Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
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By granma Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:33 pm
roxstar wrote:I'd like to hear some of your work. I like it gutta. To me, that's Hip-Hop. Using what you have and making the most out of it. Making a pro-tools cat take notice is a nice compliment if your setup costs 1/10th of his. I use the 1/8th jack on my computer. I use the stock soundcard that came with my dell computer. I use a free program called audacity and downloaded a free plug-in that gave me 90 additional plugins. If a tracks quality sounds bad, its not because of my computer, or the software, it's me. My first joint on my myspace page came out low, the second one much hotter, this was my fault (I don't care to fix it either) but I have friends with Mac Book pro's, pro-tools etc that come by my spot (I call it 'Pakistan' cuz my studio is a dirty mess) and they have all asked how I get my drums etc a certain way. I honestly don't know what I'm doing that they don't already know, so my usual response, "I dunno!"
To get back to your original question, multi-tracking is always going to get you the best results. tweaking each track, eqing, etc..it can't be beat, but it also takes time. Syncing up the machines, recording a few tracks at a time, etc.. if your like me, that's not fun at all. The trial and error of buying and learning new software/hardware isn't fun either, but anything cheap and easy can take a few losses, I mean, if you spend $35 on a 4-track and don't like it, what did you lose? If anything, you can learn what you like, and what you need in something better. Reaper is free so by all means try it. I like free.. costs nothing! That's super fresh! Cream's kinda style. I wouldn't reccomend a 4-track, but I'd recommend an 8-track.. 16 is really nice, but that depends on your budget. Just remember that any recorder will sound good. If you go the cheaper route, using audacity can add a lot of additional features that outdated equipment doesn't have.
So keep it gully, and keep some cash in your bank. Hip-Hop is 2 turntables and a microphone. Expensive equipment and governmental regulations are something else. :)


Wise words!!!

By Ldizzy Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:12 pm
I would say get a sound module like a protues or roland module just so u got some clean sounds that u can put into ur 3K.

you dont need to worry about about mastering i think u can get a good sounding mix right out the box at least get the relative loudness of sounds in the mix and making sure each sound fits to gether well.


Hum... aight.. but isnt it better to leave it as its own track?.. i mean, sampling it into my mpc is what I already do with my computer, but it gives it somehow an unidimensional sound. Im looking for some layers with a 24 bit resolution, surround ''My Love'' synths (im ridiculous ahah) u get my point?

So if i buy a proteus? whats the alternative like : drive it into my mpc and sample it; or just rec it into my computer (which leads me again to the problem of the ''get a Mbox'')

Thx seriously, but i need to understand as much as i can

Do u have a proteus?how does it works?
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By conceit78 Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:21 pm
roxstar wrote:I'd like to hear some of your work. I like it gutta. To me, that's Hip-Hop. Using what you have and making the most out of it. Making a pro-tools cat take notice is a nice compliment if your setup costs 1/10th of his. I use the 1/8th jack on my computer. I use the stock soundcard that came with my dell computer. I use a free program called audacity and downloaded a free plug-in that gave me 90 additional plugins. If a tracks quality sounds bad, its not because of my computer, or the software, it's me. My first joint on my myspace page came out low, the second one much hotter, this was my fault (I don't care to fix it either) but I have friends with Mac Book pro's, pro-tools etc that come by my spot (I call it 'Pakistan' cuz my studio is a dirty mess) and they have all asked how I get my drums etc a certain way. I honestly don't know what I'm doing that they don't already know, so my usual response, "I dunno!"
To get back to your original question, multi-tracking is always going to get you the best results. tweaking each track, eqing, etc..it can't be beat, but it also takes time. Syncing up the machines, recording a few tracks at a time, etc.. if your like me, that's not fun at all. The trial and error of buying and learning new software/hardware isn't fun either, but anything cheap and easy can take a few losses, I mean, if you spend $35 on a 4-track and don't like it, what did you lose? If anything, you can learn what you like, and what you need in something better. Reaper is free so by all means try it. I like free.. costs nothing! That's super fresh! Cream's kinda style. I wouldn't reccomend a 4-track, but I'd recommend an 8-track.. 16 is really nice, but that depends on your budget. Just remember that any recorder will sound good. If you go the cheaper route, using audacity can add a lot of additional features that outdated equipment doesn't have.
So keep it gully, and keep some cash in your bank. Hip-Hop is 2 turntables and a microphone. Expensive equipment and governmental regulations are something else. :)


That's what the hell I'm talking about!!! Preach on!!
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By Ridgestone Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:45 am
I think it would be good for you (if you already have decent pc) to get some soundcard (maybe not the mbox tho) and some midi keyboard.

Then just get Reaper and some free vst's (reason is also dope, it's not free tho..).

my 2cents.
Last edited by Ridgestone on Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:07 am, edited 1 time in total.

By Ldizzy Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:02 pm
Sound cards... aight ill check that out

it seems like everybody hates on the Mbox lol
By Ldizzy Tue Oct 26, 2010 2:10 am
its been 3 years,

drastic improvements on my english, and my beats.

thanks to this post.

I've basically read everything i could on mixing. Eqs are the key to a good sounding piece. I say that because in the beginning i stuck compresors everywhere, which is not a good idea.

however id like to regulate on some issues : mbox2 sucks donkeys.. i promise. i bought that shit and its the most useless piece of crap ive come across so far. No offense to those who said it was good but its overrated and digi, oops, theyve switched names, are the less client-oriented company ever. u buy the shit and then they ignore u.

for anyone who has the same questionning as the OP of this post (a 3 years younger me)... take this advice : read read read, practice practice practice and buy a flexible, stable and transparent audio interface that guarantees the following : the sound of ur machine will go onto ur daw with as less coloring as possible (unless thats what u want).

I recommend the mixing engineer's handbook as a good start.

also, listen to various styles of music and pay attention to the role of each sound, spectrumwise.

thx to everyone on this forum u guys are a blessing,

just thought it would be cool to have a wrap up on the subject.
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Re:

By rebel_lion Tue Oct 26, 2010 12:04 pm
roxstar wrote:I'd like to hear some of your work. I like it gutta. To me, that's Hip-Hop. Using what you have and making the most out of it. Making a pro-tools cat take notice is a nice compliment if your setup costs 1/10th of his. I use the 1/8th jack on my computer. I use the stock soundcard that came with my dell computer. I use a free program called audacity and downloaded a free plug-in that gave me 90 additional plugins. If a tracks quality sounds bad, its not because of my computer, or the software, it's me. My first joint on my myspace page came out low, the second one much hotter, this was my fault (I don't care to fix it either) but I have friends with Mac Book pro's, pro-tools etc that come by my spot (I call it 'Pakistan' cuz my studio is a dirty mess) and they have all asked how I get my drums etc a certain way. I honestly don't know what I'm doing that they don't already know, so my usual response, "I dunno!"
To get back to your original question, multi-tracking is always going to get you the best results. tweaking each track, eqing, etc..it can't be beat, but it also takes time. Syncing up the machines, recording a few tracks at a time, etc.. if your like me, that's not fun at all. The trial and error of buying and learning new software/hardware isn't fun either, but anything cheap and easy can take a few losses, I mean, if you spend $35 on a 4-track and don't like it, what did you lose? If anything, you can learn what you like, and what you need in something better. Reaper is free so by all means try it. I like free.. costs nothing! That's super fresh! Cream's kinda style. I wouldn't reccomend a 4-track, but I'd recommend an 8-track.. 16 is really nice, but that depends on your budget. Just remember that any recorder will sound good. If you go the cheaper route, using audacity can add a lot of additional features that outdated equipment doesn't have.
So keep it gully, and keep some cash in your bank. Hip-Hop is 2 turntables and a microphone. Expensive equipment and governmental regulations are something else. :)


When in doubt, keep it simple to two turntables and a mic. Peace
By roxstar Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:22 pm
Post some music up so we can hear where your level of sound is at. You could be making glitch-hop but dreaming of breaking into the commercial market. Buy what you KNOW you need, not what you think you want. The right gear means everything, but nothing in the wrong hands. You might not need to buy anything at all!
By jpeg Tue Oct 26, 2010 7:39 pm
u need to use ur filters to clarify the sound hpf on hats to make em shiny a bit on the snares give it that crisp


maybe a bit of hpf to take the useless frequencies off the bottom of a sample and give ur baa room to breath shit like that frequency separation so everything has its space in the mix.