How to tag your beats

Where to put your producer tag

• In the intro. The classic spot is in the first bar or two, before the drums come in or right before the first drop.
• On a break. Drop it into a gap where the beat thins out, so it doesn't fight the 808 and kick.
• Before the drop. A tag right before the beat switches up adds hype.

Tagged previews vs the final beat

Repeating the tag through a preview is what stops someone from ripping the free version off YouTube and releasing it. Place it over the busiest part of the beat so it can't be cut out cleanly.

How loud should a producer tag be?

Aim for the tag to sit at about the same loudness as the beat, then trust your ears. If it makes you jump, it's too loud; if you have to strain to hear the name, it's too quiet. A few tricks help it cut through without being harsh:

• Duck the beat by a few dB under the tag with sidechain compression or a volume dip.
• Cut a little of the beat's midrange (around 1 to 3 kHz) while the tag plays.
• High-pass the tag so its low end doesn't clash with the 808.
• Let the reverb or echo tail ride into the beat. That's what makes it sound produced.

How to add a tag in FL Studio

1. Drag your tag WAV into the Playlist on its own track.
2. Route it to a free Mixer insert so you can add effects and adjust volume.
3. For previews, copy the clip every 8 or 16 bars across the arrangement.
4. Add Fruity Limiter on the beat's master or a group with sidechain from the tag to duck the beat slightly.
5. Export one tagged MP3 for previews and one untagged WAV for buyers.

How to add a tag in Ableton Live

1. Drop the tag on its own audio track in Arrangement view.
2. Put a Compressor on the beat's group track with sidechain set to the tag track.
3. Duplicate the clip every 8 or 16 bars for the preview version.
4. Export twice: once with the tag track on, once with it muted.

How to add a tag in Logic Pro

1. Drag the tag into a new audio track.
2. Use the Compressor's side chain on the beat bus, keyed from the tag track.
3. Repeat the region with the Loop tool or copies at regular intervals for previews.
4. Bounce a tagged version and an untagged version.

Tagging beats for YouTube and beat stores

• Upload only tagged versions anywhere people can stream for free.
• Most beat stores can add a voice tag to the streaming preview for you. Upload your tag WAV once and they place it automatically.
• Use the same tag everywhere so fans recognise it across platforms.
• Keep a few variations so a full beat tape doesn't repeat the exact same clip.