The Amen Break - An analysis of the most important sample in history | Drum Patterns Explained

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  • Опубліковано 21 січ 2022
  • ► / captainpikant Support us on Patreon and get access to lots of drum patterns, cheat sheets and more!
    Much has been said about the history of the Amen Break, but in this episode we take a look at the drum pattern behind the legendary breakbeat, how it works, its little details and what makes it special.
    ► Instagram / captainpikant
    Featured drum patterns - transcriptions available on Patreon:
    The Winstons - Amen Brother
    Gear used:
    Roland TR-6S
    Synthstrom Audible Deluge
    #amenbreak #tr6s #909 #deluge #drummachine #synthstrom #roland #hiphop #jungle #dnb #drumnbass #breakbeat #sampling
    Produced by Jean-Claude Dirckx and Sophie Hoppstädter

КОМЕНТАРІ • 358

  • @CaptainPikant
    @CaptainPikant  2 роки тому +130

    For all you Deluge users we made a list of some helpful shortcuts we used while making this video:
    • Double clip length and rollout: [Shift] + press [◄ ►] knob
    • Re-order kit row: [Audition pad] + press and turn [▼▲] knob
    • Change single kit row colour: [Shift] + [Audition pad] + turn [▼▲] knob
    • Make a kit row send MIDI: [Audition pad] + [MIDI]
    (any sound assigned to the kit row is removed, it will only send MIDI now)
    • Select MIDI channel / note for kit row: [Audition pad] + turn [lower] knob / [upper] knob
    • Add current instrument to choke group: [Shift] + [Polyphony] > CHOK
    • Sample start/end: [Shift] + [Waveform]. Press green start line or red end line, then adjust with [pads] or [select] knob. Zoom in for finer adjustments (press and turn [◄ ►] knob)
    • Newly placed notes and notes played with the audition pads will default to the same velocity as the last note touched on that pattern (that's the reason I touch the cymbal step at 8:00 - so I can use the audition pad at this velocity).
    These will of course also be in the Deluge Cheat Sheet we're working on right now! :)

    • @Klimen777
      @Klimen777 Рік тому +1

      An example done quickly on TR-6s without a sampler Real Drums ua-cam.com/video/X2tOFAcPD9k/v-deo.html

  • @thb-music
    @thb-music 2 роки тому +813

    Man... timestretch artifacts are like a spcial sauce of each sampler. DnB/Jungle oldskoolers seem to just know an Akai timestretch vs anything else.

    • @danielmulholland5869
      @danielmulholland5869 Рік тому +11

      The 1010music blackbox has my favorite artifacts of any modern unit

    • @SlashCampable
      @SlashCampable Рік тому +40

      I'm a big fan of the jank you can get from abletons stretching. At ultra low speeds the beat and granular modes start sounding amazing.

    • @rebusd
      @rebusd Рік тому +12

      @@SlashCampable amen brother lol

    • @made.online2149
      @made.online2149 Рік тому +22

      the virgin timestretch
      the chad playing it slower & faster by pitching it up and down

    • @henrymackay6724
      @henrymackay6724 Рік тому +3

      My mpc1000 gets a bit too crunchy lol
      Edit: I am aware most dnb was on a s950 or s I forget the number

  • @mattkaz9604
    @mattkaz9604 2 роки тому +349

    I should hate this break as it's been used to death, but it really does sound so nice and lend itself to being used in so many ways.

    • @JgHaverty
      @JgHaverty Рік тому +15

      I think the magic of it is it transcends a specific genre. When its used between artists between the likes of U2 down to NWA, its more of a flourish than anything

    • @inthefade
      @inthefade Рік тому +26

      It's the blue jeans of break beats; Everyone wears them and no one cares that everyone wears them.

    • @crimsonfancy
      @crimsonfancy 2 місяці тому

      @@inthefade Interesting observation. I can relate and do appreciate your analogy.

  • @valencygraphics
    @valencygraphics Рік тому +171

    Can I just say as a non-musician, but an avid listener who loves doing deep dives on my favorite genres:
    This was so refreshing and wonderful to hear a precise and in-depth break down of the building block that makes up my favorite genre, Drum and Bass. The way you've presented it is so wonderful and clear. Absolutely lovely. Thank you.

    • @CANControlGRAFFITI
      @CANControlGRAFFITI Рік тому

      Welp. I’m afraid that means you like hip-hop and the likes mate 😅

    • @maksimn.
      @maksimn. 9 місяців тому

      ​@@CANControlGRAFFITI Amen breaks aren't unique to hip hop mate

    • @harrys919
      @harrys919 9 місяців тому +1

      @@CANControlGRAFFITIwhat’s wrong with that

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L 6 місяців тому

      @@CANControlGRAFFITIabsolutely, my love for jungle/DnB as a young teen is what helped me get into hiphop as an older one! (I mean I already liked classic NY hiphop like GM Flash, but everything more modern than that lol)

  • @semyonboyk0
    @semyonboyk0 Рік тому +232

    I can never get tired of hearing an Amen. Great video, thanks for sharing!

  • @scality4309
    @scality4309 2 роки тому +105

    First time i heard an Amen, i would have never thought it was just a normal drumkit.

    • @Gameboygenius
      @Gameboygenius Рік тому +8

      Right? I want to see that what snare drum looks like.

    • @inthefade
      @inthefade Рік тому +6

      It's all about the room sound, compression and mic setup.

    • @gearwatcher
      @gearwatcher Рік тому +5

      @@Gameboygenius It's a 14x6.5 ludwig steel

    • @leewightman8619
      @leewightman8619 6 місяців тому

      Real drums just pitched and sliced

  • @DJChrisNeon
    @DJChrisNeon Рік тому +41

    I always felt the charm of the Amen was how it changed in pitch when it was matched to the tempo of whatever track it was being used in.

  • @netako
    @netako 2 роки тому +94

    I love how the drum beats that plays during the transitions are played by the featured drum machine (drum machines this time) in his videos.

    • @CaptainPikant
      @CaptainPikant  2 роки тому +21

      Thanks! I think you're the first one to notice!

  • @BenGeorge77
    @BenGeorge77 2 роки тому +83

    Deluge is a junglemachine--the p-locking lets you change all sorts of parameters per hit, so you can do the filter/pitch/etc sweeping. Also, the timestretch algo is really reminscent of the early Akai algos, so riiiinnnnsssee oooouuuttt to your heart's content.

  • @AndyWardpara
    @AndyWardpara 2 роки тому +115

    Wow, I wasn't expecting the reconstruction to sound as convincing as it does, seriously well done 👏

  • @k.upward
    @k.upward Рік тому +12

    I‘ve always struggled with my songwriting for the singular reason of being bad at designing beats. I just found this channel and it’s a godsend

  • @antonyath2950
    @antonyath2950 Рік тому +7

    I m 46 and an oldschool breakbeat rave fan from the 90s era. Also an amateur musician in that genre from 2000. The video blew my mind! Such an inspiration! (Especially the slices!)

  • @rockdoverehab8407
    @rockdoverehab8407 11 місяців тому +9

    I've literally just started playing around with music production stuff, videos like this really help with the motivation to keep learning cool shit like this!

  • @shalaq
    @shalaq 7 місяців тому +3

    I'm a drummer and this video was very helpful. Since Jojo Mayer and his band Nerve emerged, a loy of drummers try to freely improvise on this break in the manner that you just showed. Thank you❤

  • @ecrylian
    @ecrylian 2 роки тому +34

    That tip with the 909 kicks to supplement pitched up amens lack of low end is gonna be really helpful, this video is fantastic!

  • @paulm7826
    @paulm7826 Місяць тому

    Very detailed and informative, and presented in a clear and accessible way. This is the best analysis of the Amen break that I have seen. Thank you.

  • @GLYCEMusic
    @GLYCEMusic Рік тому +37

    Just subscribed. This is by far the best analysis/breakdown of the amen break that I've ever seen. This is coming from a music producer who has been at it for 8+ years!

  • @wrongthink3885
    @wrongthink3885 Місяць тому

    Amen for this brother

  • @blank8969
    @blank8969 Рік тому +58

    this hardware is incredible, and here i thought this kinda drum precision necessitated a live recording...

    • @jdrukman
      @jdrukman Рік тому +26

      it just makes things a lot easier and quicker. if you have a drummer handy just tell them to jam out some funky grooves for a few minutes. i recorded a guy with a single mediocre mic in a mediocre room and it worked out great. i had unique jungle breaks that nobody else did. i put so much effects and crap on them that it didn't really matter how good the original recording was.

  • @ringtangting
    @ringtangting 2 роки тому +17

    Great video,I never really thought about how with slicing a break you could introduce all kinds of flam roll and ratchet wizardry in a song.

  • @douglasbatley
    @douglasbatley Рік тому

    Amen Brother.. We are blessed.

  • @renosance8941
    @renosance8941 Рік тому +3

    I've always feared these giant drum machines, but you make everything seem so logical and accessible.

  • @aaronl3460
    @aaronl3460 Рік тому +2

    This is the best production lesson channel out there, and I really enjoy your aesthetic! Thanks for making such great content

  • @dennishelfrich
    @dennishelfrich Рік тому +11

    This is the best Amen Break explaination I ever have seen so far! Very good job! Awesome!

  • @pooshNchums
    @pooshNchums 2 роки тому +22

    I love your channel. It’s equal parts synth music history and instruction. Keep up the amazing work! Thanks!

  • @delr0ssy827
    @delr0ssy827 Рік тому +38

    Loved the ending, another awesome video packed with tons of useful information for us producers....can't thank you enough for your hard work. Your editing is some next level shit, honestly

    • @CaptainPikant
      @CaptainPikant  Рік тому +3

      Thank you so much :D

    • @LD-eo8vc
      @LD-eo8vc Рік тому +2

      @@CaptainPikant actually this tutorial was intersting because you started from the bottom and went to the top ;) just a historical jorney I really like as a 45 years old man who never lost contact with making music ;) and started at 13 ...

  • @synthfluencer
    @synthfluencer 2 роки тому +14

    Excellent tutorial! Straight to the point, comprehensive and informative. In the 90s I despaired of re-creating this drum loop; wish I would have seen this video back then 😄

  • @sethamunofficial6545
    @sethamunofficial6545 2 роки тому +7

    Far one of the best format i see about producing
    I like to sea how much love and work you put in your videos.
    Quality instead of Quantity

  • @QuantumKatmusic
    @QuantumKatmusic 2 роки тому +1

    Your videos are always so crispy and detailed, great 🔥

  • @aaronthompson317
    @aaronthompson317 Рік тому +1

    What a great video. Your breakdown of how to compile and complete this classic riff are well presented! Cheers!

  • @cookingupbeats
    @cookingupbeats 12 днів тому

    This is great. Inspired me to open up me DAW again and start playing around. Also I never put that hip hop beat with the Amen break, used to knock that out on the table top as a kid.

  • @overdriff
    @overdriff Рік тому +1

    Awesome video, I really like how easy you made it on the viewer, it's a very easy watch in my opinion and yet you're going into very specific detail. Lovely !

  • @MaksimLin
    @MaksimLin 2 роки тому +1

    What a fantastic video - thank you for making this, its so useful for a new comer in understanding the amen break which gets mentioned and used so much.

  • @JorbLovesGear
    @JorbLovesGear 2 роки тому +15

    Excellent stuff, as always. Watching the deluge used for drums really makes me miss mine, the perfect rhythm interface. Cheers, always love your work.

  • @joelkulesha8284
    @joelkulesha8284 2 роки тому +2

    Wonderful video as always! Love it!

  • @unfa00
    @unfa00 Рік тому +2

    Wow, the production quality as well as the content here are astonishing. Great work!

  • @benshirro
    @benshirro Рік тому +4

    first time I've ever seen the Amen broken down in this way - super interesting, thanks!

  • @DanielJohn2001
    @DanielJohn2001 Рік тому +1

    The hand banana man said it all, the Akai s950 was a beast and still in use today. Pete Cannon still bangs out old skool tracks using an old skool studio.
    Captain Planet, I doff my hat to you sir....

  • @m0b5pawn94
    @m0b5pawn94 2 роки тому +2

    Fantastic video. The production quality is unparalleled imo

  • @LondraCalibro9
    @LondraCalibro9 Рік тому +2

    great video! love your work - thank you!

  • @weeeBloom
    @weeeBloom Рік тому +1

    Amazing! thanks for the tut, please keep creating educative content like this one

  • @funkl0314
    @funkl0314 2 роки тому +1

    This is super dope! Thanks for the lesson!

  • @vertigev
    @vertigev 2 роки тому +3

    This is so entertaining, useful, cool, and informative. Thanks!

  • @en1gma127
    @en1gma127 Рік тому +1

    This video has such amazing production. Brilliant channel.

  • @ahareally
    @ahareally Рік тому

    Really well explained - and TOP production!

  • @zedd_centauri
    @zedd_centauri 2 роки тому +5

    Great clinic. I very much enjoy the production style.

  • @fakshen1973
    @fakshen1973 Рік тому +7

    Great video. With the Amen break, that ride cymbal can be a bit much, especially when pitching down. The bell of the ride just makes me pucker some times and reach for a lot of EQ. If you're using Ableton, the drum bus plug-in has a transient section that can really take the edge off it. Just dial it down to taste. It is much more pleasing than trying to notch out different frequencies. Plus it shortens up the ringing of the ride, creating more space for other sounds with mid-high and high, dominant, frequencies.

  • @cooptrol
    @cooptrol Рік тому +6

    Just a subtle correction from a drummer: it's not a crash cymbal, its the edge of the ride cymbal.

  • @carldahlqvist1290
    @carldahlqvist1290 3 місяці тому

    Following along transcribing and programming this on my own machine was pure joy! Thank you for the awesome tutorial, captain!

  • @harmlesscreationsofthegree1248

    What an outstanding video and piece of equipment. This channel is amazing!

  • @romanpistelak58
    @romanpistelak58 2 роки тому +1

    Just wow. never thougt about remaking that drumbeat, but here you are. Amazing video and Deluge too..

  • @harmlesscreationsofthegree1248
    @harmlesscreationsofthegree1248 2 роки тому +1

    Awesome vid, very slick produxtion. A joy to watch

  • @redheart6995
    @redheart6995 2 роки тому +1

    You are the best on UA-cam! So much kudos for making your videos adfree! This tube is rotten with ads!

  • @Taipans
    @Taipans Рік тому

    Everything you add it to makes it amazing 👏

  • @noneofyourbusiness9353
    @noneofyourbusiness9353 2 місяці тому

    Outstanding video

  • @philziedler1559
    @philziedler1559 11 місяців тому

    My favourite new UA-cam discovery this channel. Well done, great channel!

  • @Gammaknife97
    @Gammaknife97 Рік тому +4

    I was gonna like it anyway but calling the video an Amen Breakdown was a very nice touch that solidified a like and a follow! Great video!

  • @AMTunLimited
    @AMTunLimited 2 роки тому +12

    This is so dope. I might use this as an excuse to transcribe to sheet music and cram as much of this info as I can

  • @beetheimmortal
    @beetheimmortal Рік тому +1

    The time-stretching at the end reminded me of Fatboy Slim's Rockafeller Skank, where he used its slowdown artifacting intentionally when the song transitions to its slower part.

  • @mikepruyn5716
    @mikepruyn5716 Рік тому

    Loved seeing you chop it up live at the end, I gotta try that

  • @dvbtune
    @dvbtune 2 роки тому +3

    Just what I needed!! Great tutorial for Amen Break lovers!

  • @vintageMIDI
    @vintageMIDI 2 роки тому +1

    flippin' fantastic beat breakdown

  • @grandmasterjo1
    @grandmasterjo1 Рік тому +1

    Brilliant work after slicing and adding Thank you for the tips

  • @HeIsMe1978
    @HeIsMe1978 Рік тому +6

    Very interesting break-down of the mother (or brother) of all breaks! Your videos always start me thinking and give me a better understanding of the music I love.
    I've taken to programming some "realistic" (as far as my understanding of live drumming allows me to be) drums using the recently released free Vintage Drums library for the Spitfire LABS VST, that I then sample and chop to add a little variation in my D'n'B / jungle / braindance -ish sketches. It's great fun.

  • @nobodys2358
    @nobodys2358 Рік тому

    Thank you for such a detailed video🧡

  • @PrimitiveBaroque
    @PrimitiveBaroque Рік тому +1

    This is the best drum machine/electronic music channel I've ever run across.

  • @KrisBarton432
    @KrisBarton432 2 роки тому +2

    Wow, you did an amazing job 🤯
    Thank you

  • @nanob0zo
    @nanob0zo 2 роки тому +1

    Excellent video. Love it.

  • @Gianluca_Sansone_Music
    @Gianluca_Sansone_Music 2 роки тому +1

    Omg please do more!! More drum n bass/ Jungle

  • @mrdarryljones1
    @mrdarryljones1 5 місяців тому

    Mind boggling! 🔥🔥🔥

  • @ZenMountain
    @ZenMountain Рік тому +2

    Fantastic, thanks!!!

  • @omniosi
    @omniosi 10 місяців тому

    Love these vids! Love to see more hip hop.

  • @aardvarkmindshank
    @aardvarkmindshank Рік тому +4

    Learnt a lot from that, thanks. For example, I tend to just lay in a bar or two of drums and repeat it. Now I’m gonna copy that a few times and tweak each bar. Second, I will start to use dynamics on drums more, for ghost notes for example. I need to go away and work out how to chop up a sample like that too. Very cool. Loving my new Deluge, what a machine. Thanks.

  • @ArtEntity
    @ArtEntity Рік тому

    this is the best explanation ever

  • @Metachemical
    @Metachemical 2 роки тому +1

    Fantastic video!

  • @artcamp7
    @artcamp7 Рік тому

    you're a great teacher. I learned a lot thx

  • @cho9614
    @cho9614 9 місяців тому

    You never fail to amaze me

  • @paulmcallister7909
    @paulmcallister7909 Рік тому +1

    Holy Hell!. I have learned so much just from this one video. Thank you, dude!! 😃👌👍

  • @JGT999
    @JGT999 2 роки тому +1

    Love the video really informative and entertaining 👌

  • @orzels
    @orzels 11 місяців тому

    what a lesson! amazing! thanks 🤜🤛

  • @ghiekorg
    @ghiekorg Рік тому

    Thanks I was really searching for an explanation of the structure of this beat

  • @evenmind7283
    @evenmind7283 Рік тому +1

    Great work!

  • @DJPastaYaY
    @DJPastaYaY 7 місяців тому +1

    Wonderful video about the amen break!

  • @easychats
    @easychats 2 роки тому +2

    You certainly know your stuff Buddy. Excellent 👌🏼

  • @SwiftDreamer
    @SwiftDreamer 2 роки тому +2

    Definitely would want to see more tr6s videos

  • @ErinIsBlueBlue
    @ErinIsBlueBlue 2 роки тому +1

    Brilliant !

  • @pizzafunghi3537
    @pizzafunghi3537 Рік тому

    Great video, thanks!

  • @TaliaOutwrong
    @TaliaOutwrong 4 місяці тому

    Banger video!

  • @axdambient
    @axdambient Рік тому +7

    For me, the nicest thing about the Amen is that Im not playing a loop. It has its notes and it's structure but you are giving me all this
    The basis of drum sampling
    Might seem like a simple thing to say today, but a godsend to the world when it happened. I have a drum set!

  • @garcialovesme
    @garcialovesme Рік тому

    Great video on the most well known drum sample (possibly any sample). Also a great advert for the deluge. I'm definitely getting one now.

  • @alexbarn
    @alexbarn 2 роки тому +1

    Awesome video, thank you! I’m going to program this into my eurorack modular system...should be fun!

  • @bac0ntoast
    @bac0ntoast 2 роки тому +2

    Hey, this is a great video, and is incredibly well made! Gave it a like :)

  • @TheHorseValse
    @TheHorseValse 2 роки тому +1

    Excellent work! :)

  • @albertpauw8234
    @albertpauw8234 2 роки тому +3

    Excellent, need some time to process this. But it really is a great drum break. Thank you

  • @emphatic001
    @emphatic001 2 роки тому +1

    Loved this, you know your stuff.

  • @milky4814
    @milky4814 9 місяців тому

    Awesome!

  • @miklosmesterhazy2639
    @miklosmesterhazy2639 Рік тому

    This is gold! My 20s and 30s summarized! Thank you!

  • @blkrbbt
    @blkrbbt Рік тому

    Just wonderful

  • @leewightman8619
    @leewightman8619 6 місяців тому

    The deluge is a beast id love one

  • @cyrrustvirus
    @cyrrustvirus 2 роки тому +1

    Absolutely Awesome! ❤