We here at Raw Loops are all about helping artists to not only make great music with our loops but also to help them create their original sound using our samples. With such a fierce market for producers nowadays, we drive to create high-quality content raising the level for producers to stand out from others. With these five tips, you will be well on your way to being accomplishing this goal.
1. Layering
From one-shots to loops, layering can give your sound a whole new life. For hits, first pull up your favorite sample based drum machine plugin and with a pretty simple 2 step process of loading up two sounds in the same category i.e. two different hats, kicks, synths etc and essentially balancing them, EQing them against each other and being sure you are picking sounds each with different strengths you can achieve a unique sound. For example, one sound will have enough top end while the other has a good mid-low end or one sound has a good attack and the other a great decay. Layering is truly the secret to creating your own sounds from samples in order to match your records and make them stand out.
Another form of layering is loop based layering. It is slightly different; you will hear this abundantly in very high energy music and certain forms of techno or pumping tech house. For example, loading up several different hi-hat loops and again EQing them against each other will make sure they mesh well together rhythmically. The key to get them working together is to have them well balanced and in a proper space in the mix (some low while others high, some left with others right or even on top of each other). The idea is to make it sound whole together as one sound.
2. Modulation
Modulation is all about FX and moving the different parameters to take a simple 1 bar loop to another level. There are many things to do here, and the possibilities are endless. One basic yet very impactful trick is, to load up a bar loop; duplicate it over 8 bars; add a delay effect to the track; add a basic 16th note rhythm; no feedback and then turn the delay all the way dry. Next you will open up the automation lane of your track for the dry/wet parameter and draw in different points taking the dry/wet to 50% for 16th note rhythms randomly over the 8 bars. Therefore, you will bring some sparseness into the rhythm of the track with it sounding not so loopy. This will overall make it much more dynamic, funky and interesting for the listener. This concept works for just about any effect from filters to reverbs.
3. Slice & Chop
Slicing and chopping are exactly what they sound like, cutting up different loops, taking from different sounds from each one, taking from different sections of each loop then creating one new loop that’s cohesive.
4. Re-Sampling
Re-pitching, format shifting, time stretching, frequency shifting, essentially pushing and pulling on the loops, changing the pitches of different notes and or hits to create entirely new melodies, riffs or getting your drums to match the records tonally.
5. Tone Shaping & Filtering
This again is about FX, from distortion, filters, EQs to even tonal shaper FX plugins. This technique works on every sound but tends to work better on elements with a lot of mid and low range. For example, you can alter a basic square wave bass loop, add heavy distortion to change into a screaming lead hook or sound. Making it virtually unrecognizable from its original state.
Happy Tweaking from the Raw Loops Team!
