First Rap/Hip Hop Freestyle Mix

  • Thread starter Thread starter GoatsTheAnswer
  • Start date Start date
G

GoatsTheAnswer

New member
I had a friend over and this is my very first crack at recording. I know im going to need some help from you guys on what I can do better. The equipment im working with is..

Presonus-Firebox-Cubase
KRK ROKIT v4 monitors
Treatment in the room for sound
and AKG Preception 200 for the mic

http://www.sendspace.com/file/l8ptnm


Theres no voiceovers on any of the lyrics. Do double takes over a certain words help? I have listened to some artists mixes and trying to grasp an idea.
This is my first crack at recording..Any feedback or help would be appreciated..Thank you
 
I don't know anything about rap so I can't comment on the content or skill. The 'I'm the baddest around' vibe is pretty lame though. What I do notice is that the whole mix is sort of thin sounding. Isn't most rap supposed to have some pretty booming bass frequencies going on? I can hear the 'thump' but its not thumpy. Admittedly I'm listening on headphones right now, but my Bose cans have a pretty damn pronounced bass response and I'm still not hearing it like I think it probably should be. The whole mix sounds like it has too much mids and highs on my end. The accompaniment music sounds pretty good and the 'vocals' sit pretty well - though they could probably stand to come up a bit.
 
Greg_L said:
The 'I'm the baddest around' vibe is pretty lame though.
Click to expand...

Haha having tracked some rap for my friend, it's all about that.

Okay first up, whats the hiss? The low-fi crackle? Not liking it, could be me.

And the F-22 (or whatever pane that is) fly by at the start seems to contribute more to this treble sound. I'd kill those frequencies, because the synth sample really works.

You also need to up the low end, that kick drum needs to really hit. The 'snare' will sound fine with that treble, the kick needs more..oomph.

I think this has tons of potential, I'd love to hear a re-mix.
 
hey guys thanks, as I said I am only doing the recording not the vocals. I really appreciate the feedback......First off the low crackle, I gotta look back at the instrumental he brought me and see if it was in there to begin with, then..Im gonna remix it and try and get more thump instead of the flat sound its getting..I will re-up the track tonight..Think I need any reverb or compression anything?
 
GoatsTheAnswer said:
Theres no voiceovers on any of the lyrics. Do double takes over a certain words help?
Click to expand...


Yeah, definetely. Alot of commercial rap artists will have someone else to overdub; think Biggy Smalls and Puff Daddy. What I would think about is just set up another track to record, and have your singer double-track over himself. Then pan this hard right or left. Don't do it for the whole song, but it can emphasise alot of stuff.

Here's some stuff I tracked with a friend of mine; he loves rap, but sadly doesn't pay me much attention in terms of procution and mixing ideas. Might be worth a listen; I take NO responsibility for his songs.

http://Wiggaman-rap.bebo.com
 
GoatsTheAnswer said:
hey guys thanks, as I said I am only doing the recording not the vocals. I really appreciate the feedback......First off the low crackle, I gotta look back at the instrumental he brought me and see if it was in there to begin with, then..Im gonna remix it and try and get more thump instead of the flat sound its getting..I will re-up the track tonight..Think I need any reverb or compression anything?
Click to expand...


Maybe compress the drum loop if it'll help give it some edge. His vocals are nice and smooth, which is hard to do with rap. I'd leave them. And nah, no reverb IMO.
 
ok, all the problems such as the f-22 plane and the problems with the instrumental, its an industry beat thats why we deemed it as a freestyle. So as far as the instrumental unfortuantly I cant change it...Ah-well but, for my first crack at this? is it any good?. Im going to try and add alittle more thump to it by uping the beat some (I confess I did mess with it and compress the instrumental a lil) and see if it helps. Thank you very much, im very humble to get opinions from people who have years of experience
 
GoatsTheAnswer said:
ok, all the problems such as the f-22 plane and the problems with the instrumental, its an industry beat thats why we deemed it as a freestyle. So as far as the instrumental unfortuantly I cant change it...Ah-well but, for my first crack at this? is it any good?. Im going to try and add alittle more thump to it by uping the beat some (I confess I did mess with it and compress the instrumental a lil) and see if it helps. Thank you very much, im very humble to get opinions from people who have years of experience
Click to expand...

Woo I guessed the plane right! Yep, for your first crack it's excellent, good job on the vox. Compression is a black art!! I don't have years of experience, but this forum helps, hope to see ya round here more.
 
Hey it sounds pretty descent.

GoatsTheAnswer:
Btw are you from London, On.

I swear I have hear this sh*t before, ah maybe not. Thinking of someone else perhaps?
 
You will definitly see me around here more as I am working to learn how record and mix better, just training my ears. O and by the way, hope to visit london one day, sorry im from New York :)
 
Step 1 use a better site - preferably one that streams. Your site is not logical to navigate & having to download to listen isn't a preference for me.
The bass needs definition - it's all rumble & no definition the key samples are dinky.
So the backing is karaoke & you've rtapped over the top?
If that's the case - bummer.
The vocals are fairly well recorded for a newbie. There's definition between the voices and no serious distortion. The lyrics are slowly enough delivered to be intelligible and you've not sssssssssssed all over the place.
Good work so far.
NOW, make your own backing & get serious.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top