Gettin’ Back To It

It’s been over a month since I updated the site, but things are still in the works.  I just moved and started a new job so I had to take some time to get some other things back in motion.  Either way, the site will be getting the attention it’s used to starting in a few days.  Be sure to hit me up if you got any music needs or suggestions for the site.

Beat 84 – Uptempo Feel Good

Here’s the last beat I produced using both Logic and Reason 4.0.  I was definitely going for an uptempo club banger on this one.  This beat has a Neptunes feel to it and really gives of a feel good vibe in my opinion.  Take a listen and let me know what you think.

Podcast: Download (4.0MB)

“Around the World” Remix

Here’s another remix that I produced using Beat 53.  “Around the World” is a track by an artist out of San Diego by the name of Rob Grimes.  If you haven’t heard of him yet, you’ve been missing out. He is definitely making big moves over on the west coast.  Unlike most of the remixes I do, I was actually able to get the artist’s ears on this one which was very cool.  I hit him up on twitter and emailed the track to him.  His response was “@JoeGus06 HOT SHIT. DOPE REMIX.”  I think that says a lot about Rob for giving my remix a listen even though we’ve never met in person.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to get up with him and make an original song instead of remixing a track.  Be sure to follow Rob on twitter at www.twitter.com/robgrimes and also check out his blog at www.robgrimes.blogspot.com.

Podcast: Download (6.1MB)

Beat 77 – Mixed Down Version

Here’s a mixed down version of Beat 77.  This mix down was done by GNX Music.  I really feel the mix was great and brought the track to another level.  I will definitely be doing more business with them and getting most if not all of my beats mixed down by them.  Listen to this version and the original I posted and let me know what you think.  I will be posting more contact information for GNX in the next coming days.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 4:58 — 6.9MB)

Diddy Bop Remix

Here’s the Diddy Bop Remix I promised using Beat 52.  Let me know what you think.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 4:32 — 6.3MB)

Preparing for a Vocal Recording Session via Music Think Tank

As I continue to expand from being a beat maker into a producer, I’m definitely trying to improve my skills when working with singers.  Recording rappers, in my opinion, is a lot easier than recording singers.  I myself cannot sing, so it takes a lot more attention from my in a recording session.  I came across the following article at Music Think Tank written by Chris Bracco.

“Lets face it — preparation for anything tends to be kind of a bitch. Practicing all the parts of the music to a metronome, setting up microphone stands, setting levels/compressors/effects, laying carpets and other ghetto ways to deaden ugly frequencies. All in hopes that it will make your music sound sexier.

Last summer, while recording my band a few demo tracks, I seriously underestimated how long it would take to prep for each recording session. It was the sole reason our demo project turned into a rush job, and our recordings definitely suffered because of it!

Vocals, in particular, were a super-robo-bitch. It figures I’d find an article giving advice on how to prepare effectively NOW, and not 6 months ago. Anyway, this little ditty makes some excellent points that I’d like to share!”

To read the entire article visit Music Think Tank at: http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/preparing-for-a-vocal-recording-session.html

Beat 52 – Joe Gus Bop

Here’s a beat I constructed while trying to remix “Diddy Bop.”  I one again used both Logic and Reason 4.0 to produce this beat.  I was going for a laid back, dirty south, ridin’ beat.  When I do remixes, I typically try to take the song a whole different direction to test my abilities and grow as a producer.  For this one, I feel like I almost stayed along the same feel as the original.  Either way, I will post the remix after you’ve had the chance to let this one marinate.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 4:32 — 6.3MB)

8 Tips for Getting Your Music Heard (for Free)

This post is brought to you by http://hiphopproduction.com/.  These tips apply to just about every aspect of the music industry, no matter if you’re an artist or producer.  Here’s a short excerpt of what they have to say.

Much like trying to get a unique domain name these days, getting an unused name for yourself/group is a bit more complicated that it once was. Even if you do have an original name, getting people to hear your music before you have any fans can seem almost impossible.  With some clever thinking and hard work, it can all be done without spending a dime.

So let’s get right to it – you want to upload your music, photo and bio to the internet, without being lost in a sea of obscurity. It’s understandable how it can happen to even the most talented artists. As mentioned before, it’s not necessary to spend any money in promotion to get great results.  It’s also not something that happens overnight.

Read the full article at http://hiphopproduction.com/production/8-tips-for-getting-your-music-heard-for-free/

Product Spotlight – M-Audio Axiom 25

M-Audio Axiom 25

As I am adding more categories and features to my blog/site, I thought it would be nice to have a product spotlight.  The first few posts will be about products that I am actually using in my production.  The first product I’m going to spotlight is the M-Audio Axiom 25 Advanced 25-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller.  I absolutely love this controller for many reasons.  I originally bought this product because of its size because I was travelling a lot with my previoius 9 – 5.  It was small enough to fit in my checked bag with all of my other essentials with ease.  Please, note that it does come with more keys if you don’t need to be portable.  Another feature I love is the fact that it has semi-weighted keys.  I’m not a pianist by any means but noticed the huge difference between semi-weighted and synth action keys.  With these keys, I am able to add more expressiveness to my beats.  The last feature that I’m going to discuss is the ability to have different programming banks.  Using the provided Enigma software, it is very easy to program the keys, knobs, and pads to do just about anything you would like.

You can read more about the tech specs and pricing (very reasonable) on the M-Audio website at: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Axiom25.html

Beat 73 – Majestic Swag Sound

Here’s another beat I produced using both Logic and Reason 4.0.  This beat is pretty powerful and majestic sounding to me with the brass and strings I used; however, it’s still got that swag that all the “kids” are looking for these days.  I honestly can’t really describe this one but I like it and I’m sure you will too.  Don’t forget to leave comments.  Thanks.

Podcast: Download (6.8MB)