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drums from “block rockin' beats” by the chemical brothers | ToneDB

block rockin' beats

the chemical brothers

drums

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Aggressive and heavily processed breakbeat with a raw, distorted edge. The sound is characterized by its punchy low-end and prominent high-frequency content, creating a sense of controlled chaos.

Gear

Akai MPC3000instrument
ReverbSweetwater
Roland TR-808drums
ReverbSweetwater
Overstayer M-A-Spedal
Reverb$1874Sweetwater
Thermionic Culture Vulturepedal
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

The Chemical Brothers built the aggressive breakbeat sound of "Block Rockin' Beats" using heavily processed samples from an Akai MPC3000 and Roland TR-808, with additional processing through an Overstayer M-A-S and Thermionic Culture Vulture. The track's characteristic distorted edge comes from heavy saturation and filtering applied to the drum samples, creating the punchy low-end and prominent high-frequency content that defined the big beat era.

Production Credits

Producer: The Chemical Brothers

Recorded at: Unknown

Signal Chain

Instrument: Akai MPC3000

Recreation Tips

  • Start with clean drum samples from classic drum machines or breakbeat libraries.
  • Experiment with different distortion and saturation plugins to find the right level of aggression.
  • Use EQ to boost the low-end frequencies for a powerful kick and the high-end frequencies for added sizzle.
  • Layer multiple drum samples to create a unique and complex sound.
  • Use a sampler to chop and rearrange the samples, creating interesting rhythmic variations.
  • Consider using parallel processing to add extra punch and clarity to the drums.

Original Gear

  • Akai MPC3000(drums)
  • Roland TR-808(drums)
  • Overstayer M-A-S(pedal)
  • Thermionic Culture Vulture(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Akai MPC One$650-$700

Alternative to: Akai MPC3000

Provides the same MPC workflow and sampling capabilities with modern connectivity, essential for chopping and manipulating breakbeat samples

ReverbSweetwater
Roland TR-08$350-$400

Alternative to: Roland TR-808

Authentic 808 sounds in a compact modern format, providing those classic punchy kicks and snappy snares

ReverbSweetwater
Plugin Alliance Brainworx bx_saturator V2$149-$199

Alternative to: Thermionic Culture Vulture

Offers multiple saturation modes including tube-style distortion that recreates the aggressive, gritty character of the Vulture

ReverbSweetwater
FabFilter Saturn 2$149-$179

Alternative to: Overstayer M-A-S

Multiband saturation plugin that can add the controlled distortion and frequency-specific processing needed for this breakbeat style

ReverbSweetwater
Native Instruments Battery 4$149-$199

Alternative to: MPC3000 sampling workflow

Specialized drum sampler with extensive sample manipulation tools perfect for creating processed breakbeats

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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