What makes my beats sound good

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#analog #lofi #compressor #musicproduction

[@mpchead]

Merch mpchead.com/collections/merch

[@istvantoth7431]

The Portuguese shogun shares his secrets. Thanks bud, appreciate this!

[@danielrobinofficial]

after 35 years of producing hiphop beats myself… i never get tired of listening to a talented and enthusiastic beatmaker who knows his gear. Thank you so much for inspiration with every video you drop.

[@rodrigoelcabondo]

Yo this beat is hard! I would listen to this on repeat for hours on headphones while watering my garden. Peace!

[@mpchead]

🔥🔥🔥

[@3nochendtimesmusic925]

The sound you're getting from that chain is gold bro, that anolog heat is doing a lot for the character while the rack gear is adding heft weight and dimension. I have a similar chain but with less expensive gear and an SP-303 instead of an anolog heat and instead of 2comps a Mic pre, comp then eq but I also have two and almost three different chains now. Great choice of gear by the way, the beat is ill as well sounds like some 90's Heltah Skeltah.

[@3nochendtimesmusic925]

I think this is topic a lot of beat makers need these days since it takes sonics and sound quality to a level that plugins just can't achieve. Sorry for the rant but this vid got me hype, anyway keep doing you're thing Marlow and stay humble bro I really admire that about you. Peace!

[@neorahmusic9245]

is this achievable with plugins???? Should I mix with plugin analog emulations like this? Im confused please help!!

[@celestial5693]

@@neorahmusic9245there’s no harm in trying. Plugins although (imo) aren’t at the level of outboard have definitely gotten better in the last few years. The main thing is if it sounds good, then that’s it!

[@datapusher-]

The chimes and effects really POP through with that EQ and comp. Everyone hears the snare because its obvious but I love the life breathed into the subtle sounds. A+

[@mpchead]

YES that's the thing I love about the eq. Always brings extra harmonics.

[@fire.aux.chords]

preach brother... this the video weve all been waiting for. secret sauce

[@PeteOnTheBeat]

Sounds amazing! The main difference I spotted was on the snare. I'm making a Marlow type beat rn with your rhodes chords and I applied the some of the tricks here!

[@mpchead]

I guess when I m making the beat it is very dark and when I run it through these machines it brightens up the mix and adds harmonics.

[@cooksoni.a]

holy shit, that side by side comparison

[@joshuamercado4596]

I’ve bought some of your drum kits before and thought the kicks were way to heavy to work with but now seeing that this being the work flow they’re being utilized in I gotta give em another go

[@MYD369]

I’d dig that full tour u were speaking about 🤙🏽

[@Samples4me]

Thank you Marlow Diggs. I recreated this Chain in Abelton and my beats feels more alive now!!

[@beatsbyattarus80]

Interesting! I also use Ableton. which plugins are you using to recreate this setup?

[@Samples4me]

The secrets in the stock plugins

[@smackdammit4266]

That Analog Heat tho🔥🔥🔥🔥👌🏽

[@DJDigitalJosh]

Magic PURE Magic!

[@chrisdavis9135]

Dope mane.. definitely Diggs ya technique fo sho!🏆

[@jermainelong1843]

Night and day. Informative video.

[@westerncivilization]

Word to the Pulp Fiction VHS tape. That thing got me laid a lot back in the day.

[@PacificDownstreams]

How come you don't do Q&A's??

[@mpchead]

You want a q&a?

[@ak51ziomucz]

Dope Spaceship Men ! ❤

[@HarryLoveTV]

the make up analogy is pretty funny & apt. some lovely gear you been acquiring man!!

[@projectsmarsh]

Thanks for putting us on game time after time 🙏 this one shouldnt be taken lightly

[@mpchead]

🙏🏼

[@notafunc]

Nice setup, simple and effective.

[@georgegeez8708]

Great video. I personally separate all my sounds out of my MPC being that it has 8 outs plus the stereo outs for a total of ten outputs. I use the 8 outs for mainly drums and the stereo out for the main sample. I double and triple my kicks to sound really punchy. From there, in the mixer, I have outboard EQs, compression and effects which puts the icing on the cake when it comes to the sound. After all that, I record into the DAW and finish there. Or I go completely dawless and record straight into a DAT recorder to keep the mix completely warm. That's how I make my music smack hard.

[@neorahmusic9245]

is this achievable with plugins???? Should I mix with plugin analog emulations like this? Im confused please help!!

[@georgegeez8708]

@neorahmusic9245 Hey, from what I know, it is achievable. I just personally use outboard gear to achieve my sound. But yes, there are plug-ins that mimic certain outboard gear that can give you the sound you are looking for.

[@neorahmusic9245]

@@georgegeez8708 Thanks

[@NME_REK]

Always know plug ins are secondary and trying to mimic the real version of hardware gear

[@NME_REK]

I can dig this vid here bro

[@elident7828]

Thanks Marlow, you are giving me ideas that are really helpful and valuable… in the music industry I’m learning that people aren’t as transparent as you are and tend to keep secrets. I’m definitely looking at a hardware compressor for my outputs and like your signal chain. Thanks great video !

[@djshancabass9353]

Thanks, for the lesson.

[@mas8538]

This was dope man thank you for sharing! I would love a full tour foo!!

[@spvidz]

Awesome video man, thanks for sharing! I wish I would have invested in outboard equipment instead of a ton of different samplers lol. Can't believe the difference these make...!

[@mpchead]

You and me both! Spent some money on samplers that get hardly used.

[@inputmonitor]

That Tegeler Audio Magnetismus 2 sounds amazing...

[@philip6252]

Goated with the sauce 🥵

[@marcelotooty]

Só ensinamento bom, Marlow! Sigo na sintonia 🙏

[@HouseDarten]

Nice!

[@mnlrbeats]

thank you for the inside!

[@carbonvibes]

Thank you for sharing Marlow, appreciate you for all the gems. Much respect brother 🫡

[@mpchead]

✌🏼thanks for tuning in once again 🔥

[@Rondware71]

Great insight and valuable information, great video. Thanks.💎

[@mpchead]

Thanks for tuning in to the channel 🔥

[@Beatsbynovember]

That was so dope. Very informative and entertaining. Keep up the great work 💯

[@mmmmmmyeeeaaahhh3880]

You oughta get a wood rack for those my dude, the wood racks are sick. Plus you won't see all the exposed wiring.

[@mpchead]

I like this one because it has wheels and I can move it around the studio

[@IamDjCorrect]

Dope brother ! ! !

[@mpchead]

🙏🏼

[@mille400prod3]

thx boss

[@KW-zs7zv]

hey marlow amazing. its night and day for sure. your channel and soccer is what brings me joy these days. haha. more videos please!

[@mpchead]

Glad you like them! ✌🏼

[@Knick_Fury]

Great vid especially for a novice like me. Thanks for sharing. Was gonna ask more about Analog Heat but just found your vid from a couple of years back doing a deeper dive on it...nice. Much appreciated! 🫡

[@mpchead]

Awesome, thank you!

[@mcbublick]

nice mix!

[@strangestrains.]

Analog Heat🔥🔥🔥

[@Dolle_Man]

subbed after 5 sec. awesome!

[@mpchead]

🔥🔥🔥

[@kursive1]

Dope video. Need some gear.

[@Ross_Antonich]

Great video Marlow! I loved seeing this. I need to get into rack mounts!

[@DBX79]

Your videos inspire me to keep making more hip hop music!

[@mpchead]

Happy to hear that!🔥🔥🔥

[@soundlabsounddesign9392]

So basically you're playing the compressors, and they are an integral part of your sound, so they are instruments to you too. Nice sounds :)

[@beatsbyjiro8291]

Thanks for sharing some secret sauce, every producer go their little secret chain that usually stays a secret, so do you monitor through the whole chain as your making the beat or do you bypass them and engage them after the beat is done trying to get the best sound striaght out of the MPC before recording.

[@WilfridCyrus]

Great idea for a video. Loved seeing your outboard gear and got inspired to get some myself.

[@mpchead]

Go for it!

[@taller513]

Gracias por compartir esto bro, un gran abrazo

[@thekeysman6760]

Yet you still mixing what is essentially a mastering chain, brother. Something that is very hard to do and very restrictive. The kick will always duck the rest of the mix like Dilla if you want that, or requires tweaking to not. Plus although you say each compressor was aimed at different aspects, it's still across the whole mix, affecting everything. Tricky work, generally. I moved away from this in the early '00s in favour of multitracking where I can treat individual instruments and channels with eq and/or compression prior to a mastering or mixdown chain with eq, comp, and limiter. For this reason, I'd have to resample with that first box back into the MPC prior to any compression, to have the control I like to have. But if it sounds good, that's all that matters! 😎👍

[@mpchead]

Thanks for sharing 🙏🏼

[@thekeysman6760]

@@mpchead When I started with an S-900 back in the day, I realised the fact that vinyl samples were pre-eq'd lent to the sound and were dictating the mix, so I often think that multitracking and doing anything more than just a high or low cut eq or filter isn't necessarily the way to get a retro HH sound anyway. Thereby making everything I say irrelevant! 🤪 Although I still do like the clarity of early DJ Krush and DJ Shadow due to the more multitrack, multi channel studio sound, and the depth of the final mixdown.

[@SOO100BRAND]

Good video. My racks are my sound. I'm so confident in my signal chain it doesn't matter the sampler or synth I start with

[@mpchead]

Same here!

[@GrabThoseKeys]

The punch and clarity that your beats have is always so pleasing to listen to. Do you / have you found the fx within the mpc live 2 and x to be on par with your external gear or do you find that they lack something that you look for when mixing? Or is it simply your love of buying and using different gear because i can totally understand that I'm the same way lol. Always look forward to these types of videos!!

[@mpchead]

I love gear, I feel that all gear has its own sound and feel, they're all different and all have they're unique magic. Plugins in the mpc are the same, some have traits that I can't replicate on the analog gear.

[@GrabThoseKeys]

That makes perfect sense. As I'm still early in my beat making journey I find myself trying to use the plugins on the mpc live 2 and X to see what fx I like and from there I'll venture out to buying gear because I like gear 😂. Catch you on the next video. Thanks!

[@dxtrs_mnpltr]

Those Heritage units bro 🤗

[@beverly007ful]

Cool rig

[@flunkedouttanasa9450]

I'd love to see the full tour for sure. Really interesting that the final touch is just a limiter in your DAW. You really don't mess with it much after the rack units?

[@mpchead]

No I don't, after it passes the machines it is done.

[@themayne6303]

I don’t have the patience for these particular chains. I get it though. I’m just not ready for that complicated learning curve at the moment. Can’t wait till I am though.

[@FolieEnPublic]

Hi Marlow, love the channel. Very helpful. So I was looking into buying either an analog heat or add an Akai S950 to my setup (MPC Live 2 + Macbook) to add some character to my sound. I've had an S900 in the past but am unfamiliar with devices like the analog heat. I saw you use the MPC60 for it's sound so I was wondering which made more of an impact on your sound. The MPC60 or the Analog heat? Thnx and keep up the good work!

[@mpchead]

The analog heat is better for sound, no brainer.

[@FolieEnPublic]

​@@mpcheadCool thanks! I'm going to try one.

[@prodcountryjames]

Huge Difference well rounded everything. I've been producing over 20+ years mainly on Reasons so I decided to buy the MPC Live and Roland Integra 7 a couple weeks back. Man the sound from digital to analog is so much lovelier lol. I have the Audio Scape Comp, Distressor and Dbx 160A which now I will start adding to my beats after watching your video. I would have to record into Protools because man I can't keep rewiring cables 😅Thanks a lot for the video..

[@whawha9016]

Sounds like you got rich parents or a very well-paid job?

[@prodcountryjames]

@@whawha9016 Far from rich parents its call Sweetwaters, Zzounds, Some TV placements and overtime, plus years of saving lol.

[@crue11]

Hey Marlow, thx for this, the difference is amazing! How would you send out your stems if an artist wants to rap on your beat? send them clean? I mean without that master chain it would lose so much sauce and the mixing engineer would maybe not catch the same vibe you gave to the beat. Thanks!

[@mpchead]

Yeah that's right, just the stems without all the mastering sauce. It would be up to the other person to finish it.

[@crue11]

@@mpchead Thanks for the quick answer. Keep up the good work! cheers

[@ambeez___]

🔥🔥🔥

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

Hey Marlow this is great. I'm thinking of getting a couple of Tegeler channels. Do you use the individual outputs on your MPC or do you level inside the MPC? I started by leveling inside the MPC because my eight outputs weren't working on my 2000 XL when I got it but I'm used to using individual outputs on analogue drum machines so aside from my portable MPC all my other MPCs have the individual outputs and for me it's a must to run it through an analogue desk. What's your opinion?

[@Reggi_Sample]

How do you navigate the noise floor that comes with the analog heat?

[@thepanicroommastering2062]

be louder than the Noise 👍 easy

[@TheNextExit]

you should sell your analog heat user settings.

[@jovantrendmaker4722]

beat without compressor is dead with compressor it starts pumping next you need to try sidechain compression when sample starts pumping with the drums.. 90% of this can be done with plugins people dont need to spend to much money but if you want that final 10% you need to spend it thats my experience

[@TheGodMCDj]

Mixing into compression.

[@F_letc.h]

CONVERTERS!!

[@mpchead]

Or just an analog heat

[@The_Sound_Technician]

Do you resample back into the mpc? Or is this what you send to a pc to finalise a finished track?

[@mpchead]

This is the finish product

[@miladbarikani3591]

I don't know the mpc output seems better to me (but not the greatest) cause it has the mpc's hardware essence and it's more alive the compressor chain is great but to my test it's not used correct it sounds like a recreation of another sound I think the better use is when that essence be there and the compressors are just guiding the sound to be living and make a bold accent of the things that made the original sound good

[@subschnee4573]

A lot of the change in sound could have been done with eqing the samples on the machine itself. Or if not resample for example the snare processed with an eq. Also the reverb that comes with the treatment from the bus comp could have been done on the source. Get it right at the source.

[@beatsbyattarus80]

Very interesting. Of course similar results can be achieved ITB, but hardware is more fun! I was wondering, working this way you always deliver a finished beat that is already mixed and arranged, right? there are no separate tracks for further mixing and arranging in a DAW, am I correct? How this work for you? are rappers and mix engineers ok with this approach? Thanks

[@mpchead]

I just work for myself, I don't export anything for anyone. If that was the case I would do things differently

[@beatsbyattarus80]

@mpchead thanks for the answer, I understand. Since I usually make beats for rappers and recently I started using using an old MPC500 (I love the lofi sound and the basic workflow), I had to find a workaround to record separate track and process them in the DAW. But work on the whole mix like this is very satisfying!

[@DystopianTofuTV]

super interesting and inspiring, thnx ✌️ btw i just today traded my Analog Heat MK1 against a OTO BOUM … i do not yet have the boum here but will get it on monday. It has saturation and compression… that’s why i wanted to get it. :)

[@stephenrochester6309]

In other news: mixing your music sounds better than not mixing your music!

[@mpchead]

Something like that

[@CinemaTaGraffiti]

Hey Marlo, this video inspired me to buy the same analog set up. I have a question. When going back into your audio interface is your MPC in standalone mode or in controller mode? I ask because I had my MPC modded by Black Lion and I am going from my MPC audio outs into the chain and then into my Apollo Twins inputs and I can't get any audio output. Any advice? Thanks for this video man, I was blown away.

[@mpchead]

Thanks man, I always use the mpc in standalone. It works just fine, either you have the wrong outputs selected or the chain aint working right. Idk but make sure you get audio out the main outs of the mpc.

[@CinemaTaGraffiti]

Figured it out. Thanks again!@@mpchead

[@neovincibeats]

Hey which of those units are mono or stereo in that that chain

[@mpchead]

All stereo

[@matthewstrohmaier1911]

Do you have any advice for making heavy plunderphonics esque music like the stuff of the Avalanches on the modern MPC?

[@UnpopularOpinion42]

At what point are vocals added? Do you just give someone a mixdown and leave it to them to rap over it? Thats alot of processing to not include vocals in the mix. Or you just do instrumentals?

[@mpchead]

I just do instrumentals, if I had vocals they'd go before the chain.

[@UnpopularOpinion42]

@@mpchead understood, thank you for the insight 🫡

[@moriaijun]

My question is, if I were to buy it first, which would you recommend: Tegeler Audio Manufaktur/Magnetismus 2 or Heritage Audio/SUCCESSOR? Influenced by Marlow Digs I purchased ELEKTRON/Analog Heat HFX-1 MKII. Thank you.

[@mpchead]

For compression you wanna get the heritage audio.

[@moriaijun]

thank you! Always helpful!

[@janediaztempiam8442]

Do you cut the bass on the sides?

[@mpchead]

Yes

[@GalileoandtheStars]

I hear weird clicks and pops somethings wrong with your processing

[@mpchead]

Yes it's me

[@thekeysman6760]

0:05 Bottom left corner: example of what our stubble and growth does to the foam covering on our cans! 👍😂 I wonder if any manufacturer has sussed this? In my 50 years of experience, apparently not!

[@mpchead]

I need new foams

[@theoneselve]

successor has very fast attack so do I use it as a limiter?

[@mpchead]

The successor can be used as a limiter if you want.

[@sanblasisnice4070]

thanks man. could you please tell us, if your individual tracks in the mpc have effects on them, or are you really only applying on the master?

[@mpchead]

Yes the tracks in the mpc have some effects, things like filters but not much compression at all, just some delays or reverbs.

[@eltripps9684]

Marlow! I have a question. My mix bus comes out of my daw. My first hardware gear for the mix bus was the analog heat, but now I added the warm audio 273 preamps. Would you still have the analog heat as the first thing the mix bus hits over the preamps, or would it make sense to put it after the eqs and compressors to add a little last second character?

[@ObscureSampology]

How much for all them racks ?

[@VinylWave11]

Great very informative video. Do you ever use the analog heat on the ins for the MPC when sampling vinyl? I am strongly considering analog heat and/or a MPC Black Lion XB Mod for my MPX X SE

[@mpchead]

Never used it for sampling but I do run my samples through it after I sample.

[@saardean4481]

Cudos and props to you for acknowledging that you can get very far with olugins nowadays. Is this the mk1 analog heat? I also like some analog sauce so i bought a Oto Boum. Mostly cause of the workflow. Not because i cant get there with high end plugins . I once in a while need to turn some knobs for a change i guess :-)

[@lukeward4619]

Hey Marlow, what did you say about sidechain near the end? Is the first compressor listening to the frequency of the snare (around 200 Hz) and reacting to that snare frequency more than other frequencies?

[@mpchead]

The compressor acts on the frequencies you pick, I am using SC around 3k

[@alejandropalazonurtubi3520]

@Marlo, do you conect your audio interface to your computer via USB?

[@mpchead]

Yes

[@marcopoulos3493]

firewire ;-)

[@LordHando]

Lesson: Spend a few thousand on a master chain

[@mpchead]

No I never said that, people ask me about my sound, I made a video on it. I never tell people to buy anything.

[@LordHando]

@@mpchead Cool man, saving up for some Ultraviolet EQ, GCOMP compressor, and NEVE pre's. I know what I like.

[@JasonToll-il5ln]

Dude, you got the same shit I got. But instead of prism converters, I got lynx

[@mpchead]

🙏🏼🔥🔥

[@JasonToll-il5ln]

@@mpchead I been rocking with the ensoniq Eps. Grimey boom bap. Awesome piece. Sounds better than my s950. U hip brother?

[@JasonToll-il5ln]

All mono too correct?

[@JasonToll-il5ln]

Never mind. I see it’s stereo

[@saren6538]

Marlow do you ever bother going out to cassette tape once it’s all mixed etc ? Is so what tape deck do you use

[@Vinylheritage]

Very interesting and unorthodox method. How do you deal with frequency clash between tracks since you are mixing directly the output? Do you do anything else than just gain staging inside the MPC? Peace

[@dracul74]

Great stuff! I have good hardware gear and good plug-ins. I feel that I can get 'my sound' with both... but I wouldn't say it is the same sound. Analog has it's flavor. Last year I ran most daw mixes in and out to a tascam tape deck and it added a lot of vibe. I also use hardware api eqs and UA 4710 pre and comp in the same way. I'd say about 70% of my stuff uses analog. Is it necessary... nope... do I (almost always) like the anaolg sound better... yup. Still thinking of selling a bunch of gear for the Heat+fx or possible the SSL big 6 mixer (which has comp too).

[@mpchead]

What tape deck?

[@dracul74]

@@mpchead tascam 414. I love it. Great for sampling and running mixes through. Has a knob to record at different tape speeds… great for slowing down recorded parts for warbley sounds. I bought a rebuilt one and it works like new.

[@mpchead]

@@dracul74 tascam made some great tape decks, I want a new one too. Just looking around to see what is available.

[@neorahmusic9245]

is this achievable with plugins???? Should I mix with plugin analog emulations like this? Im confused please help!! Also Im afraid that with plugins the end result will always be piercing , harsh and unpleasant , or is that just my mixing skills, and is pleasing and nice very well possible with digital without it sounding painful?

[@dracul74]

@@neorahmusic9245 there is no right answer (imo). There are several good tape and lofi plugins. I do prefer real tape though.

[@qmaybeats666]

Es con plata $

[@bro5662]

You can use that analog heat as an interface right?

[@mpchead]

Idk I never tried

[@rekindle]

Do you always use the EQ in Mid / Side mode? It sounds good!

[@mpchead]

Most often I do, some beats it doesn't work so good but I test it to see which one is better.

[@rekindle]

@@mpchead thanks for your reply ... you're getting great results, I go the opposite way in my workflow, I use a lot of analogue hardware but on individual tracks, leaving the master bus untouched so the mastering engineer can work with it... do you consider what you're doing to be mastering as well as mixing?

[@ArtDavisFilms]

You said, it's not even mixed... How if you get in with a stereo file? You said round and punchy? But you killed all the transients with your last vca comp. How about a slow attack to have at least some punch. Is this just to demo your beat or how do you proceed if an artist wants a beat? Do you give out just a stereo file for the mix engineer? ✌🏽️✌🏽️✌🏽️

[@intihumala9087]

Let me ask you this... lets say I get racks like this (which is something I have been researching for months) and I am using an MPC 2500 with 8 audio outs. How would i get those 8 audio outs into a compressor or EQ rack? What device can i buy where I can transfer the 8 audio outs through the racks so that I can multi track record on my DAW? Im going to assume you will say I cant because I would have to use the stereo outs in the MPC but I just want to confirm this

[@mpchead]

Depends what you wanna do, but if wanna ise the 8 outs you can send out 1 to a certain eq/compressor, out 2 to another eq/ compressor and so on. You would need more than one of each.

[@mpchead]

Or just send the main outputs to the eq compressor like I do

[@intihumala9087]

Do you multi track record when you do the main outputs to the EQ? @@mpchead