The IC Beatmaking/Producing Thread

[Lab Baby]

One of my latest songs (I had it in my sig before, but I re-recorded and mixed it). Also worked on this beat on the train.
https://soundcloud.com/labyrinth-entertainment/skrewface-mookies-song

 

[bdbdbd]

good thread man...i love the I.C. but hate that there is producer forum doesnt really get no shine.

7 producers i love

Dilla (number 1) - as the saying goes, "he is your favourites producer, favourite producer".....dude has made many classics, some of which you might have loved, that you probably didnt even know were made by him. Dude reinvented hiphop production, had his own sound, so unique but so familiar...the fusion of so many different genres, his ear for dope samples wether they came from rock, soul, jazz, synth sounds, etc...his ability to compose, and the amount of producers he inspired...i swear i could talk about J-dilla all day. fucking dope.

Premier - goes without saying....a pioneer...created some dope cuts. The simple "boom bap" sound, always had your head nodding and sometimes you didnt even know why cus it was just a 2wo bar loop you were hearing. He could flip a sample like no other, was emulated by many but matched by none. linked with some of the greatest artists in hiphophistory, made some careers also....He may not get the appreciation he deserves due to the different direction of "hiphop" amongst the younger generation, but anyone that truely knows hiphop will atleast appreciate his talent.

Timbaland - before he linked up with timberlake dude was a beast....i mean the shit he made for J.T. and even nelly furtardo (however you spell her name)....shit was dope from a musical point of view but the overall songs wernet what i wanted to hear. anyway...all timbaland and magoo albums were dope (production wise), everything he did for jigga, missy, aaliyah, ginuwine...you know the list.....an originator.....always been one of my favs...nowadays if i see his name attached to something i will give it a miss, but i have all his old shit on constant rotation.

Dr. Dre - what is a producers list without Dre...this guy created 3 epic eras in hiphop....the NWA phase, the Deathrow Phase, and then the Aftermath phase.....all three have been important milestones in hiphop and all three he was spearheading. thats all that needs to be said about him.

Alchemist - Gritty, grimey, hood, simple...one of my main influences....not necessarily soundwise but moreso because of his simplicity was effective....from his work with Mobb Deep, dilated peoples, infamous mobb, his own shit....i swear his shit is the definition of grimey.

Madlib - this dude is a fucking enigma wrapped in a riddle. from his multi-personalities, to his weird off kilter rapping, to his dope fucking sample selections, his style will never be understood...sometimes he pushes the envelope a lil too far for my liking, but thats also why i like him....cus he aint scared to try something different. plus he has got some classic joints out there and some unknown joints that should be classic bt people just dont know.

Exile - "Below The Heavens" and "Boy Meets World"...all i need to say...if you dont know get to know

oh organized noise and DOOM.....cant be bothered to write an explanation fo them though cus my high is dying off thinking of all these words

i havent named them all but im getting bored of writing

Damn forgot about black milk and RZA....these two make it up in my top 5 also.....damn its hard to name a top ten in order

So IC producers, what shit y'all using? I'm tryna get ahold of a maschine before I head to college in the fall

started off with the fruity loops.

then moved to cubase

banged out the mpc2000xl for a couple years

then then combined the MPC with logic for about 5 years.

then sidestepped to ableton, cus the workflow is so much smoother....though the overall sonic quality i find isnt that great....nothing that cant be fixed with some quality processing,

now im still using ableton, combined with a launchpad ( i love that it has 64 pads cus i like to chop my samples up into tiny little pieces), got the focusrite saffire pro audio interface, and an oxygen49 midi controller, and some TR8 monitors.

oh and my imagination

 

[Kellmill]

Always wanted to dip into producing but don't really know how to get started. How did yall start?

 

[Peezy_Jenkins]

i also just use FL Studio to make beats, was thinking about looking into some other DAW's tho

 

[BarryHalls]

Are MPCs worth it in 2013 over Maschine, DAWs and MPDs?

Depends on how you work.

An MPC isn't tied to a computer. Sometimes you just might not feel like fucking around with a computer at all when you're making music. I know I sometime wish I had an ASR-X strictly for making hip hop joints and honestly, I just might buy one in a few months if I can find the right one.

but with a computer you can get the usb compatible hardware if you dont like using a pc ... just use my pc to edit i have an m-audio usb keyboard to do my notes ... they even have one that looks just like an mpc .... and shit if you savy enuff you can connect you mpc to the computer software as well ........

That's the problem for some people: That the controller is tied to a PC/Mac at all is something some cats don't always want.

Give you an example: There have been times when I was riding the bus where I just wanted to pull out the Axiom Air 32 and fuck with some beats, but because the controller does nothing without the software, this is not possible. Right now, if you want to make beats on the go without a PC/Mac, your only real option is the MPC500, which is battery powered. The limitation, though, is that it's still a drum/sample/sequencing machine. If you're the type of producer that uses more instrumentation, you're pretty much fucked. You have no choice but to lug around a laptop and controller for on-the-go creation.

There are controllers like the Akai MPK Mini (pads & keys) for example, that are the same size as laptops. Perfect for on-the-go creation. Another dope thing about controllers is that they are USB powered so all you gotta do is just plug that into the usb port to operate. No need to plug it into an outlet.

 

[bdbdbd]

Always wanted to dip into producing but don't really know how to get started. How did yall start?

moms bought me a cheap casio keyboard for my birthday for some reason (never once said i wanted that shit), it had 5 recordable tracks on it. No loop function, no quantize, nothing....if i wanted to record a 64 bar drum pattern, i had to literally play the whole 64 bars....and cus there was only 5 tracks, i couldnt track out a snare on one track a kick on another and a hihat on the third, cus id only have two tracks left to record on for that song .....

i had to learn how to play that shit all at once on one track.

thats why i think i have a good understanding of rhythm, cus i not to sound cliche but i learned how to do that shit from the basics...or atleast the basics of my generation.

anyone looking to get into production now has it easy cus you dont need to learn about rhythm, on the spot arrangement, live effects and and shit, you can just use your mouse to plot in drum patterns, melody lines, bass lines, etc, you got that automation to do everything..... and i say that but even I after all my learning have become lazy cus ableton allows me to do all that shit without actually doing it.

and im also not knocking producers of this generation (up and coming or certified) cus there is some banging production happening right now.

my main advice is to learn the core basics of the genre you want to be a part of and then work from there...wether that means getting a casio keyboard with only 5 tracks, or using a maschine but learning that shit inside out....step by step, lil by lil.

also there is nothing wrong with recreating your favourite tracks...cus thats how you get an understanding for how the greats do it and then incorporating that method into your own workflow.

just my opinion

 

[T. Sanford]

What's everybody technique & steps when making a beat?

*snoop dogg voice* The reason ain't got love nh for T. Sanford?

 

[konceptjones]

Are MPCs worth it in 2013 over Maschine, DAWs and MPDs?

Depends on how you work.

An MPC isn't tied to a computer. Sometimes you just might not feel like fucking around with a computer at all when you're making music. I know I sometime wish I had an ASR-X strictly for making hip hop joints and honestly, I just might buy one in a few months if I can find the right one.

but with a computer you can get the usb compatible hardware if you dont like using a pc ... just use my pc to edit i have an m-audio usb keyboard to do my notes ... they even have one that looks just like an mpc .... and shit if you savy enuff you can connect you mpc to the computer software as well ........

That's the problem for some people: That the controller is tied to a PC/Mac at all is something some cats don't always want.

Give you an example: There have been times when I was riding the bus where I just wanted to pull out the Axiom Air 32 and fuck with some beats, but because the controller does nothing without the software, this is not possible. Right now, if you want to make beats on the go without a PC/Mac, your only real option is the MPC500, which is battery powered. The limitation, though, is that it's still a drum/sample/sequencing machine. If you're the type of producer that uses more instrumentation, you're pretty much fucked. You have no choice but to lug around a laptop and controller for on-the-go creation.

There are controllers like the Akai MPK Mini (pads & keys) for example, that are the same size as laptops. Perfect for on-the-go creation. Another dope thing about controllers is that they are USB powered so all you gotta do is just plug that into the usb port to operate. No need to plug it into an outlet.

My Axiom Air 32 is one of those controllers. The problem is that you also have to drag out the laptop in order to use it. When I'm here at the office in the lunch room it's not a problem, I have plenty of space at a table. But on the freight? Nah, I tried and the shit was retarded. Laptop on my bag, controller in my lap, always worrying about the laptop flying around if the driver hit the brakes suddenly... Too much of a hassle.

If you're a sample-based producer, an MPC500 would be a godsend for situations like that.

 

[r.prince18]

I just started making beats but here one i just made
https://soundcloud.com/r-prince18-1/dirty-clap

 

[G.Avant]

Always wanted to dip into producing but don't really know how to get started. How did yall start?

My friend was making beats and gave me a cracked fl studio lol, he taught me the basics and then I just learned from experience. I remember when I first started I didn't even know that you could use sounds other than the stock sounds with fl studio to make beats, this is when I figured out how to find sample kits, drum kits etc. There's no doubt that I have talent for this shit, but now it's time for me to learn the more technical side dealing with music theory and the mixing and mastering process. It's definitely good to have the ability to just go off of ear like I started out, but the rules need to be learned to be legit.

 

[G.Avant]

Some super smooth nyquil type shit I made like a month ago lol
https://soundcloud.com/gavant91/the-prince

 

[konceptjones]

Always wanted to dip into producing but don't really know how to get started. How did yall start?

Back in '91, I started writing rhymes. I was spittin over instrumentals and pause tapes I made by catching breaks and looping them over and over. Eventually, I got tired of it and would take records and tapes up to my uncle's crib in Bay City (approx 120 miles from Detroit) to have him sample it on his Roland W30 and make beats with 'em. One of my boy's pops bought him and his cousin a small recording suite (w/MPC60, ASR-10 rack, fx, ADAT's, a Yamaha W7, Tascam console, and some other shit) so I went over there to get my shit chopped and whatnot. While I was there, my boy's cousin showed me how to do it myself as well as sequencing with the MPC. At this point, I had already worked with a MIDI sequencer on my own Atari ST computer making a lil Techno and House, but doing it without being able to visualize it was completely new to me.

I took off from there.

 

[Peezy_Jenkins]

What's everybody technique & steps when making a beat?

*snoop dogg voice* The reason ain't got love nh for T. Sanford?

lol, i normally try to find a sound and create a lil melody, then add some of the drums, then more layers to the sound, then construct the hook and verses, i use to be able to do it pretty quick but now a days i take my time, could take anywhere from an hour to some days for me to truly finish a beat

 

[LUClEN]

As far as synth power goes reason dominates imo. Thor is limitless.

 

[konceptjones]

As far as synth power goes reason dominates imo. Thor is limitless.

meh, Synthmaker >>>>>>>>>> Thor. That's true power.

 

[G.Avant]

Alright I done decided to try to take off with this shit and I have alot of questions about the business side of things.

If I sell a beat exclusively can I still collect royalties and if so how do you even begin to go about it? You know like if I sale a beat exclusively and they blow up with it.

You're definitely due royalties on a lease right?

I know on an exclusive the responsibility to clear samples is on the purchaser, but on a lease it's on me right?

Do I need to copyright all my music through the gov to make sure it's legit or just save the original file to the music?

 

[konceptjones]

Alright I done decided to try to take off with this shit and I have alot of questions about the business side of things.

If I sell a beat exclusively can I still collect royalties and if so how do you even begin to go about it? You know like if I sale a beat exclusively and they blow up with it.

Your contract with the rapper/label should include points on the back end as well as a 50/50 split on publishing. If the song gets big, you can get paid off of it for a long time.

You're definitely due royalties on a lease right?

Stop leasing beats.

I know on an exclusive the responsibility to clear samples is on the purchaser, but on a lease it's on me right?

no... seriously, stop leasing beats.

Do I need to copyright all my music through the gov to make sure it's legit or just save the original file to the music?

https://eco.copyright.gov/eService_enu/start.swe?SWECmd=Start&SWEHo=eco.copyright.gov

^^^ Go there, sign up, copyright EVERYTHING you do as soon as possible. It's easier and cheaper to take a collection of beats and copyright them that way than individually.

 

[G.Avant]

Alright I done decided to try to take off with this shit and I have alot of questions about the business side of things.

If I sell a beat exclusively can I still collect royalties and if so how do you even begin to go about it? You know like if I sale a beat exclusively and they blow up with it.

Your contract with the rapper/label should include points on the back end as well as a 50/50 split on publishing. If the song gets big, you can get paid off of it for a long time.

You're definitely due royalties on a lease right?

Stop leasing beats.

I know on an exclusive the responsibility to clear samples is on the purchaser, but on a lease it's on me right?

no... seriously, stop leasing beats.

Do I need to copyright all my music through the gov to make sure it's legit or just save the original file to the music?

https://eco.copyright.gov/eService_enu/start.swe?SWECmd=Start&SWEHo=eco.copyright.gov

^^^ Go there, sign up, copyright EVERYTHING you do as soon as possible. It's easier and cheaper to take a collection of beats and copyright them that way than individually.

Thanks man appreciate it, but why should leases be avoided like the plague though? lol

 

[LUClEN]

synthmaker sounds 8 bit

 

[Peezy_Jenkins]

how exactly would u go about negotiating the contract with the rapper/label, and back end points and things like that