Easily Make Drum Beat Sequences for Hip Hop

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

Online media has expanded an extra mile in its services as the world's demand and numbers of patrons have augmented. This expansion has made making hip hop beats and also made it easier to make drum beat sequences which is the pulse of hip hop beats.

Easily Make Drum Beat Sequences for Hip Hop

Now software of good qualities are all around and accessible with a click. Pros of musical inclination are now on advantage to create a better output with minimal efforts. Minimum requirements are exacted by some existing software for even a laptop of small caveat can alter into an implicit studio for performing multifaceted audio tasks. A heap of products are available for sound and music production with many good choices for those who are earnestly thinking of creating a small-scale studio based around computer. The products which most are craving are a combination of cost-effectiveness, versatility, outstanding quality, and amusement. Working on audio tasks such as producing the drum beats for a hip hop music you like is a process of learning which most experts have also went through.

Nowadays, the drum beat that you want to add to your audio is a simple series of clicks on a drum machine, which sometimes called a drum pad. A drum machine is an electronic instrument that is able to create a sound like that of a true drum and other percussion that a musician would want to imitate. The output of this machine is appropriate for all types of genre for as long as a drum beat is necessary, especially hip hop music which is celebrated by most music lovers today. There is no need for a drummer when this machine is at service.

The progress of this technology has made way to production of sequencers and synthesizers that are indispensable in the production of the desired sound of percussion instruments. Many drum machines, moreover, are now competent in setting up unique drum beats or sounds. Now this is indeed sweet to the ears to drum lovers who are not in a second could grab their sticks and play their favorite punches and hits.

In the past, when it has not been this advanced, drum machines are referred as rhythm machine. It was Leon Theremin created the Rhythmicon which was embossed with tricky and complicated rhythmic patterns that were not achievable through available keyboard instruments those days. Later, the machines became popular in attaching preprogrammed rhythms in dance series of mambo, tango, and other.

Drum machines proceeded through the time-line with innovations radiating here and there. It went on in many varied names embedded with different features that would cater the preference of the users. Running through the list, there is the Chamberlin Rhythmate in 1947, which has volume, pitch, and speed control. It is also capable of adjusting the bass and treble and provides input jack for microphone and guitars. Another one is the Sideman in 1959, the first to be produced commercially.

Creators of drum machines had been dedicated in laying sophisticated features. These machines now offer fascinating rhythm, aural illusions, built- in digital effects, and more. Now, with this ever growing advancement hip hop music and its technology you can easily make drum beat sequences.

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African American Music; The History Of

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When I saw this title, I was afraid and I'm still afraid regarding my opinion about the subject. The subject is complex and difficult so I cannot resolve it overnight. I am an African. I do things the African way. I cannot write about African American music like a Western scholar. In my culture we live the past and the future in the present. When I listen to some African American music I can feel the past, the present and the future all at the same time. Now, the best way for me to handle this subject is to work by questions and answers.

African American Music; The History Of

[Question] Yaya! Who do you think you are?

Yaya Diallo - I don't think! I am Farafin, which means I am a dark skin man. The word Africa is the Arabic name for our continent. In Bambara we call the so-called "Africa" Farafina. Farafina means the land of dark skin people. I am from Farafina and I am proud of it. I don't want to be somebody else. People in general say African American. I would say American Farafin, which means dark skin human being who lives in America.

[Question] What is your African background?

Yaya Diallo - I come from far away. I was born in 1946 in Fienso (French Sudan), now Mali. My parents were nomadic. When I was very young I used to travel a lot. I grew up in the bush far from any western civilization. The music that I heard was very traditional and played live. I did not have a radio or TV. I had the opportunity to listen to the music of the different ethnic groups from the Ivory Coast, Burkina and Ghana. In some villages I heard Muslim songs coming from the mosques. By night, I would enjoy the frog symphonic orchestras. From 1946 to 1960 I was living in complete nature. My musical training is a long story but you can learn more from my book The Healing Drum.

[Question] What are your feelings about the civilized world?

Yaya Diallo - In the city I had strange feelings. I saw people listen to music through what I thought was two kinds of boxes. The first was a radio. You could change the singer with the tuning button, I thought. The second needed records. It read 78, 45 and 33 1/2. You had to adjust everything with something but I did not have a clue as to what. Even still, the only music that I heard was the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Johnny Holliday.

[Question] What do you think about the word African American?

Yaya Diallo - Dark skin people living in America are not different from people I met in Africa (Farafina). To me they are just different ethnic groups like the Yoruba, the Bantou, the Zoulou or the Touareg. Africa is not one culture. We have thousands and thousands of languages and different music. My wife is an African American from Louisville, KY. Her mother is from Dark Corner, MS and her father from Jackson, TN. Like my wife and family there was one African American man, James Brown, who saved my life with his music.

[Question] How can an African American man save the life of a traditional African?

Yaya Diallo - In 1967 I left my country to go to Montreal, Canada. On my way, in Paris, I saw a big picture of James Brown in the Olympia Theater. In my mind I thought, "Oh! A black man in Olympia in Paris, France." In Montreal I was looking for a place to dance or listen to the music that I loved. One day I found a radio station that played black music. I heard James Brown and felt at home.

[Question] What do you think about African American music?

Yaya Diallo - I always say that I don't think, I feel. When we talk about African American music we talk about Spirituals, Blues, Funk, Jazz, Gospel, Rap, dance music, etc. I want to talk on each one by one.

When people in Canada were dancing the twist, jerk and go-go, in my country a French man named Johnny Holliday was playing bad versions of Wilson Pickett and Ray Charles' music in French. In America I found out this French man was a robber. He stole the music, sang it in French and looked like a genius for us Africans.

[Question] What did you feel when you started to dance?

Yaya Diallo - I used to go out to dance to Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Sly and the Family Stone's music. For me they were Africans. They had good beats, good feelings and most important, African Soul. I did not feel that from Chinese or European music. In the 70s I discovered the Funk music, The O'Jays, Parliament, Ohio Players, Kool and the Gang and JR Walker and the All Stars. I felt I was at home when I knew the Motown Family (Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations and Stevie Wonder). I could survive because I had those kinds of musicians.

[Question] In terms of music, what is the link between African and African Americans?

Yaya Diallo - African Americans are Africans from the village and sadly they just don't know it! When you listen to the music you can find out. Kool and The Gang played Funky Stuff. When you listen to the drum part you will get the Dounouba part of the dance Sounou. Sounou was played in the 15th century and today is the dance young people love. In Africa we learn the past in the present and teach it to the next generation. The African Americans sometimes do not know how African they are.

[Question] Why can you say that they are African?

Yaya Diallo - The first time I heard the Four Tops I thought I was listening to the Bambara Farmers in the evening after a hard working day. The Temptations reminded me of the men Fire dancers and singers. I can listen to Temptations but I am afraid to see them. I am not initiated to the Fire dance and the music brings out memories about the secret ceremonies that happened afar in the village. Aretha Franklin is for me a great Djeli-mousso coming from the Empire of Mali in the 13th century. When I listen to African American music I don't worry about the meaning, only what I feel.

[Question] What do you think about Jazz?

Yaya Diallo - Really, to tell the truth, I don't feel jazz. Many people coming from Africa feel the same way. I learned about jazz in 1980 when I recorded my first album, Nangape, on Onzou Records. That opened the door for me with jazz. Jazz magazines like Cadence and Down Beat wrote articles on me like I was a "jazz man." I was invited to do workshops at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY. I met jazz big names like Art Blakey. He said, "Yaya is the only African that I can jazz, that I can play with and be comfortable." I completed a trio with Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell in the Symphony Space in New York.

[Question] What about Gospel?

Yaya Diallo - To me gospel means religion or church but my father-in-law changed my mind. When going to church with him I saw a big band and a big choir. People were singing and I forgot that I was in church. I was surprised; I saw ladies in a trance like in my village but they called it shouting. This reminded me of the Mania Secret Society where only woman go into a trance when praising god (See The Healing Drum).

[Question] What is rap?

Yaya Diallo - I love rap! I use to lie about buying rap and say that it was for my children. Rap is the old tradition of the Fulani people in Mali. It tells life stories through poetry that is recited quickly. Nomadic people have to explain their daily journey through this same quick form, but without the foul language. Today, the young people think that they have reinvented the wheel.

[Question] Yaya, what is wrong with African American music today?

Yaya Diallo - Today everything is easy. Instead of buying a drum set you buy a drum machine. Computers do everything. You can get almost every sound by pressing a button. This is the type of world that we live in today. The young Africans love it like we used to love James Brown. Time is the only thing that has changed!

[Question] How did African American music change American Society?

Yaya Diallo - We changed everything! We changed the style of dance; we created new sounds, new styles, and new way to dress ... EVERYTHING! Country music is the white version of the Blues. Rock-n-roll comes from our music. People forget that Jimmie Hendricks was a Blues player that just changed his sound and look. Without James Brown, Sly and Family Stone and the Motown Family there would be no Madonna, no Celiene Dion, no techno, and no disco. African Americans brought this to the world. It is sad because people do not recognize it. We changed the world and it will never be the same again.

[Question] How do people know you in America?

Yaya Diallo - I am the author of two books, The Healing Drum and At the Threshold of the African Soul. I have four CDs, Nanagape, The Healing Drum, Dombaa Folee, and Dounoukan. I thank Onzou Records, the first company that trusted me to make my first album in 1980. That was not easy!

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Beat Making Software - Make Your Music Beats Online

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It is unbelievable what the internet can get you today. And here is more if you are a music lover looking to make your own beats, why go anywhere else? You don't need to purchase any instruments. Just sit at home and make your original music using beat making software.

Beat Making Software - Make Your Music Beats Online

You don't need to go to a music store to buy the expensive mixers, sequencers, drum machines, etc to create your own beats. Instead, you can get everything on the internet and create your beats all by yourself.

How Is Beat Making Software Different

In a normal scenario, you need to head to a studio with your musicians and instruments to make your music. Hence, looking at the costs involved, you will have to pay for the studio, the instruments, and maybe the musicians too.

Can you imagine how much this might cost you? Consider these few items: synthesizers, mixing desk, MPC, and maybe much more. This will cost you a fortune, and if you are just starting up, you probably won't be able to afford it.

With a beat maker software, all you need is a computer, a laptop, a good sound system for the computer, and a nominal amount to be spent to purchase the software. And you are ready to go.

You can now successfully make music. A beat making software may cost anything between and 0. You can get a huge number of options for yourself with such software, and can produce high quality professional beats.

A beat making software will come with extensive tutorials for your help and can even come with video tutorials. And if you are well into Hip Hop, these tutorials will open you to a world of great opportunities.

Music beats software has made more and more producers shift to producing music online and come out with results that could have never been possible for them before.

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DUBturbo Digital Music Production Review

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There is a selection of music production software on the market today, but only a few stay on top of the game. Many applications for audio music production are often too difficult for the beginner to use or have other bugs that were not detectable by the programmers until later (and patches had to be released). DUBturbo is one of the few applications that have hit the market and done exactly what it was meant to do, which is to provide the end user a fast and easy way to create hip hop beats.

DUBturbo Digital Music Production Review

With a 16 Track Sequencer, 4 Octave Keyboard, 10 Pad Drum Machine and numerous kits containing samples, loops, and other things of importance for upcoming digital music producers, DUBturbo stands out as one of the best. Many people have gone to school and paid thousands in tuition to learn what DUBturbo teaches you in the comfort of your own home. By comparison, it's hard to tell the difference in an audio track made in DUBturbo versus one that was created by another higher end program. DUBturbo has a better quality of sound than most applications could give and the cost is much lower than its competitors.

I Would Like Music Production Software that is Easy to Use.

When you create a track with DUBturbo, the end result is not compressed sound that is nothing like your original output. Even with "high end" music production kits the samples you'll receive will be useless and you'll still end up having to search the internet for hours trying to find useful samples. You will then have to make them compatible with your expensive application. That's too much time wasted that you could've been using to create some awesome hip hop beats.

With DUBturbo, it's really simple to import any new audio tracks you wish with ease. The user interface is simple and easy to use,. There are keyboard shortcuts available so you don't get confused within a project. You can drag or copy bars with ease, edit and master your music all in one package. You don't even have to acquire any additional equipment such as sound cards or MIDI keyboards you would with other more expensive digital music production software.

Could I Make Music In All Genres With DUBturbo?

A user can make numerous beats for all the different genres of music. You could then mix and master your beats to sell or keep for later use. DUBturbo has been said to be an addictive application. People have reported spending days creating hip hop beats through use of this software and its also helped many to transition from amateur beat maker to professional music producer.

Other "high end" applications are too expensive and have too many requirements with a high learning curve for people who just want to jump right into beat making. Other programs take a long time to learn and when you're really passionate about music, DUBturbo allows you to fast forward through the learning process so that one day you're learning the software and the next day you're a professional at it.

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Learn How to Make Rap Beats - What to Use

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When it comes to learning how to make rap beats one of the most important things to consider before getting started is what to use when making your rap beats. There are literally thousands of things between hardware and software equipment that can be used to make beats. This article will take a look at some of the most popular equipment and software used by some of the world's top beat makers.

Learn How to Make Rap Beats - What to Use

Most Popular Hardware Equipment

Yamaha Motif ES8 Workstation - This in my opinion is Yamaha's best workstation so far. Many user 's really enjoy using this board because of it's unique wide range of sounds. You can notice the motif sounds being used more and more in the rap beat making world.

Korg Triton Extreme Workstation - When it comes to learning how to make rap beats many will point in the direction of the Triton Workstation. The Triton is one of the originators when it comes to the hip-hop world of music. Soon as every producer seemingly used all of the Triton sounds to death, Korg released Triton Extreme. This board takes the old Triton sound and gives it a fresh makeover making this board very liked by hip-hop producers.

Roland Fantom X6 Workstation - Roland really stepped up with this widely used board. What really makes this board stand out is it's large color LCD screen and it's 16 drum pads that really come in handy for those creating hip-hop beats. You can also get some expansion cards with Fantom X6 that are definitely worth the investment.

MPC Sampler - This piece of equipment has probably been used by every top hip-hop producer, The MPC has been around over 15 years and has become the staple for many rap beat producers today.

MV8800 By Roland - This sampling machine takes sampling to new heights. Evenly though it has some similarities to the MPC the MV8800 has features that are seemingly converting some MPC user's to the MV8800.

Most Popular Software.

Fruity Loops - Many beginners use this software because it is fairly inexpensive and easy to use. If you listen to some of today's rap beats you will find a lot of fruity loop sounds.

Reasons- This has become the most popular piece of software used to make rap beats today. Some of hip-hop's biggest producers are using Reasons to create their tracks.

For those wanting to know how to make rap beats this article will give you an idea of what you could and should be using. Decide what you think would work best for you and learn it inside and out. Then you will be able to produce the type of rap beats that you want with ease.

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How to Make Rap Beats - Hip Hop Music and Remixes

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Starting out with making beats

How to Make Rap Beats - Hip Hop Music and Remixes

Will you invest time and money in all the equipment necessary to produce a sonic beat or hip hop music? Or buy a ready-made rap beat and rap beat instrumentals off the internet. These "make rap beat softwares" are very simple to use and can be licensed for very little cash, and usually can be downloaded in the form of a simple wav. file, broadcast wav. file, or even an mp3 file. Okay, Having those things aside, you need to have a groove and be able to use this to create your own hip hop music. Now, Listen to your favorite radio station or your favorite music album, notice how professionally the sounds are made? I bet you would want to create your own beat like that with lyrics to mix it up. People these days are into the sound of the music, if the beat is not right, then chances are you will not be interested. Rap beat is the lifeblood of each and every song, without it, it will not make it to the top. Simple enough to say that there are a lot of beat making machines out there that provide outstanding capabilities and the only thing you need to be is, a music enthusiast.

Rap Beats

Once you have your rap beat and rap beat instrumental chosen, you have many options as far as audio software you can use to record your rap or vocal in

There are a lot of things you could do:

-EASILY Draw in or Trigger Sounds w/Keyboard shortcuts.
-Draw In Bars & Edit With EASE! Change Sounds/Patterns Fast.
-Drag & Copy Your Bars Around -
-1000's Of Sounds & Drums
-Record Live
-Edit Volumes, Go Solo, Mute, Save, edit Tempo
-Export Your 4.4 1 Studio Quality to.wav Master

Piece of advise

The most important piece of advise I can give you is listen to your favorite hip hop music or rnb music and try to study how the rap beats are made. Your personality must match the music that you want to create. See how it changes, Is it slow, fast, how are they sequenced? Does it have piano, bass or hi hats? Remember, making a rap beat is finding that one factor that will make your beat stands out from the rest! Almost all of them have the same pattern, but you need to incorporate that one level or instrument that will make it unique just like producing it in a music production studio.

Learn how to use the machine.

Read books and other hip hop music beat making programs that will help you learn the kind of instruments you need to know, their function and purpose. Ask a friend whom you know is a professional musician, he can teach you a thing or two on how to create basic music beat. The good thing about knowing the inside and out can make creating an easier process instead of wasting time figuring out yourself. Creating rap beats can include learning what sequencers work, what level of the master volume, and managing different beats per minute before you create songs. Practice using the software and familiarize yourself on the details you need to know and start making your own beats. Showcase your talent and make beat anyone could flow in..

Operating system

Although this is a simple software, It does not matter if you have a PC, Mac or other platform.

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Dubstep Music Maker Education - Learn Hardware and More

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Today we will lean it takes to become a good Dubstep music maker and proceed with an analysis of what type of hardware you'll need. Obviously a lot of hardware can cost a lot of money, but if you choose with understanding you can muster up a basic that can instantly make you a solid DJ. So without any further ado, let's continue with the tutorial.

Dubstep Music Maker Education - Learn Hardware and More

Hardware:

In my other articles I have mentioned the need for a good midi controller and for some decent headphones. With these two elements and a laptop you could almost be "road ready" and start hitting clubs. But there are some other things that you could add to your gear that will give you that extra bit of confidence.

Every DJ should have an iPod or something similar within his or her gear. Why? Because you never know when you'll have a malfunction in a live set and having an iPod can save you. The trick is to have the iPod on its own channel and if anything goes wrong to naturally switch over to the iPod. This way you don't stop the music and you are able to fix whatever the hell murphy mucked up. In order to do this however you'll need some sort of mixer. A DJ definitely doesn't really need more than a four channel mixer if you run on a basic set up so getting your hands on one will definitely give you a lot more versatility.

You could always add in things like drum machines, beat makers and so forth but with good editing software, a mixer, a midi, laptop and iPod you should be rocking.

Find your own style

It's all good and well to practice by trying to sound like a famous DJ out there, but the trick is to find your very own unique sound. You need to expand your music knowledge and experiment with sounds. Don't just listen to electronic music, try to expand your general knowledge and soon you'll realize that your creativity when producing will also increase. But you should also listen to a lot of Dubstep and its origins to become a master at Dubstep. Borrow some techniques from your favorite Dubstep DJ's but also try to improve on it and manipulate it so that it becomes your own. You can't become a solid Dubstep DJ if you don't become a master of the genre.

When listening to DJ's don't just listen to the song. The trick is to dissect it, to understand the process that the artist did when making the song. This way you begin to pick up on the minor things within the genre that separates the amateurs from the pros.

Production

When producing your music you need to test it out. There are a lot of "rules" to production that aren't really "rules" but more like guidelines. The general rule within all music however is; "If it sounds good...it is good." Thus always experiment with your production and when you find something that works, use it. Music production is about experimentation and pushing the envelope that much further. Don't over compress and try to keep the sound from not peaking on you. These things will become second nature as you continue within your path of

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Make Beats On Computer - What You Need

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If you are interested in making beats then you may have looked up what famous hip hop producers are using. Typically they will use a costly drum machine to make their beats, but for most of us spending a lot of money just to get started is out of the question. That being said there is a large number of people on the internet who have figured out how to make beats on computer, sometimes even selling their beats. So if you are looking to get started without the fancy gear here is what you will need.

Make Beats On Computer - What You Need

The first thing you are going to need are samples of the various drums, instruments, and song parts that you will be using to compose your beat. Samples are available everywhere, and there is free software for cutting up and recording sounds such as audacity. There is something you do need to worry about though, and that is whether the samples that you are working with are legal for you to use. Make sure that you understand your rights, and beware of public domain unless you are one hundred percent sure.

As far as software goes there are numerous choices out there. In my opinion if you are just starting out is to go with something simple. You could spend thousands of dollars on a package with a gazillion features, but if you don't understand how to use it then it's not worth anything. That being said some key features to look for are real time recording, the ability to bind drums, and keyboard keys to the keyboard, and of course the ability to use samples from outside of the program. I can't emphasize how useful being able to record in real time, and being able to drum, and play instruments directly with the keyboard is.

The final thing you will want to make sure of is that whichever way you go you have the instruction to know how to use the software that you choose. Ideally the software will come with some training, and if it doesn't then that could really run up the costs. Sites like YouTube can be very useful in this, but often it's a mixed bag. If you are unsure of whether or not you can figure things out then the easy thing to do is make sure the software has a money back guarantee that way if they don't provide what you're looking for you won't be out of cash.

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How To Properly Remanufacture Your Own Lexmark Optra T-S-SE Toner Cartridges - Just 35 Easy Steps

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The Lexmark Opera T, Opera S and Opera SE 3455 laser printer cartridges are all very similar, yet not interchangeable with a few distinct differences that will be pointed out to you later.

How To Properly Remanufacture Your Own Lexmark Optra T-S-SE Toner Cartridges - Just 35 Easy Steps

Since the remanufacturing process is basically the same for all, the following guidelines will be based on the Opera T, yet address all three cartridge types.

Here are your Step-by-Step "How-to-Remanufacture Your Lexmark Optra T/S/SE 3455" Instructions:

Let's get straight to the point, no beating around the bush during this lecture.

First, you will need the necessary Tools and Supplies Required:

Tools & Supplies Required:

oPhillips #1 Screwdriver (tool)

oSmall Flat Blade Screwdriver (tool)

oNeedle Nose Pliers (tool)

oSoft Lint Free Cloth (supply)

oAnhydrous Isopropyl Alcohol (supply)

oCotton Swabs (supply)

oVacuum (supply)

Here you will also be provided with the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) information:

Lexmark Optra T/S/SE 3455:

oPart Number: 12A0725 / 12A0825

oOEM Gram Load: 620 grams

oYield @ 5% coverage: 23,000 pages

oResolution: 1200 dpi (dots per inch)

Lexmark Optra S1250 / S1255 / S1620 / S1625 / S1650 / S1855 / S2420 / S2450 /S2455:

oPart Number: 1382920 / 1382620

oOEM Load: 250 grams

oPage Yield: 7, 500 pages

oResolution: 1200 dpi (dots per inch)

oPart Number: 1382625 / 1382925 / 12A0150

oOEM Load: 500 grams

oPage Yield: 17,600 pages

oResolution: 1200 dpi (dots per inch)

Lexmark Optra SE 3455/SE 3455N:

oPart Number: 12A0725/12A0825

oOEM Load: 620 grams

oPage Yield: 23,000 pages

oResolution: 1200 dpi (dots per inch)

Lexmark Optra T610/T612/T612S/T614/T616:

oPart Number: 12A5740/12A5840

oOEM Load: 270 grams

oPage Yield: 10,000 pages

oResolution: 1200 dpi (dots per inch)

Below are the 53 steps to know how to remanufacture your Lexmark Optra:

T/S/SE 3455:

o1382920

o1382620

o1382625

o1382925

o12A0725

o12A0825

o12A5740

o12A5840

o12A5745

o12A5845 series.

Step #1:

oPlace the cartridge on the work table with the drum facing upward and the small drum gear towards you. Using a small bladed screwdriver, pry off the developer roller drive gear and set it aside.

Step #2:

oRotate the cartridge to the right so the toner hopper is facing you. Using a spring hook or needle nose pliers, gently remove the toner hopper tension springs from the posts at each side.

Step #3:

oGrasp the toner hopper with the left hand and the waste hopper side plate with the right. Gently bend the side plate outward, while sliding the toner hopper to the left to expose the right guide post.

Step #4:

oThe drum cover may be taped back to facilitate handling. Using a small flat bladed screwdriver or needle-nose pliers, take off the retaining clip on the left side of the drum shaft.

Step #5:

oNow you will need to hold the large gear end of the drum with your left hand, pull the drum shaft out with your right. Remove the drum and set it aside, just be sure not to lose the washer on the small gear end. If lost, it may take some time finding a new one, so be careful, time is valuable.

Step #6:

oNext, remove the two screws holding the wiper blade using a #1 Phillips Screwdriver.

Step #7:

oCarefully, slice the sealing tape on the topside of the waste hopper covering the top of the wiper blade (instead, some cartridge uses a foam seal behind the wiper blade, if so, delete this step if necessary). The PCR access door opens inward and sets on the horizontal lip of the wiper blade. Open the PCR door to remove the wiper blade and be careful not to break the two small plastic alignment pins positioning the wiper blade.

Step #8:

oEmpty out the toner from the waste hopper and inspect the recovery blade for nicks, tears, or wrinkles and replace as necessary.

Step #9:

oWhile holding the waste hopper cavity firmly with your right hand and the wiper blade in your left. Open the PCR door with your left thumb and install the wiper blade on the waste hopper and secure with the Phillips screws.

Step #10:

oNow, apply a small amount of padding powder to the wiper blade, drum and recovery blade. Install the drum, washer, drum axle and retaining clip and set the waste hopper aside for now.

Note: If the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) drum comes
with a one way spring, it may need to be transferred to the new drum.

Step #11:

oPlace the toner hopper on your work area (label up) with the developer roller facing you. Using your fingertips of both hands, gently pull off the doctor blade spring and set it aside.

Step #12:

oUsing a small flat bladed screwdriver pry against the base of the contact plate and remove the contact and lift the end piece from the developer roller.

Step #13:

oGrasp the left end shaft of the developer roller and lift it out to the left, doing your best not to damage the Teflon washers or Mylar blades.

Step #14:

oRemove the Teflon washers from the developer roller and inspect them thoroughly for damage and wear. Replace the Teflon washers as a set.

Step #15:

oTurn the toner hopper to the right so the fill plug is facing you. Using a small flat bladed screwdriver, pry the slotted encoder wheel off and set it aside.

Step #16:

oUsing the same screwdriver, pry out the toner fill plug carefully and doing your best not to damage it. Clean the filter inside the plug with either vacuum or compressed air.

Step #17:

oEmpty out all the toner from the toner hopper and clean the hopper with vacuum or compressed air. Be very careful not to damage the foam rollers or Mylar blades.

Step #18:

oUsing a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol, clean the developer roller ends, and seal at each end of the foam roller.

Step #19:

oClean the underside of the DR bar with a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol.

Step #20:

oClean under the ground contacts for the foam roller shaft and the DR bar with a cotton swab and alcohol.

Step #21:

oClean the developer roller with a dry soft lint free cloth or compressed air only. Clean the developer roller shaft with a cotton swab and alcohol.

Step #22:

oInstall the Teflon washers on each end of the developer roller and slide the flat (keyed) end of the roller into position on the right side of the toner hopper. Lower the left end into position being careful not to damage the Teflon washer on that side.

Step #23:

oInstall the brass end piece and contact plate into position on the left end developer roller shaft. On the Optra T and SE 3455 rotate the brass end piece downward until the lobe rests between the legs of the contact plate.

Step #24:

oRe-install the DR bar leaf spring with the point of the "V" stamped on the spring pointed towards you.

Step #25:

oCarefully pour the correct amount of toner into the hopper and re-install the fill plug.

Note: The toner amount must be matched to the correct encoder wheel, key tab and chip to ensure that the customer's machine does not reject the cartridge.

Step #26:

oRe-install the plastic encoder wheel.

Step #27:

oPlace the waste hopper top down on your work area with the opening facing you and the hopper tension springs out of the way. Turn the toner hopper label down and insert the left roller guide into the slot. Lower the right side downwards, while pulling outward on the waste hopper side plate.

Step #28:

oRe-insert the guide posts into the proper holes in the waste hopper side plates and reattach the hopper tension springs. Inspect thoroughly for correct toner hopper position and ease of movement.

Step #29:

oRe-install the developer roller drive gear. The cartridge is now ready to test.

Step #30a:

oAt last, align the encoder wheel with the three slots in the down position before packaging.

Step #30b:

oTest the cartridge.

Congratulations, you have successfully completed the process on how to remanufacture your own Lexmark Opera T/S/SE 3455 series LaserJet toner print cartridges.

Good luck and complete each cartridge as if it were your last. This information is provided to you at no expense to both educate and improve your knowledge in the technical area within the remanufacturing industry.

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Impact of Music Software on Today's Music

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

To compose good music is not the exclusive domain of professional music composers. Now with advanced music software, everyone can become a good composer. They can experiment with different beats and upload their tracks on different websites for others to listen.

Impact of Music Software on Today's Music

Not only does software allow you to make music clips, they also help you make complete tracks. Though this might be surprising for many people, the fact is that many famous composers today also use different software to fine-tune their work. This proves the efficacy of music software and ensures quality music composition with just few mouse clicks. Is not it amazing? Indeed it is.

If you are an amateur and want to compose quality music and that too by not breaking your bank and establishing a whole new studio, we recommend you buy one of such software available in the market. However, before you buy it, read the following guidelines that will help you select the right software.

What to Look for in a Software

If you are interested in making techno, dance, rap or hip-hop beats, software with a drum machine panel, a sequencer and some sound effects is exactly what you need. These features are already installed in good software. However, you need to check if the one you are going to buy has these options already.

Do not use online software because they could be a trap to harm your PC and to intrude into your system. Install the software on your computer instead as it makes it easier for you to compose music yourself.

Since you are using music software for the first time, there are chances that you will make mistakes. This is why you should always ask for a manual to understand its functions and to get started in composition.

Bear in mind that if you are buying software online, it should have money back guarantee as well. Many websites do offer it, however, there are a bunch of websites that do not. So buying software from the latter category is not a good idea as it decreases the chances of getting a refund if the software does not meet your requirements.

What Type of Computer Do You Need to Use Music Software?

These software run easily on computers we have these days. Even some low-priced laptops and notebooks also support them.

Also, keep in mind that whatever software you buy, it should be compatible with your system so as to avoid any inconvenience. Many computers have several built-in plug-ins that are required to run software. However, they can also be downloaded from the internet for free.

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Tips For Finding Hot Beat Making Software

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

Personally, after reading all the free information I could find I was still stuck because I didn't have adequate TOOLS to get started. So I went searching for a system that had the complete package - I didn't have to read a lot of books that gave me the basics but none of the nitty gritty, and I didn't have to download 5 different software programs (that didn't integrate) and was difficult to get a decent sound together.

Tips For Finding Hot Beat Making Software

I didn't have a lot of money to buy studio time (and I didn't have the experience straight away to justify the cost of this) and I certainly didn't have the money to purchase a whole heap of equipment to get going so I went looking for a good software download that could do it all.

There are some great beat making software that you can find online - I highly recommend finding one to download onto your computer because it is a lot faster to use from your own PC and you can upload your own sounds to incorporate into the software and make your beats sound fantastic!

I also found that it was a lot quicker to start making beats online fast with one powerful all-inclusive software program than trying to Google all the different questions I had, sort through the responses and keep going with banging out beats.

What you need to look for is a software program that already has everything integrated to start producing your own rap music, hip hop beats or any style that you want.

It will need to include a lot of different quality samples that you can put together - you don't want to be limited in your creativity because you didn't have access to quality samples. You should also be able to add embellishments into the music such as special effects - fade outs, reverb etc.

You also need a sequencer! A sequencer is where you can integrate you drum, keys, voices etc into your timeline. Good beat making software should have a sequencer that can allow you to import your own sounds AND also include quality mastered libraries - and by quality I mean AT MINIMUM 44.1 stereo 16 bit.wav files.

Don't go looking for MP3 music production software either. While it sounds okay, it is already second generation compressed sounds so when you compress them down further to MP3 to have your 'master' - do you think the sound quality will really be any good? I doubt it, definitely not what it can be. And if you are interested in selling those beats to someone? Think again, they will not take you seriously.

You also need to consider your drum machine panel and your sampling keyboard - some beat making software have a keyboard trigger assigned to it which means that you can bang out your beats on your drum machine and sampling keyboard using the keyboard that you type on which is pretty awesome.

Also make sure that the software you are using has a pretty comprehensive tutorial package. While making your own beats is awesome fun, you will still need a few lessons to get going and if you find the right software that has great tutorials then you will get going in next to no time.

Oh and before I forget... make sure that the software that you start using has frequent updates! One thing that I found annoying with some software packages is that they didn't update their sounds with any fresh content... I never thought to check for that because I thought all software packages would do that but they don't. You need access to software that is always offering you fresh quality sounds.

Finally, all you will need now is to be able to burn your sick new beats to CD! Then you can show off your hot new sounds to anyone and everyone. If you are interested in selling your beats then get them out there! Radio stations, music producers, You Tube, DJ's for their club music, even put your own voice on it... the possibilities are endless.

Go and start creating some awesome beats - find yourself a hot beat maker online and maybe we will be hearing your hot beats over the airwaves soon!

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Cypress Hill Biography and Top 10 Songs

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

I have always liked Cypress Hill since the release of their first album. I remember hearing the single How I Could Just Kill A Man and thought B-Real had an amazing rapping voice, the sound and beat was good, and I was already into Rap at the time. Since then they have become one of my favourite bands to chill to and I listen to them quite a bit. I find most people know a few of their songs or have at least heard of them, which is good because I talk to a lot of people about some of the stuff I listen to and they have no idea what I'm talking about.

Cypress Hill Biography and Top 10 Songs

CH are a mainly Latin American Hip-Hop group and formed in California. They have gained much popularity over the years because they rap a lot about the legalisation of cannabis. Cypress Hill were the first Latin Rap group to have Platinum albums. The group consist of B-Real, Sen Dog, DJ Muggs and Eric Bobo. Mellow Man Ace also used to be a member (they were called DVX at that time) but left in 1988 then they changed to Cypress Hill.

The self titled debut Cypress Hill was released in 1991 and was an instant success and has become 2x Platinum, selling over 2million copies in the US alone. Soon after the release of the album, Cypress Hill performed at Lollapalooza in 1992 which helped to raise their public image and popularity. When Black Sunday was released in 1993 it went straight into the US album chart at #1 and the Cypress Hill album was still in the charts which made them the first Rap group to have two albums in the charts at the same time. The single Insane In The Brain's popularity helped the album to turn 3x Platinum.

Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom was released in 1995 and saw a collaboration with Wu-Tang rappers Rza and U-God for the song Killa Hill ******. The album turned Platinum, selling over 1.5 million copies and also caused a feud between Ice Cube's band Westside Connection who claimed material was stolen from them. The feud was settled on a TV talk show and B Real and Ice Cube have worked together since then.

In 1996 Cypress Hill released the album Unreleased And Revamped which is kinda what it says on the tin. IV was released in 1998 and saw the group collaborate on the PC game Kingpin: Life Of Crime and 3 songs are included in the game and B Real provided voice samples for some of the games characters. When Skull & Bones was released in 2000 the Skull disc contained Rap songs and the Bones disc contained Rock songs. The album peaked the charts at #5. Live At The Filmore was also released in 2000.

Stoned Raiders was released in 2001 and is one of my Top 50 albums. The music from the song Lowrider has been used on many TV shows and movies since then. The album also contains collaborations with Method Man (Wu-Tang) and Redman and the song Here Is Something You Can't Understand is a sequel to their original song How I Could Just Kill a Man. The EP Stash was released in 2002 and is another remix album.

Till Death Do Us Part, released in 2004 shows a different side to Cypress Hill and is contains a more Reggae sound and features Damian Marley (Bob Marley's son). Greatest Hits From The Bong is another compilation album and was released in 2005. In 2007 Cypress Hill went on the Rock The Bells Tour alongside Wu-Tang, Public Enemy, Rage Against The Machine, Erykah Badu, Nas and others.

Cypress Hill are currently working on new material.

My Top 10 Cypress Hill Songs are:

01. Hits From The Bong
02. I Ain't Goin' Out Like That
03. I Wanna Get High
04. Lowrider
05. A To The K
06. How I Could Just Kill A Man
07. Rap Superstar
08. Ultraviolet Dreams
09. What Go Around Come Around Kid
10. Stoned Is The Way Of The Walk

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Beat Maker - Best Beatmaker Software Online

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

With the rapidly changing world in which everything is becoming more digital and electronic, it is no wonder that its effects have infringed on the musical world too. This has had a positive effect, as now creating your own beats and music has now become feasible to everyone around the world. You do not need complex, expensive musical instruments to realize your musical dream. You can now start creating your own beats with the help of beat maker programs. You can create your own beats for fame and for huge lifetime royalties.

Beat Maker - Best Beatmaker Software Online

Thanks to Dub Turbo, today's music aspirants have access to the same complex and exclusive technology that only professional artists have enjoyed in the past. Dub Turbo is a high-tech, very easy to use and a very low priced software with tonnes of features ever before. The creator of this software is from the music industry and he decided to give the same software which made him famous all around the world. It is like giving back to the industry which has made the person famous and rich.

Choose your genre

Before starting to create your own music with Dub Turbo, choose the genre that you are comfortable with. Of' course, there is the possibility of creating your own genre, but before jumping head long into the water it is better to test the water with your toe. Once you are more comfortable, you can move on to creating your own genres. So first decide on a genre that you love and are comfortable with. Remember, a work that is well begun in half complete. Then decide on what will make that genre special and alluring. Once this ground work is done, you are ready to roll.

Creating your beats:

There are three crucial steps that need to be followed for creating a beat in any genre. They include

· Creating a baseline · Creating the audio loops · Laying out the midi drum patterns.

Creating the baseline is the integral step in any beat creation process, because this lays the foundation. This is the skeleton upon which the other aspects of your music will revolve about. So make sure that the baseline is built to your satisfaction. Moreover this baseline is the sequence that will be played more often in a repeating loop and you will want to make sure that something that is played repeatedly is pleasing and alluring to the ears.

Audio loops form a primary component in genres like rap and hip hop. To create the audio loops, you can use whatever instrument your creativity demands. Besides you can also add a lot of special effects to transform the mood and the tone of the music. You can compress, stretch and create a plethora of other such effects with Dub Turbo and improve the nuances of your music composition. Once you have created your first audio loop, you can add many other audio loops as you wish. After the first audio loop is done, creating the other audio loops will not be as time-consuming as the first one.

Then we have the midi drum patterns. You can use as many and as varied midi drum patterns as you wish, but make sure that you don't make the final effect a discordant cacophony. They can be set in a pattern of a group of unique notes and can be made to play as a secondary baseline.

Once these three components are created to the best of your ability and creativity, your first beat is all ready to rock!

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How To Choose The Best External Sound Card For Recording and-or Podcasting

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

The question of choosing the best External Sound Card for a particular use or application gets asked a lot. I have put together this quick guide which highlights the main considerations when choosing the right audio interface for your PC or Mac for recording and/or podcasting.

How To Choose The Best External Sound Card For Recording and-or Podcasting

The first question: What are you going to be using an external sound card / audio interface for?

• Podcasting
• Recording simple vocals for presentations
• Home recording vocals and instruments
• Recording an entire band or group

Benefits of an External Sound Card
An external sound card or audio interface, often called a "break out" box, has a major advantage over an internal PCI / PCI-Express card when it comes to recording and podcasting. The Analog to Digital (A/D) and Digital to Analog (D/A) conversion engine is located in the external box, therefore, all of the processing that goes on to change the analogue stream into a digital stream and vice versa is undertaken inside the box away from the electrical noise of your computer. The resulting digital signal is sent via cable to an input in your PC or Mac via a USB, Firewire or a dedicated card specifically designed to couple the box to your computer.

Other important advantages include, ease of installation and connectivity; advanced functionality such as pre-amps; Hi-Z inputs; in-built hardware effects; mobility; use with laptops, notebooks and desktops.

Considerations
How many analog inputs do you need? Are you podcasting using one or two microphones (2 inputs)? Do you need inputs for musical instruments such as a guitar and/or keyboards (4 - 8 Inputs)? Or perhaps you want to record your entire band and microphone up the drum kit (20+ simultaneous inputs)?

The more inputs you need, the more you will need to spend. From experience it is advisable to choose an external sound card with a few more inputs, just in case.

Pre-Amps
Pre-amps boost the very low signal input from microphones up to a level that mixers, sound cards, effects, etc can work with. Pre-amps are not optional if you are recording with microphones. You need a pre-amp channel for every microphone you are recording simultaneously. I recommend you get the same amount of pre-amps as you have analog inputs in your external sound card. It doesn't do you any good to have the inputs if you can't use them.

Connecting your external sound card to your PC or Mac

• PCI or PCI-Express (Via internal card to "Break out" box) - Desktop only - not easy to install
• USB 1.1 - Slowest connection speed- only good for one input at a time
• USB 2.0 - Faster, The standard - better for simultaneously recording up to 8 inputs, Mobile
• USB 3.0 - NEW, Faster still, awaiting audio peripherals to be released (One to keep an eye on)
• Firewire - Stable, fast, low latency, preferred solution by seasoned recordists

PC, Mac or both.
Make sure your chosen external sound card works on your machine - the specifications will tell you. There are externals sound cards that work just on PCs and just on Mac's and those that work fine on both.

MIDI
Many external sound cards come with MIDI in and out ports. If you need MIDI or think you may want to experiment with MIDI, I recommend that you purchase a sound card with MIDI already built-in. You'll want to make sure that the sound card uses a standard MIDI jack as some include ports that need adaptors. It is best to avoid adaptors.

MIDI can trigger synthesizers (which essentially shapes and moulds sound electronically to model various instruments) or samplers (which instantaneously play back short recordings of sound files). Because of this, MIDI is used all the time in music ranging from techno to metal to movie scores. With the right samples, it is easy to switch from working on an orchestral score to a rap beat in seconds.

Hi-Z Input
Increase the quality of your direct guitar recordings, by plugging your guitar into a high impedance input. Your standard sound card input was not designed to work with a guitar and therefore, some high frequencies can be lost. Hi-Z input is Included on many audio interfaces.

Monitoring
Do you need to monitor vocals / guitars through headphones, have separate monitoring for each member of the band? Most recording software will allow direct monitoring of the signal through the main outs (which is how you listen on playback through you studio monitors). This is usually satisfactory for a drummer but may not be nearly as useful for the rest of the band.

Do some research before buying an external audio interface to make sure that your monitoring needs are taken care of.

Software
Some sound cards come with recording software included. Make sure you factor this into your decision and into the price as well. Most recording programs bundled with sound cards are the "LE" version which means they generally are lacking some of the features of the given companies flagship model.

With that said, most people do not need the features included in the most high end recording software. You will probably be fine with whatever software that comes with your audio hardware (assuming it comes with any at all). If you find that the program that comes with your sound card is lacking in features, most companies will allow you to upgrade to more high end versions at a discounted price.

A selection of well known software companies that work well with an external sound card include Cakewalk, Cubase Alberton and Pro Tools.

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The Boss DR-880 Drum Machine Review - How Does It Compare to the Alesis SR-18 and Others?

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

The Boss DR-880 is a very special drum machine. Of course, there's a lot of competition for percussion machines these days, but the DR-880 is able to hold its own against any of its competitors. For one thing, Boss is famous for its enormous and rich catalogue of percussion sounds, as well as bass and electric sounds, so many of which are available on the 880 model.

The Boss DR-880 Drum Machine Review - How Does It Compare to the Alesis SR-18 and Others?

There are also plenty of percussion instruments by the sounds this machine can make. Some of them are your typical studio instruments, but others are pretty rare; indeed, percussion instruments from all over the world can be heard on this device. The 880 is also full of new waveforms as well.

One of the best things about the Boss DR-880 is just how easy it is to use. As soon as you bring it home and pull it out of the box, it's ready to go. There are also buttons called "EZ Compose" that allow you to create your own percussion patterns in broad strokes, so you don't have to worry about composing your drum sounds one note at a time. Of course, if you love to compose music and you do want to craft every note, you have that option as well.

A special function of this machine called the Groove Modify will allow you to try out all kinds of grooves, to see which groove would be most appropriate in which spot. (Groove templates are free to use.) Plus, it probably goes without saying for anyone who is familiar with Boss's line of products that there are all kinds of inputs, outputs, advanced effects and sophisticated patterns you can add to your music using this machine.

Among the most popular effects are the chorus, the delay and-one of almost everyone's favorites-the reverb. And you can use compressors to make sure that any pieces of percussion music that you create are customized to your liking.

What's more, you have options as to how you can listen to your Boss DR-880. There are headphones, of course, but you can also play the drums through whatever kind of amplification your using-even through your guitar amplifiers if you so choose, though I personally recommend using a keyboard combo amp; the Roland KC series is absolutely stellar for this purpose. It's not difficult to reroute this machine's sounds, either.

Want some more specifics? Well, consider the following: with the 880 model, you get four different foot switch inputs, five-hundred preset patterns, five hundred more user patterns, twenty pads (all pads are velocity-sensitive, too) four-hundred and forty unique percussion sounds, and forty bass sounds on top of those, as well as USB port, three-band EQ and simple, easy-to-use programming capabilities.

There are a handful of great drum machines on the market, including the Alesis SR-18, Zoom RT-223, Akai XR20, and Boss DR-670. These are all cheaper than the DR-880, and are all worthy of your consideration. However, if you've got the extra money to spend, you simply cannot beat the DR-880... which is why this is the drum machine that I personally own and use every day!

You can make it sound as synthetic or natural as you want. You can even add "ghost notes" so it sounds like you've got a real drummer whose sticks are rubbing and tapping the skin of the snare drum! Step-mode and real-time recording, all different types of bass guitar sounds and virtual amplifiers, and all those little extras mentioned above make this the only drum machine you could ever possibly need.

Really, you can get so detailed with this thing that it will sound like you've got a real rhythm section behind you. Inadvertent drum strokes and bass string slides can be achieved with ease! Likewise, if you want to create a spot-on, mistake-free house, dance, trance, or hip-hop track, those options are available to you, as well.

On the downside, the learning curve with this machine is tremendous. I'm still learning things about mine all the time, and I've owned it for over 2 years now! To make the learning process much more tolerable than simply figuring it all out on your own, there is a dvd manual available, which I cannot recommend strongly enough. Every last detail of the Boss DR-880 drum machine is explained and demonstrated in a very straightforward, professional, and enjoyable manner.

So if you're a professional composer, an amateur musician, or if you're just interested in increasing your musical knowledge and appreciation, there will be a lot you can learn from this kickass drum machine from Boss. Again, if you've got the money for the DR-880 and are on the fence about whether you want this or the Alesis SR-18 (as good as that machine is)... or any other drum machine, for that matter... go with the Boss DR-880.

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Creating Electronic Dance Music Has Never Been Easier

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

Dance music has been around in many shapes and forms for generations and has influenced the lives of many people. This type of music provided people with a music form that could not only be appreciated emotionally, but also enabled the listener to physically interact with music taking the experience to a whole new level of euphoria.

Creating Electronic Dance Music Has Never Been Easier

Traditional dance music involved the use of musical instruments to create more up-beat tunes but this was to change with the introduction of electronic dance music, which appeared around the beginning of the early 1980's. Electronic synthesizers completely revolutionized the dance music scene and a solo pop artist could literally do away with an entire backing group and replicate nearly every possible sound on this remarkable device.

The proliferation of home computers also began in the early 1980's and with the invention of the communications protocol known as Midi, the electronic dance scene quickly grew from strength to strength. The Midi protocol was first invented by Clestin New and the way it works is by allowing various electronic devices such as computers, samplers and sound cards to fully communicate with each other and thus produce a complete synchronization of sounds. The Midi protocol is widely used by many different electronic music genres including drum and bass, techno and trance to name but a few and all these music styles have been very successful in the popular music scene.

Personal or home computers have advanced a great deal over the last decade and the software that is used on them has also developed rapidly, which has allowed users to achieve things that would have never dreamed possible. Electronic music can easily be created on a modern computer even in the comfort of your own home, mainly thanks to sophisticated computer software programs which allows the user to produce music entirely on a single machine. It is important however, that you use a high quality sound card to really benefit from these programs as when using midi sound files, the quality of sound will be directly related to how good your sound card is. For example if you were to send a midi file to someone with a cheap sound card the quality of sound they would hear from the same file would be significantly less. If you create a piece of music that you want to share with others, it is ideal to convert the midi file to a wav file which is achieved using your sound card's recording software while playing the midi file. All you need to do then is put your music onto a CD and then anyone can listen to your creations.

The Internet has also helped a great deal in bringing the electronic music scene into people's homes and there are many websites that cater for any budding musician wanting to create the next new vibe. You can find a huge range of midi samples covering a whole variety of electronic dance music genres and many of these sample packs can be downloaded directly to your computer so it has never been easier to create the next dance music revolution.

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10 Ways to Make Practicing Your Instrument More Effective

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

I'm about to reveal some serious secrets on becoming a spectacular musician. If you're a serious musician then practicing is essential for improvement, you need to develop your strengths in order to accomplish tough feats. Some musicians are gifted enough to improve on some aspects of their musicianship without any sort of formal practice, but in the end, in order to fix bad habits, improve your technique, and strengthen your musical mind practicing is essential. Not only that, but practicing will help you improve that much faster. I've created an infamous "top 10 list" on ways you can make your practice time more effective.

10 Ways to Make Practicing Your Instrument More Effective

1. Set goals for the amount of time you need to practice - I'm not going to say that there is a set amount of time every musician must practice. When you're starting out, maybe a 1/2 hour a day, 3-4 days a week is all you can handle mentally and physically. As a professional musician, my ideal goal is to practice at least 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Sometimes, life gets in the way and that doesn't always happen, but that's what I personally strive for. You should at least give yourself enough time to warm-up, focus on a few aspects of your playing, and maybe a time to reflect on what to work on for your next session.

2. Prepare a written schedule - I know that I work best when things are either physically written out or typed up in a document or spreadsheet. It helps me maintain focus on my goals because life can sometimes be distracting. I create a matrix that consists of every day of the week and what I want to focus on that day and how much time to spend on it. For example, on Monday, I may choose to warm up for 15 minutes, work on alternate picking for 1/2 hour, work on minor 7th chord inversions for another 1/2 hour, and 45 minutes learning that difficult Paul Gilbert song that just came out. And so on...

3. Practice consistently - This is one aspect of practicing that I try to instill in all of my students. So many times I have a student come in and say "I didn't do much practicing this week but I did get 2 hours in on Saturday." Bad bad bad! Practicing a lot only one or two days a week is not very effective. In the academic world, this is known as "cramming". No, it's much better to practice 30 minutes a days for 5 days in a row than it is to practice 2.5 hours in one day and wait a week to practice again. It keeps ideas fresh in your mind and also helps your muscles get used to working.

4. Play with a metronome - I always use a metronome when I practice. It's going almost constantly. This has helped me develop exceptional time, and because I play in a lot of bands, timing is essential because I need to sync with other musicians. Not only does a metronome help you keep time but it helps you better understand beat subdivisions. Believe it or not, a lot of musicians cannot smoothly transition between 16th notes, triplets, and eighth notes. Forget about more obscure polyrhythms like quintuplets and septuplets. Technique-wise, a metronome has helped me master speed and other techniques much faster. If a metronome drives you crazy, consider investing in a drum machine instead. You can also utilize online metronomes such as http://www.metronomeonline.com

5. Practice slowly - Regarding the metronome, if you're having trouble with certain sections of a piece, slow it down and gradually build it up. Those slower tempos are going to be the most crucial because that's the range where you're learning how to mentally handle those difficult passages. As you move the tempo up, the mental focus turns more into physical focus. I believe that this is the most efficient method for learning difficult passages effectively. When I was a kid, I would spend hours learning those rapid George Lynch 16th note triplet guitar fragments. Now, with the use of my metronome and slowing things down, I can learn those type of things in 1/2 hour! I use a wonderful piece of software called Guitar Pro that has this nifty speed trainer feature where I can select the percentage of the actual speed to play a notation file back at.

6. Have a method to your madness - All of the previous points allude to this idea. Don't just go into a practice session blindly. Know how you're going to conquer what you're trying to learn. Whether is using the slow down method, repeating something many times, etc, come up with a way that works. One method I that I learned from Steve Vai to lay down 5 pennies somewhere at your practice space. When you play the passage you're working on perfectly, you can eliminate one penny. If you make a mistake, you have to put all of the pennies back. Repeat until all of the pennies have been eliminated. Then you can consider yourself a master of that passage. Another method I use to learn overall difficult pieces is to spend a day or two learning only one measure at a time. The next day I'll learn two measures at a time. Then 4, then 8, and so on.

7. Work on your weaknesses - Isn't that what practicing is all about anyways? When I was younger and not as wise, I used to practice a lot of things that I already knew because it was more fun and it made me feel more confident. But that isn't very effective. You should practice the things you struggle with. My motto is "If you don't have a headache when you're done with a session, you're not doing it right." Practice should sometimes be frustrating because you should be challenging yourself.

8. Isolate difficult sections - Say you're learning the latest Beethoven piece (let's use Fur Elise as our example) and you're grooving along just fine on the exposition (the introduction for us laymen) which everybody who touches the piano eventually learns. You hit the key change to F major and everything is fine, but then all of a sudden, you get to those 32nd notes and you're thinking "This is it. This is too difficult. I'm through." Well, maybe instead of working on the introduction, which you already know life the back of your hand, it's time to spend some time on the 32nd note section. You can use the methods I mentioned above to pinpoint and improve on your weaknesses that stop you from moving past this section.

9. Practice progressively - In college, when I was taking Euphonium lessons from the accomplished Richard Frazier, I was introduced to the "Arban's Complete Method for Trumpet". What an awesome book! It's the bible of brass technique. Since buying the book, I've applied it to my guitar, bass, piano, chapman stick, etc playing. Despite being written for the trumpet, it seems to work for every instrument. It's a book that sections off various techniques and give you hundreds of exercises for each of those techniques. Each section starts off easy and gets progressively more difficult. By the time you've hit the last exercise of the section, you're pretty much a master of that technique. This is what I mean by practicing progressively.

10. Read a book - Practicing doesn't always have to be physical. Music is just as much a mental activity as it is physical. Of course, you should read books about music. Read about theory, composers, history, and more. I've just finished a book called "Jazz Theory" by Mark Levine. Now that I'm done with this excellent book, I will apply the ideas to my own playing. Reading will help you gain ideas and insight into your own playing. You just practiced without touching an instrument!

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The Analogue Music Market - Top 5 Picks From Musik Messe

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

The European equivalent of the music industry trade show NAMM has flooded the market with trad and tech developments from brand leaders in all areas, from guitars to amps and keyboards to drum machines. To help out confused music enthusiasts we've picked what we consider to be five of the best new trad products to come out of Musik Messe in Frankfurt this year. Look out for our pick of the tech products still to come.

The Analogue Music Market - Top 5 Picks From Musik Messe

Fender Pawn Shop Series

The biggest news from Fender at the show was a new range of electric guitars inspired by some of Fender's instruments from the '50s, '60s and '70s, plus the more recent Squier Vintage Modified '51 model. As Chris Vinnicombe succinctly put it,"Guitars that never were, but should have been." For example, the Fender '51 has a Stratocaster body, Telecaster neck, single-coil Texas Specialbreak pickup, Fender Enforcer humbucking bridge pickup and early '50s PrecisionBass-style dual-knob chrome control plate. The Fender '72 has a semi-hollow Strat body with an f-hole and a u-shaped Telecaster neck, plus a combination of the same '50s PrecisionBass-style control plate as the '51, with 70s-style hardtail Strat bridge and Fender F-tuners. The Mustang Special has a classic '60s era C-shape body, 24 inch short-scale maple neck, rosewood fretboard with modern 9.5 inch radius and the 3-way coil selector slide switch for each humbucking pickup gives the guitarist 18 tonal options. The Fender Pawn Shop Series is a true amalgamation of Fender's vintage best bits coupled with modern sound and Fender's quality manufacturing and will no doubt be popular with guitar enthusiasts everywhere.

Vox Valvetronix Pro Series

As Vox enthusiasts will know the Valvetronix range centre around a Valve Reactor circuit; a real vacuum tube to produce true tube tone. In the Pro Series the standard 12AX7 tube has been replaced with an EL84 tube to give a more accurate tube sonic signature. The latest addition to the range also has 44 amp models, more than any previous model, plus a diverse selection of pedal, modulation, delay and reverb effects. Essential to the quality of Vox Valvetronix is the speaker, which in the Pro Series is a Celestion VOX NeoDog speaker, and manages to be both lightweight and powerful with a neodymium magnet. Nothing can beat the warm tonal sound of an old valve amplifier and with the new Valvetronix Pro Series Vox have certainly achieved their best yet.

Yamaha Pacifica Guitars

Yamaha are still proving to be ahead of the game with another bundle of affordable yet high quality and high performance guitars. Four new guitars have been added to the Pacifica range at Musik Messe, with a new configuration of hardware and pickups. The 611HFM has Seymour Duncan pickups and coil tap tone pot teamed with a flamed maple and alder body and vintage tinted maple neck. The 510V combines professional hardware with an exclusive single Seymour Duncan pickup, tinted maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. The 311H has custom-wound pickups, high-quality hardware and coil tap all matched with solid tonewood construction for great musical and tonal variation. The 120H has a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and alder body with high performance neck and bridge humbuckers.

Warwick WA Bass Amp Heads and Cabinets and BC Combos

Warwick's WA300 and WA600 bass amp heads and accompanying cabinets sealed Warwick's name as a producer of quality hardware for bassists. The bass heads come with 10 band graphic equalizers, bass and treble controls, adjustable compressors, and passive and active inputs. The Warwick WCA410 cabinet is driven by four new 10 inch drivers with a fresh look at the traditional bullet horn, whilst the WCA115 has been designed as an accompaniment to the 410 where more power is needed. The BC Combos, BC150 and BC300, are the answer for bassists who don't need top volume but still want to be heard. Both Combos have a 15 inch driver and all the features bassists have come to expect with Warwick's BC Combos. The BC150 has a sweepable mid in its 3-band equalizer to boost the 150 watts of power, while the BC300 adds all the features that can be found on the WA300, plus a deeper cabinet, a more powerful speaker driver and Warwick's new HF bullet for a crisp, punchy sound.

Line 6 M5 Stompbox Modeller

The industry leaders in digital modelling technology have launched the M5, a compact, portable, powerful multi-effect stompbox modeller with over 100 guitar effects, including modern and vintage sounds, reverb, pitch, filters compressors and delay effects all in one classic pedal with a built-in tuner. Rugged in construction, yet easily portable for travelling between home, gigs and studio this is sure to be a hit.

More information on these products and more from Musik Messe can be found here.

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How to Make Beats for Free!

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

With the continuing growth in the popularity of R&B, Rap, Hip Hop, Gospel and Christian music, the need to produce and redefine new beats is in critical demand. Whichever genre you choose, making your own beats can be as simple as using a hip hop drum beat, voice implementation, to full orchestration. So as the market grows, so does the need. Which leads to an opening for talented, new and creative "Makers of the Beat."

How to Make Beats for Free!

If you are interested in creating your own beats and do not have access to the sophisticated equipment used by the professionals, there's still Hope. There are different avenues to take. Creating beats on your own computer has become increasingly popular. Beat making this way can give you the ability to create, arrange, program and produce. All this can be done with little or no resources, yes, and with hesitation, I'll say free. But, realistically speaking, nothing is absolutely free. Here are a few things you can absorb.

Developing your skills is the #1 priority to succeeding in any aspect of life. Whether you want to create beats as a hobby, or are leaning toward your beat making as a profession, enhancing your knowledge promotes the ability to create your own beat.

Here are a few suggestions you might consider:

1. Local seminars - these can give you hands on and up close experiences.

2. Free E-Courses - These may take anywhere from a few days to a couple of months.

3. Local public library - Research different books and publications like the Rap Beats Manual, etc.

4. Search engines - There are music websites where you can views videos, read articles, and maybe participate with.

5. Purchase software - Depending on what you want from a simple beat machine, to multi-track recording, all are available.

Now, let's "rap" this up. All endeavors come with a price. If you want one of tedious boredom and depression due to your lack of enthusiasm, or one of exhilaration and monetization through hard work and sweat. Which one do you think gives you the title of "Maker of the Beat."

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My Top 10 Albums of 2011

DRUM MACHINE BEATS :

It's that time of the year again, where news publications, bloggers and music magazines across the globe gather and speculate over the unenviable task of separating the sounds of the past year which have graced our ears for weeks, maybe months on end, from the throwaway 'seen it all before' records which didn't last the distance.

My Top 10 Albums of 2011

Essentially a source of acute opinion, occasionally an album of rare quality will crop up which features on the vast majority of the yearly definitive lists, now seen as much a predictable fixture in the collective public consciousness during the Christmas period as is the turkey dinner and ill-advised knitted sweaters.

For what it's worth, here is my rundown of what I feel has been a particularly fruitful year for music, particularly guitar based, a genre of which was recently thought to be on a downward spiral.

1) Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind of Fix - Their 2009 debut album 'I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose' saw them storm the indie circuit with an array of strong tracks of weighty and memorable riffs, including still crowd favourite 'Always Like This', a potent blend of punk, blues and garage rock infused gems and lyrics alluding to an insecure yet likeable pop sensibility.

The following year saw the band experiment with an acoustic based album called 'Flaws', while the prolific streak continued with this year's record arriving at a sound that brings together the atmospheric nature of the previous album, while still containing the flair for a straightforward gripping pop song, with genuinely heartbreaking lyrics on tracks such as the piano based tale of unrequited love in 'Still', while the more upbeat 'Shuffle' with its rattling ragtime piano intro provided many music listeners with a stand out feel good summer track.

2) Joy Formidable - The Big Roar - It is incredible to think that a band originally from the sleepy rural Welsh valleys of Flintshire which I have also grown up in could provide the template for what was one of the most critically acclaimed debut records for several years, leading to increasing popularity amongst highly esteemed names in the industry such as Dave Grohl.

Encompassing a visceral, rare dreamlike quality of which is pleasingly hard to box into a particular genre, the album is a roller coaster of face melting guitar distortion, masking more subtle feelings of alienation and vulnerability coursing through singer Ritzy Bryan's impressive vocal range which can be at once wisping with sudden intersperses of growl like ferocity during a chorus.

Standout tracks include the pulsating Whirring, of which now receives extensive treatment when played live, with added guitar instrumental and general chaos as the perfect closer to a gig. 'The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie' is a hidden gem which had not previously been heard on the band's numerous pre-album mini releases, and contains many poignant lines about using love to paint over the cracks of deeper emotional troubles.

"Love is the ever-changing spectrum of a lie. A lie to hide behind when nothings right."

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake - A worthy winner of the Mercury Music Prize ahead of extremely stiff competition in Adele's recent outing which dominated the charts seemingly all year round.

Critical acclaim has seen this album appear at the summit of seemingly every 2011 album favourites listing so far, as a further reward for her uncanny attention to detail and ability to evoke such strong visuals of war-torn beaches and countryside in her most recent release. This was a direct realisation of extensive research prior to the album's creation by PJ Harvey which saw her take in a range of historical documents and first hand accounts of soldier's experiences of war.

Tracks such as 'All & Everyone' reach out to the core emotions of the soul when dealing with such strong topics as death, even for those too young to have experienced warfare or bereavement at close proximity.

Autoharp features heavily on the record to provide the unique sound throughout a listening experience which is the result of carefully studied subject matter, of which many modern musicians should use as future evidence for how to turn initially bold ideas into a brilliant aural cacophony.

4) The Horrors - Skying - The story of The Horrors' recent rise to prominence is a startling one. Having started out as a band with a seemingly short-lived shelf life on debut album 'Strange House', built on a well-worn 60's garage rock style, the band have since outgrown their limited musical roots to become unlikely shoegaze, psychedelic pioneers of the modern-day in the ilk of clear inspirations from the likes of predecessors My Bloody Valentine and Joy Division, taking in rave critical reviews in the process.

The influence of bands like Joy Division runs not only through the image of the band as gloomy and mysterious characters onstage, but is deeply rooted in the DNA of this album in particular.

The sonic creation of 'Skying' often mimics the tightly constructed synth and baseline hooks seen on classic Joy Division songs which build a sense of foreboding before completely changing direction, such as 'New Dawn Fades' in comparison to The Horrors brilliant 'Endless Blue', which starts off as a lulling instrumental before bursting into life as a garage rock stomper.

The band is not content with only taking from the past though, with genuine pieces of musical genius seen on tracks such as 'Still Life', of which the experience of listening to such a song transports you to a drug addled, dreamlike place in your mind, leaving the listener with an overall sense of what can only be described as blissful pleasure, making this a record not to be missed from this years offerings.

5) Arctic Monkeys - Suck it and See - Arctic Monkeys captured their fourth successive number one album with 'Suck it and See', realising an impressive longevity and relevance not seen since the likes of The Beatles.

The band had seemed to lose small parts of their initial fan base after uncompromising experimentation and outside influences from the likes of QOTSA's Josh Homme since debut album 'Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not' took the UK by storm to become one of the fastest selling records of all time, after capturing the hearts of a nation during the dawn of the internet and music download phenomenon as a legitimate way of reaching a larger audience.

The band were reluctant to re-create the naivety and sing along friendly nature of that record, with lead singer Alex Turner recently proclaiming that it just isn't possible to re-create that mindset as each year passes and the members become a little older and wiser.

This return sees Turner's lyrics flowing with a refreshing maturity, while the band try to at least partly encapsulate the energetic sound seen on their initial songs, with tracks such as 'Library Pictures' particularly, seeing a return of the punchy guitar notes and quick fire vocal wit and delivery that endeared them to the masses in the first place.

Turner continues to explore a softer side honed through side projects 'Last Shadow Puppets' and solo work on Submarine's film soundtrack, with a full electric version of 'Piledriver Waltz' from the latter getting a workout, and the likes of title track 'Suck it and See' displaying Turner in full hopeless romantic mode on lines such as these which go to show his and his fellow Monkeys' shining talents are not going to dim anytime soon:

"That's not a skirt, girl, that's a sawn-off shotgun

And I can only hope you've got it aimed at me"

6) Friendly Fires - Pala - Having seen this album displayed almost in full at Manchester Apollo on Thursday night, I was reminded once again just how good this album was when it arrived way back in the summer months.

The irony of a chilly December night in Manchester when playing hit singles such as 'Hawaiian Air', which had successfully adorned summer festival stages amongst a carnival atmosphere, did not seem to taint the fact that the record contains some very strong tracks.

Viewed very much as a summer album, with its colourful synth layered textures and Friendly Fires' funky, disco beat template at the heart of the album, the songs visibly seemed to carry an unexpected air of longevity when viewed live, with frontman Ed Macfarlane in full 'Dad-dancing' mode, making for an entertaining spectacle worth the admission price alone.

Even the slower tracks such as title song 'Pala', seemed to carry an added sense of relevance and ambience not fully appreciated perhaps when listening away from the live arena. The impressive lighting effects during each track created a disco vibe which added to the feel-good effects that appear to be the overriding concept of the record.

7) Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - The unceremonious break-up of iconic lad rock centrepiece Oasis has given way to a Noel Gallagher free from any constraints the fractious set-up with Liam Gallagher had on his undoubted talent and creativity.

The drawbacks in his vocals in comparison to brother Gallagher are more than compensated for by the meticulously crafted tunes, with several tracks on this album holding a legitimate claim to being some of the best pop songs Noel has written since the glory days of early 90's Oasis and 'Definitely Maybe' fame.

While not straying too far from the Oasis format of simple chord structures, the added variety of The High Flying Birds backing band provides an impressive backdrop and added dimension to highlights such as 'The Death of You and Me', with a full brass ensemble fleshing out the stripped down acoustic delivery during the bridges.

'AKA...What a Life' and Beatles inspired 'Dream On' provide indications of a solo career which could see Noel not pining for an Oasis reunion anytime soon.

8) The Kills - Blood Pressures - With a gap left in the market for a credible blues rock duo after The White Stripes split earlier this year, The Kills will look to emerge from the shadows of their revered counterparts in the coming years, with Blood Pressures providing a sure sign of intent.

Possibly even more quirky than The White Stripes were ever given credit for, the obscure alternate tunings of Jamie Hince's guitar-come-bass sound providing trudging garage rock distortion returns once again on tracks such as 'Future Starts Slow'.

The Kills try to embrace sounds outside their usual unrelenting punk-rock style by utilising Alison Mosshart's underrated vocal talents on quieter tracks such as 'Baby Says' and the gut-wrenching 60's swooning break-up ballad 'The Last Goodbye', seeing Mosshart transformed into full Patsy Cline mode, offering an insight into potential future endeavors the band may wish to follow-up to broaden their horizons.

9) Cold War Kids - Mine is Yours - The music media's collective consensus on Cold War Kids seems to have been completely misconstrued on their last two albums.

Robbers & Cowards was released in 2006 to mass hysteria from the hipsters on the blogosphere, captivated by their soul and blues rock minimalist roots of which is a rare commodity in the era of throwaway downloads and a worrying record label tendency to promote bubblegum pop records rather than music resembling any feeling or depth.

The band have expanded their sound since by working with Kings of Leon producer Jacquire King for this record in an attempt to cultivate an arena sized presence and route of success that KOL have recently enjoyed. This obviously sends alarm bells ringing in the minds of fans and critics that maybe this band are losing sight of their values in search of larger album sales.

I think many critics have looked at this album with these pre-conceptions, losing sight of the fact that Nathan Willett has retained his lyrical potency and adept methods of songwriting underneath the mixing desk sheen, to produce what should be celebrated as a collection of classic contemporary pop songs.

This album certainly grows on you, with the latter half of the album exposing itself to be as strong as the first after several listens. Highlights include tracks such as 'Bulldozer', seeing a fittingly named, genuinely flooring track about repairing a broken relationship, with steadily building vocals giving way to an infectious chorus that displays Willett's vocal dexterity.

10) Florence & The Machine - Ceremonials - Florence builds on the success of debut album 'Lungs', with a powerhouse of a record that has been well produced, highlighting the strength of her bellowing vocals and giving each song a huge overall sound, with powerful drumming a particular undercurrent.

The album contains some epic musical gems, with impressive opener 'Only if For A Night' building well into potential contenders for tracks of the year in 'Shake it Out', a song written after a particularly bad hangover, and recent single 'No Light, No Light', with a steady build up making way for a powerful chorus after which the song doesn't let up, which can also be said for much of the rest of the album, making for a brilliant party album.

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