Equipment

Just Blaze Rants Against Akai MPC 5000

The Megatron Don himself just went on a serious diatribe against the newly released Akai MPC 5000.  Superproducer Just Blaze states that the MPC 5000 is, "COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AND SHOULD NOT BE!"  He even goes on to supply a model number downgrade and correction as, "The 5000 is NOT the successor to the 4000, and … Read more

DigiMix Provides Mixing & Editing Within Web Browser

Portable music production is about to be taken to the next level.  Digimix has made available the alpha version of their DAW which runs completely within your web browser!  That’s right, Software as a Service has finally made its way to professional music production.  Sometime in the near future you’ll be able to import your … Read more

SlapBoyz Open Labs Miko Segment

Production duo SlapBoyz.(Yukmouth, Keak Da Sneak) talk about making the move from Korg’s Triton (now a glorified MIDI controller) to the Open Labs Timbaland Special Edition Miko via Sha Money XL’s One Stop Shop Producers Conference.  They also offer up an exclusive preview of an upcoming release.

MOTU Ultralite-mk3 Interface Updated

  A couple of months ago I nearly drove everyone around me insane with my efforts to track down a new-in-box version of the MOTU Ultralite interface.  Each phone and online search resulted with the device being on backorder and a cryptic response concerning future availability.  However, being a determined and sometimes overly obsessive individual, … Read more

Beats By Dr. Dre Headphones Unboxed

Unboxing Live does us the favor of letting us watch and drool over the opening of the Beats By Dr. Dre headphones.  It’s obvious that they went all out on the packaging, but I’m eager to get my hands on a pair to judge the sound for myself. Respect to TI50

K-Def Talks Production Equipment Used During The Years

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As told to JNOTA of Redefinition Records

On the SSL mix board, on getting started, and the equipment he used prior to making the switch to computers:

At the House Of Hits; Marley would stick me in there on the SSL.  Mind you, he was the only cat that had one at the time… Well, Dre had one, Diddy had one in his house, but Marley was the first to have the SSL in his house.  So, there was a lot of stuff in there, on the SSL, that you usually went to school for.  I never went to school for it, so there was, like… pressure.  The Lords were there, all these different artists.  I remember Keith Murray was there and we were doing a song, the "What I’m After" remix.  Keith Murray was rhyming real real LOUD, and I’m like,  ‘yo, Keith, why you so loud?" and he said, "cause I wanna be heard, Def!  I wanna be heard."  Now, you’re not supposed to be able to record with all this distortion, so I had to find another compressor to limit him down with his yelling an all that stuff, so there was a lot of pressure.  

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Free Seminar w/ Mixmaster Mike, Reason 4.0 & TonePort

Guitar Center, Propellerhead, and LIne 6 present a free event for those looking to learn the latest Propellerhead Reason 4.0 and Line 6 TonePort tips & tricks. The session on July 24, 2008 at the Northridge Guitar Center will feature turntablist Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys as he demonstrate the incorporation Reason into … Read more

Budget Pro-Studio Headphones Evaluated

If the $350 price tag of the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones will send your bank account into a tailspin, EM has done a great roundup of seven budget minded pro-studio headphones.  With each pair costing a max of $220, models from AKG, Audio-Technica, Grado, M-Audio, Sennheiser, Sony, and Ultrasone were put to the test … Read more

Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones Release Announced

With everyone focused on rumors surrounding the release of Detox, production and gear fans will be glad to hear that Monster’s Beats by Dr. Dre headphones will make their debut on July 25th.  The headphones were originally announced with a MSRP of $399, but according to Aftermath artist Bishop Lamont, they’ll carry a price tag … Read more