Making hip hop beats that really sound like hip hop - Page 3

jamie10 · 11th September 2008, 01:51 AM

its the skills, not the gear.

with a computer and software + knowledge and skills, you can make the phattest hip hop you can imagine.

in theory.

hardware seems to work for successful people tho.

Stitch333 · 11th September 2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoke

Did someone say they used a VCR?

Before ProTools/masterlink/CD burners/etc., a nice 4head VHS deck made an excellent 2-track master recorder.

bgrotto · 11th September 2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitch333

Before ProTools/masterlink/CD burners/etc., a nice 4head VHS deck made an excellent 2-track master recorder.

I think they called those "ADATs".

jedilaw · 11th September 2008, 07:44 PM

Dammit, I just had to go and pick Beta to try to record 2-track...

Aries · 11th September 2008, 09:07 PM

Good Read. I Use The Asr 10 and a Mpc 2000xl both together and each on their own as well. It def boils down to the sound quality that the sampler engine puts on the sound that enters it. The Mpc is my lethal weapon for drums in almost every case where as sometime's i prefer to run my actual samples/chops through my asr10...then record/track each part from its seperate machine into Pro tools.

But really with all the new technology out there people take fruityloops and a midi keyboard(witch i also have) and some plug ins and make the shit sound identical....these days you have 'Tape' plugins and 'static/distortion' plug ins and all these other things that are meant to replace this 'sound' we are talking about...I dont really do things that way although i could if i wanted to. I also use a TEAC A4300sx reel to reel when i really want to 'dirty' somthing up. The preamps in it are great.

Joemamma · 12th September 2008, 02:20 AM

Use samples from already recorded and mixed music... preferably "dusty" samples...

Storyville · 12th September 2008, 06:40 AM

and not to be 7L either.... hahaha....ha.... but Hip Hop is a culture. Don't worry, I'm not going to get that esoteric. But, essentially you are talking about a value system when you say making something that really sounds like Hip Hop. Ok, get to the point Story...

Distortion has a psychological effect of making something sound larger than it really is. MPCs tend to add a really nicely shaped distortion, especially when they're pushed a bit, and in addition, you get a hands on feel which can then be quantized to taste. However, this is a tool. There are many tools, such as Soulja Boy - one of the biggest tools of them all.

That being aside, only the purists really care whether a sample came from vinyl, or whether the beat was made in Fruity Loops. Really, the only question is: did you put your thing down?

So put your thing down. Really, I know if you're reading this then you are on the internet, and we all know what you're really on the internet for...... watching Human Tetris on Youtube. Shame.

I would say, grab that mpc if you haven't grabbed something. I've also heard wonders about the new roland mpc knock off. Get your turntables. Get those dope vinyls. And make something that sounds exactly like something that already had that exact same sound. Really. If it doesn't sound that way it's not Hip Hop.

Or.... find something that you can build yourself into, and cultivate your own sound. Truthfully, style in Hip Hop is everything. If you can make something your sound, or your style, then that's it. Real rap, you make something Hip Hop, you don't make Hip Hop with something.

But for real, the mpc is dope.

jedilaw · 12th September 2008, 06:18 PM

One more thing, sort of a follow-up to the cultural observation above: a lot of what made Hip-Hop special in the early days was the ingenuity those cats showed in making do without a lot of equipment or access to high-end studios. Sometimes it's what your gear can't do that inspires you. At this point, it's very easy to get the technical ability to duplicate what Marly Marl did. When he did it, however, it was hard as hell, and his genius was figuring out a way to get done what he wanted done.

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11th September 2008, 09:07 PM	#65
Aries Gear nut Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Studio Posts: 90	.... Good Read. I Use The Asr 10 and a Mpc 2000xl both together and each on their own as well. It def boils down to the sound quality that the sampler engine puts on the sound that enters it. The Mpc is my lethal weapon for drums in almost every case where as sometime's i prefer to run my actual samples/chops through my asr10...then record/track each part from its seperate machine into Pro tools. But really with all the new technology out there people take fruityloops and a midi keyboard(witch i also have) and some plug ins and make the shit sound identical....these days you have 'Tape' plugins and 'static/distortion' plug ins and all these other things that are meant to replace this 'sound' we are talking about...I dont really do things that way although i could if i wanted to. I also use a TEAC A4300sx reel to reel when i really want to 'dirty' somthing up. The preamps in it are great.

12th September 2008, 02:20 AM	#66
Joemamma Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 479	Use samples from already recorded and mixed music... preferably "dusty" samples... __________________ www.myspace.com/imhighhouse www.myspace.com/highhouseproductions

12th September 2008, 06:40 AM	#67
Storyville Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 258	Not to be Esoteric and not to be 7L either.... hahaha....ha.... but Hip Hop is a culture. Don't worry, I'm not going to get that esoteric. But, essentially you are talking about a value system when you say making something that really sounds like Hip Hop. Ok, get to the point Story... Distortion has a psychological effect of making something sound larger than it really is. MPCs tend to add a really nicely shaped distortion, especially when they're pushed a bit, and in addition, you get a hands on feel which can then be quantized to taste. However, this is a tool. There are many tools, such as Soulja Boy - one of the biggest tools of them all. That being aside, only the purists really care whether a sample came from vinyl, or whether the beat was made in Fruity Loops. Really, the only question is: did you put your thing down? So put your thing down. Really, I know if you're reading this then you are on the internet, and we all know what you're really on the internet for...... watching Human Tetris on Youtube. Shame. I would say, grab that mpc if you haven't grabbed something. I've also heard wonders about the new roland mpc knock off. Get your turntables. Get those dope vinyls. And make something that sounds exactly like something that already had that exact same sound. Really. If it doesn't sound that way it's not Hip Hop. Or.... find something that you can build yourself into, and cultivate your own sound. Truthfully, style in Hip Hop is everything. If you can make something your sound, or your style, then that's it. Real rap, you make something Hip Hop, you don't make Hip Hop with something. But for real, the mpc is dope.

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11th September 2008, 01:51 AM	#61
jamie10 Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 29	its the skills, not the gear. with a computer and software + knowledge and skills, you can make the phattest hip hop you can imagine. in theory. hardware seems to work for successful people tho.

11th September 2008, 07:44 PM	#64
jedilaw Gear maniac Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 215	Dammit, I just had to go and pick Beta to try to record 2-track...

12th September 2008, 06:18 PM	#68
jedilaw Gear maniac Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 215	One more thing, sort of a follow-up to the cultural observation above: a lot of what made Hip-Hop special in the early days was the ingenuity those cats showed in making do without a lot of equipment or access to high-end studios. Sometimes it's what your gear can't do that inspires you. At this point, it's very easy to get the technical ability to duplicate what Marly Marl did. When he did it, however, it was hard as hell, and his genius was figuring out a way to get done what he wanted done.