| Let me start off by saying that I have been involved in | | | | mixing any type of beat is that as you begin to add |
| the music industry for over 30 years now. I remember | | | | sounds (high hat, crash, toms, etc.) things start to get |
| classics such as the Roland TR-808 and TR-909. I | | | | buried. So you want to mix the instruments so that |
| remember the Linn LM-1. I remember it all. And it's | | | | they don't. The easiest way to do this is through |
| funny how we used to think that this stuff actually | | | | panning. Simply have each instrument on a different |
| sounded good. Well, I guess back then it did. Today, | | | | pan. For example, you might have the kick drum dead |
| technology has taken us farther than we could have | | | | center, high hat far left, crash far right, and so on. This |
| ever imagined back in 1980. However, technology | | | | way, it's harder for different parts of your beat to get |
| doesn't solve all our problems when it comes to beat | | | | buried. |
| making. There are a few things you need to do and | | | | Finally, and this may be the most important thing of all, |
| NOT do unless you want your beats to end up in the | | | | there is the quality of your equipment. Like I said up |
| recycle bin. These few tips should help. | | | | top...I can't believe we used to think that old stuff |
| At the top of my tip list is layering. You can't possibly | | | | sounded good. It didn't. Sure, there are some musical |
| imagine how much better your beats will sound simply | | | | applications where a dirty sound will work, but you're |
| by layering one sound on top of another. What this | | | | still going to have to know how to get it and what to |
| does, essentially, is it thickens the sound and thus brings | | | | do with it. So the equipment you use is CRITICAL to |
| it more to the forefront. Single layer beats simply | | | | getting the sound you want. |
| sound thin and dull. By layering, you really bring the | | | | In my signature you'll find a review of a great beat |
| sound out while adding more textures to it. Contrasting | | | | making software that I am sure you'll find quite |
| sounds, when layered, can produce some really | | | | interesting to read. Plus, you'll get to hear one of my |
| interesting results. | | | | more recent tunes that I put together. It's just one of |
| Next tip is mixing. It is absolutely critical that you listen | | | | the over 700 I've written in my 30 years of experience |
| to your mix one instrument at a time to make sure | | | | in this business. |
| that nothing gets lost in the soup. The problem with | | | | |