Mastering Audio: Pro Techniques

Out of the hundreds of reader questions we have answered during Hit Talk’s first year, perhaps none is more persistent than how to attain a hotter, better-mastered mix. It’s a persistent question because attaining a bold, big sound requires inspired production wizardry and skill at every single stage of the music-making process - from recording Read more

Jack D. Elliot: The Value of Hustle

When Hit Talk interviewed Jack D. Elliot, it was between a production session for a new Kylie Minogue song and a meeting with Diane Warren and Kelly Rowland to talk about songs to use Read more

Make Your Mixes Wider than Ever

Ever come across instruments that sound narrow, bland, or just plain uninspiring? If you’ve determined that timbre, rhythm or performance isn’t the problem, then what’s left? Why does it still sound flat? If the recording is in mono, that could be your problem, and how many times have you recorded a guitar or voice through a single mic input? There’s no Read more

T.I. & Jason Derulo Brass Stabs

Read more

Wayne Wilkins: Keepin’ it Simple

How do you become a great producer? Having produced chart topping hits for Beyonce, Jordin Sparks, and Natasha Bedingfield, British producer Wayne Wilkins Read more

What You Know - Learn Mix, Hook, Vocals

TI’s What You Know triumphs as a showcase of producer Toomp’s compositional skill and production mastery. This hit song sets fire to the eardrums of its listeners with devastating assaults of brass, bass, and seasoned producer Read more

Compress Hip Hop Beats

A lot of our readers know that a weak beat can be strengthened with a compressor, but what settings are best for what applications? What are the optimal compression settings for a Hip Hop snare, kick, bass, or percussion? In Hip Hop, if you want to compress like the best, you need knowledge of standard compressor settings used by Hip Hop producers. Read more

Trap and Crunk Synth Beats

If you want to produce Hip Hop - in particular, if you want to produce crunk or grime - you’re gonna to have to master synth skills. Crunk music in particular makes widespread use of classic synth timbres, using clean sine, triangle, and square waves for melodic leads, while reserving harsh, overdriven sawtooth sounds for basslines. Grime is slightly Read more

Hollywood Firm Seeks Music Stars

Hollywood Entertainment Firm Future Star (Credits: Def Jam, Universal Motown, G-Unit Records, Interscope, Bad Boy) has hooked up w/ Song Submit to find the next big music superstar Read more

Nuthin But a G Thang - Mix & Production

Hip-hop’s G-Funk: the musical brainchild of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Its roots have spread throughout rap and hip-hop, changing the landscape of modern music permanently. Dre’s most legendary release, The Chronic, is the quintessential G-Funk album. Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »