Yep, I've started writing a guide to BeatMaker 3

edited October 2018 in General

So yeah, some of you may have already heard, but for those who haven't.. I've decided to write a new guide to BeatMaker 3.

To do this properly I will need to tap into the collective wisdom of the wonderful users of this forum, and I will appreciate every bit of assistance you guys can offer.

I'd like to start by giving you a very early preview of the guide's contents — or at least, how I currently plan to write it — so here goes:

(EDIT) Contents updated 9 October
————-

BeatMaker 3 - Follow the path

A Primer for users of all skill levels

Part 1 — Before we begin

  • 1.1 - Is BeatMaker 3 the right DAW for me?
  • 1.2 - Introduction to BeatMaker 3
  • 1.3 - Three important things to know about BM3
  • 1.4 - What to do when you get stuck
  • 1.5 - Join the community

Part 2 — Fundamentals

  • A list of things you should already know about music production
  • BM3 Terminology - a few words you need to know
  • Pads and Banks - how to get your head around it
  • Using effects and AUv3 plugins
  • A quick sidenote about IAA (ie shoot it in the face)
  • working with midi patterns
  • Using the song sequencer
  • Using Scenes mode
  • Connecting midi keyboards and other devices
  • Exercise - Remix one of the demo tracks

Part 3 - The road to mastery

3.1 - path of the Sample Ninja

  • how to slice and dice
  • Rolling your own instruments and drum kits
  • working with single-cycles
  • adding modulations
  • layers and keymapping
  • next steps (see Macros in FX Guru)

3.2 - path of the Synth Wizard

  • Working with AUv3 instruments
  • Parameter automation
  • (more to follow...)

3.3 - path of the FX Guru

  • Pre-reqs: using plugins
  • Meet the home team
  • Insert vs Send
  • Pre/post fader sends
  • Other uses for the AUX channels
  • (More to follow...)

3.4 - path of the Pattern & Sequencing Architect

  • Pre-reqs: working with midi patterns (fundamentals)
  • replicate vs duplicate
  • Merge and split
  • Advanced midi editing
  • Quantise and swing
  • Powertip - spacer patterns to delineate track sections
  • (More to follow...)

3.5 - path of the Mixing & Mastering Gorgon

  • Level clipping - and when it's OK
  • The stereo field
  • Master bus effects
  • Exporting your track
  • (More to follow...)

Part 4 — So you want further enlightenment? Read on...

  • Configuring Bm3 for live performance
  • Using Ableton Link
  • Midi plugins
  • Routing 3rd party midi sequencers and input tools
  • Exporting stems for desktop mastering
  • Do some housekeeping, FFS

————-

Note this is all work-in-progress, so i'll be making continous tweaks and edits to the above as i actually write each section.

All input gratefully received.

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Comments

  • Sweet, this will be awesome !!!!

  • edited October 2018

    Thanks for the support 5pin.

    What's that you say? Did you just volunteer as my technical editor?

    Why thank you!

  • Great initiative! Always great to have more resources to read :)

  • Nice - Thanx in Advance!

  • This is awesome and I'd like to help in any way that is helpful!

  • Thanks for all the positive responses everyone. Hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!

    The guide will be released section-by-section on a new Wiki that Mathieu has setup for this purpose. Once the first sections go live I will post a link here for you guys to see, and you can give me your advice on which parts are either not clear or just plain incorrect.

    I'll let you all know if there's anything I need a hand with.
    Cheers!

  • Sounds great!

    My advice would be to keep it text only until 3.1 drops with its promised UI and workflow changes, unless you really enjoy doing screengrabs multiple times.

  • Sounds like a good idea @bleep

    So does that making it a bleeping good idea? ;)

  • I’m loving the D&D vibes !

    @tk32 said:
    So yeah, some of you may have already heard, but for those who haven't.. I've decided to write a new guide to BeatMaker 3.

    To do this properly I will need to tap into the collective wisdom of the wonderful users of this forum, and I will appreciate every bit of assistance you guys can offer.

    I'd like to start by giving you a very early preview of the guide's contents — or at least, how I currently plan to write it — so here goes:
    ————-

    BeatMaker 3 - Follow the path (working title)

    A Primer for users of all skill levels

    Chapter 1 — Before we begin

    • Is BeatMaker 3 the right DAW for me?
    • Introduction to BeatMaker 3
    • the three things everyone needs to know
    • The things you won't find in this guide
    • what to do when you get stuck
    • join the community

    Chapter 2 — Fundamentals

    • Pads and Banks - how to get your head around it
    • Using effects and AUv3 plugins
    • A quick sidenote about IAA (ie shoot it in the face)
    • working with midi patterns
    • Using the song sequencer
    • Using Scenes mode
    • Connecting midi keyboards and other devices

    Exercise - Remix one of the demo tracks

    Chapter 3 - The road to mastery requires many skills. it's time to pick your path...

    ...path of the 'Sample Ninja'

    • how to slice and dice
    • Rolling your own instruments and drum kits
    • working with single-cycles
    • adding modulations
    • layers and keymapping
    • next steps (see Macros in FX Guru)

    ...path of the 'Synth Wizard'

    • Working with AUv3 instruments
    • Parameter automation
    • (more to follow...)

    ...path of the 'FX Guru'

    • Pre-reqs: using plugins
    • Meet the home team
    • Insert vs Send
    • Pre/post fader sends
    • Other uses for the AUX channels
    • (More to follow...)

    ...path of the 'Pattern & Sequencing Architect'

    • Pre-reqs: working with midi patterns (fundamentals)
    • replicate vs duplicate
    • Merge and split
    • Advanced midi editing
    • Quantise and swing
    • Powertip - spacer patterns to delineate track sections
    • (More to follow...)

    ...path of the 'Mixing & Mastering Gorgon'

    • Level clipping - and when it's OK
    • The stereo field
    • Master bus effects
    • Exporting your track
    • (More to follow...)

    Chapter 4 — So you want further enlightenment? Read on...

    • Configuring Bm3 for live performance
    • Using Ableton Link
    • Midi plugins
    • Routing 3rd party midi sequencers and input tools
    • Exporting stems for desktop mastering
    • Good housekeeping and library management

    ————-

    Note this is all work-in-progress, so i'll be making continous tweaks and edits to the above as i actually write each section.

    All input gratefully received.

  • Thanks @nkdVKNG

    I forgot to add this... you must roll 1 d6 to determine your character class.

  • Quick question for everyone here...

    Do you think there's value in covering the fundamentals in depth, or should I assume everyone already knows the basics (either from experience or other resources) and therefore focus mainly on intermediate and advanced topics?

  • I know its going to be more work for you but it would be cool to have it cater to everyone from beginner to advanced.

  • I'd say start with the intermediate and advanced topics. It is probably more inspiring for you to write these parts(?), and more likely to see contributions from other knowledgeable persons on this forum in these categories.

    Basic stuff can be fleshed out later, or be covered by the manual.

  • edited October 2018

    @hansjbs said:
    I know its going to be more work for you but it would be cool to have it cater to everyone from beginner to advanced.

    Agreed.

    @bleep said:
    I'd say start with the intermediate and advanced topics. It is probably more inspiring for you to write these parts(?), and more likely to see contributions from other knowledgeable persons on this forum in these categories.

    Basic stuff can be fleshed out later, or be covered by the manual.

    Double-Agreed. Intermediate is where things truly begin.

    Btw, Just some ideas in intermediate and advanced to see @tk32 point of view:
    * AHDSR techniques & use in automation lanes.
    * EQ 101 (built in SV & 6band)
    * FX chains (best practices) the order of FX.
    * Crossfading uses in sample editor.
    * Compression vs. Expansion (dynamics processor)
    * How to prevent/limit the master from clipping. (Dynamics processor)
    * Aux uses in BM3. (Reverb, Delay, Parallel Compression, other)
    * taming bass (ideal mixing volumes for certain sounds)

  • I agree here, questions on the forum and in chat can answer basics quick fire, they dont warrant a bunch of your time that could be spent on more advanced stuff.

  • edited October 2018

    Thanks - this is the advice I needed.

    I spent nearly an hour earlier trying to devise a clever new way to explain envelopes and LFOs - so I'm glad I asked this.

  • edited October 2018

    Very cool of you to take the initiative on this. My favorite app by far, happy to help in any way if it brings more people on board.

  • edited October 2018

    A quick update on my progress with this project.

    Last week Mathieu Garcia created a new Beatmaker community wiki, and I have been busy writing the chapters outlined above ready for publishing over the next 2+ weeks.

    The plan is for this new wiki to become the home for my guide, and also host various other tutorials and helpful resources for everyone out the learning to use BeatMaker - regardless of their current skill level.

    As soon as the first few articles and chapters are done I'll post the link here in the forum.

  • You’re amazing. 🙌

  • @tk32 said:
    Thanks - this is the advice I needed.

    I spent nearly an hour earlier trying to devise a clever new way to explain envelopes and LFOs - so I'm glad I asked this.

    I’m looking forward to reading this parts :smile:
    Where would you put this topic in the skill basic or intermediate level please?

  • edited October 2018

    Understanding Envelopes and LFOs are intermediate skills.. but really important for everyone to know.

    I will be explaining the essentials in my guide, but there are lots of other websites and books which go into more depth.

  • edited October 2018

    @tk32 - thank’s in advance for your effort with this big project!

  • I've updated my table of contents slightly.

    The first few articles will be posted very soon.

  • GREAT IDEA!?! Although, it seems like you could waste a lot of your time spent on educating many on the basics. It’s no doubt that envelopes and lfo’s are extremely important and at least worth a brief mention in certain topics, but we all have google and YouTube available to us for self educating. Personally, I think if anything guide them towards the user manual, links to YouTube tutorials, books, etc.

    Honestly, I would be interested in sort of a, let’s DO SOME WORK & get our hands dirty or even here’s my way of doing things in BM3
    (for those of us using Cubasis//Auria Pro//Modstep//or other personal preference)..
    I’m curious as to what they all have in COMPARISON to better understand which workflow best suites my particular needs and allots more time for creative impulse, rather than fumbling around trying to figure something out before inspiration flees.
    Also, I’m more intrigued by what separates them apart from one another, what can BM3 do better over its competitors or simply do that NO other iOS DAWs can even match its caliber.... (for example, easily map my controller for live performance and quickly transferring desktop projects/stems over for immediate mobile jam sessions, finger drumming practices, production, etc.)

    I think this is a phenomenal idea, but I would ask who are you catering to? And what would be most beneficial for you and others involved? I could see this growing into something a lot bigger than a simple basic guide, especially considering how active this community is..

    Sorry for the novel.. good luck writing yours.. and would love to contribute if needed

  • edited October 2018

    Thanks for the tips and encouraging words @760leldridge

    I've also realised (during the writing stage) that it's far more valuable to prioritise the more advanced sections up front ... except in a few special cases where I think there is value in explaining basic concepts better than the manual does (for example, understanding all the different things you can do with just one Pad)

    The target audience (in my mind) is a combination of completely new users, who might be finding Beatmaker's complexity a little off-putting, and also intermediate users who are wondering how to take their skills to the next level.

    Cheers!

  • Still looking forward to this, how’s it coming along?

  • edited March 2019

    @funk
    It’s coming along great - just taking a lot longer than I (naively) expected.

    I’ve written 16,000 words, countless visual diagrams, and will be releasing the first version ‘soon’.

    Thanks for your interest, support ...and patience! :)

  • @tk32 said:
    @funk
    It’s coming along great - just taking a lot longer than I (naively) expected.

    I’ve written 16,000 words, countless visual diagrams, and will be releasing the first version ‘soon’.

    Thanks for your interest, support ...and patience! :)

    Drool...

  • Cool to see you’re hammering away on it still.; B)

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