ryangruss.com » User Examples

Lunch Break – Seattle Style

Ryan — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:09:41 +0000

Here’s something to watch while you’re eating your gourmet lunch. Someone just emailed me this video (I swear I wasn’t Googling myself) recorded and produced by Kurt Lorenz that incorporates loop #35, some chilled out synths, and some nice footage of the city and outskirts of Seattle. If you watch closely, you can spot cameo appearances by both this Eddie and that Eddie.

The Return of Chaircrusher

Ryan — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:13:14 +0000

You might remember Chaircrusher from the “name this odd meter” contest I had a while back. Well, he’s taken some of his prize winnings (extremely valuable Gruss Loops) and incorporated them into the following track.

Some of the track details from Chaircrusher:

Juno60 — chords (thru AudioDamage BigSeq)
JP6 — bassline
Guitar
Goldbaby Kick
Hats from ???
Some of my own sampled percussion.
One of the free Gruss brush loops from last year.

As is my custom, I generally load your rex files, then have Ableton
Live slice them to a Drum rack, and sequence them myself. I will make
an effort to use some of your loops more or less intact in the near
future, but I will probably edit them to make my own turnarounds and
fills.

I have, however loaded some Gruss Loops and extracted groove from them
for use in track. In fact I’ve swiped a groove from one loop and then
used it to quantize midi loops driving ANOTHER of your loops split
onto a drum rcak…

Download audio file (chaircrusher-1107Beat.mp3)

Nice work Mr. Crusher. Or can I just call you Chair?

Rabbit fur costume for the brain.

Ryan — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:21:03 +0000

Today I bring you the latest track submitted from one of my readers. Recorded by Endai Hüdl in Berlin, Germany, the song is entitled “Ded Blokkz Mambo” and incorporates the Blakey-esque loop #79. Unfortunately, Endai didn’t include much of a backstory to the track. He did, however, provide a brief description:

“Rabbit fur costume for the brain. helps me concentrate…”

After listening to the track, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Ded Blokkz Mambo by endai hüdl

Extreme Jazz Flute

Ryan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:23:39 +0000

Just when you think he had already pushed the limits of auxiliary woodwind instruments to the max, Bob Reynolds is back to blow your mind with some odd meter jazz flute. Recorded on top of the 15/8 loop I released last week, Bob proves that Ron Burgundy and the girl from band camp aren’t the only ones who can get down with an edge-blown aerophone.

Download audio file (15-8flutejazz.mp3)

This Loop Goes to 11

Ryan — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:53:14 +0000

I just received a link to a blog post from one of my subscribers, demonstrating the use of Record’s Line 6 guitar and bass amp modeling on a loop from my Volume III pack:

Below is an example of just that, a looped beat from the latest Gruss Pack thrown thru the Line 6 guitar amp modeling device, set to “Bassy Drive”, with a 1968 4×12 greenback cabinet, and the middle turned up a touch. I could see The Beasties trade rhymes over this one:

Give it a listen here.

This is a great example of taking a straightforward beat and using amp modeling (normally reserved for guitars and bass) to give the drums some grit and extra character.

The Money Beat – Revisited

Ryan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:08:46 +0000

Last night I received an email from someone named Todd, with the subject, “The Money Beat”. At first I wasn’t sure what to think. Is someone with poor typing skills requesting a groove based on “Last Train to Clarksville”? Is someone holding my cats hostage again and demanding loops as ransom? Curious and slightly unnerved, I clicked into the email and read the following:

Just wanted to let you know that I used the above named loop in a new track of mine, “Manifolds V,” which you can listen to at http://www.soundclick.com/thesculptedoculus. I took out the snare on 2 and applied extensive filtering and FX. A track this meandering couldn’t possible have worked without your beat as a solid rhythmic foundation. Many thanks!

Awh yes. Several months ago, I posted a loop called, “The Money Beat”. How quickly I forget my stupid blog titles. Anyway, Todd took this particular straight ahead loop, imported it into Ableton Live 8 and crafted his own unique track around it.

Here’s a clip of my original loop:

Download audio file (80_money.mp3)

Here’s Todd’s track, “Manifolds V“, utilizing the loop:

Download audio file (Manifolds5.mp3)

This is one of those tracks that is best listened to with headphones…. and with the lights low. Maximum, yet tasteful stereo imaging. Todd does an excellent job of taking an ominous four bar vamp and expanding upon it with layers of electronic pulses, glitched-out drums and fuzzed out crescendos until it finally peaks around the 4:30 mark.

So, who else is sitting on tracks that incorporate my loops? I love hearing the final results, especially when I can hardly recognize my original track. Email me your links… just don’t freak me out with the subject line.

Free Bonin’

Ryan — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:02:57 +0000

No, not that type of bone, you perverts. I’m talking about trombones.

I just received the following from one of my readers, Jeff:

“hey, i’ve been checking out your site for a few weeks now pretty regularly. i’m a trombone player but i’ve been into drummers ever since i got a massive hard on for neil peart in high school. i really like the wide variety of styles you make loops in, and for free to boot!

i’m in kind of a slump these days musically but i’m always looking for new ideas to make music, so i think i’m gonna try to make some songs with your loops. there are free loops all over the internet, but i figure i’ll just use whatever is on your site and see what i can do with it. here’s something i did with a couple of your most recent jazz loops in the background (gotta wait awhile ’til they come in). probably not what you had in mind when you were recording them, but you know…”

Check out his track:
Download audio file (FreeBonin.mp3)

I was blown away (pun slightly intended) by Jeff’s creative use of the various drum loops I’ve released this week. There is a vivid soundscape quality which builds, layer upon layer, as each new loop and tempo is introduced. All the while, a beautiful harmonic phrase repeats itself throughout the piece, tying the composition together. It’s a great mash-up of straight ahead jazz, electronica, and avant-garde. Bravo, Jeff! Bravo.

I’ve added a new “User Examples” category where I’ll be saving and sharing the work of my readers. I love hearing what people end up creating with my beats and it inspires me to keep cranking out fresh ideas on my end. Who else has links to tracks they’ve created with my loops?