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Reason 5 looks amazing

Posted June 13, 2010 in production,videos by t

Whether you are already a user of Propellerhead’s Reason or not, the new version of their flagship software is worth taking a serious look at. The new version comes with a new 8-channel sampler called Dr.OctoRex, which takes the place of it’s older single-sample version, Dr.Rex. Of course, there are plenty of other new features, like per-slice effects, live sampling, and a built-in Auto-Tune-like virtual rack module called Neptune. Check out all the details at Propellerhead’s website.

Another great feature that both Sonar and Cubase have had for a while is block-based recording. However, it looks like Reason’s implementation is setting a new standard in ease of use. This not only allows you to make a song based on stems/loops/etc. like beat, chorus, bridge, intro, interlude, etc., but it also lets you edit the original stems and affect the song in real-time. You can also edit the stems in song mode, which leaves the others unaffected, but allows you to create variations very easily:

Finally, a very interesting looking module called Kong, which is a 16-pad drum module. The video explains it in simple terms. 16 pads. One sound per pad. Then goes on to show that the source(s) of each pad can include the new Dr.OctoRex Sampler, new built-in drum synths, or just about anything else you want to route into it. Take into account the new live sampling feature that exists in Reason, and this could enhance anyone’s setup that already has a drum-pad controller.

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Nike Music Shoes

Posted April 15, 2010 in videos by t

If you haven’t already checked out an older post on BeatSneaks, do that now! Nike has just released a new video that takes the idea of BeatSneaks to another level. The ad features the Japan break beat music duo, HIFANA (composed of KEIZOmachine and JUICY) creating music by tapping, twisting and bending the shoes, and was created by Wieden + Kennedy, Tokyo.

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J-Dilla Documentary by Stussy

Posted March 1, 2010 in production,videos by t

If you have been paying attention to hip-hop production over the past decade, chances are you have at least heard of J-Dilla, a producer from Detroit who worked with Slum Village, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Common and plenty more. He died in 2006 from a rare blood disease, and was basically been canonized as a saint of hip-hop production.

Now that all three parts of the J-Dilla Documentary by Stussy have been released, take some time to check them out. This three-part series covers J-Dilla’s life in Los Angeles. Check the links under the video for links to all three parts.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

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RAAAAAAAANDY (Aziz Ansari) and Dave Sitek

Posted February 24, 2010 in production,videos by admin

In case you don’t already know about Aziz Ansari, he’s a comedian that’s currently in a few tv shows and movies, including a recent stand-up special on Comedy Central. Anyways, to relate this to production, he has been working on a mixtape with Dave Sitek, and apparently is dealing with a common headache of production – waiting on artists.

It sounds like he’s fed up with waiting on emcees for their lyrics, and decided to lash by leaking an early cut off his new mixtape. Most producers out there should be able to relate.

Links to the mp3 here on mediafire and usershare

And just to squeeze in one more Parks & Recreation production reference, here is the Parks & Recreation Screen Test featuring Questlove and RZA (and Aziz Ansari)

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Vinyl Mini-Documentary

Posted February 5, 2010 in production,videos by t

Despite the ongoing arguments about whether vinyl is in or out, producers know the value of vinyl. It’s not just about the distinct sound, exclusivity, or the way a record feels and smells – this is a case where the total is greater than the sum of its parts. Vinyl represents the origin of many types of music and genres, unlike many other formats. It can even be used as an instrument itself.

Check out this short documentary from Nick Cavalier about Gotta Groove Records

found via Make Online

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Pink Floyd "Money" Loop Creation

Posted August 20, 2009 in production,recording,videos by t

Before ProTools, MPCs and Sony Acid, the options for sampling and looping forced musicians to be a little more creative, not with just their music, but the process of recording as well. In this short excerpt from The Making of the Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd members discuss how the loop for “Money” was created. First, each sound was recorded directly to tape, then the tape was physically cut into 7 pieces of equal length, one for each sound effect. Those pieces of tape were spliced together, and the newly created roll of tape was fed into a Revox, and ran around a mic-stand.

and just for good measure, here is the original video of Pink Floyd – Money

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BeatSneaks – MIDI sneakers

Posted July 27, 2009 in videos by t

I’m a huge fan of out-of-the-ordinary MIDI devices of all kinds. For some reason, the concept of crossing sneakers with a drum machine had never crossed my mind, but now it’s all I can think about, thanks to a cool how-to article and video from Tom Hobson at Hobgob Eclectronics, about their prototype “BeatSneak” project. There are sensors in the toe and heel of each shoe, giving you a total of four “pads” to work with.

more info at Hobgob Eclectronics here: BeatSneak Howto

found via Make Magazine – BeatSneaks and via Instructables – Musical MIDI Shoes

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Deathproof Beat Battle Video Footage

Posted June 29, 2009 in beat battles,production,videos by t

In case you don’t live in the San Francisco area, here is an update on the recently posted Death Proof Beat Battle won by pOETiq.

This is the footage from the Beats Rhymes and Life Deathproof Beat battle in which producers have to samples songs from the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino’s “Deathproof”/Grindhouse. The first two clips are mostly talking but it’s beats/music from there on out and we play the originals first so you can hear what folks are sampling.

Shout outs, introduction, explantion of the Deathproof beat battle and stand-up routine from FLO:

Check out the entire coverage here.

Want more? Here is the footage from the BeatFellas Battle.

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Numark Scratch Deck Preview

Posted June 16, 2009 in production,videos by t

Back in October of 2008, news started spreading about a DJ interface for video games. Actually, ever since learning about DJ Hero (a spinoff of the popular Guitar Hero) producers, beatmakers and DJs have been eagerly awaiting more details. Recently, Numark released a video preview of how their Scratch Deck will work:

One of the coolest features of this new device, is the inclusion of MPC-style pads to trigger drums! Looks like we’ve come a long way from Parappa the Rapper and Beatmania. Now let’s just wait for all the awesome downloadable content and scratch packs! We will be posting as much content on this as possible, so stay tuned!

Here’s the preview video for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ