Want to understand mid 90's East Coast Production Techniques

I want to understand how those guys got their sound (Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor, to name a few).

I know they layered drums to make them snap more, with compression on one layer, but is there more to it than this? What sort of compresser settings did they use? Did they use more than one layer? Did they resample drums through/onto "dirty" media in order to add grime? If so, what type of "dirty" media did they use? What are the specifics of the layering techniques that they used to layer these "dirted" samples over the clean samples (i.e. 2 layers or more layers? Compression on which layer(s)? If so, what compression settings? How did they EQ each layer?)?

For the samples that they used off of records, what kind of filtering/processing did they use? I'm sure that it varied depending on what they were sampling, but can anyone give some specific examples, or point to an article or interview that gives a specific example? Again, "dirting," compression, EQ, etc.?


I know that I could just experiment and try to figure it out, but it makes a lot more sense to me to try to avoid reinventing the wheel here. Of course my intention is to build upon the techniques/styles that the originators invented, and not to just bite their techniques. Again, reinventing the wheel just makes for a longer road to have to travel before progress and further development of these techniques can begin.

max_planck735 wrote:I know that I could just experiment and try to figure it out

I know you don't want to hear this, but trying different methods out yourself is probably your best bet.

When ya figure it out let me know. Serious.

flipnile wrote:

max_planck735 wrote:I know that I could just experiment and try to figure it out

I know you don't want to hear this, but trying different methods out yourself is probably your best bet.

I was about to say this same thing. I know it sounds cliche, but experience is the best teacher. YOu can ask a million questions and read a million articles but the ONLY way you'll know for sure is if you ask Pet Rock himself and even then he aint gonna give you ALL the techniques anyway.

Try out everything you can think of, try out stuff that you read and try to get your own old school feel. Looks like you'll be doing ALOT of experimenting depending how dedicated you are though.

man everyone has to go thru it. do what these guys said. im feelin what lamp is sayin. the best way to figure it out is to try it yourself.

a couple times in the past I had listened to a track I liked, then tried to remake the drums or whatever. in the process I'd figure out things...
"ohhh so thats how they do that!"

its just a whole learning process. the more you do it the more your supposed to learn and figure out. so hopefully you have time to invest

It's not just that easy, man, like some 'secret sauce' someone can sell you.

Put it this way:: with all of the techniques you just mention, if you used them in the right way, you could surely make a dope track.

But will you use them in the right way!!?

If we just say "that's right, now layer your drums"..

But which drums to layer? That is the part that depends on creativity and artistic choice. And that's what matters anyway to get a good sound. And for that, it takes practise. Same thing with eq'ing, same thing with compression, etc.

You wouldn't say, I want to play guitar better than Hendrix, so someone just give me some secret tricks so I can immediately play that good and then go beyond.... doesnt make sense.

The way it really works is, you have to experiment and try all the tricks... you may never get the exact sound someone else did, but the more you play and listen to the different techniques, you will train your ear and develop your own style.

where's Jaem at?

you rang???


i've been avioding flaming ppl as of late....too many sesitive liitle girls in these parts

but the cat who posted the topic wants templates for a sound and do little to no work

WTF.....premo's compression and EQ settings, come on man, get real

make ya life simple just loop up those beats on ya sampler and resell them as your own........

Again, it just seems idiotic to reinvent the wheel. Maybe some ppl think that it's not 'cool' to use what other people have already developed as a starting point for further experimentation and development, but I don't think that there's any logically sound argument that would support this conclusion.


For everybody that tried to help, thanks

Looks like I'll keep researching elsewhere, and doing experiments based on that research. So far, researching has been very helpful (it would have taken me a very, very long time to invent the technique of drum layering w/ dirty media resampling and/or compression on my own, for example).

^^^

gotta love lazy biters tryin to sound educated

yo man, all you need is an fx unit, 1 compressor, something with a filter, a turntable, sampler and 4 track. Straight 90s for you, now just sit down and forge your own style.

step 1: get off primos d**k.
step 2: figure stuff out on your own through the forums and google

I love when people act like they don't want to know how someone gets a sound. He ain't on his d**k...he just like's that sound. What is wrong with asking questions? This ain't no exclusive club. You think primo never asked any questions? Please.

max_planck735 wrote:Again, it just seems idiotic to reinvent the wheel. Maybe some ppl think that it's not 'cool' to use what other people have already developed as a starting point for further experimentation and development, but I don't think that there's any logically sound argument that would support this conclusion.

Man, have you ever learned a traditional instrument? I can just see you walking into the guitar teacher or whatever, like "i don't want to learn how to play scales or chords... thats just re-inventing the wheel". See how far you'd get then.

Sure there are some basic pointer to know... but you already mentioned a bunch!! Now you are at the point where you have to work with those elements, and get to know 'em a bit. Because, that's what it means to be an electronic musician!

Yoshimi wrote:You think primo never asked any questions? Please.

I'm sure he has.But,do you think Primo asked......"Hey,how does Melle Mel get his drums to sound like that?""What settings does he use?"etc.etc.
It's not about hating on cat but you have to experiment,don't be afraid of the mp,embrace it.