Kemmler's blog

When you download a loop, usually you know the BPM. If not, it's usually an exact number of measures, and is easy to fit to your project's BPM. Most of the time, it's no trouble to fit a loop into a project with a different tempo.

Sometimes, however, you might run across a situation where you don't have a neat, 1-bar sample, and you're not sure what the BPM is, either. In this case, you need to match the BPM by hand. Here's one method to get that done:

If you're like me, free VSTs and samples are your bread and butter. Over the years, various programmers have made numerous contributions to the pool of available plug-ins. Some are great and become accepted as classics, others are not so great and are cast off into the dustbin of software history.

Here is a short list of 10 of my favorite VSTs in no particular order.

• Much ink has been spilled answering this question in books, magazines, and online. If you really want to know "How to mix", you need to get a good grasp on fundamentals of sound, digital audio, phase, dynamics, EQ, compression, etc... Then you'll want to practice these skills for years and develop a well-trained ear. You might want to invest in some good, flat monitors and acoustically treat your workspace. Then you can really mix properly.
• But, you're working on a track now. You don't have time to work at becoming a world-renowned mixing expert. While mixing is equal parts art and science, I once read a quick, rough method for mixing that should improve the sound of your track in short order.
• First, make sure all of your instruments or samples are assigned to their own mixer tracks.