Definitions
- Humanize: small random variations in timing, velocity and duration applied to programmed notes to make them less mechanical.
- Groove template: a “map” of microtiming and dynamics extracted from a real performance or a machine (MPC, SP-1200) and applied to other parts. Unlike humanize, it is not random: it is a coherent, repeatable feel.
Why randomness is not enough
A drummer does not make random mistakes: they rush or drag systematically (the snare slightly behind, the offbeat hi-hats lighter, the kick ahead in driving songs). Pure humanize adds noise; the groove template adds intention. The best approach combines them: template for the feel, minimal humanize to avoid identical repetition.
Indicative humanize values
| Parameter | Electronic drums | “Played” drums | Piano/chords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing | ±2–5 ms | ±5–15 ms | ±5–20 ms (arpeggiated) |
| Velocity | ±3–8 | ±8–15 | ±5–10 |
| Duration | — | — | ±5–10% |
Beyond ~20–30 ms the variations no longer sound human but imprecise, especially at fast tempos.
Systematic microtiming (feel)
- Behind the beat (laid back): snare or vocal 10–30 ms late → neo soul, J Dilla, D'Angelo.
- Ahead (pushed): kick and hi-hat 5–10 ms early → punk, some energetic dance tracks.
- Layers of feel: straight hi-hats, snare behind, bass even further behind: the groove “pulls” and breathes. In J Dilla's work the parts are deliberately misaligned with one another; Roger Linn has observed that his swing avoids the rigid 50% without becoming a triplet.
Creating and using groove templates
- MPC/SP-1200: the “MPC 60 swing 16 58%” templates present in many DAWs reproduce the feel of those machines.
- Extracting: in many DAWs you drag an audio or MIDI clip into the groove pool (Ableton) or create a template from MIDI (Logic). FL Studio has no equivalent groove pool: you can use the Riff Machine (Groove section) to apply feel to the Piano Roll, or copy by hand the microtiming of a reference loop (move the notes with snap “None” while looking at an imported waveform).
- Applying with variable strength: 50–80% of the template on melodic parts, 100% on percussion.
In FL Studio
- Randomize (Piano Roll, Alt+R): random variations of position, velocity, pan, fine pitch; use minimal ranges.
- Swing of the Channel Rack for step patterns; for Piano Roll notes use Quantize with swing.
- Nudge: with snap “None” move individual notes by a few ticks (at 96 PPQ and 90 BPM one tick ≈ 7 ms).
- Channel time offset: in the channel settings (Channel settings → Misc) you can delay or advance an entire channel by a few ms: ideal for putting the snare “behind.”
- Round robin in DirectWave or FPC to vary the sample on every hit.
Example in A minor (neo soul, 84 BPM)
Am9 – D9 – Gmaj7 – Cmaj7(#11): hi-hat on the grid with swing 56% and alternating velocities; snare shifted +18 ms with the channel offset; bass +10 ms; Rhodes (Stage-73 V) with arpeggiated chords: low note first, the others 10–25 ms later (light strum). The result is the “soft lag” typical of the genre.
Common mistakes
- Huge humanize that makes the groove wrong instead of human.
- Different humanize on layers that must sound together (layered kicks): it generates unwanted flams and phase problems. Apply the timing to the group.
- Varying velocity with single-layer samples: it only changes the volume, not the timbre.
- Using swing templates on parts in triplets.
Exercise
- Program a 4-bar loop on the grid. Create three versions: random humanize (±10 ms), systematic feel (snare +15 ms, bass +8 ms), both. Listen blind.
- Import a classic breakbeat (e.g. a funk drum loop), align the notes of one of your MIDI patterns to its transients and save the pattern as a “template” to reuse.
Connections
“Quantization”, “Shuffle and swing: percentages”, “Groove, swing and microtiming”, “Ghost notes and dynamics”.