Beats Drum Sampling

I initially desired to create my own drum samples for this project in order to create unique drum sounds for the tracks. The techniques employed when recording the drum samples for this project were informed by the minimalistic approaches to recording drums employed by Gabriel Roth (Daley, 2008) 

Roth utilises either the Shure S55 or the RCA DX77 in this approach, and the microphone is placed on the floor next to the bass drum and is placed so that it also picks up the snare 

In order to replicate this technique I used the Shure S55 and experimented with various positions and angles in order to achieve an equal balance of both snare and kick drum in the signal. Images of microphone placement can be viewed below: 

Further research lead me to the following source in which several producers breakdown their approached to beat making.

http://uk.complex.com/music/2014/03/how-to-make-hip-hop-beats/j-cole-power-trip (Complex, 2014) 

In the first two videos, J cole and Jahil Beats both discuss the 808, referring to the drum machine developed by Roland (Roland TR-808).

http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/808.php (Vintage Synth Explorer, 2016) 

According to Vintage Synth Explorer (2016) I discovered that the Roland TR-808 is a classic drum machine which utilises analogue synthesis to produce its unique sounds. It is also stated that the TR-808 is the drum machine of choice used in the vast majority of Hip-Hop and R&B music. Therefore I felt that it was vital I utilised 808 samples in my own work to add an exta element of authenticity.

I had the opportunity to sample an original Roland TR-808 drum machine which can be seen below. I spent time experimenting, programming in patterns as well as sampling individual hits and variations of each element (kick, snare, toms, congas, rim shot, clave, claps, maracas, cow bell, open and closed hi-hats) by adjusting each channels parameters i.e. the decay and tone.