mixing/mastering

whats up
im planning to go into the studio in the next few months to start getting an album done. like a said, planning...

anyways, i need some ideas, mixing, should i go in and record my beats in there, and what would be the process, and to the cats who do it from how, how do you mix it. do you just do it by ear, or record all the tracks individually then compile all the solo' tracks after, to re-construst the beat?

anyways, and inside info is appreaciated, even the routine and process, whats it like and stuff?

thanks!!!

your going into the studio with no ideas? what do you have as samples/beats that you will be working on? I would suggest just getting a huge stack of quality records, and a huge load of drum sample, and lock yourself in there until you got a cd done... sounds like you may be gettin ahead of your self though... why is it you need to go to the studio. The process is explains its self. Its how to run equipment, how to record everything quality, how to mix it right, and how to finish your project the way you need it...

you cant just go into the studio and expect some kind of magic to happen. make sure you have a ton of good ideas or samples you want to use before you go in, or else your time will be wasted. its also helpful to know about what everything is/does in the studio, so you dont have to sit around and wait for the engineer to set everything up.

ive been in a couple different studios around l.a. recording with bands playing bass, guitar, drums, keys, etc (all live instruments - im new to sampling) and things tend to take FOREVER in the studio, so expect that.

to be honest, if youre thinking about laying down some cash to record an album, i suggest you just invest in a digidesign mbox or digi002 (get a digi001 if you can find one!). theyre totally easy to work once you get the hang of protools, and are much cheaper than going to a studio. with a decent preamp you can get an excellent quality sound for relatively cheap. i would suggest going to a studio to record any kind of vocals, unless you want something lo-fi, cause good microphones tend to be extremely expensive, and its usually easy to tell vocals that were tracked in a studio from those recorded in a bedroom closet.

again, im not really a dj, but i have a good amount of experience with home recording and studio recording. all i can suggest is start learning about everything you can, or make sure someone youre working with knows what theyre doing.

oh sh*t,
no man, im not retarted, i must have worded somethign wrong, i got the beats done!

i meant i have no idea about how its like in the studio!! like procedures and routines and stuff. just wanted some inside info, like what to expect, what to and not to do, time savers, etc...

i would suggest going to a studio to record any kind of vocals, unless you want something lo-fi, cause good microphones tend to be extremely expensive, and its usually easy to tell vocals that were tracked in a studio from those recorded in a bedroom closet.

this is what caught my interest, i was plannign on goign to the studio fo vocals, i figured they may be no way around this, but i thuoght maybe i could get around bringing my mpc1000 in.

Bring everything you might need to the studio with you, just in case you DO need it ie. mpc, CF cards, headphones.

Monitoring is a biggie, there are things to watch out for:
- Listen to your tracks through different monitors & systems: good studios will have serious speakers alongside little NS10-type monitors - good. Copy to CD or cassette and listen in the car or on a boombox.
- Do any critical listening when you're fresh and alert. Not when you're tired, or your ears are bleeding from the woofers. Or when you're buzzing on Medellin Marching Powder, or your brain is taking the slow boat to China...

What I learned is that Time is money in the studio. Have all of your vocals memorized. Don't tolerate any writing. Have the songs done. Working on delivery for a few hours in the shower is much cheaper than doing it while some engineer counts beans.

yo fam u from cleveland holla at ya boy