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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

How to Mix. Mixing with Mike Chav - Lesson 1 : Kick Drum from Mike Chav on Vimeo

This is a very informative video I found over at DJ A-Trak's blog. He uses a technique that involves duplicating a kick track twice, filtering them each so that one is the low end, one is the mid, and one is the high end and then processing those three tracks separately before finally layering them all together. It is a very useful technique, as A-trak stated on his blog that renowned Engineer, Tony Maserati, used that very technique on the kicks in the song "Get Fresh" off of Kid Sister's album. I also have used this technique before on certain elements of my beats but I've never tried it on a kick drum, though. Perhaps I'll start practicing this technique more often.

Anyway, Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009


Hey wsup everyone?? I recently found this interview with Drumma Boy over at Don Cannon's blog. Check it out. It's short, but it's a dope read.

Enjoy!

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Recently we got a chance to sit down with Grammy Winner Drumma boy and ask him a few questions that we ask most producers to get a feel of how they tick. Check it out and see what you think

Which do you use the most or prefer Logic, Reason, or something else?
I prefer the mpc as far as sequencing. I use logic a lot as well as pro-tools.

How long have you been in production? And what inspired you to start?
I have been producing since the age of 14. Music has always been in our family. My older brother Ensayne was making beats amongst Memphis bred producers such as Jazze Pha, Carlos Brodi, & Slisce T and more. I was like the little brother to the street coming up making beats. I learned a lot from them but created my own sound and ran wit it.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate your very 1st production?
I would say like a 7. The music creativity has always been there. The biggest thing I was lacking in the beginning was my drum collection and quality. My brother used to always say, “When u get some harder hitting drums, you outta here.”

When in the studio, to start on a new track, what do you do first? When making a beat, do you think of a specific artist that you want to target?
I start on new tracks in different ways. Sometimes I start with a clap, sometimes I start with an acapella vocal. Sometimes I make a beat specifically for someone like I did for Jeezy with “Put On.” Sometimes I just paint music that I feel from a particular emotion at that time.

Out of all the projects that you have worked on which one meant the most?
I would have to say Rocko’s Self Made album. That was the first major project that I had an opportunity to produce the majority of the album. The feedback has been crazy and the fans continue to show their appreciation.

Who do you plan to work with in the near future? Anybody specific? ? Whats your opinion on using samples? And if you could sample any song, what would is be?
I am about to work with Lil Jon. Excited about that one since both of us are big on crunk music. We’re definitely gonna give u a club banger.

I use samples and make sample free music. Sometimes a sample can bring a certain texture to a beat but might hit you in the pocket with that clearance fee. If I could sample any song it would probably be something from the Beatles.
They used to do some crazy harmonies.

What beat do you WISH you produced? Why?
As producer, I appreciate music that other producers/composers deliver. Never wished I produced someone else’s work but one of my favorite beats was Warren G “Regulators.”

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Very dope. I was a fan of the track itself so I enjoyed these videos very much. Logic is very dope and straight foward. I can't to cop the IMAC so I can make the upgrade to Logic!

Anyway, check it out:



Part 2:

Saturday, May 2, 2009

A Tribe Called Quest - "Sucka Nigga"



Such a great record. Personally, I believe Common's song, "Inhale" to be a nod to this record - more specifically, the parts where Q-Tip says, "Inhale". Of course, this may seem obvious to people out there who know their Tribe repertoire, but I know there is still a generation of people out there that doesn't know and needs to know the classics. So this is my attempt to educate.

Anyway, this record samples a cover of Freddie Hubbard's jazz standard "Red Clay" performed by Jazz guitarist, Jack Wilkins.

Enjoy!

Friday, May 1, 2009



Very insightful interview from acclaimed music producer, Rob Cavallo, who has enjoyed success working on albums with such artists and bands as Alanis Morisette, Green Day, Dave Matthews Band, and Fleetwood Mac among many others. Here he shares his views on Home Recording vs. Studio Recording, and the art and craft of record production. Hope you all like it.

Enjoy!