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drums from “paper planes” by m.i.a. | ToneDB

paper planes

m.i.a.

drums

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

The drums have a raw, looped, and slightly distorted sound, providing a distinctive and crucial backdrop to the track. The sample is a looped segment from The Clash's 'Straight to Hell'.

The Story

The drums on 'Paper Planes' are built around a sample from The Clash's 'Straight to Hell,' processed through an Akai MPC60 for looping and chopping. Additional drum sounds from a Roland TR-808 were layered on top to add punch and depth to the original sample. The track was produced by Diplo with Switch engineering at T.T.L. Studios in London.

Production Credits

Producer: Diplo

Engineer: Switch

Recorded at: T.T.L. Studios (London)

Signal Chain

Instrument: The Clash Drums

Recreation Tips

  • Isolate a short drum loop from the sample.
  • Start with the original sample from The Clash's 'Straight to Hell.'
  • Use a sampler (like an Akai MPC or software equivalent) to loop the sample.
  • Layer in sounds from a Roland TR-808 to add depth and punch.
  • Experiment with slight distortion or overdrive to give the drums a raw edge.

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Akai MPC Live II$1200-$1400

Alternative to: Akai MPC60

Modern MPC with the same workflow and sampling capabilities as the original MPC60, perfect for chopping and looping samples

Ableton Live Suite with Drum Rack$400-$750

Alternative to: Akai MPC60

Software sampler that can recreate the MPC workflow with superior time-stretching and chopping tools for sample manipulation

Roland TR-8S$400-$500

Alternative to: Roland TR-808

Modern drum machine with authentic 808 samples and sounds, perfect for layering classic TR-808 elements

Native Instruments Battery 4$150-$200

Alternative to: Roland TR-808

Comprehensive drum sampler plugin with high-quality 808 samples and layering capabilities for adding punch to existing loops

Elektron Digitakt$600-$800

Alternative to: Akai MPC60

Modern sampler with vintage-style workflow, excellent for chopping samples and adding the slightly crunchy, digital character of classic samplers

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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