Over the last 30 years, music production has transformed. As the needs of the modern producer shifted, software developers created mobile music production apps. While there are many such apps on the market, Zenbeats offers a slew of unique features. They can help you create on the go as well as inspire new ideas at home. Below are ten Zenbeats tips to improve your production workflow.
While once relegated to large studios, artists can now craft hit records in their bedrooms. As home studio equipment and recording software grows more affordable, music creators can access the tools they need to create fully-produced songs at home. With that goal in mind, let’s look at ten ways Zenbeats can power your process.
Create Custom Drum Kits with Your Samples
Mobile music apps often provide built-in sounds and instruments. Zenbeats comes with a wide range of preinstalled sounds for quick use. However, you can also easily integrate your samples. This feature is helpful if you like using custom drum kits.
Import samples from your file system (including connected cloud accounts) into any Zenbeats kit bank and create loops using sounds you’ve collected. Just open any kit and click the “+ Drum Sound” button. This brings you to a menu to add individual drum sounds. In the search bar, scroll through different kits you already installed, or select “User.” From here, click the folder icon to access your files. Import any saved samples. They’ll remain in the user folder for quick future access.
808 Glides with Automation
UK drill and trap music have come to define the airwaves. One iconic feature of these genres is 808 basslines. A popular technique many producers use when making 808 basslines is the glide effect. It creates a warping pitch-bending portamento between two 808s with different pitches. There are a few ways to achieve this in Zenbeats.
If you’re using a MIDI controller with a pitch bend wheel, bend the notes while recording a bassline. However, on a mobile app without a MIDI controller, automate pitch bends by selecting a sub-bass sound and programming a bass line. “Sub Bass” on the ZC1 instrument is an excellent choice to get started with this sound.
For the 808 glide effect, a good technique is to record a drone note then a different note overlapping at some points. From there, go into the piano roll and click the “Add Automation” button. Select “Pitch Wheel” from a list of automation preferences. Then use the tools to draw in pitch bend automation between notes.
"A popular technique producers use when making 808 basslines is the glide effect. There are a few ways to achieve this in Zenbeats."
Roland Cloud Integration/Zenbeats Ultimate Unlock
Roland Cloud is a powerful platform with classic Roland instruments and much more. On the desktop version of Zenbeats, select any of the Roland Cloud instruments installed on the computer. Although Zenbeats 2.0 is a free app, users can access Zenbeats Ultimate Unlock as part of a Roland Cloud membership.
Ultimate Unlock includes all Zenbeats features, instruments, and packs. These add over 10,000 presets, loops, and sounds to your toolkit. Also, Zenbeats 2.0 includes ZC1, a software synthesizer with the power and compatibility of the ZEN-Core Synthesis System.
Ultimate Unlock also boasts 800 tones and 90 MFX as well as importable and exportable tones for Roland ZEN-Core hardware and software. Use sounds modeled on other Roland Cloud instruments right on a phone or tablet.
MIDI Capability
Most DAWs have MIDI capability. However, many mobile music tools do not. By using the Roland WM-1 wireless MIDI adaptor, wirelessly connect any instrument with the standard MIDI I/O. This allows hardware synths, drum machines, and other controllers to wireless communicate with Zenbeats.
A USB phone adapter is another option for traditional USB-only MIDI controllers. The accessibility of using a MIDI controller instantly enhances the music creation experience.
Multiple Platforms—Same Software
An advantage of Zenbeats is its cross-platform functionality. Whether using Android, iOS phone, or tablet, PC and Mac users get the same Zenbeats software on each device. This feature allows for a seamless transition between phone and computer.
Click the “Share” button in Zenbeats and select the “Transfer Song” tab. Then send the song to any device sharing the same WiFi network. Remember to be aware of third-party plug-ins. On the desktop version, plug-ins installed on the computer will operate. However, plug-ins not native to Zenbeats might not work on certain smartphones or tablets.
"An advantage of Zenbeats is its cross-platform functionality. This feature allows for a seamless transition between phone and computer."
SampleVerse
SampleVerse is a powerful sample-based synthesizer that allows users to create and edit sounds using built-in oscillators, arpeggiators, and reverbs. Although SampleVerse comes with presets, what makes this instrument unique is its ability to import audio samples or record directly to create a sample bank.
Want to make a synth from a voice? No problem. Open SampleVerse and select the “Record” tab. Track a vocal—using built-in phone or computer input—and select the “Edit” tab. Zenbeats will give the option to add the recorded samples to the sample bank.
Now you’ll have a new sample bank and unique instrument with tons of customization. Inside the “Record” tab, loop samples, or even reverse them. This gives the ability to create unique sounds in any environment.
Sharing Stems
Zenbeats is an easy-to-use music-creation tool for capturing inspiration. It offers a fresh music-making perspective, one that facilitates creativity across multiple devices.
If users have a preferred DAW, they can export stems to a cloud storage service such as Google Drive or OneDrive. This makes collaborating with other artists and producers a snap. Create a sketch on the go and send the stems to another producer to finish.
Users can also export stems and import them into any DAW they choose. This process is as simple as clicking the “Share” button and selecting “Create Stems.” Export the stems as tracks or loops—even decide audio file type.
ZC1
ZC1 is a powerful software instrument based on the ZEN-Core synthesis system. What does that mean? The same engine that powers a wide variety of Roland synths is the basis of ZC1. Users can integrate with other Roland hardware using this system. FANTOM and JUPITER-X can work in tandem with Zenbeats to further customize recordings.
There are also sound packs available in the Zenbeats store that model classic Roland synths like the JUNO-106 and JUPITER-8. For each of the 800 built-in presets, adjust performance parameters like Unison, Mono, Legato, and Portamento. The built-in MFX processor has twelve different effects categories that all contain various effects options. The amount of customization and sound design achievable with the ZC1 will turn any preset into a unique creation.
"Want to program complex drum patterns with subdivisions? In Zenbeats is a 16th-note grid sequencer based on classic Roland
drum machines."
Give Drum Patterns Some Sauce
Want to program complex drum patterns with lots of subdivisions? Zenbeats has a 16th-note grid sequencer based on the TR-Rec layout utilized by many classic Roland drum machines. Having 16 spaces per bar doesn’t mean a 16th is the smallest note playable. By clicking on individual drum sounds, users can edit automation for each drum instrument for each bar of a loop.
Select “Subdivision” from the list of automation and raise the column under a note. This adds smaller subdivisions to that specific note. The technique is perfect for the snare/hi-hat rolls popular in trap music production. Edit the velocity of each hit to provide more nuance to patterns. Automate pitch, push-pull (for offbeat rhythms), reverse, and panning.
New Samples and New Sounds
A great thing about Zenbeats is the team of producers creating new sounds and presets to add to the platform. Explore the Zenbeats store to find tons of instrument presets and loops to download.
Stuck in a creative rut? There’s always something new to discover that will push your creativity to its limits. From stylized hip-hop drum loops and EDM presets to recreations of classic Roland synths, the store amplifies the Zenbeats experience.
