Beat LP's question..??

[Captain_Rid]

Lets say I want to make an instremental LP and get that shit pressed and everything but someday I want vocals to be laced.

So is it best to leave the beat uncompressed in it's split form so that the tracks can be seperated and the vocals and mix in? or can I compress it, master it, and then someday open up the beat in a channel and the vocals in another and mix it, does this bring down quality?

This question goes to the Hip Hop Producers that have there instrementals on an Lp How do you do it?
My guess is that you master all the tracks and then keep a copy of the split ones, but i'm not sure, Hit Me Up!

 

[God]

Captain_Rid:

If you want to press an LP, it is highly suggested that you have the mix properly analysed and mastered, as to offset any mistakes made by a novice that will be evident only after the acetate is pressed. This could prove costly.

Furthermore, if you want the LP to be heard in it's most "impressive" form, proper compression, frequency analysis, phase analysis, boosts, cuts, and other finalising techniques should be applied. This will all make your track sound more "professional," if done properly. Many people, though they are unaware, have been conditioned to certain types of final mixes, especially those lacking dynamics due to overcompression. However, since individuals in the populus who listen to music have become acclimatised to overcompressed tracks. However, having the track properly mastered will create more parity when the LP is played across different record player platforms and through different forms of speakers.

Thus, it is highly recommended that mastering should be an option to consider, (compression is usually part of the overall mastering process.)

If you wish to place a vocal over the instrumental in the future. It is suggested you NOT use the LP as backing music. Save the unmastered final mix that you have on your computer or music machine of your choice. This is stated, because the introduction of a new matrix of frequencies, like that of the human voice, will require a different mix over your instrumental (possibly), and will require different methods of finalisation in the mastering process.

That is simply an opinion.

Sincerely,
God

 

[Captain_Rid]

So your saying keep the split unmastered tracks set aside always saved so that I can come back to them someday?

Have you got anything pressed?

 

[God]

Captain_Rid:

So your saying keep the split unmastered tracks set aside always saved so that I can come back to them someday?

Define "Split"

Split in essence means "halved," which thereby means "two of something." When you say "split" do you mean a stereo L and R mix that is a mix that you have representing two fields, the Left and Right stereo references? If so, then that is wrong. I apologise for the pickiness on the terminology, but I do not wish to misguide you.

What You Should Do
If you used 5 tracks to make your beat, for example: 1 track for the bassline, 1 track for the kick drum, 1 track for the hi hat, 1 track for the snare, 1 track for a synth, then keep all the instrumental tracks you used to make a mix saved in your sequencer or sampler.

Do not erase that information, because if you mixdown, then delete the tracks you used, as well as respective processing on the different channels you used, then you do not have the luxury of being able to manipulate the faders and other aspects of your track listing in a future vocal mix.

Sincerely,
God

 

[Ash Holmz]

professional mastering is overated. i mean unless DR. DRE's engineer masters your track there is not a significant difference. You can master your own tracks with a good editng program like cubase logic pro tools. Before i really learned cubase i used to have a local studio master my tracks and i really felt that it was a waste of money. My tip would be to defintly keep the tracks individual ......just pay close attention to detail and put you r cd in as many different cd's as possible and make changes accordingly. Im a fan of that kind of overcompressed style. I hate airy tracks

 

[dacalion]

I agree with what god is saying, { here it is in lamens terms...lol } save your tracks and keep your tracks seperate for any changes that need to be made when you decide to add the vocals. If you just want to press the instrumental go ahead but save the seperate tracks.

--dacal

 

[Captain_Rid]

Thanks for putting that shit in detail, thats what I meant though the tracks like the bass, kick, snare etc.

 

[Architect]

Mastering your music is definetly well worth it, but not everyone is good at it. Go to a good mastering engineer, like someone at Sterling Sound or The Hit Factory. The way most Pop and Hip-Hop CD's are coming out today, your inhouse mastered CD will have a hard time holding up to the volume levels of the major labels artists. You can come close if you really know what your doing, but its always a good idea to let someone else master your music, they're coming in with fresh unbiased ears and will pay attention to some things that you may not have noticed in your mix. I don't agree with the rising volume levels that the major labels are producing these days, but thats the trend now, so most of the time I have to turn the volume up on my CD when compared to Jay Z or Nas at the same volume level in the CD player.

 

[Captain_Rid]

Do you know how much money it will cost, and can I send alot of my beats? anyways I wanted an underground flavor kind of sound like Joey Chavez, I dont really want a jay-z sounding Mastering done to my mixes.