Success

So I have been watching Rhythm and Flow featuring Chance the Rapper, Cardi B and T.I. on Netflix lately and while I watched it, I heard T.I. state the quote above.

SUCCESS IS WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS PREPARATION.

I heard him say it and it sparked a memory for me. I once had a mentor tell me that time prepared is not time wasted. Both of these sayings work with one another. People feel unprepared during a time of opportunity because they haven't been preparing. The opportunity flops because we don't take the time to prepare ourselves. 

Now I am not talking about remembering a few lines and what not. I am speaking of honing your craft and enjoying the journey. Artist, creatives, creators, or inventors get caught up in the results that we forget that we enjoy our craft. Only God knows when opportunity comes, but if you give up on it or forget why you do it, you may miss opportunity.

You have probably heard this a million times but people tend to quit right before their time comes. Usually due to the low moments life throws at them. We fall so low that we feel or think we know that everything was a pipe dream. Yet, it's always at that moment when you need to push forward. Much like the folks in Rhythm and Flow, you could have T.I. or Cardi or Chance to pop up in your city and give you a chance. Or the most likely of situations, you connect enough with others and after a couple of mistakes and some possible right moves, your time may come. You just can't let life discourage you. There are always lessons to be learned, especially from your own downfalls that you could teach someone else. 

Anyways, I know I ranted and it may not have made the most of sense, and its different then normal, but hope this inspires you.

As Always,

Stay Blessed,

Mic-Key

Facts of Eq #1

So as most of you know, you can’t mix a track without Equlaizing (more commonly known as EQing or EQ). Well here is a basic tip you need to keep in mind. EQ works best when removing parts of the frequency than adding to it. Now there is always a use for boosting frequencies, but there are generally only two (2) major uses.

The first being Sound Design, the second and most common one is for creating clarity.

If I will be honest, I don't really use EQ for Sound Design (called SD from this point on, toooooo many letters to type lol.); but I know how to do it. EQ for SD is exaggerative. You take a clip or sample and Create drastic fluctuations in the sample's frequencies to create a sound you desire. For instance, you take a simple thing as a Toilet Flushing, idea courtesy of Curtiss King (click on his name to see the video he did on this.) You remove and boost until all that is left is what you want to be heard.

The most common of uses is to bring clarity or blending sounds into the track. For instance, you have a snare drum and a bass playing at the same time. The bass is hitting so hard that is over taking the snare. The simplest thing is to make a high pass filter and cut the higher frequencies where the Snare may sit and cut them. Likewise, on the flip side, you can create a low pass filter and cut the low end out of the snare's sample. This way none of the frequencies overlap by much and the snare can cut through the mix. A prime example of this is from the man Lifestyledidit who can go further into depth.

Thanks for your time,

Stay Blessed,
Mic-Key

Recording Vocals #1 - Where to stand

Have you ever seen someone basically making out with the mic? It’s rather disturbing and has the opposite effect of what you need. To exaggerate I once saw a guy look like he was making out with the mic. I felt I needed to leave the room to give them some time alone.

That being said, you need to have some space between you and the Mic. I know I have the picture up top that gave a description. But here’s what it is supposed to look like.

When you have enough distance, you are able to project a bit more (without it distorting as much), allow room for clarity, remove some of the breathing sounds while still sounding natural. You also make it easier on your engineer. That LOW end then creeps up in vocals isn’t as annoying as it would be with you kissing the mic. 

Let me know if you try this out and how it works for you.

Stay blessed,

Mic-Key

Start from the bottom

So I posted this a while ago and I want to further break it down.

Over the years I have always found that after hearing a song, beat, mix or whatever so many times you begin to become used to it and miss certain things in a Mix. I learned this the hard way hen I used to do the sound engineering at a church I worked for. Every Sunday was a concert basically. During practices, after they learned the songs they would do a full run through.

THIS is where I learned that it was best to start the mix from scratch. Now if you have everything bussed this will be easier, but if you don't, it’s possible either way. 

First things first, drop all the faders to the bottom. Then pick what you want to build around. For the sake of the genre I usually work with, I’m a say the kick. You start by bringing the kick to where it ends up peaking at -12db. This will become a frame of reference, YOU DO NOT want anything to go above it. 

From here I like to build the rest of the drums around it. Mostly because it helps me get into the swing of things, but also because I am most comfortable with drum (I can play them). The snare will be just underneath or matching the kick. Hi hats a couple of decibels under.

I then introduce the melodies. I start of with the main instrument I want to stand out and then add the others until the are distinct but not over powering the rest. Basically repeating what I just did with the drums.

After I have gotten everything blended to how I want it, I start planning and widening tracks and making everything fall into place. 

I have added a link to hear the final product of one of my mixes...

Eyes Toward Heaven - Apple Music

Eyes Toward Heaven - Spotify

Eyes Toward Heaven - Youtube

I plan on possibly making video. Have to work my way up to that though. 

Stay blessed! 

Mic-Key

Everything takes patience...

Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting. - Joyce Meyer via brainyquote.com

Sometimes in life I have found myself being very impatient with how things are going. I say this knowing that I am definitely not the only one going through this. Most of the impatience usually comes from the lack of money. I always feel like I'm not doing the most to provide for my family (which given whom you may, ask I may not be). Regardless, I do my best with what I can. I have an awkward job that allows me to be home often but I'm not making enough to support my family without help. I have dreams I want to accomplish, I have wants and financial desires. But before that, I want to be of use to people. So I’m a start posting a more descriptive version of my “tips 4 a better mix” posts that are on IG and Twitter. Hope these are of help and I hope this becomes of mutual benefit.