On average,

how many tracks do you use before you feel that the song is in its final form, ready for mixdown? How did you mix down your drum/percussion? let's say, kicks on track 1, snare on 2, Hi-hats on 3, cymbal on 4 ect. How many track do you devote to samples? do you kept the sounds looped continously throughout the recording and just drop the fader whenever the particular track isn't wanted? Or do you break the track down beforehand? I once read in an article saying that Premo use upwards of 13 to14 tracks from time to time, would you consider that allot? The interviewer, judging for has reacting, seemed to be impressed by this and inplies that this was a high track number. Thanks

The song is done for me when It makes that magic. Stop when Its a banger. So However many tracks that takes. with vocals I will have anywere from 8-20 tracks. But its a variable that I never know until im finished. I wouldn't use fader to do that all the time. U know whatever works for you. Some do it this way some do it that way, its the end product that counts right?

I noticed you live in oakland. I just recover My stolen car from a and b towing right there on g street by 98th ave today. Random info I guess

Theres no magic number keep adding and subtracting till you get to what jonloc said as Magic, its better to overprocess than underprocess cause you have more to work with when your arranging, and plus the extra shit can just be muted

jonloc wrote:The song is done for me when It makes that magic. Stop when Its a banger. So However many tracks that takes. with vocals I will have anywere from 8-20 tracks. But its a variable that I never know until im finished. I wouldn't use fader to do that all the time. U know whatever works for you. Some do it this way some do it that way, its the end product that counts right?

Thanx for the info. Yo, that's near my house. I'm in the hunnids right off E-14. Glad to hear that you got it back, though. The reason I asked this question is because though sampling is apart of hiphop and all, sometimes I feel as if I'm cheating because it rather easy. I started making beats on my Dr. Rythm ten yrs ago so creating a drum patterns as never been a problem. The sampling thing is what troubles me. When is it enough, when is more need. Recently, I sample a two bar guitar loop and add drums under it. Ya, It kinda beatminerish but i worked. Yeah, I think I could've added bassline and some other things...sometimes I feel that it isn't creative just to sample. For instant, Remember that song "Watch for the hook" by Breeze, dude that is down with Outkast. Well I found the original in my collection recently and I is a straight jack of Merry Clayton's Southern Man. Two bar sample, the first bar repeated three time and on the four bar the second bar played... YO, it almost 6 i'm about to hop off this machine. One

Iceberg-Slim wrote:Theres no magic number keep adding and subtracting till you get to what jonloc said as Magic, its better to overprocess than underprocess cause you have more to work with when your arranging, and plus the extra **** can just be muted

Okay, I got you. Do it til you feel it done basically. Thanx

Most pop music and Hip-pop (nelly), stuff likes to keep to a simple format. This can help when you are tryin to sell beats to people.
2-8 bar intro
16 bar verse1
4-8 Hook
16 verse 2
4-8 Hook
4-8 Bridge, (ex. The beat changes up and ex. scratchin or soloing from an instru)
16 verse
8-16 Hook
4-16 hook
Most songs follow a format like this, just so selling beats is an easy process instead of having to custom every track. Sometimes the Hook goes before the 1st verse. Or there might be pre hooks it all depends on what you want to do.

Remeber the kiss method "Keep it simple stupid".
The phatest songs are prodominantly simple.
But I am hard headed.
I will have typically 16 - 21 tracks of music due to layering the sounds. Hooks are 3 part harmony with three takes each (9 more tracks)
Sub hook aditional 2 - 3 part harmony (2 - 3 tracks each).
Lead with 3 - 4 version so I can comp the best performance.
BGV 2 to 3 tracks.
Bridge can be an additional 6-8 tracks.
Total = 48 tracks
By the time I get done editing the tracks I average 1100 - 4200 edits per song. This is not to say that is how you should always do it. I just like to have options.
Iceberg-Slim you are on the money when you said "its better to overprocess than underprocess cause you have more to work with when your arranging, and plus the extra **** can just be muted"

Damn Ron, how long on average does it take you to complete your songs from start to finish?