Hip Hop Production: Cool Effects To Use In Producing Your Beats

One of my favorite parts of hip-hip production is playing around with effects. It is great fun and you can create some really unique sounds.

Effects are best added after recording when you are mixing your tracks. If you add them during the recording stage, you can’t undo your mistakes.

You should use effects sparingly. If you use too many effects you’ll just end up in a big sonic mess.

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Ok, So where Can I Get My Hands on Some Effects.

Keyboards

Most keyboards have knobs and faders to control effects. Don’t be afraid to play around. In this case, knob fiddling is a good thing

Software and Plug-ins

Most types of Hip-Hop production software include applications which allow you to add different types of effects.

You can also download effects applications called plug-ins. Plug-ins can be either bought online or sometimes even downloaded for free.

VSTs or (Virtual Studio Technology) are the most popular types of plug-ins and work with pretty much any program. VSTs have separate downloads for both Mac and PC.

Plug –ins for PCs come in the Dx (Direct X format). If you’re on a Mac, check out plug-ins with an AU (Audio Units) format.

Now Then, Which Effects Do What

Before you start fiddling with affects buttons and faders you should have some understanding of how these effects are produced. If you know why you get the results you do, you can repeat them. This is an important step in becoming a wicked Hip-Hop producer.

Some basic effects are:

Delay

Makes a copy of the audio and plays it at a slightly later time than the original. Sometimes a delay will be panned more to the left or right of the speakers.

Ping-Pong Delay is when the delay switches back and forth between the speakers.

Reverb

Reverb is a type of delay that gives you a blurred sound which is stretched over time.

Add reverb late in the mix. Get the compression and EQ effects right first
Don’t use reverb on base. The results will be muddy
Reverb can add a sense of distance to audio. Never the less- don’t confuse reverb with space
Don’t use too much. This is very easy to do

Chorus

Make copies of the original signal, detunes them slightly and then piles copies of the original signal on top of one another. The result gives you a thicker and more layered sound.

The chorus effect is most useful when adding the finishing touches to vocals. You might use a chorus effect if you want to use a lead vocal A Cappella as a backing vocal.

Distortion

When you are distorting a sound you are actually using compression to make a sound thicker and warmer

Arpeggiators

An Arpeggio is when the notes of a chord are played one after the other instead of at the same time. Lots of pieces of hardware and software devices have arpeggiators which let you automatically create arpeggios. Very handy for all you non-drummers

Have fun and don’t be afraid to think outside the box when adding effects.