Planning & Delivering A Music Product

Planning & Delivering A Music Product

Equipment used:

*Fruity Loops 11 (all production was done on this DAW)
*Logic X (all mixing & mastering was done on this DAW)
*Panasonic RP-HT225 Stereo Headphones
*Trust MILA 2.0 (speaker)
*Sony Earphones
*Alesis Monitor One MK2 (speaker)
*sE X1 (condenser)
*Mic Stand
*Pop Shield


How you used the equipment (to record/produce) & why I chose it:

To produce, I used FL 11 because that's the software that I'm most accustomed to, so doing things such as translating an idea into my head to something on the software platform wasn't an issue, as well as sorting out arrangements & such. Also, the EP is very sample based & I personally find sampling very easy on FL compared to other software's, as well as arranging things such as drum patterns & sections.

To record, I used Logic X because I find recording sessions much more easier & a straight forward process compared to other software's. I also used plug-in's & affects on Logic rather than FL because, once again, I find it easier to navigate on compared to FL. I used the sE X1 as my microphone choice for vocals, I could've chosen the SM58 but opted against it because I've used it before & this time I decided to go for something different (& the results were good in my opinion, better than my expectations). I decided to use a mic stand so that natural automation would be kept to a minimal & I used a pop shield to stop the syllabuses from being an issue in the mix down. Also, on every track unless stated otherwise, I used compression on my vocals to position it much closer to the front line of the mix so that it would be easier to initially understand the lyrics.

For initial mixing, I used the Panasonic headphones as the first point of reference because that was what I used to produce all my tracks, but to have a wider perspective of the music I've produced, I used other points of references to see what frequencies I can play around with & so it sounds more "all-round" (all-round in the sense of: it doesn't JUST sound good on only monitors, but also sounds good on other sound systems such as ear phones & other monitors). I also used my long time desktop speakers (Trust) & my earphones (Sony) that I use everyday as my reference points. My final reference point was the Alesis as that was the available monitor during my recording session, which works in my favour because it was another reference point.

When revisiting the tracks which contains my vocals, I adjusted the traits of my voice through the use of EQ. Beforehand, my vocals would sound "tinny" & wouldn't sit well enough on the tracks, so using the 2nd band (yellow) on the EQ, I boosted it to 255 Hz & +7.5 dB because I played around with EQ parameter whilst hearing my song play back without the instrumental & there was something about it that gave my voice more of a presence, more of a solid foundation.

Here are some pictures of the studio set-up I recorded my vocals in.







Track Name: After The Party

Samples used:
Marvin Gaye - After The Dance (instrumental) (the main sample)
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
Jaan Kuman Instrumental Ensemble - Terminus
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
Miles Davis - Blue In Green
Chet Baker - Almost Blue


As stated earlier, the EP is sample-based as far as the production goes so I simply time-stretched the main sample & added different elements to the song to add more variation rather than having a straight loop, I only boosted the EQ a little (1k Hz) to make the melody line more noticeable in the mix. The only elements I took from the song "Let's Get It On" was the vinyl crackle sound because I wanted a more genuine sounding crackle rather than a random one you can pick up online, & the legendary guitar lick because it fits in nicely with the main sample, I also added a chorus plug-in to give the crackle sound a wider stereo field & give the guitar sample more of a abstract feel to compliment the main sample. When it came to the horn samples, I cut out the small parts that I wanted to add even more variation to the track & EQ'd all of them to prevent the main focus from being drowned out by the other instruments in the songs (i.e. bass, percussion, etc).



Lyrics:

Everybody tells me to be patient

But who’s the one based in basements

Writing rhymes with statements? (Mantra!)

I’m about as serious as cancer

In this rap game, I’m just tryna be a master

You see I’m passionate, adequate

Building up my own foundation I’m practicing

Establishing with the words, nouns and verbs

I gotta keep it accurate, immaculate

Push my limits like an advocate

I’m like a funky psychedelic

Abstract painting, at the same time, poetic

A thousand words can add up to a picture

If that’s a fact, then welcome to the cinema.

Track Name: Gypsy

Sample used:
Maria Tanase - Sings Ciuleandra


Contrary to "After The Party", Gypsy is just a straight looped beat with the intention of rapping with a consistent flow, much like the type of beat that would be used in a cypher because it's continuous, doesn't have any sections & wouldn't confuse anyone once they start rapping over it which makes it very easy to follow, but because I hadn't done much to the sample itself, I decided to put in more work towards the drums that have a basic lay-out (kick, snare & hi-hat) but I also added a hi-hat that follows the same pattern as the kick, & I subtly added a shaker, as well as panning the drum kit to give it a more "live" feel. I compressed the main sample to give a richness to the sounds of the strings & I took away the background hiss through the use of EQ, I also compressed the kick drum to give it a much more full sound so it has more characteristics in the lower frequency ranges to emphasize the thumping sound rather than hearing more of a punchy sound, I also EQ'd the snare so it is given more of a crisp & defined acoustic sound rather than sounding completely digital. In this song, I added an echo effect I wanted to fill in the space around my vocals because I initially felt my vocals were too isolated without any effects. I tried putting the delay through an aux send but in comparison, I felt that it didn't do the job that I wanted it to do, so I stuck with the initial delay that I first had on my vocals.



Lyrics:

[Verse 1]

I’m so fatherly, I’ll make you slap your mother- ship

Even when the track ends, I am never done with this

I’m not your father Luke, I am the chosen one

This isn't for anyone, it's a lesson for everyone, but I

Somehow, some way keep coming up with

Rhymes by the second, 60 more, that’s a minute

60 more, that’s an hour, so please give me 24

So I can settle the score and little do you know

I’m spitting fire through your door

One line, three lines, 4 lines more and

My words are never soft ‘cause I’m always hardcore

And when my time comes, I can say I never swore

On the track, that’s a fact and I’m bringing out the wax

Killing criminals, eating rappers like a snack

I got so many tricks, I’m pulling rabbits out the hat

I’m a magician, I don’t need to be dissing, forever making art like Titian.

[Verse 2]

One time for your mind, two times for the rhyme

Third time lucky for the forthcoming you can sense

See my symbol that reflects as I’m shining

As I keep on rhyming and stay in perfect timing

Do-re-me-fa-so-la-ti, rap will always be my forte

Rapping past forty and the days without teeth

Even buried underneath, but until then

Never will I sheathe the pen from the paper

I’m spit droughts like I’m straight from the equator

It’s a cold world, never trust your neighbour

Why rely on books when you can be your saviour?

And if I die, then it’s all a part of nature.

Track Name: My Uphill Stream

Samples used:
Aphex Twin - Let My Fish Loose
Madlib - Please Set Me At Ease


Out of all tracks on this EP, this is the only track without any plug-in's whatsoever simply because it already had a raw feel in the sound & groove, so I wanted to compliment it with a natural vocal sound that sounds slightly unprofessional, as if it was recorded in the 90s or in a "make-do" studio that doesn't live up to today's industry standards. However I did use automation for the ending, I used the fade tool and switched the setting to slow down instead of it fading out the song.


Lyrics:

[Verse]

People thinking this and that, I just think of ways to rap

People thinking this is black, people thinking that is white

But that ain’t right, me? I try to live it right

Righteous living, living life

Bringing out the life and the soul of the song

So I’m speaking out to people, whether old or young

Smart or dumb, weak or strong

And the walking or disabled

So I’m talking to be able to connect to everyone

Doesn’t matter if I’m only reaching out to one

Anyone is good enough even when the times are rough

Understand?

I’m just another man hoping for the best, but expect the worst

That’s how I’m different from the rest, even in this verse

I’m the kind of person that would bring a pen to a test and

Walk away, no regrets.

Track Name: Sweetness

Samples used:
Duncan Lamont - Sweet Surrender
Four Tops - California Dreamin'
The Notorious B.I.G - Sky Is The Limit (Acapella)
Four Tet - My Angel Rocks Back & Forth (video version)


The song structure of Sweetness doesn't have much to it: intro, verse, middle section, verse then ending, so it's an easy structure to notice after one listen, & much like "My Uphill Stream", Sweetness doesn't have much done to it in terms of effects except for slightly EQing the intro of the song to take away a background noise which wasn't needed.



Lyrics:

[Verse 1]

Nowadays, people disregard the content & aim for the success

They wish you “good health” but always talk beneath their breath

They talk about the hard times but won’t share a tent

Everything I own in the box to the left

Nonetheless, you’re sleeping when you’re tired

I spit when I’m inspired, my thoughts will be expired

When I hire other writers and then claim to be the best

If that day comes, you can shoot me in the head

Now tell me what’s the difference working 9 till 5

Doing 25 to life thinking “Oh it’s alright”?

“I’m still living, paying bills by myself”

“I’m still living, got a room to myself”

To myself, to myself, you just think about yourself

You just think about your image and your status and your wealth

And you want to have to all in exchange for your health but

You people never listen so I stay to myself.

[Biggie]

The milks with chocolate, the cookies by the crunch

Even when I was wrong, I got my point across

They depicted me the boss, of course

I like that, besides that

Only make moves when your heart's in it

Clear the space & live the phrase "sky's the limit"

If the game shakes me or breaks me

I hope it makes me a better man, take a better stand.

[Verse 2]

I write verses to find change like a busker

But things stay the same even when I cluster

These words therefore I open my eyes

Use my time to be wise and look through the skies, so I’m

Skipping centuries, slipping through the cracks

Put me on a plaque vividly so I can live through memories

All black but I shine like a moon

They tell me I’m so white but I’m the opposite of noon

Cause I’m the night creature, Grim Reaper

Soul keeper, reliever and the midnight Caesar

Fake rappers, always lying, they deceive ya’

And all you wanna do turn it up

All you wanna do is get crunk, but I get

Down with the funk, get down with funk

Even when you’re down on your luck

Turn me up so my voice bangs loud from your trunk.



Track Name: California Living

Samples used:
Bobby Militello - A Little Song For You
Scenes from the game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"
Scenes from the movie "Boyz N Da Hood"
A scene from "The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air"
Flash Gordon - Prisoner Of Ming
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bomb
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Supplier


Unlike all the tracks with vocals, California Living solely focuses on my production skills. With this song, I wanted to make it much more than a simple instrumental by having a very cinematic approach to it through the use of audio clips I've had on my mind whilst making the "skeleton" structure of this song. I give this song the title "California Living" because, at the time, I had nothing but scenes from Boyz N Da Hood in my head, which in turn, reminded me of the game GTA:SA. So I used the movie to set the setting/environment and used the game to progress the song, vaguely creating a story which can be interpreted in more than one way. Much like "Sweetness", I haven't done much with this song in terms of plug-in's because I found that no aspect of the song sounded like it was in dire need of a plug-in, however the only thing I've done was compression on the master output & also put an EQ on to get rid of any unwanted background noise.



Track Name: Midnight (Introduction)

Samples used:
Esther Phillips - That's All Right With Me
A Tribe Called Quest - Oh My God (Original Remix)
The Notorious B.I.G - Intro
The Notorious B.I.G - Going Back To Cali
Big Pun - Taster's Choice (Skit)
Madvillain - Fancy Clown
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Deeper
Nas - Street Dreams
Yuji Ohno - Shinobi Yoru Invader
Rain & Thunder Sound Effects


Much like "California Living", Midnight is also a track where it shows off more of my production, rather than my lyricism/performance. It has many similarities in terms of ideas & techniques when compared to "California Living", however the difference is that rather than me using audio samples to give it a story line in order for it to progress, this time I made it so that it relates more directly to me as an artist. The idea behind this song is simply: "while I'm inside my house producing at the late hours, other people in their journeys of life would be doing various things that would differ from what I'm doing". So, rather than sampling from games, TV shows & movies, I look into some of my favourite albums (or albums that I feel have some sort of influence on me, either writing lyrics or production) & took away some parts that I felt could've sufficed for what I initially wanted to do. Very much the same as "California Living", I didn't do much in terms of plug-in's because, once again, I felt all the parts of the song I put down weren't in need of plug-in's, so I did the same as "California Living" by adding compression through the master output & EQ'd it so that the track can blend together much more smoothly.