First Drum Beat in REAPER - Sequencer

Summary

In this tutorial, Kenny Joya teaches how to create a drum beat in Reaper using a sequencer. The video covers two primary methods for beat creation in Reaper: using a sequencer to trigger drum samples or playing with a MIDI controller. The focus is on the sequencer approach, where Joya demonstrates adding the Resample Matic 5000 sampler, setting up velocity sensitivity for samples, and using a MIDI step sequencer to arrange a drum pattern. The tutorial also includes tips on adjusting velocities, creating accents, and using multiple patterns for song arrangement.

Takeaways

• 🎵 **Two Methods for Drum Beats in Reaper**: The tutorial introduces two primary methods for creating drum beats in Reaper - using a sequencer to trigger drum samples and performing with a MIDI controller or drum pads.
• 🔍 **Reaper Stash for Samples**: The video instructs viewers to download drum samples from the Reaper Stash website for use in creating their drum beats.
• 🎚️ **Using Resample Matic 5000**: The tutorial demonstrates how to use the Resample Matic 5000 plugin in Reaper to load and manipulate drum samples.
• 🎹 **MIDI Note Assignment**: Each drum sample is assigned a specific MIDI note to trigger it, with different notes for different drum sounds like kick, snare, and hi-hat.
• 📈 **Velocity Sensitivity**: The tutorial explains how to set samples to be velocity sensitive, allowing for dynamic control over the volume of each hit based on how hard the note is triggered.
• 🔧 **Adjusting Sample Parameters**: Parameters like minimum volume and note length are adjusted to fine-tune how samples respond to MIDI triggers.
• 🎶 **Creating a Drum Pattern**: The script outlines the process of creating a drum pattern by placing and adjusting notes in the sequencer, including setting velocities and lengths.
• 🔀 **Pattern Switching**: The video shows how to switch between different drum patterns using the sequencer plugin, which can be triggered by MIDI keys for live performances.
• 🎧 **Listening and Adjusting**: Throughout the tutorial, the importance of listening to the drum beat and making adjustments to the pattern, velocity, and sample parameters is emphasized.
• 🎥 **Video Series**: The presenter mentions that there's a similar video available for those who prefer to learn how to create drum beats using a MIDI controller.

Q & A

What are the two primary methods to create a drum beat in Reaper mentioned in the tutorial?

The two primary methods to create a drum beat in Reaper are using a sequencer to trigger drum samples and playing or performing it using a MIDI controller or drum pads.

What is the first step in creating a drum beat using a sequencer in Reaper according to the tutorial?

The first step is to go to the Reaper's stash website, search for 'first drum beat', and download the drum samples to be used.

Which sampler plugin does the tutorial recommend using in Reaper?

The tutorial recommends using 'ReaSamplOmatic 5000', which is the sampler that comes with Reaper.

How does the tutorial suggest making the drum samples velocity sensitive?

The tutorial suggests setting the 'minimum volume' to 'infinite' to make the drum samples velocity sensitive, allowing the volume to adjust based on how hard or softly the sample is triggered.

What MIDI note is used to trigger the kick sample in the tutorial?

The kick sample is triggered by the MIDI note 48, which corresponds to C2.

How does the tutorial demonstrate changing the MIDI note for different drum samples?

The tutorial shows changing the MIDI note for different drum samples by selecting the plugin, copying it, and pasting it for each new sample, then changing the note to a different one.

What feature in the tutorial is used to make the hi-hat stop when the next note is played?

The tutorial uses the 'obey note offs' feature to make the hi-hat stop when the next note is played.

Which sequencer plugin is recommended for creating a drum beat in Reaper in the tutorial?

The tutorial recommends using the 'Mega Baby' sequencer plugin for creating a drum beat in Reaper.

How does the tutorial adjust the tempo of the drum beat?

The tutorial adjusts the tempo of the drum beat by changing the song tempo in the Reaper interface to 80 beats per minute.

What is the purpose of using the 'MIDI trigger' feature in the sequencer plugin as per the tutorial?

The 'MIDI trigger' feature in the sequencer plugin is used to trigger different patterns based on specific MIDI notes, allowing for dynamic changes in the drum beat arrangement.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Introduction to Creating Drum Beats in Reaper

Kenny Joya introduces a tutorial on creating drum beats using a sequencer in Reaper. He outlines two methods for creating beats: using a sequencer to trigger drum samples or performing with a MIDI controller or drum pads. The tutorial focuses on the sequencer method and mentions an alternative video for the MIDI controller approach. Kenny guides viewers to download drum samples from the Reaper stash website and demonstrates how to set up the Resample Matic 5000 sampler plugin, adjusting volume and velocity sensitivity for each drum sample.

05:01

🔧 Setting Up Drum Samples in Reaper

The tutorial continues with setting up individual drum samples like kick, snare, clap, hi-hat, and others in Reaper. Each sample is assigned a specific MIDI note to trigger it. Kenny also explains how to use velocity to control the volume of the samples and how to adjust the length of notes for instruments like hi-hats. He ensures that samples obey note-offs to prevent overlapping sounds and demonstrates how to copy and paste the plugin for each sample, adjusting their respective notes and settings.

10:01

🎹 Using the Sequencer to Trigger Drum Samples

Kenny introduces the use of a sequencer to trigger the drum samples without a MIDI controller. He adds the Mega Baby sequencer plugin and sets the song tempo to 80 BPM. The sequencer is explained as a MIDI step sequencer where each box represents a step, and by default, each step is a sixteenth note. He shows how to place snare hits on beats 2 and 4, adjust velocities for volume control, and clear or duplicate notes as needed. The process of creating a basic drum pattern with kicks, snares, and claps is demonstrated.

15:03

🎶 Adding Complexity to the Drum Pattern

The tutorial moves on to adding complexity to the drum pattern by programming closed hi-hats on every eighth note and creating accents by adjusting the velocity of certain hits. Kenny also extends notes and demonstrates how to use the sequencer to subdivide steps into faster notes, like 32nd and 64th notes, for more intricate rhythms. He shows how to pan the hi-hat sound from left to right to add interest to the pattern.

20:04

🔄 Creating Patterns and Arranging the Song

Kenny explains how to use multiple patterns in the sequencer to create different sections of a song, such as verses and choruses. He demonstrates duplicating and adjusting patterns, changing the velocity of white noise for crashes, and using pattern switching to create a dynamic arrangement. The tutorial covers how to trigger pattern changes using MIDI keys and how to link patterns for automatic switching. The final result is a structured song arrangement with a breakdown verse, chorus, and alternating patterns.

25:05

🎉 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In the concluding part, Kenny summarizes the process of creating a drum beat in Reaper using a sequencer. He emphasizes the use of four basic patterns to build an entire song arrangement and encourages viewers to explore creating up to 16 different patterns for more complex songs. The tutorial ends with a playback of the completed arrangement, showcasing the changes in patterns in real time, and Kenny expresses his hope that viewers found the tutorial helpful.

Keywords

💡Drum beat

A drum beat, also known as a rhythm pattern, is a series of sounds produced by a drummer. In the context of the video, creating a drum beat is the primary goal, and the script outlines a step-by-step process to achieve this using a sequencer in Reaper. The beat is composed of various drum samples such as kick, snare, hi-hat, and others, which are triggered by MIDI notes to create a rhythmic pattern.

💡Sequencer

A sequencer is a device or software that records and plays back a series of musical notes or events over time. In the video, the sequencer is used to trigger drum samples at specific intervals to create a drum beat. The script explains how to use a sequencer to program a drum pattern by placing notes in a grid, each representing a step in the beat cycle.

💡Reaper

Reaper is a digital audio workstation (DAW) software used for music production. The video tutorial focuses on using Reaper to create a drum beat. Reaper is highlighted for its ability to handle MIDI sequencing, which is essential for the tutorial's purpose of demonstrating how to build a beat using a sequencer.

💡MIDI controller

A MIDI controller is a hardware device that sends MIDI signals to a computer, often used to play software instruments or control various parameters of a DAW. The script mentions that while the video focuses on using a sequencer, there is also a similar tutorial available for creating a drum beat using a MIDI controller, indicating an alternative method for beat creation.

💡Resample Matic 5000

Resample Matic 5000 is a sampler plugin that comes with Reaper. In the script, it is used to load and trigger drum samples. The sampler is configured to respond to MIDI notes, allowing the user to assign specific samples to specific notes, which are then triggered by the sequencer to create the drum beat.

💡Velocity sensitivity

Velocity sensitivity refers to the ability of a sound or instrument to respond to the force with which a key is struck. In the context of the video, the script describes making samples velocity-sensitive so that the volume of the sample is determined by how hard or soft the corresponding MIDI note is triggered, adding dynamic expression to the drum beat.

💡MIDI note

A MIDI note is a digital representation of a musical note that can be sent from a MIDI controller to a DAW or software instrument. The script details how to assign specific MIDI notes to trigger different drum samples, such as assigning C2 to trigger the kick drum sample, which is crucial for mapping out the drum beat in the sequencer.

💡Metronome

A metronome is a device that produces an audible click at a regular interval, used by musicians to keep time. In the video, the metronome in Reaper is turned on to help the user keep in time while programming the drum beat, ensuring that the sequencer's notes are placed accurately in time with the desired tempo.

💡MIDI step sequencer

A MIDI step sequencer is a type of sequencer that allows users to input notes in a step-wise fashion, typically used for creating rhythms and beats. The script explains how to use the Mega Baby sequencer in Reaper, which is a MIDI step sequencer, to program a drum pattern by placing notes in a grid, each representing a beat or part of a beat.

💡Pattern

In the context of the video, a pattern refers to a specific arrangement of drum hits or a section of the drum beat. The script describes how to create different patterns for various parts of a song, such as verse, chorus, and breakdown, and how to switch between these patterns using the sequencer to build a full song structure.

Highlights

Introduction to creating a drum beat using a sequencer in Reaper.

Two methods for creating drum beats in Reaper: sequencer and MIDI controller.

Accessing Reaper's stash website for drum samples.

Adding the ReaSamplOmatic 5000 plugin for sample playback.

Importing and assigning kick drum samples to a MIDI note.

Configuring velocity sensitivity for sample volume control.

Assigning different MIDI notes to trigger various drum samples.

Enabling 'Obey note-offs' for more realistic sample playback.

Adding a sequencer plugin for MIDI step sequencing.

Setting the song tempo and using the metronome for timing reference.

Creating a drum pattern by placing notes on the sequencer grid.

Adjusting velocity for different drum hits to control loudness.

Creating a hi-hat pattern with accented downbeats.

Using note subdivision to create faster drum rolls.

Panning hi-hats left and right for a stereo effect.

Adding musical samples and adjusting their playback length.

Creating multiple patterns for different song sections.

Switching between patterns using MIDI triggers.

Final arrangement playback demonstrating the use of different patterns.

Conclusion and summary of creating a drum beat in Reaper using a sequencer.

Transcripts

hi I'm Kenny Joya welcome to another one

of my tutorials in this video I'm gonna

show you how to create your first drum

beat using a sequencer in Reaper for the

most part there's two different ways we

can create a drum beat in Reaper the

first way is using a sequencer to

trigger our drum samples the other way

is to play or perform it using a MIDI

controller or drum pads in this video

I'm gonna show you how to do it using a

sequencer

but I've also made a similar video using

a MIDI controller if you prefer to see

that video check the list of videos

available on the Reaper video homepage

that video should be just below this one

so the first thing we're gonna do is go

to the Reapers stash website we'll go to

google and type in Reaper stash then

we'll choose this right here then we'll

search first drum be

and this file shows up we get down with

the samples we'll be using to create our

first drumbeat

now let's go back to Reaper and put a

plug in on this first track I created

let's go to the track effects

we'll go to the reaper plugins and

choose resample Matic 5000 which is the

sampler that comes with Reaper so let's

double click it now let's go to the

folder we just downloaded right over

here on PC that's called your Explorer

on Mac it's the finder

and here the samples we're gonna use

let's start off with the kick just drag

it in to the plugin

we can click this button to hear the

sample that's our kick then we go down

here to minimum volume and bring the

knob all the way down to infinite and

that's going to allow our sample to be

velocity sensitive so it's triggered

harder it'll be louder and if it's

triggered quietly it'll be softer we're

gonna use velocity to adjust the volume

of each sample then we'll go down over

here to notes start a note end we could

choose the MIDI note that's going to

trigger this sample

I'll type in 48 which is c2 - both of

them

and now c2 is going to trigger the kick

sample so let's add the rest well first

select the plug-in copy it and then

paste it now we have a new one but we

could put our snare let's grab a snare

right here

drag that in

play from here

let's change the note for this sample so

different MIDI note triggers the snare

which changed this to 50 which is d2

now let's move on to the other samples

copy and paste it let's do the clap

right here drag it in

she's the note 252 which is e 2

there's a clap do it again for a coast

hat

right here drag it in

let's hear the hi-hat change this note

to 54 which is f sharp 2

and do another one for the open hat

drag it in

change the note to 58 which is B flat 2

and then I want to turn on right down

here obey note offs normally when we

trigger these samples it just plays the

whole sample but if we choose this the

sample only plays while the mini trigger

is held down so if we trigger a short

note the note is short which will help

for things like this when you want the

hi-hat to cut off when you play the next

note if this was turned off it would

sound like this which sounds wrong

because both hi-hats

are playing at the same time

so let's turn this on now let's move on

to the next sample copy and paste this

let's go to shot one which is more of a

musical sample that has a pitch to it

sounds like this

let's keep obey note offs on what she's

a note 260 which is C 3

copy and paste this let's go to shot to

drag this in

and that sounds like this

and change that note to 61 which is D

flat 3

copy and paste this

and bring in the river symbol

which sounds like this to create a

reverse effect we'll change this to 62

which is d3

and then finally

some white noise

which we'll use as a crash for the top

of our chorus which sounds like this

and again we'll leave on obey note offs

and change this to 63 which is he flat 3

so now we have all the sounds we're

gonna need but now we need a way to

trigger it we're not using a MIDI

controller so going to use a sequencer

what's that another plug-in right here

what search sequencer

right here there are three the mega baby

one is the most powerful so it's use

that one

we want to put it before our samples so

can trigger them afterwards

so just drag it right above it and place

it there nobody change the song tempo

down here

to 80 beats per minute that's the temple

or how fast this drumbeat is going to be

then turn on the metronome right up here

let's double-click this plugin so we can

float it and make it

as big as possible so this sequence of

plugin is basically a MIDI step

sequencer each one of these boxes

represents a step and by default each

step is a sixteenth note and over here

we could see our notes

but let's change the notes because right

down here it starts at c1

so let's move these green keys up higher

to about here

so it starts at c2 which is where our

kick sample is set so let's start by

placing a few snare hits on the two and

for using d2

just click right here and right here and

we should hear a snare on the 2 & 4 hit

play and we do we could change the

velocity or how loud the hit is

by holding down control on the PC or

command on the Mac and just drag it up

and down and we can see the number right

over here let's bring it up to about 70

right about there

that we can click this one to clear it

hit it again

another velocity is the same as this one

because it automatically uses the

previous velocity on every new note we

create

and we could also change the velocity of

all the notes that are the same sample

but holding our alt control on the PC or

option command on the Mac and just

dragging it

and they all go up or down together

put it back to

seventy-two and now it's add a kick part

we'll go down to see to click here here

and here

once you that let's bring the volume

down of all the kick hits with that

modifier and let's put it at around 60

let's hear that now it's it a clap but

just on the second stage on right here

and

e -

just the velocity to be about 70 and it

sounds like this now let's hit the

closed hi-hat on every eighth note again

each box is a sixteenth note so we'll do

every other one which is f sharp to

click this one this one and so on and

that will sound like this now I want to

create an accent for this part so it

changed the velocity of every other hit

starting with this one bring it down to

about 20

then we can click this twice and it

changed the velocity so the last note we

hit so all these will give me lower in

volume creating an accent on the

downbeats and for this last hit let's

hit an open hi-hat get rid of this one

and click it here let's hear that but

notice the note is too short so to

extend that note hold down alt on the PC

or option on the Mac and just drag it

from here to here now the note will be

twice as long one thing I'm noticing is

that the open hi-hat place too often it

plays every bar I wanted to play every

other bar so we use a keystroke to

double the length of this section

go right over here to our notes hold

down shift and then just click

it doubles the whole thing so now we

have a two bar pattern instead of one

bar so we can clear this note and

instead put the note here so now the

open hi-hat only plays every other bar

[Music]

but I want to try something different on

the first bar right here as I mentioned

earlier each one of these notes is a

sixteenth note which sounds like this

but if you want to play faster notes we

can still do that we could subdivide

these steps into multiple steps so if we

hold down the modifier shift while

right-clicking and then drag watch what

happens

we get two boxes instead of one let's do

the same here

so we could put four notes there and get

a 30-second note which sounds like this

[Music]

let's go even faster with a 64th note do

the same thing hold down shift and right

click drag go up so we get four notes in

that one box two sim here

and now we could add

four notes here and four notes here

let's just put three for the second note

so it sounds like this and we could

adjust the velocity of all these by

drawing it with the modifier control on

the PC come into the Mac just drawing

right from here up here and create a

fade in that's a bit too loud go a

little bit lower

[Music]

that's a bit better but I want to try

one other thing I want it to pan from

left to right so it's duplicate the

closed hi-hat and pam one left and one

right we'll go to the closed hi-hat copy

it and paste it twice let's bring these

up to here just so the next of them

what she's a note for this one to be 55

or g2

and we'll change this one to be 56 which

is G sharp too

then we'll pan the first one to the left

and the second one to the right

now go back to the sequencer

and delete these

and divide this one into four pieces and

this one the same thing they will put in

notes for this one and this one but just

three will fade them in like this

but here it sounds it's a little more

interesting with the hi-hat panning left

and right

now let's add our musical samples the

first one was c3

click it and then drag it bolt on the PC

option on the Mac so to adjust the

length Sony plays from the beginning up

until but not including the snare

have a copy the kick part so we'll put

one here as well click it and drag it

up until here get rid of these

we can adjust the volume on both hits

we'll make it about 45 let's hear that

[Music]

do the same thing with shot to which

we'll put over here let's see sharp 3

click it drag it over

just the volume of them together let's

bring it down to about 30 next we have a

white noise and their verse symbol but

unlike the other samples we have so far

I want these to play every four bars

instead of two bars so gonna use the

feature of this plugin that allows us to

use more than one pattern if we go up

here by these numbers these are the

different patterns we could use from 0

to 15 so there's a total of 16 we've

been using pattern 0 so it's duplicate

pattern 0 2 pattern 1 holding ctrl on

the PC will command in the Mac just

click it

and it duplicates padding:0 to pattern

one Senate could change them to be a bit

different

let's go back to zero and go to D sharp

3 which is where the white noise is

click it drag it over up until the snare

adjust the volume

to be about 40

[Music]

but we don't want that white noise to

play as often so let's go to pattern one

where it's not let's say the reverse

cymbal here it's on d3 so let's put it

on the second snare

and drag it over right to here

adjust the velocity to be about 30 let's

hear that

[Music]

but after that snare we don't really

need the open hi-hat let's hear that and

now you want to alternate between

pattern 0 and pattern 1 and luckily we

can do that real easily

hold on alt on the PC or option on the

Mac and just click number 1 then it

links up or it makes a chain between 0 &

1 and now it will alternate between both

patterns but doing it this way is not as

flexible as it can be so let's turn that

off hold on the PC option on the Mac and

just click 0 that takes off the linking

between those patterns and let's switch

it a different way but first let's

create a few more patterns for our song

let's start with 0 and duplicate it to 2

controlling the PC command in the Mac

and just click it

do the same thing with pattern one and

put it on pattern three

now it's readjust pattern 0 & 1 to be a

verse or breakdown verse will stop with

zero

and the Wii or the kicks

and the snares

let's get rid of the white noise and it

sounds like this

[Music]

and for pattern one what's to eat the

kicks

and the snares which change the kick

pattern to play eighth notes towards the

end right here

up until the state

[Music]

let's put a snare at the end and that

could be the second half of a breakdown

verse so we have four patterns to choose

from we have our chorus a to the second

half of the chorus and three a breakdown

verse and zero and the second half of

the breakdown verse at one so we could

switch it by hitting a midi key

but first we'll turn this on over here

midi trigger and change it to on pattern

change

then these red keys over here will

decide what many notes trigger which

pattern

it starts at C for which you can see

right here trigger C for that goes up

the keyboard to change each pattern so C

for

his pattern zero C sharp for his pattern

1 D 4 is 2 tee shot 4 is 3 and then so

on

so let's go back to our tracks over here

let's create a media item

controlling the PC well commander the

Mac and just draw it from bar one to bar

three we'll double-click it to open up

the MIDI editor let's go up here to c4

and destroy in a note we'll make it two

bars long doesn't it to be that long it

just makes it easier to see so c4 is

going to trigger pattern 0 then we can

duplicate it to bar 3

bring the note to C sharp for duplicate

it again to bar 5

bring it up a half step to D for which

we pattern three which is a chorus well

the first half and then finally

bring this up to c-sharp for now we have

all the patterns that we need if you

just duplicate them and move them around

let's let them all bring them all over

here

and it should play back the two halves

of our breakdown verse and the two

halves of a chorus and they repeat that

and if we had a full song with more

patterns we just create them and move

them around so let's open this back up

so I could see it all at the same time

let's play it from the beginning and we

should hear the changes in real time

starting with the breakdown verse which

is pattern zero

[Music]

and just like that we create an

arrangement for our song using just four

patterns to choose from and again we can

create up to 16 and just copy and paste

them to let our song so that's pretty

much it that's a first drum beat in

reaper using a sequencer I hope you

learned something I hope you can use it

and I'll see you next time

Thanks

[Music]

you

ah

you