Minimal & rominimal drum programming basics
Simple on the grid. The magic is timing, velocity and what you leave out.
Rominimal is the Romanian minimal sound tied to [a:rpia:r]: Rhadoo, Petre Inspirescu and Raresh. Think meditative loops, clicky drums and swinging basslines.
Skeleton (one bar, 16 steps)
- Kick: steps 1, 5, 9, 13.
- Closed hat: steps 3, 7, 11, 15.
- Clap or rim: steps 5 and 13, or leave it out.
That's a house beat. The rest makes it minimal.
Swing
Swing delays every second 16th note. 50% is straight. 54% loosens it without sounding swung. 58% is loose and natural.
In Live, drop a groove onto the clip and adjust it in the Groove Pool. Try swinging hats and perc while the kick stays straight.
Velocity
Accent some hits, keep ghost notes quieter in between. Live's Groove Pool can push velocity too.
Odd-length loops
Set a perc clip's loop length to 3, 5 or 7 sixteenths against the 16-step bar. A 3-step loop only lines up with the bar again every 3 bars (48 steps). Constant movement, no new parts.
Space
- Short, clicky perc: rims, blocks, shakers.
- Kick and bass in the centre.
- Automate one perc's pitch, decay or filter over 32–64 bars.
- Mute the hats for a bar. Silence hits hard.
Bass
Put bass notes between the kicks. Separating kick and bass in time is a time-honoured dance trick. More in the sidechain guide.
FAQ
What is rominimal?
Romanian minimal, closely tied to the [a:rpia:r] trio.
How much swing?
Start between 54% and 58% and trust your ears.
Sources
- Electronic Beats, "A 10-Track Beginner's Guide To Rominimal"
- Resident Advisor, [a:rpia:r] label page
- Attack Magazine, "Roger Linn On Swing, Groove & The Magic Of The MPC's Timing"
- MusicRadar, Roger Linn interview
- Ableton Live 12 Reference Manual, Using Grooves
- Ableton Live 12 Reference Manual, Clip View
- Sound On Sound, "Mixing Bass"