The Roots- The Seed

Tommylicious · 20th March 2007, 10:44 AM

Hi Russel,

great to have you here, thanks for doing this.

I have a question about The Seed by The Roots, i really love that track and used to spin it a lot in dj sets as a bridge between rock and hip hop. Everybody seems to love it.

You guys somehow managed to achieve to get both a vintage rock sound and at the same time create a banging hiphop track, that's amazing.

My question is how did you do it? Did you listen to both genres as a reference or did it just turn out like this?

Sorry for the bit vague question but i'm just really interested in the production process of this track.

Cheers!

DWINC · 20th March 2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommylicious

i'm just really interested in the production process of this track.

That makes two of us! Too bad that the live techie of the Roots can't get that sound like the record (and that The Roots is playing it double the speed hahaha)
I like the drums and guitars on this song.

mattssons · 22nd March 2007, 09:47 AM

That song impressed the hxxx out of me when i first heard it. What a sound! Please tell me more! /Toby

Russell Elevado · 24th March 2007, 10:38 PM

greetings toby, DWINC and tommy,

this song was written by cody chestnut. one of the few songs that i mixed for the roots where i didn't personally record the drums. the credits on the album say that i recorded it but actually it was recorded by a good friend of mine.

"Tony Rambo" did an amazing job tracking it. he didn't get his credit on the album so i want to set the record staight here. he assisted me on a few albums when i was doing a lot of work in LA and is a great engineer.

so the kick was tuned really open without much stuffing inside. ahmir told me that he wanted this to sound like a garage band but yet he wanted it to sound huge as well. so i just kept that in my head as i mixed. i was thinking john bonham/eddie kramer style drums with lots of compression and lots of room. there's distortion from re-amping, heavy compression and slap in combination with the original dry signal. it was a little trickey getting just the right balance of lo-fi and hi-fi.

i think i used a mooger fooger low pass filter on the bass. but i can't remember how i treated the guitars but i do remember i was thinking kind of rock-a-billy. we were definitely going for the marriage of the two genres.

i'm starting my next thread right after this one called "the roots mixologies..."

cheers and many thanks

Tommylicious · 24th March 2007, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell Elevado

ahmir told me that he wanted this to sound like a garage band but yet he wanted it to sound huge as well.

Well that's exactly how it sounds to me so you guys did a good job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell Elevado

i'm starting my next thread right after this one called "the roots mixologies..."

Looking forward to it, really appreciate the way you're doing the Q&A.

Cheers!

jebjerome · 25th March 2007, 04:17 AM

Is the break a recording of a pool(billiards) break? I think it is, but wanted to confirm.

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20th March 2007, 10:44 AM	#1
Tommylicious Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Haarlem, Holland Posts: 785	The Roots- The Seed Hi Russel, great to have you here, thanks for doing this. I have a question about The Seed by The Roots, i really love that track and used to spin it a lot in dj sets as a bridge between rock and hip hop. Everybody seems to love it. You guys somehow managed to achieve to get both a vintage rock sound and at the same time create a banging hiphop track, that's amazing. My question is how did you do it? Did you listen to both genres as a reference or did it just turn out like this? Sorry for the bit vague question but i'm just really interested in the production process of this track. Cheers! __________________ " Innovation will come from the folks who focus on creating great experiences for their listeners with the tools at hand. " -> Bob Ohlsson Tommy

22nd March 2007, 09:47 AM	#3
mattssons Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kungsbacka Posts: 161	The drums! That song impressed the hxxx out of me when i first heard it. What a sound! Please tell me more! /Toby __________________ free monthly recording tip newsletter. Sign up @www.cascatoma.com or send me some tips!

24th March 2007, 10:38 PM	#4
Russell Elevado Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 195	greetings toby, DWINC and tommy, this song was written by cody chestnut. one of the few songs that i mixed for the roots where i didn't personally record the drums. the credits on the album say that i recorded it but actually it was recorded by a good friend of mine. "Tony Rambo" did an amazing job tracking it. he didn't get his credit on the album so i want to set the record staight here. he assisted me on a few albums when i was doing a lot of work in LA and is a great engineer. so the kick was tuned really open without much stuffing inside. ahmir told me that he wanted this to sound like a garage band but yet he wanted it to sound huge as well. so i just kept that in my head as i mixed. i was thinking john bonham/eddie kramer style drums with lots of compression and lots of room. there's distortion from re-amping, heavy compression and slap in combination with the original dry signal. it was a little trickey getting just the right balance of lo-fi and hi-fi. i think i used a mooger fooger low pass filter on the bass. but i can't remember how i treated the guitars but i do remember i was thinking kind of rock-a-billy. we were definitely going for the marriage of the two genres. i'm starting my next thread right after this one called "the roots mixologies..." cheers and many thanks __________________ russ elevado

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25th March 2007, 04:17 AM	#6
jebjerome Gear addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Easy Bay, California Posts: 473	Is the break a recording of a pool(billiards) break? I think it is, but wanted to confirm.