What's going on with the beat process in these videos?

I want to start by saying that I'm not shitting on these videos or their beats. Instead, I'm just wondering what's going on.

Check out these videos:




Now I know that the whole point of these videos is to do a speed-run to see how fast they can make a beat. But what I noticed (and the reason for this thread) is how fast they both were at using FL Studio.

So my question is - how much of this is being creative versus just knowing how to use software really well?

We're all able to use our main gear pretty quickly, but to see that first guy just click a few times then copy+paste patterns without even listening to it, it's crazy.

It's interesting to see them do it though, especially the second video in how fast he is, but is the end result a creative beat or just something generic? It's like they're just going through the motions like:

• Bass - check
• Drums - check
• Melody - check
• Quantize - check
• Copy paste
• Nod your head

Anyway, I thought this would be an interesting discussion.

imo I think that people are trying to make everything like a video game nowadays. I watched this video a few weeks ago and was wondering who cares how fast you can make a beat? It looks like some of them just practice this for content lol but I doubt they are making a daily workflow out of it. I could see myself maybe using it as a tool for a less creative day but other than that, I need to hear what I’m doing or else it’s gonna be trash. I also don’t know how to read music and I could turn in the scales mode but still I need to hear what the fuck I’m doing lol.


Kyle beats speed run

I've not watched yet, but sounds like people who have got their preset packs and type beat process already ready to grab and drop.

I could speed make a beat in Studio One real quick. If I continued making custom kits where all things fit together, could breeze through it.

I'm assuming a lot of these are type beat style beats too which are pretty basic as it is.

My speed at doing it would be based down to familiarity with my DAW and my own workflow.

Lot of these youtube kids have downloaded templates downloaded packs downloaded midi packs etc etc.

So just drag n drop.

Might be good practise tho, do five speed runs you might end up with a good beat, rather than spending hours on multiple shit beats.

I remember when I used to use Ableton and I ended up sort of doing the same thing where I would pencil in and then copy+paste, but then I found it to be too much of a routine. That's why I switched to an MPC so I could be more hands-on and focus on the music rather than the software.

I've seen a few of these. I assumed these dudes were making pretty simplistic beats ahead of time, then recreating them from memory as fast as they can for the shock effect/viewability of it.

a yo there's nothing wrong with that there's an art to it i could use to be able to make a beat in like 30 seconds and i was proud of that, making a beat quick is an art too and it should be congratulated same thing with freestyling and rapping if someone writes and can't think verse's someone who freestyles and raps better its considered talent just my personal opinion

I saw the bottom video a few months ago, thought it was pretty impressive myself.
It's not something you will ever see me doing though, I spend half a day on many beats sometimes more than that. I'm trying to make really dope beats, not just bang them out as quick as possible. I don't see the enjoyment in that, imo it's just flexing for the sake of flexing.

2GooD Productions said:

I saw the bottom video a few months ago, thought it was pretty impressive myself.
It's not something you will ever see me doing though, I spend half a day on many beats sometimes more than that. I'm trying to make really dope beats, not just bang them out as quick as possible. I don't see the enjoyment in that, imo it's just flexing for the sake of flexing.

Click to expand...

Can be fun sometimes, and can sometimes be a useful exercise in not overthinking.

Think I mentioned in this thread I did a fake one myself, gave myself 20 minutes for drums. 10 minutes for main melody. 10 for bass. Whatever .

Was quite useful.

Otherwise I can often sit there for 30 minutes minimum just picking drum sounds.

Good to learn quickly just for getting out of overthinking.

@Iron Keys I never really struggle with overthinking anything anymore, mainly due to the fact I just play with the keys until I come up with something I like, been doing it so long I don't put much thought into it and its more instinctual than anything else. I feel my way through it rather than think my way through it. I spent years banging out as many beats as I could in a day and learned a lot during that time but realised eventually that for me quality was better than quantity. My attention to detail is more about feelings than thoughts. If I really wanted to I could make a beat in few minutes, but for me making music is like smoking a really nice joint, its to be savoured and enjoyed, not rushed, that's why I make music, for my own enjoyment, if others like the end result that's great, but I don't honestly care if they do or not. I don't get paid from this shit, for me its all about the journey not the destination.
I put a bit more thought into mixing, but even that's becoming more instinctual, and in some cases a chore tbh and just a matter of going through the routine, maybe its why I'm finding myself in a bit of a rut, I get bored quickly, especially if I ain't getting the feels.