Hip Hop Recordings Mixed online

Garageband podcast of Hiphop

I will try to update this as much as possible with new songs from myself and others sort of a radio feed so to speak it's free to suscribe too as well if you have any songs you want added to this podcast just send me an aim at chalin27 or email me at c.d.haywood@nsu.edu

Tracking Hip Hop beats for vocals

One of the main things that's happening with young and talented producers is that they know how to make a track on keyboard/sequencer but they don't know how the beat should be tracked when it's time to put vocals on it.  It should be done the same way as you would do a live band you have to record each instrument into separate tracks.  You must also track these similar to live instruments if you want to get the best quality recording. Like the Kick, snare Bass, lead guitar, synth lead should be recorded in mono or into a single mono track. Each horn in a section or horns should be recorded mono as well just give them each there own track the same goes for percussion sounds.  Things like strings, piano, or any ambient style sound should be recorded in stereo.  Unless you have several solo violin or similar instrument parts then you should record them mono as well.   The reason behind tracking them this way is so you have more flexibility with the mix once you add the vocals. It makes it easier to have the vocals blend better with the beat.  If you don't have 24 tracks to record to you can sub mix or bounce some instruments together.  I prefer never to bounce drum instruments no matter what.  With hip hop the drums carry so much of the in a hip hop track that I believe they should never be bounce together it helps to have them separate because most of the time in hip hop the vocals and the drums blend on the mono side.  Instruments like horn parts and violin parts can be bounce because in the end they will be more on the stereo side of the mix anyway.  Not saying you would bounce them together as one though mix the strings with the strings and the horns with the horns.  This will save you more tracks for vocals if you need them. 

The other thing about tracking beats is that if you have a Keyboard or MPC you must track them track by track.  You can add as many as 16 outputs to an MPC but Keyboards usually only have 2 outputs.  So that means you can only track 2 tracks at time with a Keyboard.  This is the standard at most pro studios. In pro tools you can set the program up to record it up to an exact measure so if you just had a small loop on your Keyboard or MPC it can be done so that its perfectly synched and the loop isnt off at all.  You just input the measure you want it to stop at. Most loops are about 8 measures or 8 bars. What makes this all work in real time is MIDI.  Soit's a must that you use your midi connections when tracking your beats. It will keep them all in sync.  This is good info to know when you sell a beat.  Allot of times you may need to go into a pro or home studio and track it.  Not only will you know what your doing but you would be looked upon as knowing what your doing and knowledge in the industry is a must.   

This is what type of service you get for free I not only mix your stuff I help you learn how you can do it yourself.  If you have any questions please aim me at chalin27

 

Good Discussions about what gear you need to start a making hiphop beats

This dicussion took place on the BBS boards at Homerecording.com

I have been able to push my budget to 600 bucks. I am making this a new thread so as to get more attention. What should I get for my basic hip-hop studio?
Thx,
Jibran

My response was this

yo I would suggest on the beat making side to go to your local Guitar center or music store close by you. There you should find all sorts of music equipment and in most cases you can try before you buy. Just go and try them out and see what you like the most there are all sorts of stuff out there.

If you have a computer ,which is possible since you post on here. I would suggest checking out Fruity loops, Acid, Reason, or even cakewalk kinetic. You can pick Acid (entry level form) and Kinetic at your local bestbuy. The easiest of the ones I posted is probably Fruity loops due to it's point and click nature. Just do a search on this topic in the forums and you will find tons of threads that ask this same question.

On the recording side do the same as beat making go to your local Guitar center or music store tons of equipment for recording. I mean to be honest this is where most of my money would go because I dont think with 600 your could get the beat making machine you would need so I would just spend less money on like beat making sortware like I suggested I think Fruity loops is the cheapest from the bunch or maybe Acid or kinetic. I would get a good mic a decent pre amp for your sound card and some good monitors to mix with. Also getting a decent sequencing application like a Sonar, Cubase, cool edit pro or whatever to track all your music. for 600 bucks I think you could pull that off.

This was another response I thought was good from perpetual productions

With your budget and inexperience, I’d suggest Fruity Loops, a decent soundcard with a built in preamp for your mic and something to listen on. Headphones should be fine for now. AKG 240S and Sony MDR7506 are both real popular, $100 or so.

You can make beats in FL, then bring them into ACID Express to record your vocals. Or you can buy the Producer’s Edition of FL Studio, which does audio recording too. Then you won’t need ACID.

FL (regular version)- $100
ACID Express - Free
Headphones - $100
MXL 990 - $60
Edirol UA25 USB 2 x 2 Audio Interface with Dual Preamps - $240

$500 total.

After that, I’d buy some monitors.

This is the type of knowlege and experience you can also get from my services I really want you to get the product of your dreams while working with me.

Here's the First sample of audio mixed

Right Click and Save as

I'm only a man Master

Aim me at chalin27 for more details and so I can bring forth your vision of your music to life

My first post/Info on the service

First off let me tell you about myself.  I'm currently a music media major student at Norfolk State University.  I have full access to a industry standard protools studio at school as well as great Mastering studio at home.  My rates are very cheap do this fact but the quality of the product screams industry rate quality.   I wanted to start this service due to the fact that many studios are just to expensive for alot of Hip Hop artist.  This way you can get the quality of a pro studio but not the pro studio price. I charge 20 bucks per track I mix.  I cant offer recording services but what I do offer is the ability of taking a average recording and turning it into a polished product in a short period of time.  I will have samples of my work up soon to show the type of quality you will be getting from me. To top it off I will also master your product with in that price you will pay no extra money.  I master using wave plugins so the quality of a good master is there too.