Sample-based beats: Leo's workflow
This write-up goes with Leo's video on YouTube. Watch for the sound; use these steps when you want the details in one place.
Before you start
- Choose a short sample — one to four bars with a clear hit works well.
- Save the session with a name you'll recognize later.
- Use a click or count-in so your loops stay tight.
Chopping the sample
- Find the start by nudging until the attack feels right, then back up one step.
- Find the end by ear — when the slice stops musically, not when the waveform looks empty.
- Label each chop in the track name so you can jump between them quickly.
Arranging
Work in eight-bar chunks. Duplicate a section only when you can hum the pattern. Keep an unedited copy of the sample muted on its own track for reference.
Watch the video
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