman’s rap career. Produced by Erick Sermon and Redman himself, it contains many samples, including a cryptic, sped-up piece of Zapp’s “Computer Love.” Unlike others on this list, “Computer Love” does not fill the melody of the entire song. Where is the sample, you ask? In the beginning of “Blow Your Mind,” repeating “Won’t you keep me warm tonight?” a few times.
Bloods & Crips – Piru Love (1993)
The Bloods & Crips project, Bangin’ On Wax, was released in 1993, to later be certified gold. One song on that album was “Piru Love,” a gangsta twist on “Computer Love,” slowed down and laced with a more airy vocoder than in “Computer Love.” It is a tribute to LA Bloods, laced with harsh shots at Crips here and there.
2Pac – I Get Around (1993)
A more known rapper to sample “Computer Love” was also from the West Coast, and that was the late Tupac Shakur. In “I Get Around,” you’ll hear “I’ve been around” on almost every other bar, sped up and panned to the right.
Notorious B.I.G feat. Puff Daddy – Me and My B**** (Live from Philly) (1994)
In 1994, the late Notorious B.I.G performed “Me and My B****” with his mentor Puff Daddy live in Philadelphia. He didn’t perform the original version from his 1994 debut, Ready to Die. This live version was over a looped instrumental section of the opening of “Computer Love.”
The Click – Scandalous (1995)
This Vallejo, California quartet puts their own talkbox-heavy twist on “Computer Love,” making it sound like a cover of the original song. Instead of a vocalized repetition of “Computerized” or “Computer Love,” you get “Scandalous” in the hook, sung on a talkbox by Zapp’s Roger Troutman.
2Pac – Temptations (1995)
There is no sample of “Computer Love” here, only an interpolation. It is the hook sung by AB Money, “I know you’ve been searching for someone…”
2Pac – Thug Passion (1996)
Full of talkboxes and a melody similar to “Computer Love,” Pac and his Death Row Records crew rap about a drink called “Thug Passion.” DJ Quik ad-libs with the talkboxes here and there.
Do or Die – Money Flow (1996)
This Chicago trio, consisting of Twista, show off their rapid flows over a super-slow version of the instrumental of “Computer Love.” They even add original talkbox harmonies in the hook.
Fat Joe – So Much More (2005)
Over an intense beat from Cool & Dre, sounding nothing like “Computer Love,” Fat Joe adds an interpolation of the 1985 R&B classic, saying, “I know you’ve been searching for someone…” This is akin to 2Pac’s “Temptations,” as it serves as the song’s hook.
Lil Boosie – Lil Boosie Love (2006)
Similar to the Biggie and Puffy gig in Philly, this artist chooses the opening instrumental loop of “Computer Love” to repeat throughout the song.
Lil Kim feat. T-Pain and Charlie Wilson – Download (2009)
Li’l Kim teams up with T-Pain and Charlie Wilson (an original vocalist for “Computer Love”) to make their own tribute to love through computers. T-Pain’s Auto Tuned vocals serve as a modernized form of the talkbox from the ’80s and ’90s. Who better than T-Pain could do that?
Wiz Khalifa feat. Ty Dolla $ign – Something New (2017)
As recently as 2017, hip-hop hasn’t gotten tired of “Computer Love.” Wiz Khalifa teams up with Ty Dolla $ign to do a super-modernized version of the Zapp classic.
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How To Produce The Drumbeat 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 DRUMBEAT of “In My Feelings” by Drake, using FL Studio 12.
This article only contains how to compose the DRUMBEAT. The melody can be found in my next article.
- Delete “Fruity Limiter”
On most default settings for FL Studio 12, there is a “Fruity Limiter” effect on the Master track. To get accurate sound, I recommend you disable this. How? Two ways.
- Go to the Mixing Board. Click on the Master track. You should see a display of “Slots” on the right of this Mixing Board. One slot says, “Fruity Limiter.” See the green light to its right? Left-click it. That turns it gray and silences it. Or
- Go to the same “Fruity Limiter” option as above. Left-click the “tiny triangle” to the left of “Fruity Limiter.” A menu should appear. On this menu, hover over “Replace” until ANOTHER menu appears. On THAT menu, left-click “(none).”
- Change Tempo
The tempo of “In My Feelings” is approximately 91 beats per minute. Go to the top of your FL Studio 12 screen, near the play, stop, and record buttons. Where you see “130.000” (the default tempo setting), LEFT-CLICK AND DRAG the tempo down until it reads 91.000.
- Drag Sounds To The Channel Rack
The drums that I’m having you use for this beat re-composition are NOT identical to the ones heard in Drake’s song. They should be built-in with your FL Studio 12 software, and they should sound similar to the ones heard in the real song.
You can find these drum sounds on the left of your screen, under certain folders. They are:
CLAP: Packs > Drums (ModeAudio) > Claps > Attack Clap 10
SNARE: Packs > Drums > Snares > 808 Snare
HI-HAT: Packs > Drums > Hats > 808 CH
KICK: Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Kick_2
LEFT-CLICK AND DRAG each of these sounds to the Channel Rack.
- Composing Sounds In The Channel Rack
This drumbeat is a four-bar loop. So to display room for these four bars on the Channel Rack, left-click and drag the right of the Channel Rack WINDOW to the right… until you see the “gray-red-gray-red” pattern FOUR TIMES.
Now that your four bars are visible, compose this.
Leave the hi-hats (808 CH) blank. That’s for the next step.
- Composing Hi-Hats
For “808 CH,” your hi-hats, fill every box in the Channel Rack. (Left-click and drag across those blocks.)
Your composition of hi-hats isn’t complete yet.
Go to the “808 CH” Piano Roll. (RIGHT-click the “808 CH” “rectangle” and select “Piano Roll” on the pop-up menu.)
Make these changes to the stuff in Bar 1 (out of 4).
Make these changes to Bar 2.
Don’t change Bar 3. Change Bar 4, like this.
- Playlist
To add your Pattern to the Playlist, do these steps.
- Click the first box to the right of “Pattern 1,” on top of your screen. This opens the blank Playlist.
- Left-click the Pencil Tool or the Brush Tool. (They are up top of the Playlist.)
- Left-click “Pattern 1” to the left of your Playlist. (You’ll see it.)
- Left-click the beginning of Track 1. Easy.
- Mixing
There are many ways to sync your instruments from the Channel Rack to the Mixing Board. I like to do this one.
- Left-click any “rectangle” in the Channel Rack. (Anyone reading “Attack Clap 10,” “808 Snare,” “808 CH,” or “HIP_Kick_2.”)
- On the window for that “instrument,” there is a “track” option on the upper-right corner. Left-click and drag it to any number. That number is the Mixing Board track to which you are assigning your “instrument.”
- Do this for the other three “instruments.”
Once your instruments are assigned to the Mixing Board, adjust the volumes of your tracks. Left-click the knobs so they appear at approximately these levels.
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Beat Breakdown: Creating Dr. Dre’s “Still D.R.E.” in FL Studio – Part 1 – The Drumbeat
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be showing you, with this article, how to produce Dr. Dre’s classic “Still D.R.E” in FL Studio 12.
Please note that this section of the article contains instructions on how to produce the drums for “Still D.R.E.” The melody is in the next article.
Also keep in mind that the drums and melody you’ll be producing from this article and the next won’t sound identical to the original Dr. Dre song. If you follow this article’s instructions correctly, your beat will still sound cool! Even cooler with the melody!
1 CHANGE THE TEMPO, GET RID OF “FRUITY LIMITER”
The tempo to “Still D.R.E” is approximately 93 beats per minute. Set that tempo by scrolling down on the tiny tempo window on top of your FL Studio 12 screen.
Usually, FL Studio 12 contains a default master audio setting with each new project you open. It’s called “Fruity Limiter.” If you have this effect on the master audio of your project, disable it. Do this by selecting the “Master” track on the Mixing Board and either a) clicking the green dot to the right of the “Fruity Limiter” slot to silence it, or b) left-clicking “Fruity Limiter” in the Slot window and selecting “none” in the opening window.
2 ADDING DRUM SOUNDS TO THE CHANNEL RACK
To make a good enough drum track to match up with “Still D.R.E,” use these built-in sounds in your “packs” directory.
* Packs > Drums > Kicks > FPC 5 Kick
* Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > Hip_Kick
* Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > Hip_Hat_5
* Packs > Legacy > Drums > RealDrumkits > RD_Hat_5
* Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Snare_4
* Packs > Drums > Snares > Linn Snare
Drag them all to your Channel Rack.
3 ADDING KICKS
The two kicks in this Channel Rack are “FPC 5 Kick” and the “Hip_Kick.”
Go to the Piano Roll of either one (doesn’t matter) and add this.
Make sure the duration, pitch, and placement of these sound repetitions match what you see above.
After adding the above composition to either kick, copy it and paste it to the Piano Roll of the other kick. “FPC 5 Kick” or “Hip_Kick,” whichever one you left empty.
This gives your kick a deeper layer by having two kicks play at the same time.
4 ADDING AN OPEN HI-HAT
The open hi-hat in your Channel Rack is “RD_Hat_5.” It makes the sounds of an open hi-hat silenced by a closed one. Add it to these positions on your Channel Rack.
You’ll need to change the duration and pitch of this open hi-hat. Go to its window by left-clicking the rectangle reading “RD_Hat_5.”
Circled is the pitch and pitch range along with their alterations. Change the pitch to 600 cents. (You’ll see its level in “cents” on the upper left of your screen.) Lower the pitch range to 3 and crank the “dial” all the way down, as shown.
This will change the sound of your open hi-hat so it blends with the closed hi-hats you’ll later add.
5 ADDING THE OTHER DRUMS
Now that you’ve got the two kicks and open hi-hats taken care of, place the closed hi-hats, “Hip_Hat_5,” and snares, “Hip_Snare_4 and Linn Snare,” where you see them below.
6 ADDING YOUR PATTERN TO THE PLAYLIST
Add it eight times on top of the Playlist as shown.
7 MIXING
Now add each of your Channel Rack sounds to the Mixing Board. (It should be an easy process by this point.) Once you have them in the Mixing Board, set these levels.
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Uploading a Single to Spotify, iTunes, and Other Streaming Platforms
Want to send your original music to Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Amazon, Google Play, and other streaming platforms?
1 USE CD BABY
CD Baby now allows you to sync your music to the above streaming outlets, including CD Baby itself.
2 GO TO CDBABY.COM
When you see the CD Baby page, click “Enter Artist Site.”
New to this page? Click “Get Started Now” if you DON’T have a CD Baby page. If you do, click “LOG IN.”
2a GET STARTED
In the “Get Started” page, fill out the self-explanatory information, and make sure you read the contract below before you agree to making your account.
3 ARTIST’S PAGE
Once you’re in your artist’s page, click “Add New Title.”
4 ALBUM OR SINGLE
The screen will ask you if you want to release an album or single.
You are given three options when releasing an album or single:
1 “Worldwide Distribution & Publishing Royalty Collection” ($69 for albums, $35 for singles)
This allows you to sell your music on cdbaby.com, Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, Apple Music, and so on, plus performing rights affiliation, song registration in 100+ countries, publishing royalty collection, and mechanical royalty collection.
2 “Worldwide Distribution” ($35 for albums, $10 for singles)
This is for streaming distributions only.
3 Free
This is for releasing your music to CD Baby only (store.cdbaby.com) without the streaming distributions.
Choose Option 2.
(Note: I recommend this portion of the article for artists releasing singles.)
5a BASIC SINGLE INFORMATION
For this, follow the self-explanatory prompts. If you don’t have a barcode, just click for one, and your single will be $5 extra, to add to the $9 you paid.
5b TERMS OF SERVICE
This is a contract. Make sure you read it before signing it.
5c TRACK INFORMATION
This, like most of the following steps, is self-explanatory.
5d TRACK PREVIEW OPTION
This allows either a clip or full song to be played on your CD Baby page.
5e SHORT SONG DESCRIPTION
For this REQUIRED field, describe your song. Do not type in ALL CAPS and abbreviations like “u” for “you” or “2” for “two.” Also, don’t list URLs.
5f SINGLE NOTES
Tell us ALL YOU WANT about your single, including outside reviews or whatever will interest new listeners.
5g GENRES
This field requires you to select genres, sub-genres, and the mood of your track. The “artist you sound like” is optional.
5h DIGITAL TRACK PRICE ON CD BABY
This asks you how much you want to get paid through CD Baby.
5i ISRC
An ISRC is a identifying code for your song. If you need one, select, “I need you to assign an ISRC.” If you have one, select, “I have my own ISRC.”
5j DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
Check the boxes on the right of this screen if you want to send your music to those partners.
5k PARTNER ARTIST IDs
If you already have a partner ID, click the top option. If you don’t, click the bottom one.
5l TERRITORY RESTRICTIONS
Select the left option to give your music to all territories and countries. Select the right for specific territories.
5m YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK, AND SYNC LICENSING
Where would you like your music to earn additional money?
5n SUBMIT ARTWORK
Add album art. The page will tell you requirements for your picture.
5o SUBMIT AUDIO
Files must be stereo, 44.1 kHz sample rate, and 16 bit.
5p TITLE OVERVIEW
Double-check that you did everything right before clicking “Add to Cart.”
6 PAYING
After clicking Add to Cart, you’ll be asked about download cards. Choose either “no thanks proceed to cart” or “add to cart.”
Then comes the Order Overview. Is this what you paid for? Then Checkout.
After you place your order, CD Baby will send you a receipt in an email.
It might take a while for your songs to appear on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, and such. The most time is a month, while the least time is about four days. Keep checking to see your progress.
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Your Guide To Using Basic Effects in Fruity Loops
Do you ever hear echos, reverbs, stereo, or chorus effects, say, from a guitar pedal or a vocal track in a song? On FL Studio 12, you can use similar effects. They are plug-ins that affect the way you hear sound in output.
You can find these effects/plug-ins listed in the browser panel (on the left of your FL Studio screen) under Plugin Presents, and then Effects.
You can add these effects to your Mixer window, on any pattern, including the Master channel.
1. ADDING ANY SOUND TO A MIXER TRACK
For the effects to work, the sounds in your Channel Rack need to be linked to mixer tracks first. Select any sound from the Channel Rack, then select any mixer track, right-click the mixer track, left-click “Channel routing > Route selected channel to this track.”
2. ADDING EFFECTS
Effects are added to the Slots on the right of the Mixer board.
To add an effect to your Mixer channel, choose any slot (the one on top is the leading effect for all), left-click the tiny arrow to the left of “Slot ?,” and select any effect from the large pop-up.
(If you add these effects to your Master channel, your whole entire sound output will have that effect.)
2a. SILENCING EFFECTS / INCREASING VOLUME
To enable/disable an effect, you can turn on/off the green light to its far right. To the left of that green light is a mix level knob, which measures the volume of your effect. Turn that knob down, you lower the volume of that effect. Turn it up, it’s louder.
2b. CHANGING EFFECTS
To change the effect, go to the tiny white arrow to the left of your effect and click “Replace.” Then choose a new plug-in. Choose “none” if you wish to delete your effect.
3. EFFECTS I RECOMMEND
There are so many effects on FL Studio 12 that they are in groups. I will only tell you about the groups containing the effects I like to use.
3a. DELAY REVERB
This group of effects contains what’s listed above, echo or reverb sounds. I recommend Fruity Delay 2 and Fruity Reeverb 2.
Fruity Delay 2 adds echos to your channel…
…while Fruity Reeverb 2 adds an effect you find in empty rooms. This is great to apply to kicks and snares. I used it for snares, not kicks… and also for vocals.
3b. GAIN
The effect I use from this “Gain” group is Fruity Stereo Shaper. This add a stereo enhancement to your channel.
With Fruity Stereo Shaper, you can move the delay or phase knobs to the left or right to give your channel a stereo effect.
3c. DYMANICS
The fourth group down on the list of plug-ins are “Dynamics.” This contains tools to compress or limit the channel interested, in order to improve its sound and avoid distortion and saturation.
My favorites to use are Fruity Compressor and Fruity Limiter. Crank the gain up on the compression options of these effects to even out low and high volumes, but not too much.
3d. FILTERS
The fifth group down lists the Filters. They enhance the frequency components of your channel. I recommend Fruity Parametric EQ 2. It shows sound frequencies from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The intensity of each frequency is highlighted from red (low) to yellow (high). You can adjust the seven levels on the left anywhere you like. The seven levels on the right only go up and down.
On the bottom right of this window, you can also edit the frequency and bandwith of any of these seven levels.
These effects edit your waveform without distorting it too much.
The Chorus effect is used to make your channel sound like it’s being played in unison with clones of itself.
The Flange is similar to the Chorus. It sounds like the sound is overlapping itself with one or more identical waveforms, yet it blends nicer. This is also done by the Fruity Flanger, the Fruity Flangus, and the Fruity Phaser.
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