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.
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