First HipHop Album mixed 5.1

[SpeakaKnoxx]

Okay I just recently saw a interview with Ludacris and he said that his new Album Theater of the Mind was mixed 5.1 i just wanted to get everyones (especially the pros) feelings on this.Should more HipHop albums be done like this or should it be the last?Also if you heard any of the songs in 5.1 already do you hear any diffrences between the stereo version and the 5.1 version?

[Dr.Wu]

i have a missy elliot dvd audio that is in 5.1.
makes it a lot more interesting to listen to IMHO.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by SpeakaKnoxx

Okay I just recently saw a interview with Ludacris and he said that his new Album Theater of the Mind was mixed 5.1 i just wanted to get everyones (especially the pros) feelings on this.Should more HipHop albums be done like this or should it be the last?Also if you heard any of the songs in 5.1 already do you hear any diffrences between the stereo version and the 5.1 version?

Whats the point??
We only have two ears.

[The kosmos]

Originally Posted by SpeakaKnoxx

Okay I just recently saw a interview with Ludacris and he said that his new Album Theater of the Mind was mixed 5.1 i just wanted to get everyones (especially the pros) feelings on this.Should more HipHop albums be done like this or should it be the last?Also if you heard any of the songs in 5.1 already do you hear any diffrences between the stereo version and the 5.1 version?

Not many producers could make an album that would be worth doing in 5.1. But it would be awesome. Only someone like Dre could make it work. 2001 would be dope. Even more cinematic thumbsup. Outkast. Basically where there are more parts goin on.

[EnricoDePaoli]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Whats the point??
We only have two ears.

2 ears, and 360 degrees around us.

[MERC476]

Don't get me wrong, that must sound really crazy. However, I don't see a point in making a 5.1 album unless you're also offering it in stereo. I don't know the exact percentage but i'm sure its very small the amount of people who listen to there cds on 5.1 systems. Just my 2cents.

[psycho_monkey]

I like the idea of 5.1 audio...but seriously, who sits in front of their speakers in a perfect equilateral triangle to listen to music for enjoyment?!

The only time 5.1 seems to be relevant is where there's visuals as well, to give you a reason to sit down...hence the only commercial music DVDs that sell tend to be videos of gigs.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by EnricoDePaoli

2 ears, and 360 degrees around us.

There arent enough seperate elements on most rap records ,especially when you are dealing with 2 track beats.
Even where mixes are "tracked out" its just a waste of time and money.
Just my fiddy cent.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

I like the idea of 5.1 audio...but seriously, who sits in front of their speakers in a perfect equilateral triangle to listen to music for enjoyment?!

The only time 5.1 seems to be relevant is where there's visuals as well, to give you a reason to sit down...hence the only commercial music DVDs that sell tend to be videos of gigs.

Yep..otherwise,why bother

[bgrotto]

Isn't the audio standard for HD TV gonna be 5.1? That, combined with a number of cars that now include 5.1 surround systems, and some new email-able compressed multi-channel surround formats on the horizon, we may end up listening in 5.1 sooner than we think.

I'm not particularly optimistic, but I sure would love to see it happen. If nothing else, it would mean a return to the days of sitting down and just listening to music (does anyone other than me do that anymore??).

[SpeakaKnoxx]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

There arent enough seperate elements on most rap records ,especially when you are dealing with 2 track beats.
Even where mixes are "tracked out" its just a waste of time and money.
Just my fiddy cent.

if your 2 tracking beats then your already starting out on the wrong foot.but your definitely rite about the separate elements thing thats what really made me think y but there are alot of cars with 5.1 systems now.5.1 could give a more realistic concert feel to the mix.

[MYAMS]

yeah im game on surround sound albums... I can see it over the horizon

[rickrock305]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

yeah im game on surround sound albums... I can see it over the horizon

thats the funny thing. its been "on the horizon" for years now.


i wondered who would be the first hip hop artist to go 5.1. Heard about dre possibly mixing some of his stuff in 5.1 but nothing ever came out.

[beat you down]

i don't see the point of a 5.1 hip hop album.
to me... just doesn't match with what the genre stands for.
shit is too pretty already, dudes still want to polish it even more.

but somebody pop orientated like luda, yeah why not.
i would first release the cd.
then release the remastered cd with a bonus track.
then release the remastered cd with 2 bonus tracks and extra art work.
then release the 5.1
then .............
then .............

[MarkusColeman]

Originally Posted by rickrock305

i wondered who would be the first hip hop artist to go 5.1. Heard about dre possibly mixing some of his stuff in 5.1 but nothing ever came out.

Detox will be a surround mix.

Frauenhoffer Institute have released an MP3, surround codec a year ago.

stereo is just boring.

hey, thanks go out to Bruce Swedien for pushing stereo.
back then, recording in stereo was a "waste of tape".

most of the game audio these days is not only surround, but 3D.

the experience of hearing a production on a THX surround system (I'm happy I got it), you simply cannot put it in words. stereo is lacking a NATURAL aspect of the music experience - THE ROOM IT WAS RECORDED in.

[DAH]

Originally Posted by bgrotto

Isn't the audio standard for HD TV gonna be 5.1? That, combined with a number of cars that now include 5.1 surround systems, and some new email-able compressed multi-channel surround formats on the horizon, we may end up listening in 5.1 sooner than we think.

I'm not particularly optimistic, but I sure would love to see it happen. If nothing else, it would mean a return to the days of sitting down and just listening to music (does anyone other than me do that anymore??).

Yep, as soon as I get high i sit down, close my eyes and play 2001 or some Pete Rock`s joints.

[Lipps]

Originally Posted by MarkusColeman

Detox will be a surround mix.

That's what I heard

[MrMartinezBodega]

This definitely isn't the first time its been done. 5.1 is cool, no doubt about it, but it just isn't practical.

The most popular formats for music are probably ipod, and car stereo, which both output in stereo. To get the full effect you would have to sit at a home theater system. I know this doesn't apply to the majority of people here, but how many people do you know that just sit and listen to music these days? It doesn't have the convenience or practicality of listening to an ipod while jogging or your car stereo while u drive to work.

You can't just simply mix something in 5.1 and hope that it translates the same way in stereo due to imaging and phase issues. You would have to do 2 separate mixes and also release the music on 2 different CDs/DVDs.

I don't think too many labels are willing to put up the budget for this kind of project.

[deuc647]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Whats the point??
We only have two ears.

WTF?! My car has a 7.1 in it. Id love to bump to a surround mix while i drive, i play most of my music in a car already

[bgrotto]

Man...did Luda say his album was the first 5.1 hip hop mix? He's very wrong. Years ago, I met this dude who'd just finished mixing Insane Clown Posse's catalog in 5.1 (yeah, ok, you can argue that's not hip hop or whatever, but they do rap. Sorta. OK, maybe not...). He played the stuff and it sounded damn good. Their music (music?) was good for it; lotsa circusy sound effects and what not bouncing around. Worked well.

Anyway, maybe those are the only hip hop records mixed 5.1. And maybe it's not really hip hop, so maybe you (or Luda, or whoever) is right.

I'll shut up. It's bedtime.

[MarkusColeman]

Originally Posted by MrMartinezBodega

The most popular formats for music are probably ipod, and car stereo, which both output in stereo. To get the full effect you would have to sit at a home theater system. I know this doesn't apply to the majority of people here, but how many people do you know that just sit and listen to music these days? It doesn't have the convenience or practicality of listening to an ipod while jogging or your car stereo while u drive to work.

you are looking at a small part of the REAL market. many of the new cars have surround (entertainment) systems.

the game industry managed to shift the demographics of the players to 25-39 year olds as the main "audience". most have either decent surround (computer) audio systems or surround home "theaters" installed in their living rooms.

like I have mentioned, THAT'S the biggest and most potent market these days and the manufacturers follow the mainstream.
add the percentage of those who watch DVDs at home and you see that the potential for these applications/products is huge - but not only that: the technology already has a big share of the market.

Originally Posted by MrMartinezBodega

You can't just simply mix something in 5.1 and hope that it translates the same way in stereo due to imaging and phase issues. You would have to do 2 separate mixes and also release the music on 2 different CDs/DVDs.

I don't think too many labels are willing to put up the budget for this kind of project.

many DVD titles are already available - mainly concerts, everything from jazz, rock to classic, electronica albums, etc... there's an endless list of (surround audio) games and movies.
the technology these days is available, cheap and reliable. the market is big and growing exponentially.

it's not like this is some trend, it's a part of the evolution.
similar to the role DAWs and VSTis have taken in the daily studio work.
just on the presentation side of it.

[Lawrence]

I'm with Philly on this one. I don't really get the point outside of movies. When you see a band play live or a singing group they are in front of you. You won't typically hear random sounds coming from the left rear like an explosion in a DieHard movie.

For those who listen in 5.1 now, what's the difference with music? Is there a guitar panned back-right behind you for the entire song? I don't get it. Isn't that like standing in the center of a stage during a concert?

[Rednose]

5.1 is freakin' awesome...but with the limited budgets and low bandwith people are using to listening to music nowadays, there is just no real urgency for it.
I personally think rap and metal aren't the best of genres for it.
The best 5.1 mixes I've heard are Foreigner's greatest hits and Queens a night at the opera.
The worst was the Metalica black album.
Insane Clown Possies was pretty decent, Linkin Parks...ok.

Tunes with alot of backing vocals tend to really work because you can put the vocals behind you.
It allways trips peoples out.

I've done a few DVDS for indie budget films, but my 5.1 system is literally collection dust.
Wish it wasn't true!