Why have'nt they released HSCPT1 yet?

[tuc70021]

Originally Posted by 3stooges

They are artists, not audio engineers. I think they know a lot about mixing, and they are capable of doing it themselves. But I think what happened is they mixed it, and then they were comparing it to other albums that were coming out at the time, and they felt that the mix just didn't stand up next to the mixes of these other albums. I don't know what they used for their original mixes for Hot Sauce, but they seem to always be going for a very warm, analog, 70's kind of mix sound, with the tubes and the tape and old effects units and pedals. Maybe it was just too much of that and it came out a little muddy. You need to be careful with the build up of noise/hiss/distortion as you are layering one warm, fat, funky analog track on top of the other. You can make an album sound like a Funkadelic album from 1971 if you want to. But in 2011, when you compare it to what else is coming out, it would definitely sound muddy in comparison.

There is a Sound On Sound interview with Zdar about that album, where he mentions that MCA was listening to the Cassius album (Zdar's group) and he loved how it sounded. So they brought him in to help them get the sound they wanted. Mixing is not something that is so easy to do, if you are very particular and critical about how your final mix and master should sound. It is a lot of technical work. It is a creative art form, certainly, but requires a great deal of understanding of all the gear, and carving out space for each sound with eq, and always using all this old gear they like to use. You really have to know what you are doing to keep it under control. That's why there are certain people that get a lot of work from top artists. Because there are only so many people that can really do it at that highest level.

Thanks for the info. I guess that makes sense that they are better at making the sounds originally than manipulating them later. I forgot how instrumental Mario C was on so many of their albums (and the Dust Brothers on PB) when it came to making them sound good, and even then there were problems. I have the Pass The Mic 12" Etched UK single and even when played on a perfectly normal stereo system, the "Booty, B-Booty" sample is out of phase and disappears every other time.

[3stooges]

Originally Posted by tuc70021

Thanks for the info. I guess that makes sense that they are better at making the sounds originally than manipulating them later. I forgot how instrumental Mario C was on so many of their albums (and the Dust Brothers on PB) when it came to making them sound good, and even then there were problems. I have the Pass The Mic 12" Etched UK single and even when played on a perfectly normal stereo system, the "Booty, B-Booty" sample is out of phase and disappears every other time.

Yeah I think what it came down to is that they are good at getting a certain sound, but for that record, they wanted to "update" their sound. It is of course a matter of taste as far as what is better. It would be cool as others have mentioned to hear the original mix of the album and compare it to the released version.

I love the Mario C sound, my favorite is Check Your Head. But some people might prefer a more modern, cleaner sound. It is tricky because as an artist you are always trying to find the perfect sonic blend of old and new. You don't want it to sound entirely like an old record, you want it to sound current as well. Or maybe you do like to just go all in on the old vibes type sound. It is just one of the many creative choices one makes as an artist.

One of the things you hear people say when they are mixing and mastering a record is that they want it to "compete" with the other current releases. What they are talking about is achieving a bright modern sound and a loud master that when played in a mix, on the radio for example, will fit right in with whatever else is currently being played. It's not going to sound quiet or dark and lifeless in comparison to the other bright loud songs being played before and after it. I personally don't agree with this philosophy. I feel every artist should do what they do without thinking about what others are doing. Just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean it's the right thing for me to do, or the right thing to do in general. But these are the kinds of things people are aware of as they come down to the last few steps of completing and mastering an album.

[brmanuk]

Can anyone please point me in the direction of the pre-Zdar "Here's A Little Something"? I've only heard the DJ Hero DJ Shadow mashup version.