Chris Sangster Brings AI to the Beat Game with ReStem

AI Meets the Drum Track

Chris Sangster dives into the ever-buzzy world of AI tech in music but isn’t about to serve up the same old doomsday salad. No, he’s all about that good slice of tech pie, focusing on how AI can give us some gnarly tools in the studio. Enter ReStem Pro—an AI-powered drum stem separator that’s laser-focused on the rhythm section. Sangster explains how this bad boy will dissect your drum tracks into separate layers like kick, snare, and hi-hat, offering a fresh perspective to producers who’ve been twisting knobs and pulling faders like mad scientists in search of that perfect groove.

"Imagine you have a drum loop that you love the kick and snare in, but you don't care for the hi-hat pattern too much."

Dissecting Beats Like a Mad Scientist

"By boosting the attack setting, we can recover that bit of snap that was lost."

In the video, our laid-back maestro Sangster showcases Restem’s abilities in Logic Pro, transforming a drum loop into its core components. Sangster talks us through recording the loop and letting Restem work its AI magic, splitting the loop into individual stems you can mute, remix, or even boost. Sangster makes a point of showing how you can isolate a kick while ditching a pesky hi-hat with just a button push. This is hip-hop surgery, pure and simple—bringing remix culture back from the grave, one click at a time.

Shaping the Groove

Demystifying the wizardry of Restem, Sangster turns his attention to the Gates and Shaper tools, offering a golden ticket to finely tweaking each drum stem. We’re not just talking about separating drum sounds, but refining them with precision. Sangster shows how gating can cleanse your drum patterns like a sonic toothbrush while the Shaper tool brings back the snap in your clap, making even your old Casio keyboard blush. It’s like tuning your beat machine to the sound of the city, making every sound pop like a street party.

Sample Replacement with a Twist

Sangster introduces another layer of funk with Drumagog integration, a classic sample-replacing plugin that’s served producers like a go-to taco truck. Restem Pro’s tight interface allows you to inject a new vibe by swapping out acoustic drum sounds with library samples or your custom kits. Chris doesn’t just tell; he shows how to audition samples in a live loop for that ‘try before you buy’ vibe. It’s all about laying down fresh layers without losing the original groove, and Chris makes this complex process look simpler than ordering a slice at 2 am.

"And there's no messing around with any internal MIDI routing or anything like that."

From Loop to MIDI and Beyond

Now here’s where Chris really drops the bass: converting your drum loops straight into MIDI. No need for a degree in sound engineering here—just some clicks in ReStem and Logic Pro, and you’re rolling. From isolating stems to triggering MIDI notes effortlessly, Sangster showcases how Restem turns the complex into child’s play. Imagine flipping through beats like they’re pages in your comic book collection—except this time, each hit tells its own story.

A Chance to Win and a Tip to Stick

Chris wraps it up with a golden opportunity: a giveaway of a Restem Pro license. All it takes is a comment and a bit of luck. It’s the kind of street smart promotion you’d expect from someone who knows the value of a good hook. Sangster’s looking for engagement, and this giveaway is the ticket. He encourages viewers to drop comments, hit subscribe, and become part of the conversation, effectively turning viewers into collaborators in the beatmaking revolution. This is your chance to grab a piece of the future and make it sing in your own language.