It's not the gear... It's you.

It's not the gears' fault..
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#BoloDaProducer #gear #musicproduction

[@dizzorocksthetube]

Back in the day we used to get it in with 2 cassette decks

[@leogolive]

Real talk

[@anygivingfriday6394]

​@@leogolivethat overdub was flawless on cassette tape lol

[@TheOnlyJay_S]

I always used to wonder how they get songs/beats to sound that good on tape, then I started looking up hardware and then going back and listening to songs from back in the day and I can see why and how.

[@DeeMaxum]

😂😂😂😂 whatchu know about that fam?? Lol.. Facts tho, that's actually how I started making beats back in the day 💯

[@Jesoteric]

Absolutely

[@intricateinc8566]

*"Don't grow your gear, Grow your ear"*

[@michaelwashington5479]

Well said fam

[@intricateinc8566]

@@michaelwashington5479 Tony Black said it should be on a tshirt.

[@Cire-Beats]

Bolo. You are a true teacher bro. That's why I am here. That's why we are all here. It's not what you have. It's how you use it!

[@NeekRusher]

New music makers will learn this advice as time go on. I was in my 20’s and my friend who was 10 years older than me used to tell me I don’t need the latest and greatest to make a beat. He scolded me over and over until I understood it. 25 years later and 1 platinum record under my name. The amount of money I spent on equipment. The amount of money I lost selling equipment had me slow all the way the fuxx down. I had friends who were making beats on MTV music generator for PlayStation. Fast fwd I got friends who are making dope beats on their phones and ipads. That saying, it’s not the tool it’s the carpenter will never die. Keep learning and stay creative at all times. ✌🏾

[@dizzorocksthetube]

No matter what a good ear is key to the whole thing. And knowing your go to plugins well enough to master them.

[@biggeemac]

FACTS FACTS FACTS !! Can't stress it enough.

[@BeatsNBed]

Finally, someone who is speaking FACTS!!!

[@GetSongsDone]

yeah, no other music production channel (other than You Suck at Producing, and mine) tells you how much is you.

[@JamesJohnson-xx5gq]

I totally agree Bolo…I just put a song out there and everyone is asking who mixed and mastered it… the only to go to pieces i used is the new air soft clipper, native instruments solid bus compressor and T tacks for mastering no whole bunch of mixing just gain staging and low pass filters and izotope neutron visual mixer for seperation

[@KamarSun]

It's not the equipment that makes the producer, it's the producer that makes the equipment.

[@Enatural_7]

8:39 this was almost me with my Maschine MK3. I left it alone and when I was ready to SIT DOWN with it, I realized that I loooove it. It's a workflow and I respect it for what its workflow is...if that make sense lol. As long as I have been producing, I am just now appreciating presets as well

[@Enatural_7]

Presets help me learn whatever I am using more because it's a starting point

[@prod-danny-og]

Agreed, man. I almost got tempted to sell my Mikro MK3, but then I started using it and have been having a blast ever since. Equipment really doesn’t matter that much, the ear and the feels do!

[@puregoldprod]

thats facts. i can make sample based hiphop with just a computer and fl studio and nobody ever knew the difference if i was using a mpc or sp or whatever the case may be. equipment can make workflow more efficient but you can accomplish anything with just a computer.

[@DeeBeEatin]

Thank you Bolo for this video! I've been telling people for years that it's not what you have, it's how you use it!

[@The_MaskedTrader]

This is real talk. Your whole spill is on point. But One thing i will say is that I bought my first MPC 3 years ago (MPC Live 2). I just got the MPC X SE like 1 month ago. Before i got the MPC X SE i had a hard time learning the OS. But when I got the MPC X SE. My eyes opened to how the OS operates. My learning curve was struggling on the MPC Live 2. I most definitely blame me and my learning curve but it was a game changer for me to have all the functions in my face. It actually encouraged me to go back and learn the workflow of my MPC Live 2. (My apologies for being off subject a lil. I see you were talking more on sound quality i believe.) Peace!

[@koncretebeats]

Don’t tell them BOLO I like when people buy high end gear and think they’ll be Metro over night. That means they’ll sell gear to me at a heavy discount 😂😂

[@BoloDaProducer]

🤣

[@Salaam71]

I used to tell people; Don't rush to Guitar Center trying to grab the "hottest" new piece of gear. Give it about 7-9 months. That stuff will be in all the pawn shops. 🙂

[@TheOnlyJay_S]

@@Salaam71 LOL I love Guitar Center, I've seen a few slightly older MPCs go for pretty cheap online but I kinda doubt some of these sellers.

[@AJWISE41]

I find myself having to fight off GAS sometimes. I bought most of my gear at least 2 years old or on sale.

[@Salaam71]

@@TheOnlyJay_SYea. Of course Guitar Center always has used stuff that you can trust.

[@verbone]

I see and hear a lot of BS online re: music production and engineering, but I also see and hear a lot of really talented people. I think many either don't have good hustle or make music that isn't "hot" - or maybe they're just bedroom producers making music for fun - but there's a lot of super creative and talented people out there making really dope beats.

[@CR4SHN8URN]

Na it’s just over saturated not everyone can make it no matter how talented you are

[@Yukon-J]

I've used MPC's, Roland MV8800, Various keyboards ETC....I got rid of all of it.... My current setup is Serato Studio/Reason, Alesis V25 Midi controller and my speakers. It works for me. I'm making the best beats i have ever made.

[@Yhuntermusic]

Been preaching this as well my bro!!!

[@darrygswa]

Yep it took me over a year to buy the MPC One plus , I had to look all the KZbinrs to see was it right peace for me.

[@stevekirkby6570]

Yep Bolo. A bad workman always blames his tools. I love the challenge of a new piece of gear, so it really resonated when you mentioned how you dive in and learn it inside out. Sure, it can take some time, but thats where the reward feels the sweetest :)

[@es.ist.in.meiner.Seele.]

You speak from the heart with truth and experience. And time and knowledge and a very canny, amazing ear.

[@prod-danny-og]

I’ve used and seen so much different equipment, and here’s the hard truth: It’s all the same if you are skilled as hell. It just matters how you use it that makes it work how it does. I even use plugins like Nexus 4 right now, and it doesn’t matter that much that I have it. I just know how to use it successfully, and it sounds good to me, so that’s what really matters to me. Keep grinding, kings and queens and anything in between. ❤️‍🔥

[@AOEarlobe]

To be honest, I fell in that trap too. It takes honest feedback to set you straight sometimes. However, sometimes some things for me does sound better out of the box. Not to say a similar sound can’t be achieved inside the box. It’s about your workflow. It’s so easy to get addicted to buying stuff. Harder to get addicted to learning. There are no short cuts. Eventually you get found out..

[@iengineer_247]

I'm glad that you and a few other Engineers keep saying this!!! I'm an Engineer and I used to be a salesman so half of this stuff I been saying for a longggggggg tiiimmmeeeeeeee!!!!!!

[@blaccteezy]

After doing a week at EQ Studio with Drummaboy and Mario I’ve made massive improvements in mixing. He taught me the power of Buss mastering

[@knockriobeats]

I don't have the accolades but I came up around and with people who went on to do a lot of work in the industry. I owned the studios and was able to be around real musicians, producers and writers. I was always the weakest link. We all had a hunger for the recording process and production, so we fed off one another. I've had outboard gear and been mostly in the box at different times. You gotta get around people who are better than you and learn. I think that a lot of producers don't know better because they never are around anyone who knows. They can't even tell if they're being swindled or which pieces of info might be good and what to discard. My advice to anyone trying to do this is get around people that are great or at least decent and spend time. The equipment not gon help you until you know how to get it to help you.

[@JCoop318]

So true ..i thought buying plugins would help my mixes but its take time trial n error before u learn u actually have everything u need

[@AntDizzleBeats]

💯

[@nilespeshay1734]

This, really, can't be said often enough. Preach. So much can be accomplished by REALLY learning your monitoring and A/B'ing the stuff you have already access to.

[@thepatzer]

Some tuff luv form Bolo. Much respect! Wise words.

[@TheTrafficJamMusic]

Ear v. Gear 🦻🏼🎹 Thanks for saying it. ✌🏼

[@touchthatdial]

SO good and true. Bang on the money. Bookmarking this for future sharing cos it cannot be said often enough.

[@hlcotten6587]

I watch your channel, and really respect the wisdom you’ve shared. I smiled a lot throughout the video, remembering the ole school gents that taught me guitar licks, and chords on guitar, piano, etc., that people would laugh at. Yet, their skillset made that instrument sound like they were playing a top of the line Taylor guitar, or Roland Fantom. I’ll share one more example to validate your point. Two of the greatest producers of the 80’s & 90’s were Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Their hit list speaks for itself. Yet did you know one of their Supersonic first hits,(that still sounds fresh), “Just Be good to me”, by the S.O.S. Band was created on an old Casio keyboard? Prince had cut them loose for working with other bands behind his back, and they simply utilized what they had, and with the assistance of the late great Clarence Avant, he opened doors for them exposure wise. I encourage all practicing musicians, producers to deep dive into what you have, and think creatively to develop your own signature sound. I send blessings to all the creative artists from all walks of life. Thank you for the wisdom you shared that still stands strong today.✨🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁✨

[@TheOnlyJay_S]

I remember trying one of the Casio keyboards back when I was a kid, it was a lot of fun. That's also one of my favorite SOS Band songs.

[@hlcotten6587]

✨💎🦁🦁🦁💎✨

[@Vivaildi]

Two essential good gears you need : pro headphones and the best monitors possible + neutral acoustic room. These are just must have.

[@joeford454]

Great video bolo,i find it so amazing that some people spend thousands on equipment,but don't want to spend the time to program the synths,so they can get a sound that will make their music sound original.if you don't dig deep into your synths and plugins,you are only getting 10 percent of what the thing is capable of 😂peace bro.

[@davidgee3175]

This is so true my brother a lot of people think this you have to still put in the work not just push a button

[@davidlucero855]

good messaging whenever the topic of GAS come I always think of Eddie's frankenstrat :)

[@beatsbydooch]

KZbin has helped me immensely! Although I'm ONLY doing this for fun, I still want my music to sound as good as possible.

[@amajorkeys]

This is facts bro!. I keep my setup simple, do what works for me, make it work for my production.

[@stanleys.3959]

Training in the field of mixing is very important and updating on different self-taught techniques allows you to touch all production platforms. I have a verselab, a microfreak, BassStation, I still have to mix it all properly...

[@vongreen843]

Spend time learning all of the things the equipment can do, then figure out all of the things that it wasn't suppose to do!

[@Pauluz_The_Web_Gnome]

Its good to see that you don't have much gear yourself lol!

[@stanleyassor3172]

'its not the gear, its the ear' - BOLO!!!!!

[@carlosjaimes4141]

Ears, mixing and arrangement

[@thatsjasn]

Facts about learning the equipment.

[@PeanutButterAM]

Top rules. Continued education. Don’t buy gear without fully understanding it (I’ve read almost every user manual before I made a purchase) Try to get as much feedback from people that listen to different types of music than you do. Really think about what they are saying to you.

[@Rightly_Divided]

Yeah. Every synth I have used to be so foreign to me. It took a while learning how synths work. Now that I do know how they work, I am able to figure out pretty much every synth I pick up quickly. The MPC surprisingly was the easiest for me to learn out of all of my hardware instruments. But that may also be because I have been using hardware synths for a few years now. Good talk

[@wrkeys]

Someone needed to say this👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@mikewill5386]

A tough lesson we all learn

[@jamalharrison6421]

Thanks you Bolo I did that in the pass when I got rid of my roland Fa-06. I'll been working with the MPC live 2 now for almost a year.

[@lilian896]

Wonderful video! Thank you.❇

[@CreamOfBeats]

Theres no reason to have a bunch of gear. It's not like it's 30 years ago when we had to buy a sequencer, and a sampler, eq's, compressors, etc. Today, one piece of gear does 100 different things! Also, more gear = more noise...then you need another piece of gear to reduce the noise. 🤦🏽‍♂🤣

[@djtopshe11f59]

Thx Bolo! God bless you!

[@blkgostnone4092]

Great video brother!

[@thahomie773]

It’s always been me you’re right Bolo

[@LD40PRODUCTIONSLLC]

takes time ,,,,it takes time and won't happen overnight... train those ears

[@robpayneiii]

Bolo Da Producer. You are right that it is the skill set of the person but I would say that when you have a skill set it does help having the equipment set up to give you the proper sound level. Like my MPC X is BLA Moded. When I go to print it makes it sound smoother.

[@D-One]

Lies! Every beat I made that was wack it was the gear's fault, not mine!!! :D Joking of course, I agree with everything said 💯

[@ItsReezun]

Buying gear has been something of a habit more than mastering the equipment. I can't lie have been guilty of this back when maschine mk1.

[@Frank-sf4gg]

ty much respect. i always had cheap equipment and was putting out stuff that was way better than others that had tritons and asr.

[@TheOnlyJay_S]

I’ve tried those SSL plugins from Plugin Alliance, at first I was like wow I get to use an SSL but they simply did not take the low end out of my vocals. Went back to Logic’s stock plug-ins and they were better at taking care of the low end.

[@draggabeats]

The Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg interview with Stephen A. Smith was so good. Dr. Dre went in on today’s music production scene and how copy/paste it is. Nothing beats musicianship and that’s what separates you from the rest. Because you cultivate your sound as oppose to drag and drop sounds without any sound design.

[@stillgoddy]

True. I struggle with that

[@Mill-on-da-track]

There was a guy a week ago commented on a post from producer culture instagram page and he said "your music becomes timeless once you have 10,000$ worth of equipment"🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨. people really believe that dropping all that cash on gear will make them better and will argue you down about it 🤣🤣

[@TheOnlyJay_S]

I’m only getting a MPC just to go stand-alone, not to impress anyone, I’ll never understand people who go all out just to impress people lol

[@Mill-on-da-track]

@@TheOnlyJay_S big facts

[@Ntegritty]

Lol That's wild. 10,000 hours of practice should be the goal, you can use anything once you learn the right techniques

[@KarloTheFighter]

Less gear, more creativity✌️

[@brandonsteward9915]

I cannot wait to get my native instruments MAschine MK3 to pair up with my S88 MK3. I don't plan to buy anything else and just learn this setup with my Logic Pro Apple software to compose my own music for my cinematic short films I create. I'm new at all this but coming off of the old-school analog setups and going into all computer finally.

[@Jesoteric]

For me personally my motivations to create music have nothing to do with others, or trying to get recognition, I get if your a youngster who aspires to have a music career then yes you have to go a particular route and approach your beatmaking as almost more of a product because you essentially trying to please or impress others to have a career, but for me that isn’t the case at all , I’m a 40 year old husband and father who dreamt of being a beatmaker as a kid in the 90s and didn’t have a pot to piss in so I was never getting my hands on no hardware, now that I’m older and have the finances to buy equipment and create I do it purely for the experience I was not able to have as a young man, I don’t care about a music career, or the business, or what’s trendy or if anyone ever even looks my direction, I’m 1000 % coming from the most sincere place of just wanting to go into my own world and create something that I like, I don’t care if anyone else likes it, this is for me and me only, if you like something I make, cool, but I definitely don’t do this for that

[@ProdDamu]

No cap, all my beats are from the Mpc One Plus standalone (No keyboards, no loops, all stock plugins) 🔥🔥.

[@RickRijuanaPro]

Word! Schit took me years to really trust my ears. In the beginning you don't even know you're picking bad sounds sonically. If you're consistent enough to be able to go back and listen to compare. You'll be like WTF was I thinking 😂😂

[@towerrunner4675]

A good beatmaker is like a ninja - everything becomes a weapon in his/her hands. Price doesn't matter. Bo Da Pro is right.

[@bigkeezo]

Thank god I have plenty of Guitar Centers in LA area. I went in one day and they had the Key 61 MPC X out and I was tripping like I had my mind set on upgrading from my MPC One to the Key 61 But quickly found out it is a whole nother beast. And learning curve for me my boy. I know I would need help

[@gehadbarghouthi2561]

Gas is a thing cause the hardware is sexy af I’m definitely not around people, but it’s just a hobby. Learning a ton while having fun. Great knowledge for anyone looking to make a career

[@reticleronin]

This is facts. You have to know how to use the gear first. Now can the gear inspire after the fact ? YES. Just looking at my MPC Key 61 gets me going like Michael Myers in that tunnel scene from Halloween Ends lol

[@DionWynn]

Great video, I had this conversation with a friend of mine about a year ago. 😂

[@ECollinsMusic]

All facts...Alot of plugins do the same thing just has a different interface...Use your ear not your gear

[@BEATSbyDGIB]

Thanks bro....i use a lap top and my ears ..some sound a lil off but im working on ut every day

[@josephlafluer7266]

I agree we all have the same keyboard software etc.. It all depends on the USER, the user should always try to be unique create your own sound, limit yourself watching too many KZbin videos on production, and put the focus on learning the device or tool in and out by yourself FIRST.

[@christophschumacher640]

So true , thx bolo. 🙏

[@JahNeePlay2Much]

bro turned his back on the bucs and threw on the falcons hat after that loss lmfao

[@georgejones8895]

How do you keep from getting overwhelmed with too much gear ? I am having a serious problem with that. Can't get started because I always think I'm missing a piece.

[@Jesoteric]

Pick one or two pieces out of your gear and only use those and see how much you can accomplish with just that for a good while, after some serious time doing that you can pick another set and do the same and after awhile you’ll be on top of it all, it’ll take time though, I realized myself you can’t just try to use everything all at once you’ll just become overwhelmed and basically stagnant

[@Bashanvibe]

An old friend of mine who is no longer on this side of reality when he use to come to the jam session I was apart of he use to be hyped about my Fantom G6 he brought a Fantom X he said his don’t sound like mine!!! I said he have to go through the board and learn it!!!

[@alexvelazquez3679]

I made most my stuff with a Mpk mini 3rd gen recently I got an MPC studio with them combined its phenomenal. With waves combined Antares plugins been hitting -8 LUF's

[@waxprophetic]

gas is real, especially when caught up in the new gear channels on youtube. ultimately, master what you got before buying into the new hype

[@OGV70]

Very informative bolo❤

[@Ellz_The_EnginEar]

I completely agree. Equipment can only make you sonically sound good but your music can still be trash. Understand the difference between Sonics and music sound

[@AntDizzleBeats]

💯

[@powderedtoastman3093]

All the native items in MPC, Ableton, Logic, Cubase…they are all extremely capable. The extras are just entertainment. Learn the basics and you will get best of anything. I only own 3 plugins and still love the native in each. The cheque better not be light this Friday… 😉

[@salaam76]

Iam always learning every day on FL Studio 24 Iam in the box its all the same to me, but I totally agree with you Bolo !

[@John-lv6uj]

Amen

[@irife2771]

I think there are actual exceptions to this rule but a lot of that stuff is $$$$$... but yeah, if you don't know what your doing it isn't going to amount to much. I think relying on gear is valid but that is a concern you should only have once you actually know what you are doing and have the experience/talent to back it up.

[@WrekonizeTheMusic]

I feel like my wife paid Bolo to make this video 😂

[@joshuagardner894]

While I would agree, whatever you choose as your foundation is important. I will say, you need to have a balance. Dont buy into the hype. Pick something as your starting point and build from there. I use Monoprice 8-inch studio monitors. I use a cheap behringer mixer as my USB audio interface. My MPC Live 1 & 2, my Yamaha Motif XF8, Arturia Mk2, and Roli Seaboard 49 are sitting next to me, with a PC with Kontakt select and Omnisphere and Kontakt, and Vienna Symphonic Library Special Editions. This is a hobby for me, nothing more, and while I would love to make money doing this, it is far too competitive for my tastes. So instead, I do this because I enjoy it, not because I need to make a living from it.

[@88keyz]

Key 🔑 points experience 🔑learning🔑 applying what you have🔑 learned 🔑

[@baddriddimworkshop]

you can get a korg DDD1 for cool price, and then add the sampler retrofit card by waverex, and for da beat, if you're a youngster or on a budget, you're getting a real nice drumachine (old school 12 bit like a linndrum and it hitz) for around 400 bux, just to give an example... Datz why i like Bolo so much, the guy has a brain, and this is rather rare on youtube these days. Bro you need to try the REGEN, it was badly marketted towards the synth freaks allthough it's a piece of pure gold for a producer/beatmaker versed in sound design... Now you know man, you will not be able to say "...Dope, why didnt yall tell me? " lol. Greatings from France...

[@user-uu2xy3se6c]

Let’s not lie, we do need equipment for good sound, I’ve been using plugins for a long time and now that I use analog alongside my vst’s, it sounds way professional than just using plugins. Let’s stop lying to people because analog is needed in your mix

[@Dj.Hylanda]

Mastering what you do have can go a long way😅

[@88keyz]

My prospective for me is the pass 5 years any gear or plugins i have purchased are investments for me to learn to use for the next 5 to 10 year's or longer and at the same time producing music as an hobby or more then just an hobby .I am turning 50 in December thanking GOD for everything an i hope to continue doing music for another 50 plus years GOD willing enjoying every musical creativity experience that GOD has blessed 🙌🏽 me to be capable of doing 🙏🏾 my hopes are if you love making music do it be blessed in what you creative 🙏🏾 im stop now tho this chat getting long winded 😂 stay safe n blessed all 🙏🏾

[@mr.bond2023]

At first I refused to update to the mpc 3 beta I felt like the old software was better. But once I updated and put more and more time in with it. Mpc 3 software is way better. I agree you have to learn the equipment. I’m having so much fun with the new software now.

[@jasondugas8184]

Let the gear nerds have thier fun 😂

[@rahdeekhal]

100% Facts

[@buttoncreationz]

Yes sir

[@Iamkickz]

I agree!

[@88keyz]

I agree totally 💯 its not the gear its you salute 👍🏾 🫡