RedMeansRecording Drops A Beat With Just FM Drums

RedMeansRecording, known for his slick synth tutorials, starts off this session by diving into the Digitone 2’s FM Drum engine. With a nod to Disclosure and Anderson Paak’s “No Cap,” he aims to recreate the energetic beat using solely FM drums. Jeremy, the face behind RedMeansRecording, highlights his love for the drum engine, commenting on its surprising capability despite its unassuming nature. He strategically plans to maintain a tempo around 130 BPM, showing viewers how to harness the addictive beats of this drum engine.

Addressing viewers with a casual demeanor, Jeremy sets up the workspace, joking about his tattooed hands and noisy dryer, offering a relatable, down-to-earth backdrop for his intricate synth work. As he loads the project, he adeptly demonstrates creating a kick drum, tweaking the pitch to offer dub-like vibes or a trance thump depending on personal preference. His method makes it clear that FM drums can offer both simplicity and depth.

Throughout, he humorously comments on the interface quirks, demonstrating his knack for using the engine’s functionalities effectively. Whether highlighting the drum’s pitch modulation or experimenting with the sound fold to craft unique sounds, Jeremy keeps it entertaining and informative, ensuring his audience is hooked on every detail of the FM drum’s possibilities.

The magic unfolds as Jeremy moves from constructing drum lines to adding layers of snares and basses. He dives deep, transforming the FM drum’s potential into a live demonstration of how simple sine waves can evolve into a snappy snare. He narrates his process of crafting the fundamental snare frequency to complement the kick drum, using insights about drum sizes and their corresponding vibes.

Inspired by the possibilities of the Digitone 2, Jeremy’s playful banter sets a lively tone, expressing his joy in manipulating sounds. He ventures into bass territory, showcasing techniques to balance the bass’s boom without overwhelming the kick drum. His off-the-cuff humor is evident as he throws in jokes about unrelated drum names and his desire to try a Korg Wave Drum, keeping the audience engaged while delivering technical wisdom.

What’s particularly engaging here is Jeremy’s method of deciding on drum dynamics and interplaying bass kicks with flair. He effortlessly crosses the spectrum from mellow basslines to aggressive claxons, illustrating his vast understanding of groove-making. He shares tips on tuning and resonance, encouraging viewers to experiment with the fold and chorus effects for that extra punch. The result is a bass that’s as gritty as it is robust, showcasing the Digitone’s prowess in sound creation.

With his groove foundation laid, Jeremy turns his attention to the finer details of rhythm – hi-hats and shakers. Using the Digitone 2’s array of noise engines, he crafts percussion elements that groove around the established drum and bass backbone. As he programs offbeat hi-hats, Jeremy highlights the ease of picking the right transient, infusing his project with a texture that’s as dynamic as it is groovy.

Quipping about the simplicity of setting up hi-hats, he contrasts it with the layered approach needed for a well-rounded sound. Jeremy smoothly transitions into creating a shaker, emphasizing the importance of stereo imaging. His technique involves panning shaker tracks to create a lush auditory landscape, bringing the track to life and resonating with his viewers’ love for intricate, danceable beats.

Throughout, Jeremy keeps the atmosphere light and informative, occasionally throwing in self-reflective humor as he navigates the nuances of FM drums. His attention to the swing and tempo adjustments further demonstrates his comprehensive grip on making the music not just heard but felt. By crafting a steady building rhythm that matches his signature style, Jeremy continues to inspire creativity and experimentation among synth enthusiasts.

As the beat nears its completion, Jeremy focuses on polishing and arranging the components meticulously. He emphasizes enhancing the kick’s impact with a high pass filter, skillfully adding a resonant bump to boost the low end. His meticulous amendments to the shaker tracks also provide depth, creating a stereo image that elevates the manufacturing of the final soundscape.

In true RedMeansRecording style, Jeremy throws in his last bits of humor while making alterations, noting how simple tweaks can significantly transform the genre and feel. His confidence in the FM drum engine’s capabilities shines through as he tweaks each layer, ensuring every percussion element resonates perfectly.

Bringing it home, Jeremy reveals the completed track, embodying a beat that’s pulsating with life and primed for Disclosure’s acapella overlay. He candidly shares his surprise at the result, noting that while the direction unexpectedly evolved, the FM drum-only mix stands strong. He signs off with plans to refine the track further in his DAW, readying the beat for its final showdown with the “No Cap” acapella. Jeremy’s behind-the-scenes insight into the creative process rounds off a masterclass of beat making that’s both accessible and inspiring.