LETTER OF THE MONTH
Oct 1, 2005 12:00 PM
GEARIN' UP FOR SUCCESS
I've been producing for quite a while now — about five years at a decent level — and I have noticed a few things about the evolution of production. I first started out making trance and a few other electronica genres, but I found them bland in substance and to almost have rules to them. I moved on to producing beats, from hip-hop to rap to R&B. I have noticed that music equipment and software have become very accessible for everyone, even people at my age. The entire music industry has been revolutionized with new ideas and music because of the ease of producing it. While it's not easy to always get the certain equipment you desire in this hobby (or profession), it sure is fun working toward that new effects module or piece of software.
It's become a fun thing to do, actually, to just make studio kit lists that one dreams up, then go out and work toward getting that equipment. It gives you a real sense of self-satisfaction when you purchase something and use it to create an imaginative masterpiece of your own. I guess that's why this field has been pretty overpopulated with people lately, because when you finish that track you've been working on in the late-night hours, then listen to it and mix it the next morning, you feel a great sense of pride that you actually created something that people can hear. More so, those incredible feelings increase once you find that people are starting to feel what you created. I love making music — there's always something new to do, something new to strive for. You can always make something better than you just did, and the sky is the limit. People always want to hear music, and to be able to fulfill their need of that is an amazing experience from start to finish.
Kossae
Knoxville, Tenn.
For sending in this month's winning letter, Kossae receives a Samson C01U ($234.99) USB studio condenser microphone. If you send in the most inspired correspondence next month — or simply the letter that we like the best — you will win one, too. All that you have to do is send an e-mail to remixeditorial@primediabusiness.com. Please include your full mailing address.
SIMPLE MINDS
I was disappointed, and just a little pissed, that your article “Little Feat” (April 2005) wasn't about the superb musical group by the same name. If one pursues a Google search for the term Little Feat, one doesn't get any results that match any of the individuals mentioned in your article. So why did you name the article “Little Feat” in the first place? Now, to your credit, it's an interesting article, and I learned a lot about some artists — artists whom I intend to investigate and to whom I will invest some ear time. However, your article title is misleading, and your editors should never have let it go out with that title. The fact that your editors were, and probably remain, unaware of the superb group Little Feat, is a sad testament to the state of today's journalism and journalists. If you kids would just finish college.
Donald
via e-mail
Donald — Actually, when we were in college, we learned the term allusion, an indirect or implied reference. Media often use allusions to music (as we did to the band Little Feat), literature, pop culture — you name it — for story titles, and they have nothing to do with the quality of reporting. In this case, “Little Feat” works because 9th Wonder produces big-name acts with the few pieces in his tiny studio, a “little feat.” Get it? — The Editors
MOBILE SOLUTION
“Take It Outside” (“Line Check,” August 2005) caught my eye because of the stack of Mackie SRM450s in the photo. Since a couple of these completed my mobile rig earlier this year and the article specifically mentions the Mackie 1402-VLZ Pro (which I also have), I thought I'd throw out a few comments.
The 1402 makes a great DJ board if you don't need a crossfader. It does require external phono preamps, though. I found that a couple of Rane units fit nicely in the empty coffin space below. I like to use external processors, specifically a click/pop reducer, an image enhancer and a compressor. I already have to use a second case because, while the CD controller fits in my coffin, the player itself doesn't. Some of these devices are unbalanced. The article mentions some connection methods, but since the compressor is the last device in the chain and its output is unbalanced, it wouldn't be ideal to drive the powered speakers directly. Also, with that hookup, the compressor's threshold would need adjustment anytime the mixer's main output level was changed.
My solution was to mix to the Alt 3-4 stereo bus on the 1402. That output feeds the processor chain, which then returns to Main Mix via Aux Return 2. Thus, I can feed the speakers directly from the main out XLRs, with Mackie driving Mackie as nature intended. The Main Mix level control works normally, and I never have to touch the compressor. I monitor the Alt 3-4 bus so that my meters show send levels and aren't reading — 30 at a quiet gig. I can watch the compressor out of the corner of my eye as a third check on levels (the ears are always first). If I get too close to the mic, the comp kicks in and keeps me from hurting anyone's ears. And if anything in the chain goes down, I can instantly bypass the whole chain and keep going.
Since there was still a little room in my “aux” case, I threw in a reverb and delay, as well. These are fed from the aux sends and required minor surgery to the 1402 to allow the sends to stay on when the Mute/Alt 3-4 buttons are engaged. These items return to three mono channel inputs, leaving three more for mics. Now, I have the world's almost bitchin' mobile rig. It works great, sounds sweet and sets up in 10 minutes. Carrying the records is the hardest part.
Mike Marston
San Jose, Calif.
MASTER PROCRASTINATOR
I am a lover of Remix magazine thanks to my bro, but all these months, it ain't moved me to put a word in its pages. I am into rapping, therefore can't deny the fact that all those tools and wares astonish me. But my pockets ain't that deep — I only can stare and read. I've known the Remix mag for its dopest parade of the hottest gears for studios, DJs, MCs, et cetera but didn't know it also bore on its chest the medals of wicked “proverbalist.” Managing Editor Erin Hutton really did stun my breath with that adage she dropped so hot at the conclusion of the “Editors' Note” (March 2005). I quote, “Procrastination is a lot like masturbation — it's fun while you're doing it, but in the end, you're just screwing yourself.” Kudos, Erin Hutton, may you please give us more of such stuff.
Theophilus Adjei
Odorkor, Accra
Ghana
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