Great trick Doc! I love manipulating tempo as an expressive technique. I like to think about it like a conductor would- you might want to push the tempo in a certain section to propel the motion forward, or pull it back to mellow things out, or even pull it back REALLY far to build intensity and then release it like a slingshot! I also like to program "slow burn" accelerandos- say, 6-10 BPM over the course of a mid-tempo tune- to subtly push the intensity of the track and keep things from getting stale or plodding.
Thanks for this, really helpful! I have done the opposite where I slow down the last 1/4 note of a phrase and it also gives a really cool feel. This is a great video! I bet there are many things to try, this is inspiring! Thanks again!
Interesting psychology for sure. I’ve seen folks speed up the chorus in its entirety and then ramp back down on the verses, but picking out an anticipatory fill like this is new to this Joe Sixpack.
This reminds me of playing “Radar Love” where the drum break actually takes off like a rocket, and then you have to ease it back down after the section.
Great tip. Also, in the tempo track, Cubase allows you to use tempo ramps which I found to be easier to work with than drawing those tempo curves by hand.
@pvtgrips-vh7to I wrote an entire instrumental with the tempo increasing to the climax slowly. It slides by, almost unnoticed. The tempo track is one separation of the creative from the mundane.
I've done this a few times during transitions or to speed up the chorus a little. It really does make a huge difference and people rarely talk about this type of automation. As I program I will air drum the parts and notice when I have a tendency to speed up. I think this comes more naturally to those of us who have played in bands for many years.
this is why i don't use click tracks that often for our band. if i'm recording someone else, sure. electronic? pretty much requires it. but having everything perfectly synced up to a grid removes the human element from most rock music, jazz, etc. i saw a butch vig interview recently where he mentioned the same thing in relation to nirvana always speeding up when a song started getting emotionally resonant and i felt vindicated. it's the engineers job to work around a band, not a band's job to work around a grid. i feel like this is a big problem with today's music. try syncing up john bonham to a grid (someone who was notorious about playing behind the beat) and the music loses everything.
@@crackawood Yeah, when I recorded my first solo record we did most things to a grid but the couple we did off the grid came out with a better feel overall. Unfortunately not working with a real drummer these days.
at least you're making music..canned beats or programmed drums are better than not creating! sometimes i take a tr808 and run it through distortion if there's no drums around
There was a piece of equipment decades ago called a "Russian Dragon" that would tell the engineer what the band was playing tempo-wise. What I learned from reading the articles about it was that Alex Van Halen and the drummer from AC/DC would push and pull like crazy at the transitions. And every other good drummer. AVH on some songs would slow the tempo at the last beat by a lot 4---------1. I started putting that in my tempo maps. This video by Bobby is the opposite, and really helpful. Thanks!!!
Loving this!!! I have learned so much about humanizing programmed drums from you!! I have used the tempo trick before, but I also take note that you added live sidestick to your mix. Your advice on using live recorded high hats made my programmed drums waaaaay better, same with your gain-staged percussion, and this is yet another example. A little real 'messy' human can go a long way in selling the package. Kinda like analog 'distortion' it just takes a smidge. :) Thanks for a killer tip as always, Doc!
Great vid doc! That quantized VH one you did previously blew my mind and really shows the strngths and weaknesses we can easily fall into sitting at a comp.. as i learn and grow making songs your tips and insights really help keep perspective 👍 very much appreciated 🙏 keep rockin 🙏🕊️
Great video Bobby. I appreciate all the tips each week. I picked up a AT2020. Price vs quality I'm really imoressed. I hope you and the family are well. Take care. -Mark
Hi Bobby, excellent video. In Cubase how do you get the tempo changes to apply to the whole project? When I tried this trick it seems that its only the midi that changes tempo and not any audio.
There is a button on every track (in Cubase) that changes between tempo and time based. I recently discovered this, as I have had trouble with playing with the time-feel. It's in the manual, but one of the settings will make the audio follow the new tempo track. It's ingenious!
@@BobbyHuff Just joking 😂. I've tried jazzing up the tempo in choruses in comparison with the verse, but never this. Google "jeff porcaro rosanna time analysis" and you'll find a pdf on the time fluctuations and swing ratio of that song. Quite fascinating to see how the tempo varies in the different sections, and quite obviously intentional, just the look of the graph is beautiful. Another hidden fact of the genius of these guys.
That guitar solo is fire.
I wouldn't have expected this to work but it does, and now I have to try it! Thanks again for the great video!
You're welcome!
Another great one Bobby! Trying to humanize the midi drum is always a top priority! Love this!
Thanks Mike!
Great trick Doc! I love manipulating tempo as an expressive technique. I like to think about it like a conductor would- you might want to push the tempo in a certain section to propel the motion forward, or pull it back to mellow things out, or even pull it back REALLY far to build intensity and then release it like a slingshot! I also like to program "slow burn" accelerandos- say, 6-10 BPM over the course of a mid-tempo tune- to subtly push the intensity of the track and keep things from getting stale or plodding.
BOOOOOB!!! I never tought about this... but it makes sense. I'm gonna try it in my next project. Thanks as always, Bob!
Thanks JAAAAAAV! Hope ur well!
Thanks for this, really helpful! I have done the opposite where I slow down the last 1/4 note of a phrase and it also gives a really cool feel. This is a great video! I bet there are many things to try, this is inspiring! Thanks again!
Interesting psychology for sure. I’ve seen folks speed up the chorus in its entirety and then ramp back down on the verses, but picking out an anticipatory fill like this is new to this Joe Sixpack.
Great! Try it!
This reminds me of playing “Radar Love” where the drum break actually takes off like a rocket, and then you have to ease it back down after the section.
holy cow dr bob this is brilliant
Awesome video! Thanks again so very much!
Great tip. Also, in the tempo track, Cubase allows you to use tempo ramps which I found to be easier to work with than drawing those tempo curves by hand.
Yes!! I use those too but was afraid to show it if other DAWS didn’t have it.
@pvtgrips-vh7to I wrote an entire instrumental with the tempo increasing to the climax slowly. It slides by, almost unnoticed. The tempo track is one separation of the creative from the mundane.
I've done this a few times during transitions or to speed up the chorus a little. It really does make a huge difference and people rarely talk about this type of automation. As I program I will air drum the parts and notice when I have a tendency to speed up. I think this comes more naturally to those of us who have played in bands for many years.
Thanks man!
this is why i don't use click tracks that often for our band. if i'm recording someone else, sure. electronic? pretty much requires it. but having everything perfectly synced up to a grid removes the human element from most rock music, jazz, etc. i saw a butch vig interview recently where he mentioned the same thing in relation to nirvana always speeding up when a song started getting emotionally resonant and i felt vindicated. it's the engineers job to work around a band, not a band's job to work around a grid. i feel like this is a big problem with today's music. try syncing up john bonham to a grid (someone who was notorious about playing behind the beat) and the music loses everything.
@@crackawood Yeah, when I recorded my first solo record we did most things to a grid but the couple we did off the grid came out with a better feel overall. Unfortunately not working with a real drummer these days.
at least you're making music..canned beats or programmed drums are better than not creating! sometimes i take a tr808 and run it through distortion if there's no drums around
Interesting. I do this with orchestral music and cinematic stuff. Never thought to do it with something like rock music. Awesome idea!
Do it David!!
There was a piece of equipment decades ago called a "Russian Dragon" that would tell the engineer what the band was playing tempo-wise. What I learned from reading the articles about it was that Alex Van Halen and the drummer from AC/DC would push and pull like crazy at the transitions. And every other good drummer. AVH on some songs would slow the tempo at the last beat by a lot 4---------1. I started putting that in my tempo maps. This video by Bobby is the opposite, and really helpful. Thanks!!!
Another gem… I will call this one “the giddy drummer”.
Hahahaha!
Hey that's really interesting Doc - you always give us something different to think about. Cheers!
Thanks Dave!
Great advice!
Loving this!!! I have learned so much about humanizing programmed drums from you!! I have used the tempo trick before, but I also take note that you added live sidestick to your mix. Your advice on using live recorded high hats made my programmed drums waaaaay better, same with your gain-staged percussion, and this is yet another example. A little real 'messy' human can go a long way in selling the package. Kinda like analog 'distortion' it just takes a smidge. :) Thanks for a killer tip as always, Doc!
Thanks Girl!
Great vid doc! That quantized VH one you did previously blew my mind and really shows the strngths and weaknesses we can easily fall into sitting at a comp.. as i learn and grow making songs your tips and insights really help keep perspective 👍 very much appreciated 🙏 keep rockin 🙏🕊️
Thanks man!
It's cool. I love it.
Great stuff Bob!! You had me at Van Halen!
Rock on!
Fakin' it be damned! Long-live live musicians!
Great video Bobby. I appreciate all the tips each week. I picked up a AT2020. Price vs quality I'm really imoressed. I hope you and the family are well. Take care. -Mark
Great to hear from you man!
Nice trick Doc! Who's that AMAZING guitar player? 😁
Awesome tip DR. Bob...! How does one access that Tempo grid in Cubase...? I didn't see you click anything - is there a hot key or sumthin'...?
Control T
Cool.. Now I just have to figure out how to do it in Studio ONE.. COOL TIP MAN!!!
ua-cam.com/video/2xaPt0s-b9s/v-deo.htmlsi=TLLvZ5GAorb7mrhu
You can do it!
Hi Bobby, excellent video. In Cubase how do you get the tempo changes to apply to the whole project? When I tried this trick it seems that its only the midi that changes tempo and not any audio.
There is a button on every track (in Cubase) that changes between tempo and time based. I recently discovered this, as I have had trouble with playing with the time-feel. It's in the manual, but one of the settings will make the audio follow the new tempo track. It's ingenious!
@@Ugoeh2 thank you for this
😂dope doc I had no flu I mean clue
Hahaha
Right. Maybe even push sooner...
Sure. Whenever you’re feeling it.
As a drummer, I took offense to this 🤣
I’m a drummer too. All depends on what u think the time should be…
@@BobbyHuff Just joking 😂. I've tried jazzing up the tempo in choruses in comparison with the verse, but never this. Google "jeff porcaro rosanna time analysis" and you'll find a pdf on the time fluctuations and swing ratio of that song. Quite fascinating to see how the tempo varies in the different sections, and quite obviously intentional, just the look of the graph is beautiful. Another hidden fact of the genius of these guys.
A DJ would hate this! haha. Ask me how I know. Trying to mix into the next record would result in a train wreck.
Hahaha!!
What a solo!
2 minutes and still no trick
Nah, i as a real human drummer try not to do that and i definitely don't do that on my recordings
Your choice. I’m a drummer as well and it’s up to you the groove and time you choose.