Maceo Plex the don of modern house

[Funkfish]

If you listen to this kind of music (deep tech-house, deep house, deep disco whatever you wanna call it) you've probably heard of Maceo Plex (formerly Maetrik) He's pretty much the top producer for the genre at the moment.

I figured this would be a good place to talk about what's going on in his productions. To me it sounds like lots of high quality simple sounds expertly placed and some really nice writing on top.

The only thing I know about his setup is he uses Ableton and runs everything into an old radio console he bought a while ago (Steven I he says)

Also live I know he uses the TC Helicon Voice Live for vocals and I'm guessing that's what he uses in the studio based on the sounds he's getting.

What do you guys think?

Here's some tracks:

http://soundcloud.com/mademoiselle_a/martin-dawson-feat-nrg-think

http://soundcloud.com/maghella/maceo-plex-under-the-sheets

http://soundcloud.com/wilbur-3/maceo-plex-aint-that-love

http://soundcloud.com/gouranga/maceo-plex-falling-original

And he's a video of him live:

[Eric J]

I posted this in another thread, but its relevant here too...

Plugged In: Maceo Plex | Beatportal

The guy behind Maceo Plex talks about what gear he uses to get his sound. Talks about using a old valve mixer from a company called Steven I (??) and running kicks, bass, etc through it.

DISCLAIMER: I knew this guy back in the 90's. We spent some time DJing the same scene down in Dallas, TX, and, well, just don't believe everything you read...

[Funkfish]

Yup saw that one. That's where I got the info about it in my original post.

[dannylonglegs]

Ive always loved his drums, now i know how he gets that warmth, any way to achieve warmth like that without his Steven I?

[jessem]

The Maetrik stuff is still going on. Always enjoyed that sound. Clean but experimental.

[J Gabriel]

i'd say: Good songwriting, analog synths, sick console, great mixdown

[boon]

groovy and chunky. not into some of the vocals but it fits the genre. i like the bit in the youtube clip though.

[fragletrollet]

Love Under my Sheets... that bass is so nice!

[Fifstar]

Check this general thread on 'new' deep house sound:

'new' deep house sound

[Dubber]

his best track so far:

[AJ Reynolds]

Originally Posted by Funkfish

He's pretty much the top producer for the genre at the moment.

if he was the top producer those soundcloud tracks would have been covered with comments.

i'm sure he's doing good in the Crosstown Rebels hipster parties but i don't hear DJ's like Move D playing his tracks.

[Funkfish]

Originally Posted by AJ Reynolds

if he was the top producer those soundcloud tracks would have been covered with comments.

i'm sure he's doing good in the Crosstown Rebels hipster parties but i don't hear DJ's like Move D playing his tracks.

Those were just some random peoples pages I found because I didn't wanna link crap youtube vids. You'll notice the random cell phone video of him live has over 100k views that's a lot for non mainstream dance music. He's also one of the few house/techno guys to break the Beatport overall top 10 which is usually full of crap electro, dubstep and cheesy bootlegs.

If we're judging by the RA top 100 Mr. Move D is 52 and Maceo Plex is 5. Not bad for an alias that wasn't even around in 2010.

[Dubber]

Originally Posted by Funkfish

You'll notice the random cell phone video of him live has over 100k views that's a lot for non mainstream dance music.

the video you posted only got 50k views. but if you google for the party "get lost miami" or "maceo plex" you will find this video in the search results. also it got plays from your posting here. so 50k views aren't much in 1 year.

Originally Posted by Funkfish

Not bad for an alias that wasn't even around in 2010.

his music is good, no question. but is it just the quality of the music which made him #5 or is it because he plays only his own tunes on gigs?

[Alfonso Muchacho]

He's doing very well, I'm not blown away with his stuff, I still think The Timewriter is the best producer in that genre. But as has already been said, I'd take his music over anything else bothering the Beatport top 10 at the moment.

[justjoo]

Originally Posted by Dubber

his best track so far:

Great song! And nicely mixed.

[xanax]

no doubt maceo is blowing up however i don't think an artists greatness (or wackness) can be determined by youtube views or beatport charts. besides calling him "the don of modern house" is a little bit overzealous imo.. i wouldnt even consider him the best out of crosstown family/releases but thats just me.. i also read the interview and all he speaks is of overdriving channels through a cheap old analog mixer, pretty much the oldest trick in the book, hardly some kind of mysterious secret to a cutting edge new sound or anything

[kosmasepsilon]

Originally Posted by AJ Reynolds

if he was the top producer those soundcloud tracks would have been covered with comments.

Maceo Plex / Maetrik's sounds on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

[Funkfish]

Originally Posted by Dubber

the video you posted only got 50k views. but if you google for the party "get lost miami" or "maceo plex" you will find this video in the search results. also it got plays from your posting here. so 50k views aren't much in 1 year.

his music is good, no question. but is it just the quality of the music which made him #5 or is it because he plays only his own tunes on gigs?

Ah yeah I linked the wrong video. I updated my original post thanks.

He's def number 5 because of the quality of the music he's releasing and his live sets are amazing (because its all his own music)

I know as a DJ and my other friends who are DJs when we get a Maceo Plex promo its a good day. Listening to this stuff at home it def sounds good, but when you play it in a club it undeniably outshines the competition.

[Dubber]

Originally Posted by Funkfish

... but when you play it in a club it undeniably outshines the competition.

yes because there is no competition

[Whatupdoe?]

If I am going to listen to a producer from Texas, it is going to be Convexion.

[Dubber]

is maceo plex really "deep house"? isn't it more something like funky french house with 80s influences?

slow tempo, funky deep fm bassline, some effected vocals, snappy clap and some blips = that's it?

[Funkfish]

Well I never said he was "Deep House" he's "modern house" but it gets lumped in the deep house category on beatport.

How do you think he makes those crispy snappy claps?

[llexam]

Originally Posted by Whatupdoe?

If I am going to listen to a producer from Texas, it is going to be Convexion.

I think you meant Convextion, with a 't' (aka Gerard Hanson).
Just a correction for those who might want to look up his music (do it!).

[Funkfish]

So would you guys say all of these basses are FM style bass?

What would you go for if you're trying to make this sound FM8? Blue?

[AJ Reynolds]

wow he looks like his doing pretty well. it's a crazy world, i always thought of Jamie Jones as being a warm up DJ and a not very good one at that. now he's #1 DJ! maybe i'm getting old?

[Funkfish]

Originally Posted by AJ Reynolds

wow he looks like his doing pretty well. it's a crazy world, i always thought of Jamie Jones as being a warm up DJ and a not very good one at that. now he's #1 DJ! maybe i'm getting old?

Yup since this new style of house emerged in the past 2 years everything has been shaken up. I opened for Jamie a few weeks ago in NYC and I think they had like 1000+ people there. They actually made a video of the night too.

[Dubber]

Originally Posted by Funkfish

Well I never said he was "Deep House" he's "modern house" but it gets lumped in the deep house category on beatport.

yes the categories on beatport are far too little!

Originally Posted by Funkfish

How do you think he makes those crispy snappy claps?

i guess sampled from 70s records and 80s drum machines... hard panned... and there's something before the clap (reverbed clap?) which make it *snap!*

they sound very naturally so 808/909 are def the wrong machines for this.

Originally Posted by Funkfish

So would you guys say all of these basses are FM style bass? What would you go for if you're trying to make this sound FM8? Blue?

not always fm but as you said "in fm style".

[Whatupdoe?]

Originally Posted by llexam

I think you meant Convextion, with a 't' (aka Gerard Hanson).
Just a correction for those who might want to look up his music (do it!).

You are right, my mistake. Sadly, I think he is a little too deep for these parts.

[biggiesmalls]

Originally Posted by Funkfish

If we're judging by the RA top 100 Mr. Move D is 52 and Maceo Plex is 5. Not bad for an alias that wasn't even around in 2010.

mate i hate to be a buzzkill but in my opinion, RA polls are as good as the DJMAG bullshit.. Move D is light years beyond plex in terms of production and individuality. I got respect for what Maceo is doing but there are so many different producers doing his sound and alot better job of it.

Its not deep house too, its tech-house, same same tech-house, not very inspiring. I much prefer his Maetrik stuff, was pretty cool..

[msl]

Originally Posted by Funkfish

Yup since this new style of house emerged in the past 2 years everything has been shaken up. I opened for Jamie a few weeks ago in NYC and I think they had like 1000+ people there. They actually made a video of the night too.

To a degree. It is very hipster orientated over here, I do like a lot of it though, Lee Foss, Troxler, but sometimes it is painfully trendy. Its all well made and accessible, in this town the 18-21 kids love it.

+1 Convextion is awesome

As for production I think it comes down to arrangement and sound selection mostly. Good quality source sounds, and the lower tempos allow things to breath. Personally I find it quite easy mixing that kind of tempo/style compared to techno say.

.