Beats

is a command-line drum machine. Feed it a song notated in YAML, and it will produce a precision-milled *.wav file of impeccable timing and feel. Here is an example song:

Song:
  Tempo: 105
  Flow:
    - Verse:  x4
    - Chorus: x4
  Kit:
    - bass:     house_2_1.wav
    - snare:    roland_tr_909_2.wav
    - hihat:    house_2_5.wav
    - cowbell:  big_beat_5.wav
    - deep:     house_2_2.wav


Verse:
  - bass:     X..X...X..X.....
  - snare:    ....X.......X...
  - hihat:    ..X...X...X...X.

Chorus:
  - bass:     X..X...X..X.....
  - snare:    ....X.......X...
  - hihat:    XXXXXXXXXXXXX...
  - cowbell:  ....XX.X..X.X...
  - deep:     .............X..

And here’s what it sounds like after getting the Beats treatment:

What a glorious groove!

So go forth and install Beats, download some drum sounds, and listen to some examples. Then read up on how to use it.

© 2010-2020 Joel Strait