Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
By NightReveller Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:44 pm
What's good, I hope this is the right place for this. Am I the only one that thinks the Akai 808 is way overused? I mean specificly the 'ho swag money' rappers have beats with this like all of the time, Often not even layered. I hear it everywhere, and wonder where the creativity has gone. Love.
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By fasttrackpimp Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:11 pm
808s are fine. Sometimes they're slightly boring when people just use them dry and don't process them or layer them at all, but even then I like them still.
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By peterpiper Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:23 pm
The 808 sounds are still dope IMO. It always depends how they fit to the track. The 808 kick is so nice to layer it under mid/high kicks or just add an accent here and there.

peace
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By damien907 Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:23 pm
yeah, i dont think its the 808's thats overused, i think its generic sounding 3 key apregiated keyboard beats with 808 drums that are overused.

i do love the 808 kicks and im a fan of the claps and stuff. it would be dope to own a real one. or even just use it to make a beat with sometime.
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By Metatron72 Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:56 pm
I agree on the kicks always being in season. I sometimes tire of the snare and rim sound in recent years.

I think it's a lot of what Damien907 mentioned, these drums turn up almost 100% of the time in all these generic mailed in tracks that are the bulk of what's popular.
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By damien907 Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:32 am
^^^ yeah,that cowbell sucks ass
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By tapedeck Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:34 am
haters! the cowbell is probably my favorite 808 sound. 8)

real talk
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By Ibunshi Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:35 am
i can agree with some sounds getting over used.. but its all kinda strange, in general its only in electronic music that people complain about these things.. people never complain about a band or an artist using the same drumkit and instruments on all tracks, or that they use the same chords and melodies etc

if something works and sounds good, then there is no sane reason to not use it..

you can, however, choose to use it and try to take it further and use it in unusual ways.. but then you have to ask yourself if doing so is what is right for the track, or if its just and ego trip.

dont fix whats not broken, etc..
By JVC Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:36 am
tapedeck wrote:haters! the cowbell is probably my favorite 808 sound. 8)

real talk

I also like 808 cowbell.
I have TR808, TR909, DMX, Linndrum, and Sequential Circuits DrumTraks samples on my MPC-2000XL, and 808 kick samples are just so useful to layer to vinyl samples which does not have enough low end.
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By tapedeck Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:47 am
you know its not really the sounds themselves that are overused...its that there is definitely a style of cheap hiphop that is popular nowadays where basically one song comes out that does something, sells very well, and then EEEERRRRBBBOOODDDYYY just copies that same formula over and over trying to cash in.

i aint tryin to hate on that, cause i seriously enjoy genres that develop from a whole group of people trying to emulate the originator and then mirroring each back and forth.
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By Dan L Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:12 am
tapedeck wrote:haters! the cowbell is probably my favorite 808 sound. 8)

real talk

I gotta have my cowbell baby!!!
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By cyrus Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:36 am
Metatron72 wrote:I agree on the kicks always being in season. I sometimes tire of the snare and rim sound in recent years.

I think it's a lot of what Damien907 mentioned, these drums turn up almost 100% of the time in all these generic mailed in tracks that are the bulk of what's popular.


yeah, i gotta agree with that.

for me personally, I dont use 808 kits in my beats, they just dont fit the sound im going for - although im not gonna limit myself. if it will fit the track, ill use it....

I do personally find tho that when i preview these sounds by themselves, i dont get the same feelin I get when they are used nicely in a beat or the same feeling i get from a break. they sound to clean for me by themselves. but i think that is just me not liking "clean" drums.

plus, sometimes you need that 808 to add weight to your kicks, even those dirty ones.

also i love old discoey, techno tracks, or minimal that use 808s (they might not actually be 808s, but close enough by today's defination of 808).

don't hate the 808! appreciate when that booty shake! (should make that a tshirt or sticker)
Last edited by cyrus on Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:53 am, edited 1 time in total.