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BandLab
By the end of this project, you will be able to make your own "beats" using the BandLab Drum Machine!
In this project you will learn how to:
Create a Drum Machine drum pattern
Insert a drum pattern into your project
Change the sound of the drum machine
You can either follow the steps on this page, or follow along with my project walk-through video, or both. Here's the video:
Procedures
Procedures
Step 1: Get started.
Step 1: Get started.
Open the BandLab link in Classsroom. Find the "Drum Machine Project" assignment and click the green "Start Assignment" button. In the window that pops up, select "Teacher Assignment."
Once the project loads, the "New Track" window opens. Select "Drum Machine."
The new project opens with two default drum patterns pre-loaded. It should look like this:
4. Notice the different instruments on the left side of the drum machine. (See picture)
5. Notice the "Patterns" list on the right side of the drum machine. Pattern A and Pattern B are pre-programmed with a default "beat." You can listen to the Pattern A beat by clicking the white PLAY button just above the list. Click on "B" and click PLAY to listen to Pattern B.
6. We are not going to use either pattern. Click on the red "A" block in the project window, then use your backspace key (or delete key) to delete it. OR, use a two-finger tap on your touchpad (right-click on your mouse) to bring up the menu, then select "Delete." Do the same thing for pattern B.
Step 2. Notice the drum machine layout.
Step 2. Notice the drum machine layout.
Each drum machine pattern is one measure. Each measure has 4 beats:
Each beat has four columns, represented four parts or subdivisions of the beat. (For the band people: Think "1 e + a.")
Step 3. Set up the first drum machine pattern.
Step 3. Set up the first drum machine pattern.
Click on Pattern C in the drum machine pattern list (right side of the drum machine).
Place a kick drum hit (bottom row) in the first column of each beat. This will play the kick drum on counts 1, 2, 3, and 4.
In other words, make it look like this:
Play it so that you can hear the beats.
3. Next, add a hi-hat (3rd row from the top) to every other column. This will play the hi-hat at the beginning of each count (same time as the kick drum) and halfway between each count: "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and."
In other words, make it look like this:
Play it so you can hear the beat and the half-way point between each beat, aka the "and" of the beat.
4. Now, it's time to experiment a little. On the "and" of each beat, change it to an open hi-hat (second row from the top). In other words, make it look like this:
Listen to this version, and decide which one you like the best. If you like this version, keep it; if not, go back to the one we had in number 3 above.
5. Finally, we are going to add our pattern into the project. Click the green "Add C button. This puts one measure of the pattern into the project (top half of the screen). Use the loop tool to loop it for 4 measures, so that it ends at the beginning of measure 5.
6. SAVE YOUR WORK!
Step 4. Set up the second drum machine pattern.
Step 4. Set up the second drum machine pattern.
Click on Pattern D in the drum machine pattern list (right side of the drum machine).
For pattern D, we are going to make it a little more FUNKY. Here's the secret for a funkier drum beat: Place the kick drum on count 1, and then the next hit is going to be on the "AND" of 2 -- in other words, halfway between count 2 and count 3:
3. Finish out the pattern with the kick drum on beat 4, and on the "AND" of 4. Then add snare (purple -- 3rd row from the bottom) on counts 2 and 4, so that it looks like this:
Play it to get an idea of what it sounds like.
4. Now, time to get creative! Add anything you like, just keep the snare and the kick drum beats as they are. Experiment with different instruments playing at different times.
You can also change the instrument! Click the drop-down menu next to each instrument to see what other voices are available. Different voices are available for different rows in the drum machine.
Click the arrow to open the drop-down menu.
Select an instrument. Greyed-out options are not available for that instrument.
The default drum kit is called "808 Kit." You can change the overall kit as well, which will change what instruments and sounds are available. In the "INSTRUMENT" window, click the drop-down menu and select a different drum kit. Try a few different ones and pick one you like.
5. Once you have a drum beat that you like and a drum kit that you like, it's time to add it into the project. Click the green "Add D" button, then use the loop tool to make it four measures long (measures 5-8, ending at the beginning of measure 9.) It should look like this:
6. SAVE YOUR WORK.
Step 5. Add bass loops.
Step 5. Add bass loops.
Now that we have some drums going, we're going to add some bass.
Click the Loops button (bottom-right corner of the screen).
2. Click the "Loops" tab at the top of the window that opens.
3. Click the "Instruments" drop down menu.
4. Click the "Bass" option. Notice there are 2390 different bass loops to choose from.
5. Listen to a few bass loops, and choose one you like.
IMPORTANT: Not every bass loop is going to fit with our drum machine beats! Listen and pick one that works.
ALSO IMPORTANT! Check the tempo! If it's too far away from 120, it might sound funny. I would pick something that is between 108 and 132.
When you find one you like, drag it into the area marked "Drop a loop" (just like we have done in previous projects).
6. If your bass loop is not already 4 measures long, use the looping tool and drag it to make it 4 measures.
7. SAVE YOUR WORK.
8. Now go back and find a different bass loop to match your Pattern D drum machine. Add it in measures 5-8. Listen to it and make sure it fits.
9. SAVE YOUR WORK.
Step 6. Check your work!
Step 6. Check your work!
Your completed project should look like this:
2. Listen to it. Does it sound right? Adjust the volume of each track if you need to (use the slider bar underneath the track name).
3. SUBMIT your completed project in BandLab using the green Submit button in the upper-right corner of your screen.
That's it for today! I hope you had fun experimenting with the BandLab Drum Machine!
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