How to Make Your Own Drum Beats Online

A traditional bass drum.

Using a sequencer, it is possible to arrange complex patterns of drum beats for use in many different types of music. Now with a free online tool, it is possible to make these loops via a website.

Things You'll Need

• Computer

Instructions

Using Groovelab

1. Visit the Groovelab website in (www.artopod.se/groovelab/) and click Launch Groovelab. The tool will then load in a separate pop-up window for convenience.

2. Decide on the tempo for your drum loop. The tempo will dictate the speed at which the loop plays, measured in beats per minute (bpm). The default value of 120 will provide a loop at 120 beats per minute, enter a higher number for a faster loop.

3. 

   A traditional rock drum kit.

   Arrange your loop using the web interface. The drop down boxes to the left of the sequencer change the drum type, it is best to experiment to see what sounds best. There are a total of 47 different drum samples from varying musical instruments in Groovelab.

4. Add effects and change volume settings. Groovelab allows for effects to be placed on each channel by clicking Edit in the Effect column. Volume can be adjusted using the drop-down box in the volume column.

5. 

   Headphones used in music production.

   Preview your loop by selecting 11Hz mono in the Output Options drop-down box and clicking Process Loop. This will generate a low quality sample for easy playback, allowing alterations to be quickly implemented.

6. 

   A compact disc.

   Process your loop at CD quality 44hz stereo and download. Choose the file format in Output Options and a high quality sound file will be generated and can then be downloaded and arranged in any music creation software.

Tips & Warnings

• True Loop mode will ensure that your beat will loop properly in sequence when downloaded and arranged. For a flawless sounding drum beat, use this mode.

• Bad Drummer mode will de-sync your loop to give it a more human touch. This is best used for instrumental-based music where a perfect drum loop sounds unnatural.

• Groovelab does not require a fast Internet connection to use, however higher quality loops may take a while to process and download on slower connections.

References

• GrooveLab - the drum machine

Resources

• Practical PC Online - Creating and manipulating drum loops