Cut-Up Techniques 2: Chop and Reconstruct a Guitar Phrase, Part 1

Create Guitar Cut-Ups with BATTERY

In an earlier article, we introduced cut-up techniques using Cubase’s Groove Agent.
This time, as a follow-up, we will show you how to create guitar cut-up phrases with BATTERY.
This technique is widely used in R&B and pop music, so give it a try.

Questions and Answers from YouTube

When I cut an audio event and export the individual pieces, I hear little clicks in each exported sample. What should I do?

Try applying fades to the audio events. The following article explains fade settings: https://sleepfreaks-dtm.com/for-beginner-cubase/lesson9/

Is BATTERY included with Cubase? Sorry for the basic question.

BATTERY is an instrument you add to Cubase and must be purchased separately. https://www.native-instruments.com/jp/products/komplete/drums/battery-4/

Preparing the Cut-Up

Cutting the Source Audio

First, cut the source audio into segments.
Decide where to cut by considering the tempo and the timing of chord changes.

Here we cut it into one-beat segments.
Export each segment as audio so that it can be loaded into BATTERY.

Importing into BATTERY

Open the folder containing the exported audio and import it into BATTERY.

Select all the files and drag and drop them together to place them across multiple cells at once.

Setting the Envelope

When multiple cells are selected, changes to BATTERY’s parameters can be applied to them together. We want playback to follow the length of the held note, so we will use the Volume Envelope.

Set Attack to its fastest setting, Sustain to maximum, and Release to zero.

Programming the Cut-Up

Placing and Removing Notes

Once everything is ready, let’s program the notes.
First enter them in their original order.

If the guitar phrase plays back correctly, you are ready to rearrange it.

We cut the tail of each beat and repeated the first phrase.
Even this simple change gives it a cut-up feel.

Adding Reverse

To make the phrase more interesting, let’s add a reversed segment.
In BATTERY, copy the cell you want to reverse and turn on its Reverse button.

Here we placed a reversed copy of the fifth cell an octave higher.
Now all that remains is to program it into the phrase.

The result is an interesting phrase that repeats and reverses.

Creating a Stutter Effect

Another common cut-up technique is a stutter effect created by programming closely spaced notes.
Before programming, make a copy of a cell for the stutter effect, just as we did for the reverse.

Enter closely spaced notes, such as sixteenth-note triplets.

On its own, this can emphasize the noisy attack portion of the phrase.
We can adjust this in BATTERY.

In the stutter cell, move the sample start point slightly later.
This can reduce the noisy attack when the notes are repeated rapidly.

As you can see, BATTERY makes it easy to create reverse and stutter effects.
In the next part we go further with pitch changes, time stretching, effects, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What should I prepare before creating a cut-up in BATTERY?

Cut the audio into short segments with the tempo and chord changes in mind, then export each segment. To import them efficiently, drag and drop all the files into BATTERY together to place them across cells.

Q2. What can I do if the stutter effect sounds noisy?

Move the sample start point later in the stutter cell in BATTERY. This can reduce the noisy attack when the notes repeat rapidly.

Q3. Can BATTERY create cut-ups using techniques other than reverse and stutter?

Yes. This is the first part of the tutorial; the next part covers pitch changes, time stretching, effects, and other techniques.