Why your BREAKS sound like SH*T... 😬 and how to FIX it.

[@Bazzookie]

Personally I like to layer breaks, chop it all up so the kicks and snares are all matched up, and then throw my own deep kick and snare sounds to add some punch, finally EQing everything to grab specific elements of each break so they all meld together into one punchy drum beat. If you just throw some breaks overtop of each other it'll just sound like noise, and if you chop them up so they all match the same rhythm it'll sound better but things will still be overlapping and competing making it sound muddy, but if you methodically chop things and eq them properly you can layer drums up so that they can all add to each other and create super energetic breaks.

[@christienscott1171]

Pitch is also very important and very over looked. If everything should work but certain hits just feel off, try pitching before immediately eqing.

[@Hollandvancewright]

Nothing wrong with your approach, but here’s a couple tips: 1. Watch out for your phase alignment, if you have two sounds moving opposite each other they will cancel each other out. You’ll either lose volume, clarity and frequencies, or you’ll get nasty comb filtering. 2. Less is more when layering drums. With kicks, I like to find a tight thud and layer it with itself pitched up 2-4 octaves to keep it in key and phase. Snares you can go wild adding flams, claps, foley and resampled reverb. I layer different rhythms of hi hats together, but I mix them in their own space so it’s obvious there’s different lines going. Take it with a grain of salt though, I haven’t finished a song for like 5+ years (lots of projects but work, wife, keeping my shitty car alive, etc.)

[@worksofein6449]

Both versions sounds great, but I think I prefer the cluttered version of the break best. My adhd brain likes getting lost in the details.

[@ASH-ou4cg]

😉

[@worksofein6449]

@positivet7491 I can see how that would be a problem.

[@PauLtus_B]

Fellow ADHD brain here: Create loads of layers. Then start cutting bits (or fade in and out) away at the points where they don't add anymore. By starting and stopping these bits you will have a lot of variety which in some way sounds more busy but still keeps the mix cleaner.

[@worksofein6449]

@PauLtus_B hello! Thanks, I'll give that a go!

[@SjarMenace]

I always asked myself if adhd people like drumandbass i met alot of adhders who love dnb including me

[@E-1K]

The "bad" example at 0:05 is actually some hotness. Sounds like a big hippie festival drum circle. 😂

[@SkynnyAnimation]

the cool thing about clipping your breaks is you also get additional headroom, if you noticed the peaks on the waveform were reeally high until he clipped them, but after he clipped it the amplitudes were smaller but the volume is perceived the same, actually it sounded louder after he clipped them but they will have been peaking at a lower dB. dope vid as always!

[@Strafuzz]

A lot of people sleep on clippers

[@STRANJAH]

It’s a great point. One of the benefits of clipping.

[@Strafuzz]

@@STRANJAH There's a dude called Baphometrix or something. He did a 90 minute tutorial on clippers! I like the fact you can put them before a compressor/limiter, so they don't have to work so hard.

[@KH_1]

Because lots of people read articles on internet said you can only use clipper and limiter in the last step when mastering, but use it to just trim the very high volume spike is ok, it doesn't distort the sound, lots of people just want to follow the rule without understand how things work.

[@DJFateDNB]

finish the track! wtf, was vibing, getting lost in it! good stuff as usual stranjah! big ups

[@benmochrie7832]

Also, good to see Crystl and yourself using each others packs! 👊

[@joshbarnes293]

Wow the transformation you can hear by 15:40 is so so good! Great work, thank you so much for all of the knowledge you put out there. Your tutorials have been a great help -- when I've wanted to learn the fundamentals of a genre I find you've already got a tutorial for it that clears up the mystery. Your instruction clues me into new workflows and techniques to make my production better and better -- really, thank you!

[@projectz975]

i had never considered just layering a bunch of breaks on top of each other without chopping them at all, until this guy told me it was wrong... Also LMFAO nice tracklib ad, love it when youtubers try to slip ads into the content without any separation

[@quincy3d69]

i tryed to proof a point about old school beats and neuro stomp shit ! you just proved my point !!!! may the force be with you

[@missinforecordsltd]

stranjah, don’t know if you already got a video on this but i’m wondering how to make some solid breaks out of strictly one shots… thanks!

[@GeneralSigh]

I’m learning so much from you at the minute, can’t say thank you enough. I’m looking forward to getting the og sample pack

[@RiserOfficial]

Really tight work man and a really great track. I just been reading on tracklib about clearing the vocal sample and it looks like they're making it pretty affordable to do.

[@eblissdj]

Both are great. The first one have a more old school feeling the second don't have. But the second sound cleaner. The thing is to use the right one at the best moment. I guess

[@noahwig500]

Gotta love the sound of that break. It's crisp and snappy af!

[@sramirez1906]

Dope content and tune as always! I appreciate the glue-compressor-as-clipper tip. I'm using that on my next project.

[@blkrbbt]

I love the picture in picture format! Happy holidays, Stranjah! Love you!

[@STRANJAH]

Bigup and wishing you well!

[@blkrbbt]

Such a vibe! And there is some great knowledge in here. Big ups my man.

[@limiter32]

Always use linearphase eqs if boosting more than +3dB to overcome phase issues. You can always cut the same amount as it is better in terms on sound quality. Coloring eqs on their own. Nice and clean ideas about conquering the rhythmics of a track, good stuff👌

[@neurokinetik]

My current WIP definitely sounds like the "before" clip, lol.

[@MikeSekt]

Thanks Stranjah! Definitely the best dnb production content on KZbin! 👏

[@andrewedwards6515]

so aggressive on that intro, but fair enough, you got me and my shitty breaks :(

[@apoplexiamusic]

Awesome break and incredibly insightful technical rundown as usual!!!! Thank you for sharing actually good production knowledge with your in the ocean of questionable tutorials that KZbin can be! And happy holidays!

[@STRANJAH]

Much love I'm happy you found this one helpful!

[@jbmaf4378]

I’ve been trying to understand how to arrange breaks and all this time didn’t know people were pitching them up. 😭 I wish I knew this in 2006 when I was producing a lot and trying to get music out. I cut some dubplates and played them out but now I’m ready to go back in!

[@STRANJAH]

Sick!!! Glad to hear that!

[@paulwalsh6734]

Drum production is awesome. Only listening on phone. Will deffo come back to this

[@renegadehz9346]

Awesome video, I've learned so much from this vid and the 140bpm Jungle Break Choppage video - That video is the fundamentals right there, a MUST watch, just those little bits that I'm doing wrong or not doing at all(!!!) that make such a big, BIG difference. The tune in the vid sounds lush as well mate, wicked! Thanks for sharing the knowledge man. 🙏

[@shitmandood]

Funny you mentioned that because I went and re-watched the Choppage video after this one.

[@renegadehz9346]

@@shitmandood I re-watched it before this one hahaha!!! 👍

[@STRANJAH]

Much love, I'm happy those videos have stuck!

[@renegadehz9346]

@@STRANJAH 👊

[@nickvledder]

I love your videos! And, you are absolutely right, these lessons are valuable for every genre. Big thanks!

[@KelmoMusic]

Sounding good dude, havent messed with custom breaks in a while, feeling inspired to give it a crack again :)

[@STRANJAH]

Nice my man!

[@lockwood6793]

Great vid bro once again keep up the good work

[@1disturbedjunglist]

Zoned out to the full track part. Lush.

[@STRANJAH]

Thanks my man

[@DarthDerpOfficial]

i think both work. the first could use some cleanup but is still really good sounding, but the second is a totally different style, so i don't think they're all that comparable

[@ASH-ou4cg]

Another beneficial looking video! 🤘

[@STRANJAH]

Thank you!

[@ConeMedaillon34]

Awesome content man for real, so many useful insights

[@portemanteau3802]

geogebra c'est toi?

[@ConeMedaillon34]

@@portemanteau3802 c'est bien moi

[@Rawwb]

shits crazy dope at the end

[@2NDBEATS]

why are u looking in my soul rbo

[@vvilhelm8608]

Great video, love the ideas on keeping break chops natural with the hi-hat variations. Idk if you've tried changing the "Preserve" options in the beats mode of ableton's audio warping? Try changing the two arrows to the arrow and the line symbol (looks sth like |

[@STRANJAH]

Interesting. I have played with those but have not got the results I wanted. However I will check it again upon your advice!

[@SoulTrainProductions]

Well, Paradox (which is master of sampling breaks imo) said to not quantize xd

[@metronoid967]

I guess I'm not the only one that actually liked both the "wrong" and "correct" versions

[@totopolo2379]

ok but can you go past boring amen and sampling rehashing and create your own breaks and syncopations like Austrian Camo and Krooked???

[@STRANJAH]

I guess you have seen my other modern break videos 😏

[@aaronbazil]

Btw, dude, thank you so much for this tutorial as well as others! Gonna need to tighten up my sound a bit.

[@joshdaigle616]

wish I had learned on ableton now 🤦‍♂finding it hard to transfer this to other daws that dont have the ableton stock plugins, a video with 3rd party plugins would be cool, id rather pay abit of cash to get the vst and results without trying to learn a new daw

[@amado7760]

Really nice Stranjah !

[@aykanakdag945]

21:10 you can use max for live volume compensator for glue compressor instead of trying to match the makeup db with utility

[@sadface]

The comments are why I don’t worry about the fine details of my production techniques that much. Everyone saying the cluttered version is better 😂

[@portemanteau3802]

do you sometimes layer the kick with a more "modern" kick sample to add extra low end and keep the other kick sample as a texture or is it all sampled breaks loops and hits?

[@STRANJAH]

I do, depends on the genre and feel I want.. but this kick was suffice for the vibe I wanted

[@portemanteau3802]

@@STRANJAH makes sense, and when you do, do you try to match the envelopes?

[@JIDEHHIGHELEMENTS]

Title is Savage 😂😂😭😭 !

[@TheVisitor3]

Dude you're a cyborg. How do you get all this knowledge in your head?

[@i.q_music]

I learned this style of chopping with Reason 4.

[@pepsipimpin6010]

I think you're mistaking "cluttered" for "full". The second mix just sounded glassy and anemic.

[@kmotion1]

Really informative video Stranjah as usual! Any change u have a version of your sliver that can be used in ableton live 9?

[@STRANJAH]

Hey I don't have Live 9 but will see if there's a way

[@kmotion1]

@@STRANJAH thank u mate

[@esahm373]

Do you do HipHop Breaks too? Like 90s Boom Bap?

[@elusivepassages]

Sounds good dude!

[@iheartdnb]

Holy shit the tune is fire bro damn!!!!

[@RTH1122]

Control/Shift/R 👍

[@Tsavness]

Hey Stranjah, great tutorial! Are there any videos showing your racks like the one you use in this one? If not, do you think of making a video tutorial about these?

[@STRANJAH]

Can look into it. Thx!

[@mach489i]

I prefer the cluttered version over the sanitised over produced wet fart 'better' version

[@viktorf3911]

On point! thanks for the video!

[@jesseheifetz7657]

some great tips bud.

[@Code4_DnB]

14:37 sounds link the intro to Jonny L - sea red here. ❤

[@Banksyyt]

Great video, thanks! Where do you get your breaks? Cheers!

[@dogboyauckland]

Nice one bro, really useful tips as always

[@retromograph3893]

Nice video effect at 25:09 !!

[@spankrocketgaming294]

Ohh. I wish I knew of track lib. Well now I know 😁

[@__Nicholas__]

HAHAH the first example sounded better

[@iheartdnb]

Excellent tutorial by the way

[@TonyOldskool]

Another amazing tutorial, thanks you

[@benmochrie7832]

Good stuff. But sometimes this level of editing detracts from the “soul” of the breaks? Kinda turning a live drum track into a drum machine pattern.

[@STRANJAH]

For sure. Just depends on the direction you want!

[@Skimbosam]

Incredible video

[@peterrlee]

Your videos are awesome! Thanks :)

[@lucanjones5351]

Tight 👏🏼 cheers

[@stevewoywitka3258]

great post ✌

[@benmartens2885]

crazy that in like 6-12 months there will be an AI that does all of the compression, fading, volume shaping, and so much more for you...

[@STRANJAH]

Interesting to see where music and creation are going with these tools

[@benmartens2885]

@@STRANJAH Yea! Such a great video tho, and also it's like you're doing so much of this on autopilot after decades of training your ear etc, very odd to me that algorithms will be probably doing it for a lot of people. like "clean up these breaks and send them to MIDI, give me like 4 different mixes"... also I need that drum rack preset thing or i just need to save my own presets

[@lockwood6793]

Bro I can find the compression cheatsheet in the links below?

[@STRANJAH]

Ooop... Amen Compression Cheatsheet → bit.ly/3BYnf6y STRANJAH Slicing Preset → bit.ly/3doS6ji

[@lockwood6793]

@@STRANJAH legend bro

[@hotstapler3129]

❤❤❤ big Iove Stranjah

[@STRANJAH]

Love going back to you!

[@Uluqiorra321]

Love it, these drums really got this Drumemachine’s newest songs vibe

[@atomaalatonal]

the problem with these layered drums is always out of phase instruments like stumbling bassdrums or snares, massive dynamics probs when switching on and off, two different insturments layered on top of each ohter sounding odd - not always bad though ^^- too much mud etc etc. i admit i often use that layering method to sketch out fast the ideas. afterwards im too effin lazy to finish it or sober it up properly to my mopre minimal sort of thinking :D.

[@tomashcroft7024]

Great video! Thank you.

[@ashleighfournier-kelleher9536]

Amazing thank you!

[@xgmode]

Psyscope pro is my goto scope these days.

[@RTH1122]

Control E 👍

[@CRUASSANFAN]

not enough lows, needs a bit of reverb, too much mids, not loud enough. 6/10

[@Jocasta2801]

Alright Gordon Ramsay

[@gomesdiogo]

did you released this track?

[@cclark8088]

another great video!

[@STRANJAH]

Thanks again!

[@cclark8088]

@@STRANJAH yw

[@DJ_PHIISIX]

hey bro what you used for those motion video clips

[@Shpat100]

Yeeaaah!!! Delicious!

[@iheartdnb]

How can we get a copy of that tune?

[@maximilienpilloux1533]

Hey Stranjah thanks for the video, really nice tutorial ! I have a hs (and a noob I guess...) question there, but why do you say that the song is in F sharp minor while the vocals and the keys are Bm ? Thanks for the answer

[@djmage7991]

yes I am also wondering this too.

[@STRANJAH]

I think they mislabelled the vocal from my understanding

[@STRANJAH]

think they mislabelled it, cuz f# minor made more sense

[@__BlacklotuS__]

yeah too many layers is a something habit i need to stop

[@Si-Re444]

Just like that!😎

[@djledmandossantosleandro5381]

Tuneeeeee

[@bigupz6818]

Beneficial video here.

[@alexmack416]

you gotta finish and release this one man

[@sheeepman]

wow, great tune though!

[@hplusmusic4653]

Big up 👊

[@willdahbe]

you're fuckin dope!

[@STRANJAH]

Much love!

[@sunpak4898]

breakcore!!!

[@TheGamingGoatChannel]

Sweet

[@endosick3998]

type in the mierder loud ?¿

[@Atomicitalia]

probably just get your breaks replace at the autoshop innit

[@ASH-ou4cg]

24:09 Robert Miles - Children

[@STRANJAH]

Wow, good ear!

[@mybiggrin]

Tell that to Squarepusher…

[@DCSwallow]

😍🎶🔊