Staying True

I recently read an interview about madlib and it reads

So that's all you need: Your tiny little sampler, a cheep turntable and a stereo system?
Yeah, some records. That's where Hip-Hop is from anyway: Records and sampling. That's what I do, you know what I'm sayin'?

Tell me about your studio! How is it equipped?
The studio's very basic; mad records. I don't have no computers, I don't have any big setups people have. I just have my 303 sampler, or SP 12, or whatever I use and just records. And a little eight digital board. That's all I need. That's how I did all my records: Madvillain, Jaylib and all of that.

Doesn't that limit your possibilities?
It doesn't limit. It doesn't limit my possibilities. People just think they need computers and things to do the work for them, but I do my stuff the old school way, the hard way, you know what I'm sayin'?

So you been using the same equipment for more than ten years?
Yeah. I mean I buy new things like a MPC, but it's still basically the same. I'll be having no computer setup or 24 tracks and none of that Pro Tools. I don't have that thing yet.

.....not just an inspiration that follows me...but many others

WHOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

WORDEMUP!!!!

Let's hear it for all the REAL HEADS stayin true to doin shiz the hard way!!!

madlib is great, i dig most of his work but don't let him fool ya. hes learnin how to let hype work for you. he'll say he just uses a 303, tt, vinyl, and an 8 track but then he also says he uses mpc. and i've seen interviews where he talks about playing fender rhodes, upright bass, drums and other instruments. don't get me wrong, i really like his shit but he understands how to create intrigue through deception.

yeah...check that video on StonesThrow or that Flemish interview where you get to see his lab. Boys got a 4000, 505, sp1200, drum kit, 1 string upright, and other type of gear in there...

Of course, he also doesn't mention his mixing/mastering engineer that he always uses to help him beef up his beats after the fact.

But whatever....I don't care what he uses, or what he says he uses. It's all about what it sounds like in the end anyway.

Let's hear it for all the REAL HEADS stayin true to doin shiz the hard way!!!

hard way = learning fewer pieces of gear and fewer software programs?

would that mean that learning one language is harder than learning 5? i don't follow.

gear doesn't do your work FOR you...

by this REAL HEADS logic, we should all be worshipping the first homo habiliis who banged rocks together to hear the rhythm. THAT'S "stayin true to doin shiz the hard way!!!"

edit: i am a firm supporter of all early human musicians.

pad-ophiliac wrote:madlib is great, i dig most of his work but don't let him fool ya. hes learnin how to let hype work for you. he'll say he just uses a 303, tt, vinyl, and an 8 track but then he also says he uses mpc. and i've seen interviews where he talks about playing fender rhodes, upright bass, drums and other instruments. don't get me wrong, i really like his **** but he understands how to create intrigue through deception.

I agree... while the first quas album was done on nothing more than a SP-1200 and the second quas and madvillain was done on nothing more than the SP-303 / SP-606...he has a ton of equipment. The May / June 2005 issue of Scratch Remix states he has a Roland SP-303 and SP-606, Hohner Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, RMI Piano, Arp String Ensemble, Jen SX1000, Korg Microkorg... I've seen other pics with an Electribe even. He mentions the MPC at times but says the SP-303 / SP-606 are just easier to use. Some articles say he has tons of equipment in his studio.

itchyvinyl wrote:Of course, he also doesn't mention his mixing/mastering engineer that he always uses to help him beef up his beats after the fact.

But whatever....I don't care what he uses, or what he says he uses. It's all about what it sounds like in the end anyway.

Who also takes his mono beats and makes them stereo... they mention this in the May / June issue of scratch.

who really cares what he uses? u need a mind more than equipment to make beats. give me a drum machine and any keyboard and i will still deliver heat.

Alot of people say they don't care what producer uses what but I admit I do. It is interesting to see what folks are using who have made it. Of course their gear has no effect on their success but its cool to demystify how someone makes music. Its cool to think about dangermouse sitting in front of acid 4 or premier in front of a 60. People who are guitar players get to stand on stage wearing their instrument while producers gear stays in the studio away from public view.

I'm a gear whore...I can't help it. Without understanding what is out there and what others are using you are just being ignorant. Somehow you got turned onto the MPC no? You were not born with this knowlegde. True, the focus should be on making music...and not collecting machines. There are people that say things like "man, once I cop this machine...I'm gonna make the dopest beats"...and then the buy it and sell it and the cycle starts over...and never make a beat. That sucks. However, as long as you are making music...I see nothing wrong with knowing what tools are out there and who uses them. The stuff I use isn't the norm in hip-hip...but I still use it cause it works for me.

Beat God wrote:who really cares what he uses? u need a mind more than equipment to make beats. give me a drum machine and any keyboard and i will still deliver heat.

Ok, I have a Rhythm Ace drum machine and a Casio PT-1 for you to use ...get to work.

whatever... i THINK thats b.s... its cool for madlb casue it suits his style of music but aint nobody gonna tell me what i need to make beats.

Im tired of cats thinking hip hop has to sound one way(cloudy underground b.s) or has to be made a certain way...

Thats why i dont like that cat in the first place, secondly his beats are wack

bring it on..

class.

He is fronting about what he uses but i'll give him this, he makes heat.And not only that he makes heat he's real humble.(That's what i look for in most artist.)I hate when cats make mediocre beats with no heart and then brag about how many instruments they play or how much they know about music theory.Madlib is the truth imo,but like i said that's MY opinion.


2.

You can make good songs on lousy gear and you can make good songs on great gear...but which would you really rather have? Alot of guys hit and don't change up because they're superstitious about the gear that got 'em there and some guys hit and won't change up because they're too busy or too freaking rich to spend time on learning new gear...