getting my beats to sound industry quality

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getting my beats to sound industry quality

By DD PRODUCTIONS Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:37 am
I use a mpc2500, fantom x6, motif xs, digi 002 and all connected to my Imac computer. My question is when I record my beats into pt with tracking out or not I can't get the quality I should have. I dont use any plugin's but i set my levels, is this one reason i'm not getting good quality and I also have a light buzz in the background of my beats. Could some one please help my only issue is getting good quality I know with this type of equipment I have I sound be getting better sound then what I'm getting.
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Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By Lampdog Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:54 am
DD PRODUCTIONS wrote:I use a mpc2500, fantom x6, motif xs, digi 002 and all connected to my Imac computer. My question is when I record my beats into pt with tracking out or not I can't get the quality I should have. I dont use any plugin's but i set my levels, is this one reason i'm not getting good quality and I also have a light buzz in the background of my beats. Could some one please help my only issue is getting good quality I know with this type of equipment I have I sound be getting better sound then what I'm getting.


Quality comes from experience and equipment.

Buzz might be from improper grounding and/or EMI.
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Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By taxman806 Tue Nov 11, 2008 11:08 pm
Input level. I ALWAYS record low and gain to a good level. That alone will eliminate your buzz.

Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By mosofficial19 Wed Nov 12, 2008 1:17 am
There are plenty of factors to getting a high quality recording.

1) TREATED ROOM: If you have inaccurate monitoring, then all the plugins and expensive outboard gear in the world won't save you. No point is splurging on expensive gear if you're not hearing it correctly.

2) Gain Staging/Pre Amps: As said above, the DIGI 002 pre's are not the best. Invest in a good 2 channel preamp. I currently use an Aurora Audio GTQmkIII. This unit has built in EQ which can also help you shape your sounds on the way in.
http://www.highprofileaudio.com/AuroraAudioGTQ.html

And contrary to popular belief, DON'T RECORD HOT AS POSSIBLE. Get a decent level in but leave headroom for your plugs and your master buss.

3) Conversion: The converters on the 002 are not too great either. Beats you are hearing on professional CD's are not done through 002 pre's and converters. You can look into a Black Lion Mod (http://www.blacklionaudio.com/digi002_mod.html) and get upgraded pre's as well. Or you can go with Apogee, Lynx, or Lavry. (Prism if you are ballin)

4) Last but not least; GREAT EARS AND LOTS OF EXPERIENCE. No amount of acoustic treatment, pre's, comps, eq's and converters will replace a good ear. Pick your sounds carefully, tune your drums, and learn how to EQ and pan.

Good luck.
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Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By EducatedHands Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:01 am
it irritates me when people put an emphasis on your gear. i understand this question is about getting his stuff to sound industry quality, which does come down to having expensive nice gear, but i think first and foremost if you're putting out really good music, it could sound cassette tape quality and get bumped harder than some crap you buy in the store. just how im feeling!
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Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By Lampdog Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:49 am
EducatedHands wrote:.........but i think first and foremost if you're putting out really good music, it could sound cassette tape quality and get bumped harder than some crap you buy in the store.


I think your absolutely right also..

Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By SirMalik Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:44 am
DD PRODUCTIONS wrote:I use a mpc2500, fantom x6, motif xs, digi 002 and all connected to my Imac computer. My question is when I record my beats into pt with tracking out or not I can't get the quality I should have. I dont use any plugin's but i set my levels, is this one reason i'm not getting good quality and I also have a light buzz in the background of my beats. Could some one please help my only issue is getting good quality I know with this type of equipment I have I sound be getting better sound then what I'm getting.

WELL FIRST CHECK YOUR WIRES TO SEE IF THERES DAMAGE THERE THIS MAY BE WHERE THAT BUZZ IS COMING FROM. NEXT CHECK ALL YOUR CONNECTIONS. ALSO WHEN YOU FINISH A BEAT YOU CAN TWEEK SOME THINGS WITH THE FANTOM X6, IT HAS A MASTERING TOOL ON BOARD AND ALSO YOU CAN COMPRESS YOUR TRACKS IF YOUR A PERSON WHO RECORDS EVERYTHING AT FULL LEVELS. WATCH TO SEE IF YOUR PROJECT REDLINES WHEN RECORDING. INSIDE YOUR PROJECT EVERYTHING SHOULD NOT BE ALL THE SAME LEVELS, USE YOUR FADERS THATS WHAT THERE FOR.
LEARN TO PAN AND TRAIN YOUR EAR TO HEAR TRACKS THAT DROWN OTHERS. THE COMPRESSER IS A GREAT TOOL WHEN YOU USE IT RIGHT . IT CAN MAKE TRACKS SOUND LIKE THERE SITTING IN THE BACKROUND BUT STILL NOTICEABLE TO HEAR. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU.

Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By Donlong Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:09 pm
EducatedHands wrote:it could sound cassette tape quality and get bumped harder than some **** you buy in the store. just how im feeling!


i think these days alot of people are sweating the small stuff... if its dope its dope lol. the sound quality could sound like it was recorded in a drain, but if it bangs it bangs!!!!!!
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Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By That-1-DJ Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:44 pm
Definately start trouble shooting, Grab a pair of headphones (something decent) and see if you can find out where the buzz is coming from turn up one piece of gear at a time and see if you notice a buzz coming from any perticular unit, Also check ALL of your cables, Audio, Midi, Speaker, Power, And any extension cords, or surge protecters, Also you can try different outlets as well. Make sure that you do not have any of your gear turned all the way up, Usualy you will want to keep them about 1/2 way to 3/4 of the way up (Depending on your internal settings). Also make sure that you are not around any fluorescant lighting as that can and will give you a serious buzz. Bottom Line, It's all about TRIAL AND ERROR, Also have you read your DIGI 002 manual (Setting Levels) If not, DO IT!

I had bad cables on my MOTIF once (Causing undesired noise) By the time I would record mutiple tracks in PRO TOOLS and play it back it would sound like shit because every track had unwanted noise, and all I was doing each time I recorded a new track was MULTIPLYING my problem.

SHEILDED CABLES - can be your best friend!
DO NOT SKIMP ON CABLES, You don't have to go buy the most expensive, But don't buy the cheapest niether!

Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By mosofficial19 Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:46 pm
I'm not sure if some of the posts above were directed towards and/or influenced by my response or not, but either way I do agree with you guys to a point.

I agree if something is hot it is hot - but, at least to me, if the quality blows I lose interest pretty damn quickly. (as will any A&R) If your music is hot, but it's unlistenable due to lack of concern for sonics, it kind of cancels out doesn't it.

I assumed homeboys music is already hot, he just wants to improve his sound quality and get it like the pros. I admire that. I like people who want their music to sound good. I feel there are too many people out there that consider themselves "producers" or "engineers" and don't give a rats ass about sound quality. It's like someone calling themselves a chef but they don't bother seasoning their food. Sure, anybody can buy a filet mignon for 8 bucks and throw it on the grill at home, but there's a reason it costs 29.95 (and tastes better than yours) at that nice restaurant across town and its not because of the mashed potatoes its sitting on.

I wasn't insinuating that buying converters and preamps will make his stuff sound good, (of course it could help) because experience and knowledge first and foremost blows out any amount of gear. You can throw the average MPC user in front of an SSL 9000 G with racks and racks of expensive analog gear and Ken Lewis on a 002 rig with stock plugins, give them both a beat to track out and an artist to record, and guess who'll have the better sounding mix?

And I disagree that expensive gear = great quality. Many smash records were recorded with an SM57.

SM57 = 99 bucks.

Hit records are also made with a Sony C-800G.

Sony C-800G = $7,500 - $8,000

Go figure.

An LA2A in the hands of someone who doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground regarding compression is useless.

All I'm saying (in a long drawn out way), is if you want to make money doing music, not only does the music have to be good, it has to sound good. If you and Joe both are presenting a hot beat to a possible client, and they're both equally hot, but Joes sounds better, you probably just lost a client to Joe.

If you're serious about improving the sound quality, treat the room, learn and UNDERSTAND the plugins you already own, then slowly build up with good gear. Each time you get a new piece, learn that biyatch inside and out before you buy something else.

Not trying to offend anyone. Just trying to help.

Alright I'm gonna go eat a sandwich.
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Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By EducatedHands Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:27 am
Donlong wrote:
EducatedHands wrote:it could sound cassette tape quality and get bumped harder than some **** you buy in the store. just how im feeling!


i think these days alot of people are sweating the small stuff... if its dope its dope lol. the sound quality could sound like it was recorded in a drain, but if it bangs it bangs!!!!!!

haha yeah its like, people wanna know how to make their music kick people's a$$es. the sound quality is the last thing i'd worry about. :wink:

Re: getting my beats to sound industry quality

By SirMalik Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:55 am
mosofficial19 wrote:I'm not sure if some of the posts above were directed towards and/or influenced by my response or not, but either way I do agree with you guys to a point.

I agree if something is hot it is hot - but, at least to me, if the quality blows I lose interest pretty damn quickly. (as will any A&R) If your music is hot, but it's unlistenable due to lack of concern for sonics, it kind of cancels out doesn't it.

I assumed homeboys music is already hot, he just wants to improve his sound quality and get it like the pros. I admire that. I like people who want their music to sound good. I feel there are too many people out there that consider themselves "producers" or "engineers" and don't give a rats ass about sound quality. It's like someone calling themselves a chef but they don't bother seasoning their food. Sure, anybody can buy a filet mignon for 8 bucks and throw it on the grill at home, but there's a reason it costs 29.95 (and tastes better than yours) at that nice restaurant across town and its not because of the mashed potatoes its sitting on.

I wasn't insinuating that buying converters and preamps will make his stuff sound good, (of course it could help) because experience and knowledge first and foremost blows out any amount of gear. You can throw the average MPC user in front of an SSL 9000 G with racks and racks of expensive analog gear and Ken Lewis on a 002 rig with stock plugins, give them both a beat to track out and an artist to record, and guess who'll have the better sounding mix?

And I disagree that expensive gear = great quality. Many smash records were recorded with an SM57.

SM57 = 99 bucks.

Hit records are also made with a Sony C-800G.

Sony C-800G = $7,500 - $8,000

Go figure.

An LA2A in the hands of someone who doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground regarding compression is useless.

All I'm saying (in a long drawn out way), is if you want to make money doing music, not only does the music have to be good, it has to sound good. If you and Joe both are presenting a hot beat to a possible client, and they're both equally hot, but Joes sounds better, you probably just lost a client to Joe.

If you're serious about improving the sound quality, treat the room, learn and UNDERSTAND the plugins you already own, then slowly build up with good gear. Each time you get a new piece, learn that biyatch inside and out before you buy something else.

Not trying to offend anyone. Just trying to help.

Alright I'm gonna go eat a sandwich.

Well put if i say so myself.
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