Dr Dre’s Chronic 2001 - A Milestone In Mastering?

[loncali]

Dr Dre's 2001 was released about 7 years ago, but it is still one of the best sounding albums out there.

There something truly special about the mastering, as it sounds good on anything, and I really mean anything: iPods, NS-10s, Quad ESls, any car system, even tiny laptop speakers - I don’t any music album quite like this.

What does everyone else think?

[MasterOne]

Dre's 2001 sounds great both mastering and mixing wise.

the music is fine too.

must be something about the F word and the N word every other line
in the lyrics.

the smoke took some role as well.

[lucey]

It sounds very good, but I'd call it a "timeless" record ... not a "milestone".

[blarg]

Im feeling the sound of the first Chronic.

[Lipps]

The Chronic- Best Hip Hop album EVER
Chronic 2001 (sonically) the best Hip Hop album EVER. Top ten album

[jayfrigo]

Great record. Definitely a sonic reference for the style.

[MasterOne]

True that!!!

[aivoryuk]

ah i knew my girlfriends CD collection would come in handy she has this abeit the censored version so I'll have to give it a listen

[FULL-DUPLEX]

Very, very good work from Dre and his crew! Still good to hear today. Classic tracks...

[Lagerfeldt]

Did anyone notice how almost all tracks have SSL channel (overload) distortion on the drums?

[computa]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Did anyone notice how almost all tracks have SSL channel (overload) distortion on the drums?

need that thumbsup

[Lagerfeldt]

Yup, I just think that's a big part of the sound on that album.

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Yup, I just think that's a big part of the sound on that album.

I have to admit, I've been known to light up the little red lights on kick and snare channels on the G+ every once in a while. It has a vibe, not right for everything, but very right for some things. Well, really more snare than kick, unless it's one mic or sample clean and a second lightin' it up occasionally. And I still have to say the SSL channel comp may be my favorite snare comp anywhere.

[smoke]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Did anyone notice how almost all tracks have SSL channel (overload) distortion on the drums?

Cool. I'd love to get to the point where I can realize this just by listening.

[madehumble]

Still the best sounding Hip Hop album ever.

[MT Groove]

It's one of my all time favorite Hip Hop Albums both for the music and the "sound." I've always been a fan of Brian "Big Bass" Gardner's mastering. Chronic 2001 is LOUD and punchy and translates very very well on all systems. Yes it's distorted but it was tastefully done.

[arf]

Originally Posted by MT Groove

It's one of my all time favorite Hip Hop Albums both for the music and the "sound." I've always been a fan of Brian "Big Bass" Gardner's mastering. Chronic 2001 is LOUD and punchy and translates very very well on all systems. Yes it's distorted but it was tastefully done.

And, the CD's level is about 6 to 8dB RMS less than recent Hip Hop oeuvre. It goes a long way in allowing the qualities of the production to come through.

[wax808]

I picked up the all-instrumental version on vinyl a few weeks ago. It's a perfect reference for my NS-1000's.

It's also fun to play at parties.

[Joemamma]

Awesome sound! It might be my favorite hiphop record ever.
On a few of Dre's tracks I think the snare is 1 or 2 dB's too loud though!

[DAH]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Did anyone notice how almost all tracks have SSL channel (overload) distortion on the drums?

What`s so specific reffered to the SSL distortion or just a sure shot being 100% aware that was mixed on a SSL?

[Masterer]

Originally Posted by arf

And, the CD's level is about 6 to 8dB RMS less than recent Hip Hop oeuvre. It goes a long way in allowing the qualities of the production to come through.

Maybe this should be printed in all caps in 28 point type and then made into a sticky.... and then a billboard.

All you future Hip Hop mastering clients take note. Wanna make a great sounding record that will stand the test of time? DO NOT CRUSH IT!!

Nuff said.

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by Masterer

Maybe this should be printed in all caps in 28 point type and then made into a sticky.... and then a billboard.

All you future Hip Hop mastering clients take note. Wanna make a great sounding record that will stand the test of time? DO NOT CRUSH IT!!

Nuff said.

Though I agree completely, I am left scratching my head that this has become an example of something "not crushed," and compared to recent things, indeed it has. I think it shows how bad things have become (Metallica, anyone?).

[jordanstoner]

I think it shows how bad things have become (Metallica, anyone?).

Now that you've said it, you'll probably be asked to master Puff Diddy's next rip-off album, featuring Death Magnetic samples and -.01 dB RMS mix levels.

[computa]

I actually prefer B.I.G. "Ready to Die" mastered by Herb Powers as my all time fav. chronic 2001 is in my top 3

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by computa

I actually prefer B.I.G. "Ready to Die" mastered by Herb Powers as my all time fav. chronic 2001 is in my top 3

I gather you are from the East coast?

And it was Carlton Batts who did "Ready to Die" not Herb Powers.

[computa]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

I gather you are from the East coast?

And it was Carlton Batts who did "Ready to Die" not Herb Powers.

get them two mixed up. i know they were both at frankford/wayne at the time and did alot of top hip hop stuff. Grew up in the bronx. Lived mostly in l.a. & nj over past 10 years.

[DAH]

Originally Posted by DAH

What`s so specific reffered to the SSL distortion or it^s just a sure shot being 100% aware that was mixed on a SSL?

bump!

[Zuewi]

one of the best sounding hip hop albums what i know

[CDS]

This is a process of "double mastering".

When Dre sends his mixes to Bernie G, they are already at the point other projects would considered mastered.

The second layer of sweetening does the trick.

I give you a Dre mix story:

I was sitting in on a studio session of an A&R friend of mine working a mixing session for a major label. The mixing engineer there was doing a great job on the song at hand. Busta Rhymes stops by to talk to my friend and happens to have a CD-R of the songs he was working on for his Aftermath release. So he plays a few songs from some other producers and everything sounds great. So my friend asks him "Did you get any songs from Dre from his Hawaii beat making session?". So Busta says "Yeah I got this one from Dre."

Let me tell you, I have never been so blown away in my life and when he plays this song... the mix on the CD blew the frame out of everything that was heard in that room the whole day... Im talking about this thing was so loud and hard it was in-human. The engineer working on the session for that day, the poor guy, was reduced to the corner to reflect on his career it seemed... when Busta left the room, we all just sat there in silence for 3 minutes afraid to press play on the mix that the guy was currently working on. Its fair to say the poor engineer had to collect his pride and finnish the session at hand.

That mix from Dre still wasn't "Mastered" yet so I know first hand his engineers are mastering (and mixing in the red) the material before it even hits mastering.

[Joemamma]

This doesn't surprise me.

I've always been suspicious that Dre must be doing something special with the mastering and finishing touches of his mixes.

Do you happen to know how he treats his mix buss?
Is he just using the SSL buss comp or is he doing something more extreme?