Beat Making 101 (Part 2) - Creating Your First Beat Using Studio One | PreSonus

Introduction

Welcome back, everyone, to my "Beat Making 101 Extended Series," where I'll guide you through the essentials of creating beats with Studio One. In our last installment, we covered the installation process, importing sound content, adding virtual instruments, connecting MIDI controllers, and setting BPM and latency preferences. Now, we're ready to dive into creating your very first beat. If you're just tuning in, don't worry—the song project is still blank as we haven't prepared anything beyond installing the "Noise Design Raw Acoustic Downtempo" series. This sound set is perfect for electronic beats, offering processed and acoustic drum loops as well as one-shots.

Setting Up Your Song

First, let’s set the song BPM to 110 by using the tap tempo feature. Additionally, under Song > Song Setup, enable "Stretch Audio File to Song Tempo" so that any imported samples will play back at the set BPM. This feature is useful when you want samples to sync to your project's tempo.

To import sound content, access Studio One's browser by clicking "Browser," navigate to Files > Sound Sets, and find the folder containing the downloaded sound sets, like the "Noise Design Raw Acoustic Downtempo" series. To audition a sample, click the metronome icon in the browser to preview the loop in your song's tempo.

Building the Beat

Once you've chosen a loop (in this case, a drum loop at 78 BPM), you can drag it onto the timeline. For clarity, consider setting the timeline to start at bar 0 instead of 1 under Song > Song Setup. This adjustment can make counting bars easier.

To start building the beat:

1. Import the drum loop by dragging it onto the timeline.
2. Set the timeline to loop by either pressing "P" or using the mouse to select the range to loop.
3. Enable the loop function from the transport bar.

Adding a Bassline

Next, add a baseline using the Mai Tai virtual analog synthesizer. Drag and drop the instrument from the browser onto the timeline. Studio One will automatically arm the track for monitoring and recording. To record your bassline:

1. Enable monitor and record by pressing the corresponding buttons on the track.
2. Play along with the loop until satisfied.
3. Use "Retrospective Record" to capture your performance even if you forgot to press the record button initially.

Adding Effects

To enhance your bassline, add delay effects:

1. Drag the "Beat Delay" effect from the browser onto the track.
2. Adjust parameters like feedback and delay type to taste.

Adding Pads

For additional layers, add a pad using the "Lead Architect." Choose a preset (e.g., "Butter Pad") and similarly use “Retrospective Record” to capture your chords.

Arranging Your Track

Organize your beat more effectively using the Arranger Track:

1. Enable the Arranger Track from the track list drop-down menu.
2. Draw in sections using the paint tool (e.g., intro, verse, chorus).
3. Rearrange these sections by dragging them around the timeline.

To add chord changes, use the Chord Track:

1. Enable the Chord Track.
2. Draw in chord sections and select chords from the chord selector. This feature can transpose your entire arrangement to follow the new chords.

Exporting Your Beat

To export your beat:

1. Set start and end markers using the Marker Track.
2. Go to Song > Export Mixdown.
3. Choose your export options (e.g., MP3 at 320 kbps for high quality).
4. Click "OK" to export your track.

I hope this quick run-through helps you get started on creating your first beat in Studio One. For more detailed information, check out the linked videos in the description. Enjoy making music, and thank you for watching!

Keywords

• Beat Making
• Studio One
• PreSonus
• Audio Samples
• Virtual Instruments
• Retrospective Record
• Delay Effects
• Arranger Track
• Chord Track
• Export Mixdown

FAQ

Q: What BPM should I set for my song? A: The BPM depends on the style of your beat. In this example, we set the BPM to 110. You can adjust it to suit the genre you're working on.

Q: How do I import sound sets into Studio One? A: Navigate to Files > Sound Sets in the browser and find your downloaded sound sets.

Q: What if I forgot to hit the record button? A: Use "Retrospective Record" to capture your performance. It recalls what you played even if you didn't press record.

Q: How can I add effects to my tracks? A: Drag the desired effect from the effects browser (e.g., Beat Delay) onto the track.

Q: How do I arrange different sections of my song? A: Use the Arranger Track to draw and label sections (e.g., intro, verse, chorus) and rearrange them as needed.

Q: How do I export my final mix? A: Set the start and end markers, then go to Song > Export Mixdown, choose your desired format, and click "OK."

Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions or need further assistance. Happy beat making!