Does this even sound like a Hip-Hop beat?

[l3lackjax]

It sounds weird because you're probably using stock synths. If you want to sound good, you have to buy the better synthesizers like Sylenth, Z3TA+ 2, Massive, FM8, and Nexus. It sounds like video game music because the synthesizers are too basic. Also, variate your drum pattern and layer your drums. A single kick is never going to be powerful enough. When I produce, I might have up to 6 different kicks all layered to make the final sound. It also takes a lot of EQing when layering, and some time stretching/cutting.

I currently have Sylenth, Z3TA+ 2, and Rob Papen Albino (but I mainly use Sylenth), and I have used Massive in the past though I don't currently have it installed because I had to wipe my hard drive on my computer... lost so much stuff. What your hearing in that beat I linked to is a straight Harpsichord Kontakt instrument. Not a synth by any means. And the drums are layered. Usually for my kicks I'll layer 2 or more samples, snares/claps 3+, and hats 1-2. In that beat the snare was layered 3 times, the kick twice, and the hi-hat once.

I think it's good. For this drum pattern it's a bit too fast. Try slowing it down a bit and adding some groove to drums, so it does not sound so riggit / robotic. Also you could try adding some baseline.
Sounds a lot like shady/aftermath music.
Hip hop does not care if it's real piano. harpsichord or 8 bit video game sound, just work with them drums and bassline.

There's a tiny bit of groove on the drums already, but the drums still sound quite robotic/mechanical. Also Shady/Aftermath puts out a lot of the music I like. They're one of my main influences I'd say. I like aggressive music, as such I will (try to) produce aggressive music.

So I'm not sure how it sounds like videogame music. My guess is it's because all the beat consists of is a Harpsichord and mono drums, and not much else. If I added more conventional instruments it might sound more like what I intended to make I guess. I've also had one of my sister's friends who is a game designer compare this specific track to castlevania before too.

[Interested Persona]

[QUOTE}There's a tiny bit of groove on the drums already, but the drums still sound quite robotic/mechanical. Also Shady/Aftermath puts out a lot of the music I like. They're one of my main influences I'd say. I like aggressive music, as such I will (try to) produce aggressive music.

So I'm not sure how it sounds like videogame music. My guess is it's because all the beat consists of is a Harpsichord and mono drums, and not much else. If I added more conventional instruments it might sound more like what I intended to make I guess. I've also had one of my sister's friends who is a game designer compare this specific track to castlevania before too.[/QUOTE]

Sounddesign-wise for me that sound is cool. There is lot of hip hop out there, not everything is soulful jazzy slow piano beats or sampled boom bap with 'yeah' on snares .

Maybe they say video game music because there is not much going on with baseline aside lower notes on your chords. Early game computers had tiny speakers so there was only so much to hear from the spectrum thus video game feeling. Also tempo, some work with drums (maybe EQ your melody a little so the drums really punch everyone saying this is from Castlevania.

[l3lackjax]

There's a tiny bit of groove on the drums already, but the drums still sound quite robotic/mechanical. Also Shady/Aftermath puts out a lot of the music I like. They're one of my main influences I'd say. I like aggressive music, as such I will (try to) produce aggressive music.

So I'm not sure how it sounds like videogame music. My guess is it's because all the beat consists of is a Harpsichord and mono drums, and not much else. If I added more conventional instruments it might sound more like what I intended to make I guess. I've also had one of my sister's friends who is a game designer compare this specific track to castlevania before too.

Sounddesign-wise for me that sound is cool. There is lot of hip hop out there, not everything is soulful jazzy slow piano beats or sampled boom bap with 'yeah' on snares .

Maybe they say video game music because there is not much going on with baseline aside lower notes on your chords. Early game computers had tiny speakers so there was only so much to hear from the spectrum thus video game feeling. Also tempo, some work with drums (maybe EQ your melody a little so the drums really punch everyone saying this is from Castlevania.

I re-did parts of the track: Harpsichord #2 by l3lackjax on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

[Interested Persona]

I re-did parts of the track: Harpsichord #2 by l3lackjax on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

Drums feel off beat.
I sampled your loop lol, what do you think?

l3lackjax.mp3 - GigaSize.com: Host and Share your files

[SoundHustle]

It sounds weird because you're probably using stock synths. If you want to sound good, you have to buy the better synthesizers like Sylenth, Z3TA+ 2, Massive, FM8, and Nexus. It sounds like video game music because the synthesizers are too basic.

This. That's why they say it sounds like a video game. It probably reminds them of them MIDI music they had to use for cartridge games because they couldn't store as much information as compact discs.