Beat Smuggling Vol 1

JuanSOLO · 2014-12-30T22:51:00.000Z

Here’s a bunch of beats I’ve been mashing up since I got my RYTM, with some help from the OT of course. Still a work in progress, been mainly building up scenes and stuff, felt like I was at a place to post it for review and where to move forward.

OB_J · 2014-12-30T23:09:23.000Z

thats dope man…

really good… excellent work

some moments i really really dug

thanks for the inspiration

JuanSOLO · 2014-12-31T03:14:54.000Z

NICE,
Thanks for listening!

I’d love to know which moments, I’m open to critique, I feel like I need to trim the fat. Granted I know some parts of this go on a lil long, that is less relevant that what stands out as stuff that ‘moves people.’

OB_J · 2015-01-03T02:59:55.000Z

i like it about a minute in when the word samples start

i generally like all your use of the word samples

i like both of the beats that sound reggae inspired (2nd song? and another towards the end)

i dig the part where you are deconstructing the dead prez “justice dream sample”

i like a lot of it…

i feel like you blending a lot of cool shit in a really unique way

i dont know what i would change

KOTARE · 2015-01-03T03:52:13.000Z

That’s great stuff!!! Loved the Uptown version and the M Star cuts.

Man, first things that come to my mind:

Bring vocals forward in the mix, and more variations on vox gain throughout the set. You could also totally go further on the vox idea by running some parallel tracks with pitch shift or other FX on them to make it a little more intriguing.
More movement on the bass tones (using LFOs) at some parts, even just fades.
I think this is the biggest one - more samples behind the drum parts on AR. Not kicks, unless it’s for a punch transient to sit over your sub, but definitely hats toms and snares!
I don’t know your routing set up but if you could use the COMP and DIST on some of your parts on AR without effecting it globally, that would be nice to hear also.

You should be stoked - what a great gig!

PS probably a bunch of EQ over the whole mix - lift some mids up, satch some highs, and suck a little mud out.

whet · 2015-01-03T04:08:24.000Z

Sounds great.

Well, i like your set here, the transations etc. all very good, but if you want some criticism:

kick and snare sound too much alike over the whole set
for my taste you overdone the vocal samples here, maybe more melodic content instead.

Otherwise, well done .

JuanSOLO · 2015-01-03T05:16:02.000Z

WOW, solid feedback, thanks, I really appreciate it.

I’ve only had the OT since summer, and the AR shortly after it’s release.
This particular track is very much a result of what I’ve learned and committed to thus far.
I’ll be tweaking it more when I load up the project here and there to rehearse etc, and I’ll definitely take these notes into account.

Eventually it will grow in variation, sample volume, dialing in eq and compression, however because this is my first project with these boxes I really need to put this one to bed, and move on into new stuff.
This particular track is tons of material, and it’s easy to get lost in hours of adding snare variations, hi hat tweaks, and doing what it needs.

I want to focus on one track at a time, or shorter movements, taking the best of things from this track and moving into new ground.

Again, I really appreciate the crit, it’s the only way to move forward.

whet · 2015-01-03T05:34:06.000Z

You can allready be happy with your work ( i would be o0 ), its the best hiphop ish/trippy jam i heard yet with the AR involved.

JuanSOLO · 2015-01-03T06:35:35.000Z

Thanks whet, that means a lot!

Here’s a slightly alt version I just posted to soundcloud.
https://soundcloud.com/juansolo/beat-smuggling-vol-1-finger-edit