Questions that noobs are scared to ask (Q and A)

I've had it with all the flaming at noobs. Some guys on here need to think what it was like when they were a noob. People need to start somewhere, so i though i'd just make a thread especially for noobs

Q: There ain't no record stores in my area. It's sh*t round here.
A: Get a yellow pages! See what record stores are in the area you've missed! Try charity shops, local car boot sales, flea markets, antique markets, garage sales, church hall fairs, etc. Ask your friends, your grandma, your aunties friend, your aunties's friend's friend, etc. People always have records they want to get rid of. Theres even Ebay if you get desperate. Also expand to the next area near you and search there.

Q: Yo man i need some soul and funk to sample but can't find none! All i seem to find is James Last:( Wish i was in the US! Where can i find some?
A: Sampling soul and funk has really been done to hell. NY actually isn't ALL that. Be original. Music is music! Do your research and open your mind! Theres prog, folk, metal, punk allsorts of sh*t out there! Be aware digging is going through the rubbish to get to the gold, but don't sleep on anything! (some) James Last records have some descent breaks and tracks on them too you know! It's also all about how you use that break/sample and what you can do with it.

Q: I'm really crap with names. I go diggin and i just don't know many artists at all. Everything is a gamble! Where can i find out some?
A: You're on the web now aren't you? Get your ass down to google or
http://www.the-breaks.com or some other place (theres millions). There are also some excelent reads out there for information on certian genres such as 'The Rough Guide to Jazz'. Try buying some comps too. Try Ultimate Breaks and Beats, Dusty Fingers, etc. Everyone takes a gamble, just follow your heart. I've taken gambles and got shit and sometimes got a really good album!

...oh and GET A PORTABLE TURNTABLE!


Q:Should i only sample from vinyl? Is sampling from CD and mp3 the ultimate sin?
A: F*ck other cats. If you find something and you wanna f*ck it up then go ahead! Don't limit yourself to one format! There are no rules to music and what you can do. Vinyl will always have a special place in my heart, but i sample CDs, drum kits, dialog from TV, sh*tty keyboards, whatever i can lay my hands on!

***
i'm knackered going to bed lol. Continue this some other time if it's worth continuing lol.

The mods should sticky this.

Good one jnorth.





Peace

Q: Can i have some links to breaks in mp3 pretty please?
A: The iPod generation You do your own work! Thats like saying "i can't be arsed to dig so find sh*t for me!". It isn't all that hard to find mp3 breaks even. You should really think about going diggin and getting your fingers dusty though.

Q: How much should i pay for records?Should i go past £20?
A: Depends if you really want it. For the value of records some search ebay, Record Collector Magazine, search Gemm or ask the hardcore collectors in Soul Strut. I personally think a record is only worth what you want to pay for it. You got to know what you're getting before you pay that sort of money though because we all aren't diggin' yuppies with bulging wallets. I think noobs should stick to brushing up their music knowledge before they start in the ultra competitive looking for rare records biz. Whats the point in searching for rares if you don't even know who George Clinton is? Stay in the cheap racks before you advance onto the expensive racks.

Q: Should i stay away from dollar bins though?
A: No of course not. Theres dopeness to be found everywhere, but some dollar bins in some stores are called that for a reason. They put all the ass records no-one wants in there or the records that haven't shifted in a 7 weeks so they can quickly get rid of them. This can be good though as not many cats will be fighting over the dollar bins and there may be some real dopeness to be found that people are sleeping on. The best dollar bins are in shops that some granny runs that hasn't got a clue about records.


oh and don't sleep on Disco thinking it's all cheesy Boney M sounding shyt. Disco records are dope and can have some really heavy kicks.

Q: Should i stay away from the obvious names as well?
A: well it's what you do with the sample that counts really and how banging it is. People don't listen to hip-hop to scratch beards, but then again i've heard Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes 1 million times, heard james brown stabs and breaks and Rick James has already been done so try and find something that hasn't been touched at least. Don't confuse that sh*t with being obsessed with sampling rares. Oh and try sampling notes/2 notes instead of 2 and 4 bar loops.

definitely not a good idea sampling mp3s anyway.. the sound quality isnt all there

if your going to jack samples off the net..
make sure you know what quality your getting if you cant hear it for yourself

i love to rape the $1 and $2 bins but like today, there was none.. i risked it one 3 records around $10 - $14 each (AUS) and i came away with pure **** gold

personally tho there is no way i can walk past a record if it has a wack as **** cover.. some times you really can judge a book by it's cover

but if your just starting out, go raid the $2 bins until you exactally what your looking for first and are willing to pay the extra

risking it and paying $20 for some thing that not only you cant sample, but you wont even like to listen to just definitely isnt worth it

drukqs2369 wrote:i love to rape the $1 and $2 bins

Ouch, splinters.

This record is kinda beaten up, should I still buy it?
Yes, you should look closely at your records before you buy them. If there are any significant scratches you should give the record a listen to see if it skips (I'd like to second jnorth here and say get a portable turntable!). If it does have scratches on it, you can still buy, but be aware that playing jacked up vinyl on your table will wear you needle out faster. Unless you have plans for some sun-flattening just skip warped records all together (some may disagree but) I find them to be more trouble than they are worth and they'll sound like sh*t. Also consider how much the joint costs and what you're sampling. For instance, I recently copped a Supertramp 45 with some serious groove wear because the vinyl distortion made the electric guitar just that much more gritty, which is what I was looking for.

How can I tell if a record will have good samples?
First and foremost listen to it! But that being said, usually intros, outros and bridges/breaks are going to have the most non-full accompaniment sampling for the majority of the music you'll come across. You can also see breakdowns on a record. When a song goes from multiple instruments playing to one or two there is a shinier, black chunk in the middle of the band and you can see these by tilting the record in the light just right. This is by no means a fool proof method/solution, but if you are looking for breakdowns and/or stripped down parts, this can save some time.

How should i store my records?
Stand them upright, if you leave them stacked on top of each other in a big pile for an extended period, the labels at the center of the records are going to warp your records! Excessive heat = BAD! Excessive humidity= BAD! Plastic sleeves will go a long way in keeping mold at bay, and are a cheap way to protect your investment, so invest! I always put my records in the paper sleeve and then into the cardboard sleeve/cover so that the two openings are NOT pointing out. Lining the paper and cardboard sleeve openings so that they both face out may make it easier to get records in and out, but I've heard too many stories of good records shattering on the floor after slipping out of their sleeves to risk it.

oh and don't sleep on Disco thinking it's all cheesy Boney M sounding shyt. Disco records are dope and can have some really heavy kicks.

Boney M lol

cool album covers but bad music

noobs need love 2

Is there anyway I can just skip all of this stuff and be dope right away?
No. Unless you are a prodigy, there is no substitute for putting in the work and paying dues. We all have to at some point, and the sooner you accept this the easier it gets. Listen, observe, ask questions after finding out all you can about a topic. Use google, talk to people who love music, no matter their age or the genre. Listen to college radio. Go digging. Take chances, because the worst thing that could happen is that you get a $1 frisbee and an opportunity to learn (to avoid that artist in the future). But be careful - artists may have a gang of wack lp's, but have that one gem that is pure heat. And most importantly, have fun!

jnorth wrote:...oh and GET A PORTABLE TURNTABLE!

Best tip right there! You'll be able to check out a lot of stuff you're not shure about wether it's worth the money or not. I have found a lot of breaks on records I never would bought without checking it out. You can find breaks on some crazy stupid bad butt ugly records. Just use your time, and check out everything that seems like cool music for you.

hey thanks for all this info it really did help and i have a quetion how much should i pay for a portable turntable

s940867 wrote:hey thanks for all this info it really did help and i have a quetion how much should i pay for a portable turntable

depends where you are really. I paid £90 for mine (which i could have got a lil cheaper) Check e-bay for some bargains though.

jnorth wrote:

s940867 wrote:hey thanks for all this info it really did help and i have a quetion how much should i pay for a portable turntable

depends where you are really. I paid £90 for mine (which i could have got a lil cheaper) Check e-bay for some bargains though.

Check e-bay for some bargains though

thats funny you said bargins on ebay......i dont think so.it more like RAPE