Best way to make beats and dub effects with PT

Making beats with audio track + grid mode vs Midi Im using Pro Tools TDM 6.4.1 like a drum machine and loading my samples into audio tracks and lining them up in grid mode and making the patterns by moving the samples around until I get the pattern I want and then repeating the bars. It sounds far tighter to me then using PT midi and triggering the samples via Machfive or Kontakt. Even iDrum (great product) doesnt feel as good as my prefered method My question is is this how the Pros make beats. My other question is I wish to learn how to make a dub effect over my entire mix--would you do this on the stereo master tracks just before the dither plugin. Any tips greatly apreciated Thanks in advance Dave Mix 3 system , 888/24 G4 Dual 1.25 2GB ram, 2 x 120MB 7200rpm drives

i've found a couple things are popular in the 'beat making' world: -reason, mach five, etc. triggering samples -acid (beat construction from loops) -combination of both plus some live instrument tracks massaged into loops in pro tools and, the overwhelming winner when it comes to platinum selling r&b/hip hop: the stalworth MPC!!!...seems like the guys selling the most records still program with their MPC and use midi outs to seperate the tracks in pro tools...or if they're using the newer units and the expansion cards they'll dump into pro tools via analog outs... i haven't heard very many people using sample/grid mode...seems time consuming... i use reason...huge library of sounds for reason...every machine you can imagine has been sampled and turned into a 'refill'... WHAT ARE YOU CALLING A DUB? don't understand the question... detroitkruk

thanks detroitkruk for tip about the MPC What Im calling a dub effect is where the entire mix or (parts) has an feebback delay effect. The technique was invented in Reggae music and used by artists like King Tubby, Mad Proffesor and even used by the Clash in their experimental phase. It has become popular again (The Doves use it, the Rapture use it) cheers Dave