reference cd

[L'espion Noir]

what are some of the CDs you guys use for reference when mixing and mastering and what makes it your choice

for example I wouldn't use the sun rises in the East by Jeru the Damaja the mastering engineer was probably thinking of his kid ear infection or something . the overall volume is way too low

Guidance
PRS

[LAZI]

Master P's Ghetto D or anything No Limit. They had all their cd's loud and extra clear. You could hear everything the mixes. To this day nothing has everbanged in my ride like a No Limit cd. Fiend to name another.

And yes, I am a fan of some of No Limit music. Not all but enough to say i'm a fan of the music.

[Flo' Dolo]

L'espion Noir,

I think you noticing what you DON'T like about CDs is a good step in determining what you DO like about one. I can't imagine there being one fast rule about what to use, if you like the "color" of a CD, then use it as your reference if it's applicable (in your opinion, of course). Maybe the Jeru CD is really sonically phat-as-hell to you, save the overall volume. If so, then you can still use it as a reference CD just make the necessary adjustments in the overall volume of your product. Think about it, if you (for example) like the sound of the Wu's stuff, then Master P isn't the thing to use for a reference CD, unless there's a particular element of P's stuff that you want to capture. Conversely, if you wanna do some west coast stuff, then Primo's beats ain't what you should be listening to for reference (unless you feel you got a reason to).

<an aside, but it relates the same point, I think>
How did I pick a mastering engineer? Well... I found a guy who was mastering stuff that I was listening to and went with him. I send some other things I do to a different mastering engineer. Now i'm pretty sure either could effectively master any type of material, but I know for sure what these cats each do with certain styles of music, and most importantly, it sounds good to my ears. Maybe i'm just making myself jump through unnecessary hoops, but at least I'm nobody's fool but my own.

Did that help or was it just a bunch of nothing?

Flo' Dolo

[L'espion Noir]

yo FD
i understand what you're saying but what i'm after is trying to hear what other music makers are listening to for reference when mixing

there might be an album listed to which i'll have no opinions and might actually seek it out

i had to pick something so i did
dre the chronic : for the Highs
KRS I Got Next : lows (getting the bass and kicks drums to that right frequency and still keeping their punches)
Soundbombing II: interchangeable(i figure it would be nice to keep a mix cd in it)

PRS

[L'espion Noir]

bump

[Atillah]

Here's an idea.........

Try A/B-ing(referencing) your mixes to some of Pink Floyd's...Thats bound to drive anyone insane(with the subliminal messages and alarm clocks from nowhere and all that xh!t)

[L'espion Noir]

.

[Beathoven]

Dr.Dre - The Chronic 2001

Beathoven

[LAZI]

That's a good one B. I took some mixing ideas from that one.

Did you hear a slight basement/ garage home studio reberbish type thing going on over the whole cd? Or is it just me?

His joint just didn't have the deep clean sub bass I like. But definitely was phat sound.

[Beathoven]

LAZI, I can't comment on that because I don't have monitor speakers... I didn't notice the reverb but if it's there, it's probably what gives this CD it's own color... To my ears, this is the way you want your tracks to sound if you wanna go commercial...

If you are going for a underground sound, try to mix referencing to Necro "Gory Days"...

Peace,
Beathoven

[L'espion Noir]

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