One Tip for Better Drums // What An MPC Taught Me about Everything

[@squoblat]

Ricky Tinez, the Bob Ross of synth land.

[@rob.otnik.berlin]

Very funny cause very true

[@Chasing_Thoughts]

lol 😂

[@joe_4344]

We love Ricky!

[@Z589-r3z]

Happy little sinewaves

[@glizzyhendrix]

Only thing missing is that fro

[@bendayze]

Great video! I play drums in real life and what youre really touching on is ARTICULATION. You can play a groove hitting the hihat at the same volume but if you change it to add phrasing and feel you can make the groove speak in ways it never did before! Its like you can almost use your hi hat do make a counter melody or even a doubling of the melody. Acoustic drums don't really have an easy way to change pitch on the fly so articulation is our way of doing that!

[@smacksalad]

All this. For sure. Tuning real drums is something I've had issues with when I've hired drummers in the past.

[@benbashford]

Fantastic comment thanks!

[@ToyKeeper]

As a former drummer, I agree. Velocity is a huge part of what makes drums work.

[@TayTayMakesBeats]

Makes me want to make a drum machine (analog maybe) with velocity sensitive pads and velocity adjustment per step. Even at the same velocity each channel would produce a slightly different result each hit, with more significant alterations based on velocity. Think about it, each hit would have a slightly different filter cutoff, decay time, attack, response curve, pitch envelope etc. Basically an analog drum machine that tries to replicate the dynamics of acoustic drums. You can do something similar on modular with enough S&H and modulation but it would be cool to see a "living" hardware drum synth.

[@DJSlimzilla]

You are the most real person I’ve come across on KZbin period wether it be music or otherwise. Thank you for being awesome and keeping it going as a stream of consciousness. Too much stuff is over produced and cut/trimmed perfection. You just put out content in a real way it’s hard to explain and it’s been said in your comments before but you feel like a friend explaining something to me it’s a nice thing. Thank you.

[@chaptertwovision3119]

All your MPC 4000 videos are very much appreciated! Just recently got the 4k and there is alot to get your head around in terms of workflow and file management ; Please make some more :) ! Multis,programs,parts,tracks,seq... very confusing if you're not familiar with older Mpc's. The 4000 has much less time in the spotlight i've noticed. Keep it UPP!

[@bucaneroslife357]

I almost thought the sequencer edit is not able to make such type of realtime recording tho…

[@bradfordkeithmadison953]

Ahhh… the highlight of the week! New Ricky Tinez vid, some coffee, wrench on the old Triumph a bit then out for a ride - bliss. Got my MPC1K a while back and that’s when I found the channel…. love EVERY video! (Well, a tad bit sad when the 1K got sold!)

[@aptudo]

Any musician playing any genre can get value from ideas like this. I don't ordinarily make or listen to house music, but I always look forward to Saturdays when your new videos drop. And you know what? Yeah, my head is bopping by the end of it, lol.

[@zeusdeux]

Btw on the elektron boxes, since we lack velocity sensitive pads (they aren’t too great on Model:* either), what I do is record hats at the softest velocity rather than 100 and manually add accents and louder ghost notes. Seems to work a lot better starting off with say 16 notes at a 100 velocity where you have to go both ways around the velocity axis to get a groove.

[@lukepalmer6491]

Elektron had velocity sensitive pads. The rytm has this function

[@danielsolomon63]

P Lock the volume mate. It's easier. You can do it by step or just jam with the volume knob with rec mode activated.

[@drumatic]

Trig condition and parameter locks are killer!

[@RickyTinez]

oh nice! i love that approach! reminds me a bit of adding accents on the 909s or the Arturia drumbrutes

[@zeusdeux]

@@RickyTinez ngl I think I got it from that same action but on the DB-01 haha

[@burakeren]

Also adding second snare hit right after first with lower velocity creates a nice groove

[@ildarkinildarkin]

Very nice to remind us that we can make a lot with machines we already have.

[@dashansel3896]

So helpful! I remember watching one of the Circuit live beat challenges you guys did when John? created an entire groove by simply utilizing pitch and velocity on a high hat, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

[@RickyTinez]

yes! its so good haha, John is scary on the Circuit Tracks. total Underdog!

[@headlinerbeats]

This Channel is gold, just found it and gonna have a long night ahead watching. Your stuff is fire mate

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

The hi-hats rising in volume is such a fun sound. I gotta try that more.

[@linghan3260]

Dude you deserve so many more subscribers and views. Like at least 200k on each video. I hope you make decent money from your sets because your tutorials are awesome!

[@badymoh]

Thanks Ricky! Really love your vids! Shout-out from France🔥🔥🔥

[@mystereyogesh4749]

All Ricky Tinez videos are always great and these slightly shorter and concise videos are super dope! Really helpful, Ricky! Thanks :)

[@mattkaz9604]

It's true. I am a bad finger drummer and have no groove in me at all, but I stumbled over some loops I did using velocity pads the other day and the range of velocities and the expressiveness made those loops so much better than what I do these days with the octatrack/ max/ all sorts of high-tech stuff.

[@owenthesoyboy]

OH HELLS YEAH this is so important and even the 6 levels of accent on a TR-626 can help with articulation like this! I use it for internal sounds but also MIDI sent to drum modules like an old SC-88 with Roland 808 or jazz brush drum kits can bring out more life to drums that otherwise sound stagnant. Even the hidden notes that end up quite in the mix can offer some better results when they combine with other sounds on the same step.

[@JUNO-69]

I love using automation recording on the mpc live to play with resonance, tuning, and different parameters especially on my hats to give it a real alive moving around feel. Sometimes just to emulate the variation you would expect a live drummer to perform and other times to create new and interesting timbres and effects with more dramatic sounding sounds.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Dude this video was almost therapeutic 👏🏼👏🏼 simple but powerful tip, now just need the kids to go to sleep so I can switch on the MPC X and jam away! Have an awesome week brother!🤟🏻

[@Tobes1100]

Every time! The Circuits fixed velocity on/off button and the edit screen plus the record quantise on/off button can really give your drums life.

[@staticchoir]

an amazing technique, thanks for sharing. its something I never knew I wanted until I started playing with the PO-KO. honestly didn't know my mpc500 could do this until just now

[@lundsweden]

Great video, explainations are excellent and for some reason its so relaxing to watch your vids!

[@smacksalad]

I'm more of a MIDI drum programmer using BFD3 (I adore BFD), and the one thing I always get lost in is velocity, subtle to extreme changes for whatever the music is doing, whatever the section needs, and trying to program like a drummer would play, but also keeping it all 'loop' based. 127 levels, baby! But yeah, you are absolutely spot on correct, subtle velocity, volume, or pitch changes make all the difference to a beat. Everything sounds way more organic and fun/interesting. YMMV tho, obviously. And hand programming it all can be so tiresome and long winded :)

[@vznquest]

after more than a year with my Maschine mk3 i just discovered/starting using 16 levels there. always right in front of my face lol. it's a game changer.

[@LeslieJones_RSTRCTD]

Always so good to get my weekly dose of producing creativity! I am really trying to work this on the PO33, but will need to push the boundaries a little more.

[@BowieOng]

This just tops my list of important tips in beatmaking... Thank you !!!

[@davidvochocjr1005]

Another great detail picked up, thanks!

[@EverettVinzant]

I don’t know if this is okay to ask. I’ve found several… “rhythms everyone should know” sorts of videos. And these have been helpful. I’m learning… I have a LOT to learn. Could you show how to build a rhythm tool box? Like, “this is a break beat, a four on the floor, etc…” but set up so that when you need one, you copy it from where it is in the MPC to the new location (new song). Then you just set tempo, and drum kit you’re using… and then do the “tweaks.” I’m learning my MPC Live 2, but it’s slow… I *think* I know a good approach for this but would be happy to see what you recommend too. Not dictating anything, and if this doesn’t work with what you have planned, no harm. Wish you well and thanks for the education.

[@bahutu802]

Yeah I'm thinking of this as well quite often. Like having a folder on my drum machine with all patterns / rhythms predefined. But then again... I guess for guys like Ricky or anyone a bit more advanced, I guess it's quicker for them to just quickly layout the rhythm from scratch instead of loading and copying it from somewhere else. At the end it's just going 3 times through the loop, first putting down the kick, then the snare, and then hihats. Nevertheless, I'd also love to see that kind of video by Ricky. Like, what is his approach, how does he choose which rhythm / pattern goes with which beat, how did he learn different patterns in the first place etc.!

[@fanusamurai]

I believe you can actually preview the swing on MPC 4000; that’s one thing I miss about it. Also if you get double taps with older pads, I’ve found that using two fingers to tap seems to help.

[@thebeatmajors_yt]

Growing up with a 2000xl I used 16 levels on everything lol. Boom bap swing on ghost notes is beautiful

[@B.E.R.T.]

Such a great and informative video. I’ve been playing with this using my Maschine mk3 & Jam. Too good!

[@flaquis2729]

@Brian G I'm not in front of my Maschine but pretty sure u hit shift + the fixed vel/16vel pad.

[@B.E.R.T.]

@Brian G @flaquis stated one way another is if you’re finger drumming don’t used fixed velocity. Leave them pressure sensitive and you’ll get less robotic vibe going on. You can also automate the velocity and draw them in.

[@rhythmdroid]

Honestly, I’m surprised no classic techno or house track has used that “16 progressively rising levels of hi hat in row” as a pattern. It’s like a rising sawtooth LFO on the volume. There’s something pleasantly hypnotic about it.

[@jordanzish]

Pretty common in classic jungle, moreso with rim shots though. If you're not acquainted, Urban Shakedown and Aphrodite II are about as good a starting point as any.

[@acidarchivist]

Dynamic drums like that (and even more so) are all over 90s 909-based techno, since the volume & timbre of the drum machine was often adjusted live in recording.

[@hiding_my_name]

So awesome! I didn't know this about the MPC!

[@Dea_Decay]

Love these videos thank you so much for all the tips

[@zeusdeux]

Saved this for a Sunday breakfast with musician mates. Best decision of the week easily!

[@TayTayMakesBeats]

Been doing something similar on my 404 where I make several copies of the same sample and change the velocity for each (shout out to SPVidz for the tip!) Now that I have an MPC 1000 it's so much easier, I haven't used 16 levels enough for pitch but I'm getting there! Decay and filter are cool too, adds a bunch of variation.

[@MarcellJjr]

You know we want a Digitakt 1.30 review/new feature video....

[@nr126]

So easy to do in the software ... I get this method is nostalgic. ..but the colour coded velocity is where it's at.

[@paulstephenson3867]

Thank you very much! I put these techniques into practice immediately with great results. Also, see you navigate your 4K liked that is awesome 🔥🔥

[@smacksalad]

Levels, Jerry. Levels!

[@LogansLessons]

Lollllll

[@Ancaja123]

Number one trick I use with the MPC, 16 levels velocity does wonders for dynamics in drums

[@AveMcree]

Can't wait to get my MPC 4000!

[@palimo3653]

Why🤷🏿‍♂️

[@mikevenus4117]

Great video! I know you love Mpc, but the Akai Force 16 levels is amazing and let you have 3 features of 16 levels at one time. Have you thought of giving the Akai Force a try?

[@Noise-Conductor]

The Force is better at a lot things then the MPC's but I don't think his subs would like that which is why you never got an answer.

[@BIG_PASTA]

Great video as always homie, thanks

[@RYANMAKESBEATS]

Absolutely killed this one man, love it!!

[@sixsgma1563]

Not sure if MPCs can do this, but another trick I use is having a filter modulated by velocity such that quieter hats are a little lowpassed. I’ve also used s+h LFOs to randomize tuning +/- 20 cents. Things like this help each sound pull more weight in a mix so then you require less tracks.

[@humanbeeing69]

Helpfull! Thanks master Tinez!!!

[@ReeWebster]

Couldn’t imagine programming drums without thinking about velocity, should be one of the very very first things you learn.

[@Wheel333]

That last little bongo riff was the 17th level 🙏💓🙏

[@epson_ecotank_et-2850]

I love how the 4000 looks like something off a spaceship from the 90s

[@marizuokereke7347]

Great tip. You're right, you get so used to hammering everything through. I tend to do it in modular beats, but I spend loads of effort CVing my melodies and bass 😆 Go figure.

[@richmixx8974]

Nice One Ricky. Awesome As Always ...

[@ds74878]

Yup, and then add another part with open high hats (? Not sure of the name) and you're groovin'.

[@BishopEddie5443]

Real drummers [me] never go too low in velocity on a groove- solos maybe. Dynamics though is a beautiful thing.

[@sirsynth225]

Don't have an MPC (never had one in fact - THAT's a daring confession on this channel, right ;-) But: The trick of manually changing velocity or other params in a cyclical way makes your (and later/hopefully my) music way more vivid and interesting. Thanks for the pro advice! It is like the manual input mode for the LFO's on the Arturia Matrixbrute: there also one can use the Matrix as a limited-values entry panel. Moreover these LFO's can be synced to obtain this MPC-style effect (16ths) but also be a division or multiplication and maybe run unsynced to create more variation. (I should try that last one - not sure). Love the jam at the end - enjoy your weekend!

[@PorchBass]

New MPCs offer decay and attack too. Sometimes you don't need 127 different velocities... Just some dynamic contrast

[@signaturemusicservices]

Smooth Ricky very cool 🎶 👍

[@btwnspkrs7951]

Definitely a great point & velocity makes all the difference especially w hats. I’m curious, what headphones are you using? They look the Sennheiser HD 650’s.. just a guess lol. Thanks in advance!

[@DJOTCUTS]

Great video! Those stabs sound familiar…Reason sounds maybe? Anyways thanks for another great video!

[@ILLUDIUM_Q_36]

I didn't discover why my hihats sounded so redundant until I got my 4k and played with the 16 levels. It changed a lot for me. 😁

[@v47_music]

This is the reason I love OP-1, it forces to take it slow

[@DirtleTilbury]

Omg. I always thought this was 16 levels of amplitude/velocity...hahahhahahha. wow. Didn't know you could change other things.

[@Whaever_1981]

Great video. I have 2 questions: 1. Do you use the MPC4000 a lot still or are you more on the MPC3000? 2. Since you know the MPC4000 inside out, do you know if there's a shortcut on the machine to quickly switch the metronome on and off (without scroling through the MAIN menu)? I've looked through the manual and all over the internet. Seems like there is no such option.... But maybe there is??? :P THX!!!

[@RickyTinez]

2.) You're going to laugh. So on the main program window, on the top right there is the image of a metronome with a filled in box next to it. Hover over that Box using the directional arrows (around the data wheel) and then turn the wheel left or right to turn on and off the metronome! super easy peace

[@MattGreerMusic]

Also great for funky ghost notes and fake delays.

[@johncitizen8828]

Fundamental stuff - but a great reminder on their importance.

[@MrTimmyvee]

"Boo. Whack. Not good" Funny

[@lucasbond8874]

Ricky and his 4k name a better duo

[@brokemanmusic2587]

Not bad! Keep doing your thing

[@thankyougohome8860]

great video rick!

[@markl7520]

good job ricky

[@gminorcoles]

As an mpc 4k user this is so good to see

[@Marrcello]

love the 16 levels button :)

[@filipswiniarski7388]

Thanks for this video!

[@kooljules]

Good vid buddy. Thumbs up

[@DJ279V]

Best thing I learned was from the late J-Dilla: Just flow!!

[@ErvinTracks]

Great video man, as always

[@vadykk]

Ricky we need your video on new digitakt os

[@IhorMedia]

I discovered the 16th velocities on the Push some time ago and I was sure it came from the MPC ✌️

[@German_LP]

Hello Ricky! I write with a translator. You are one of those who knows the most about MPC. I have the MPC 2500 with jjos free. Can I ask you a technical question? I sample and go to edit and there is an option called "staccatto" that works. for what it can be used. Thank you. I've been watching your videos for over a year. greetings from Argentina Respect

[@alexandergrebennikov3383]

Damn that jam is soooo cool

[@jordanzish]

I need an MPC back in my life.

[@futurebeats898]

I got the erm multiclock because of you. Its really nice thanks a lot.. Maybe change the title of the vid when you say don't buy this? Because you end up saying it's dope. Thanks as always bud

[@geecen]

Need to know your thoughts on the new mpc software... need to!

[@bojanstojanov6431]

There are levels to this game

[@eafortson]

Damn I’m early. Drums is a topic that never gets old. Looking forward to this.

[@IOWPCV]

Love your vids .

[@theway3058]

Ricky what brand of frames are those you have on in the video. Cool glasses.

[@billB101]

Be interested to hear your views on the MPC4000 vs the newer MPC's ( like the One and Live ) Ricky. What made you go for this one over the others?

[@DirtleTilbury]

Thank you.

[@TweelerDotCom]

Nice one Ricky, thx!

[@michaeldicostanzo9950]

Love watching stuff like this knowing I’ll never be able to afford one lol

[@paul6925]

My aging brain could not handle programming this machine. But luckily these tips also work in Ableton or any DAW

[@philipjean-remy9557]

That hat got you an automatic thumbs up.

[@RobertSaxy]

Music like painting is all about the relationships between values, an other way to think about the same thing you’re talking about is how would a drummer on a set play your groove. A tip for black box users you can also set the filter to be controlled by the velocity if you want more of a natural feel (not just for natural sounds). Great video as per usual

[@tbag419]

Thanks again 🥁

[@claytonchipper3874]

Is there somewhere I can buy or stream the tune? Super cool house vibes

[@HanHuman]

Ah MPC videos are the best

[@BrunoWiebelt]

yeah Elektron boxes ... best... for me LFO's are my friend

[@HammyHavoc]

When you input the notes in Step Edit on the MPC, I'm fascinated by it! Is this possible on Maschine? Maschine of course has a step sequencer, but I've never seen or entered notes singularly like that before with it going onto the next step after each note is input.

[@HammyHavoc]

@@koolmaaan Thanks for that! Really appreciate it. I re-read most of the manual and didn't find anything lmao. Do the modern MPCs do it?

[@danielmulholland5869]

Yo Ricky Ricky, are you gonna get your hands on an s2400?