Midnight Mauraders is mine too! But also Ice Cube’s Death Certificate. DJ Sir Jinx was also a great layering producer. East Coast producers get a lot of the credit for the golden era stuff but there were also great producers on the West Coast during that era. Cheers 🍻
The tools didn't get lost. Producer's just wised up. The more samples you mash up, the less money you'll be getting paid. Having your music stuck in licensing hell and being the last mouth being fed changed production.
Yeah, true! I think tools like Tracklib make it easier now, so maybe we’ll start seeing producers layering up samples again without worrying as much about the licensing stuff.
Nice video! The issue with layering samples is to. keep all samples at the same key, producers have to know the root note key of main sample and align all other samples at this root note key.
I understand and agree with your point 110 percent. I produce remixes this way on my channel all the time being an Old School DJ/Producer. I don't know why much of the younger generation of DJs are not all over this. The technology we have today is what I could only dream of years ago. I know every generation is different, but there's more to music than distorted 808 drums and eerie synths melodies. Great content, Bro!! #2thumbsUp!!!
I'm a fan of layering samples. In my opinion, it gives you a creative way of learning how to arrange different blends of sounds. Marley Marl is the king of layering samples. after that, Prince Paul!
De La used an Eventide Harmonizer to get those samples in key. Otherwise, just use your ears and knowledge of records. By letting the beat play and cutting different records over the beat, it’ll allow you to find joints that match up. It’s a trial and error process and rarely instant but extremely gratifying. Pitching samples on an EPS/Asr or via MPC or SP1200 made it easier to zero in on the approximate key, but you still had to rely on your ears. The culmination of all those techniques can be found masterfully executed on DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing (which was done on an MPC 60). KNOW THY RECORDS
Oh, I didn’t know they used a Eventide Harmonizer, you can grab them for like £90. I might have to pick them up! Yeah, I think it all comes down to making and listening to loads of music-kind of like ear training without formal theory. And 100%, DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing is an absolute masterpiece!
Great to hear! Any particular reason why? With so many BIG producers embracing Kingsway Music Group and similar companies, I feel like it’s not too different from sampling directly from a record.
Hi, First of thanks for the cool videos, i've been enjoying them a lot, very inspiring and informative. Would you mind me asking where you get the info about the exact pitch shifting, eq moves and other processing? Did you figure this all out yourself by just experimenting yourself? In that case the numbers are oddly specific. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Thanks for the kind words and glad you’re enjoying the videos. A lot of it comes from experimenting and practice over time-listening to and making lots of music. Over time you're start to develop a good idea of what works together and what doesn't, I guess it's just learning music theory by ear! Hopefully that's helpful.
I have an Akai MPC One and I’m still trying to figure out the whole concept of time stretching. It’s confusing as hell. Anyone have this Akai and ran into a similar obstacle??
I agree, and despite any number of videos you might watch to try & learn I think it's just one of those things you've just got to try out with different samples to see what works. On the MPC, or any other sampler for that matter, there's no magic option (yet, although AI may eventually solve that) to stretch out samples to fit any time signature. Stretching samples out too much gives you weird artefacts/glitches. Shrinking or speeding up samples, for instance to try & fit a beat into 170bpm drum & bass tune, can also give you something that sounds too fast. Basically, there has to be some correlation between the tempo of the song & the samples you want to use in it. Going too far out of that 'zone' more often than not sounds unpleasing to the ear, unless you're really after something way out & weird! The only technique I can think of that can help otherwise is to chop your samples up into smaller fragments, individual notes or drum hits, which you could also apply a moderate amount of time stretching to if need be.
@ Thank you for your feedback and input. Much appreciated! Yeah it’s a challenge trying to learn from watching UA-cam videos because you can’t interact with the creator and ask questions, etc. I learn best by watching somebody do it in person, but finding that person in my general area of where I live is not easy I haven’t found anybody. But I think you’re right. The only way I can conquer this obstacle is just to keep trying and failing. But once I do get it, it’ll be smooth as butter and I’ll be off to the races. In alll honesty I haven’t found one UA-cam video yet that answers all my questions. Too many of the video creators go too fast. They don’t explain enough. Maybe I should invest in the MPC Bible. Have you heard anything about that?
stem separation unfortunately introduces a ton of spectral distortion. way more destructive than just high/lowpass filters. especially with clipped songs.
@@marksparrows that's what I like to hear, I think it will bring a lot of creativity back also since we are going to be forced to work around it like we had to with sampling time.
@ if the sample isn't too complex it works not that bad. but i managed to flip those sample before stems by filtering and chopping the right parts. so for me it was a waste of money tbh
Good am Folks, I think that Bassline from Jade’s “ Don’t Walk away” is racy and driving, It’s no wonder Award tour drives, and pushes the listener, and the Jazzy elements usher you into the Q - Tip production, which we witnessed this year in 2024 with the Latest LL CooJ album Frequecies of Real Creative. Energy @3:41
Prince Paul is a genius, I feel he never really got the props he deserved for his vital role in hip hops history, it's far to easy nowadays with the advance of technology the limitations from back in the day the small sample time for example forced producers to be so more creative hence the golden era
What’s your favourite golden era hip-hop album of all time? Let’s hear your picks in the comments!
I’ll start: Tribe's 'Midnight Marauders', my introduction to 90s hip-hop!
@@eltrainmusicthat’s the album that made me want to make beats
Definitely nas illmatic
Midnight Mauraders is mine too! But also Ice Cube’s Death Certificate. DJ Sir Jinx was also a great layering producer. East Coast producers get a lot of the credit for the golden era stuff but there were also great producers on the West Coast during that era. Cheers 🍻
Tribes first album. Hands down.
The tools didn't get lost. Producer's just wised up. The more samples you mash up, the less money you'll be getting paid. Having your music stuck in licensing hell and being the last mouth being fed changed production.
Yeah, true! I think tools like Tracklib make it easier now, so maybe we’ll start seeing producers layering up samples again without worrying as much about the licensing stuff.
Nice video! The issue with layering samples is to. keep all samples at the same key, producers have to know the root note key of main sample and align all other samples at this root note key.
Makes sense
It gets easy by ear after doing it multiple times 👍
There’s other semitones that can harmonize with the root.
It’s all about following the feel
No quite
But it’s a start 💪🏾
This was a great illustration of the layering technique. Well done. Thank you!
Definitely agree. Layering is super important and is something that I never stopped doing in my music production. Great information sir! ☮
I understand and agree with your point 110 percent. I produce remixes this way on my channel all the time being an Old School DJ/Producer. I don't know why much of the younger generation of DJs are not all over this. The technology we have today is what I could only dream of years ago. I know every generation is different, but there's more to music than distorted 808 drums and eerie synths melodies. Great content, Bro!! #2thumbsUp!!!
Thank you wish ppl made more videos like this
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it-definitely planning to make more like this!
super interesting topic good one bro, keep em comin
Great history on the origins hip hop and sampling!!! 💯😤🔥
Appreciate that sir!
I love your videos so much I really appreciate the time you put into studying the history of hiphop and deconstructing beats very dope!
Thank you so much! I’ve always loved diving into this stuff, so I thought I’d start sharing what I’ve learned along the way. Glad you’re enjoying it!
I'm a fan of layering samples. In my opinion, it gives you a creative way of learning how to arrange different blends of sounds. Marley Marl is the king of layering samples. after that, Prince Paul!
100% Marley Marl was incredible, the production on 'Mama Said Knock You Out' was sick!
Inspiring brother. already liked and subscribed. How you put that together got my creative mindset going.
Great content as usual broski! Keep it going!
Incredible work on this - my love of music is rooted so deeply in all you discussed here - thanks for sharing
Appreciate that. I feel the same way about hip-hop and sampling, so it’s great to hear this resonated with you.
I’d go with No More Mr. Nice Guy by Gang Starr. Early Gang Starr, raw and underrated compared to their later classics.
durrit durrit you no no na no... 💯
Love the editing and style of this video bro!
Hoping to get my second channel with similar videos up and running soon and found this super inspiring!
Absolutely brilliant breakdown and beat. Thank you
Thank you! Really glad you liked it, appreciate the kind words!
That was a DdddOoooPpppEeee beat!!!
🙌🙌🙌
De La used an Eventide Harmonizer to get those samples in key. Otherwise, just use your ears and knowledge of records. By letting the beat play and cutting different records over the beat, it’ll allow you to find joints that match up. It’s a trial and error process and rarely instant but extremely gratifying. Pitching samples on an EPS/Asr or via MPC or SP1200 made it easier to zero in on the approximate key, but you still had to rely on your ears. The culmination of all those techniques can be found masterfully executed on DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing (which was done on an MPC 60). KNOW THY RECORDS
Oh, I didn’t know they used a Eventide Harmonizer, you can grab them for like £90. I might have to pick them up!
Yeah, I think it all comes down to making and listening to loads of music-kind of like ear training without formal theory.
And 100%, DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing is an absolute masterpiece!
Great work. I found this insightful, helpful and inspiring. Thanks. Additional subscription
Thanks Nathan, glad you enjoyed it!
Great video! Thank you 🙏🏼
🙌🙌🙌
It’s not forgotten all the samples had to be cleared and ate up your budget.
So Fing DOPE!!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
Damn bro. How did I not know u had a UA-cam channel? Amazing video.
Only just started more production/sample based content a couple of months ago. Before that it was just my music. Glad you liked it!
I would’ve personally left “stand” in the loop
Waiting for the actual “forgotten art” 😂😅
Still hearing (and using) it daily in mainstream production 😬
'The Less Prevalent Art of Layering Samples' doesn't quite have the same ring to it though 🤷
I am absolutely still making music like this today, often multiple records layered. Never ever ever use sample packs though.
Great to hear! Any particular reason why? With so many BIG producers embracing Kingsway Music Group and similar companies, I feel like it’s not too different from sampling directly from a record.
Great beat. The main drumloop could gel better with the melodic elements if you tune it down a bit - like one semitone.
Noted! Gonna try that out
Hi,
First of thanks for the cool videos, i've been enjoying them a lot, very inspiring and informative.
Would you mind me asking where you get the info about the exact pitch shifting, eq moves and other processing? Did you figure this all out yourself by just experimenting yourself? In that case the numbers are oddly specific.
Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Thanks for the kind words and glad you’re enjoying the videos.
A lot of it comes from experimenting and practice over time-listening to and making lots of music. Over time you're start to develop a good idea of what works together and what doesn't, I guess it's just learning music theory by ear! Hopefully that's helpful.
This fire.
🙌🙌🙌
nice video bro!
Appreciate you man!
In my tracks I always do the layering samples manipulating with them.
I have an Akai MPC One and I’m still trying to figure out the whole concept of time stretching. It’s confusing as hell. Anyone have this Akai and ran into a similar obstacle??
I agree, and despite any number of videos you might watch to try & learn I think it's just one of those things you've just got to try out with different samples to see what works.
On the MPC, or any other sampler for that matter, there's no magic option (yet, although AI may eventually solve that) to stretch out samples to fit any time signature. Stretching samples out too much gives you weird artefacts/glitches.
Shrinking or speeding up samples, for instance to try & fit a beat into 170bpm drum & bass tune, can also give you something that sounds too fast.
Basically, there has to be some correlation between the tempo of the song & the samples you want to use in it. Going too far out of that 'zone' more often than not sounds unpleasing to the ear, unless you're really after something way out & weird!
The only technique I can think of that can help otherwise is to chop your samples up into smaller fragments, individual notes or drum hits, which you could also apply a moderate amount of time stretching to if need be.
Unfortunately i've not used the MPC One, so I don't think I can really help with that, sorry!
@ Thank you for your feedback and input. Much appreciated! Yeah it’s a challenge trying to learn from watching UA-cam videos because you can’t interact with the creator and ask questions, etc. I learn best by watching somebody do it in person, but finding that person in my general area of where I live is not easy I haven’t found anybody. But I think you’re right. The only way I can conquer this obstacle is just to keep trying and failing. But once I do get it, it’ll be smooth as butter and I’ll be off to the races. In alll honesty I haven’t found one UA-cam video yet that answers all my questions. Too many of the video creators go too fast. They don’t explain enough. Maybe I should invest in the MPC Bible. Have you heard anything about that?
stem separation unfortunately introduces a ton of spectral distortion. way more destructive than just high/lowpass filters. especially with clipped songs.
Until it turns out that people enjoy that sound, like aliasing in the sp1200, the artifacts of autotune, or the awful compression of a 3630
agree... i tried serato and mpc stems, both suck imo
it seperates, yes... but the sound is almost unusable most of the time
@@marksparrows that's what I like to hear, I think it will bring a lot of creativity back also since we are going to be forced to work around it like we had to with sampling time.
The MPC stem separation is pretty good, but it’s still kind of depends on the song you’re using whether or not you get good separate tracks
@ if the sample isn't too complex it works not that bad. but i managed to flip those sample before stems by filtering and chopping the right parts. so for me it was a waste of money tbh
Prince Paul..is a god
100%!
Fun fact, the version of Eye Know on the De La 20th Anniversary mixtape is me singing the hook
WHAAAAAAT, Rumi you keep surprising me more and more, every single day!
how is this a forgotten techique? that's how i cook all my beats😅 it's more of a oldschool workflow/technique
Same here
Well your very much keeping it alive then 🙌
@@eltrainmusic thank you!
Dope
Kool herc was terrible at playing the breaks because he didn’t know how to loop the breaks. Essentially, all he did was play records.
DILLA🗣️🗣️🍩💯💯
THE GOAT 🐐
@eltrainmusic Hope You Studying Bro On Your Production Journey, Learning From Dilla Contributes To My BEATS Loudly 💯
Good am Folks, I think that Bassline from Jade’s “ Don’t Walk away” is racy and driving, It’s no wonder Award tour drives, and pushes the listener, and the Jazzy elements usher you into the Q - Tip production, which we witnessed this year in 2024 with the Latest LL CooJ album Frequecies of Real Creative. Energy @3:41
Yeah, that knew LL album is sick!
Prince Paul is a genius, I feel he never really got the props he deserved for his vital role in hip hops history, it's far to easy nowadays with the advance of technology the limitations from back in the day the small sample time for example forced producers to be so more creative hence the golden era
Yeah, I don't think he gets the same credit as a lot of the producers from that time for sure!
I layer samples on top of samples on top of samples. I chop. I splice. I time stretch and what comes out is dope. At least I think so. Lol 😅
That's what I like to hear!
You have been putting out amazing content man. You’ll hit 100k subs in 2025!
I appreciate that, roll on 100k!!!
So they just used loops. Pretty sure people do that still :D
🔥💯
I do the same but i make the sample bounce it down
im doing this all the time but im 43
I'm just trying to put the younger generation on to it!
You want some layering? He it is . I used new technology but what can I say I'm an amateur. ua-cam.com/video/gRFqROk0I5E/v-deo.htmlsi=YpTmURpDgFRr_vME
This is sick!
Just screens are boring, use a real sampler like the MPC-X SE.
This is why the 90's were more interesting and hiphop was NOT an office job.
Why can't it be a mix of both?
the 'drumless' trend needs to stop
The drums are the track
To be honest I'm a big fan of a lot of the Griselda drumless beats!