timing

I probably have a different way of constructing percussion tracks to most folks, because i don't really construct them, i de-construct them.  No, actually, it's probably about half and half to be strictly accurate. 

What i do is randomly hit the notes on the keyboard untill the bar or however long i want to record is up and then i just use the notes i think sound good. I will make adjustments here and there to make things fit and i'll quantize it 100% so notes will naturally begin to fit into the timing of the track. 

Then i'll try various sounds and i'll detune the track sometimes to make sure i'm using the sounds i want to.  I'd say that at least 50% of my percussion tracks involve selection and judgement rather than painstaiking construction. 

I also use multiple percusion tracks to create layers, sometimes using the same pattern, but detuned or shifted or even edited if i'm feeling adventurous. 

As i understand it, this is the complete opposite to how Sean creates his drum tracks. He enters his notes one by one, but i just would'nt have the patience for that cause i'm a lazy sod.  

I've always used this method from day one of using P5 and it seems to have served me well thus far so i expect i'll carry on using it.  I think my method helps me create patterns i would'ny ordinarily have thought of myself or anyone else for that matter. 
 
I don't know if i've described that very well, but i think it gives the general idea.  

Yeah sometimes it can lead to nothing and you have to do it again untill you get something that works with that particular track.   I've got my method down to a fine art now as i've been using it for nearly five years so drum tracks are usually the least of my worries now.

 This method won't suit everyone, maybe no one else but me, but it's second nature to me now.

When you're doing four to the floor stuff you are more restricted, but with IDM practically anything goes and the rules are pretty much non existent which is one of the reasons i like it.