2009 iStandard Beat Battle In New York City

These are always fun to witness up and coming producers lay down their hottest beats in front of a distinctive crowd of tastemakers who understand and scrutinize every beat. J-Hatch and Don Denapoli of iStandard put together these beat battles that happen all around the country through out the year.

Learn more about iStandard Beat Battles and more for up and coming producers here:
iStandard website

Top Recording Engineers Explain Why Music Sounds Awful

At the recent AES trade show in New York City, top recording engineers and producers got together for a industry panel discussion about various aspects concerning them in today's current music recordings. Auto-Tune, Audio Compression, new recording technology, record company pressure for hits, were some of the topics discussed.

As reported by Steve Guttenberg at CNET

The panelists were all prominent record producers and engineers: Tony Brown (Elvis Presley, Emmy Lou Harris); Jimmy Douglass (Jay-Z, the Rolling Stones); Dave Hewitt (Simon and Garfunkel, U2); Ryan Hewitt (Avett Brothers, Red Hot Chili Peppers); George Massenburg (Linda Ronstadt, Lyle Lovett); Ann Mincieli (Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston); and Russ Titelman (Stevie Winwood, Eric Clapton). These people know from where they speak!

It seems like the main problem comes from record company pressure to make perfect recordings. Vocalists' off-pitch and out-of-time singing is tweaked with Auto-Tune; music-making is largely technology-based. That is, technology has replaced musical talent, and singers like Britney Spears were cited many times as to where it's all headed. Not so musically talented, her music has to be patched together in the studio. There's not a lot of there there.

Jimmy Douglass talked about the overuse of dynamic range compression, admitting that since most music is listened to over crappy computer speakers or cheap earbuds, compression is required to make it sound acceptable. Sad, but true.

For better musicians, technology can inhibit spontaneity. For George Massenburg, "It's all about authenticity," his goal in the studio is to simply capture a moment. And when recording engineers do that, the emotional power of the music has some chance of connecting with the listener.

Read the whole article here:
CNET: Top recording engineers explain why music sounds awful

Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine Take Over The Audio Spectrum With New HP Envy PCs

via press release

October 09, 2009 - HP (NYSE:HPQ) and Beats Electronics, LLC, today announced an alliance to achieve higher-quality sound from digital music through technology innovation.

The HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition notebook PC with integrated Beats Audio emerged from close collaboration between legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records and Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine, and HP engineers.

The HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition notebook PC – the latest edition to HP's flagship ENVY line -- features a sleek, piano black, high-gloss finish and signature Beats design as found in the Beats by Dr. Dre™ line of headphones. It includes the high-performance Beats Audio solution and software popular among professional and aspiring DJs. Influential music producers and artists who lent their expertise to the project include Will.i.am, Timbaland, Polow Da Don and Pharrell.

"Beats is about sound. That's all it's ever been about, starting with the headphones and now moving to the Beats Envy computer we're doing with HP," said Dr. Dre. "The laptop is the new stereo for a lot of people and that's why we're putting out this computer with incredible sound."

Read more of the press release here:
HP ENVY press release

Nipsey Hussle and producer Neo Da Matrix working hard footage posted

They banging out beats for Nipsey's upcoming 'South Central State of Mind' on E1/Epic/Cinamatic dropping soon.

Cool and Dre: Miami producers photo shoot in LA

Cool & Dre are one of Miami's hottest producer duos around. With a laundry list of artists that they've worked with including The Game, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled and coutless others. Cool & Dre are currently working with The Game, Ace Hood, Wale & Queen Latifah and there is no stopping them.
They took some time out to up their media profile with the photographer Ace of LA some weeks ago.

One Stop Shop Producers Conference Beat Battle Winner

Last weekend over five hundred aspiring and established producers from the UK, the Caribbean, Australia, Canada and America, congregated in Phoenix, AZ for the ANNUAL ONE STOP SHOP PRODUCER CONFERENCE. For the third consecutive year Sha Money XL and his team went above and beyond in presenting to the next generation of music's producers, execs, managers and artists a weekend filled with informative panels and networking opportunities.

Panels moderated by MTV on-air personality Sway, Angela Yee of Shade 45, Chuck Creekmur of Allhiphop.com and more were both educational and featured the best of the best in the Hip-Hop business, discussing all aspects of the industry. This year One Stop Shop also played host to artists such as B.o.B, Q-Tip, Reflection Eternal and more allowing attendees the opportunity to see these entertainers perform live.

The highlight of the weekend was, as in previous years, the Beat Battle which was won this year by Montreal native Mathieu 'Billboard' Jomphe. The 20 year old who had quit his job to migrate south for the weekend blew the audience away with his production. "The thing that amazed me the most about winning was the fact that my beats are more R&B," Billboard said after winning the coveted title. "You see those huge names in Hip-Hop on that stage and you can't help but be a little bit nervous."

Impressing the likes of Just Blaze, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Don Cannon and 9th Wonder with his versatile, polished and cohesive tracks, Billboard made a huge impact on all those at ONE STOP SHOP."The crazy thing with Billboard was his music got included for an on air beat battle I was doing with a radio station, but then he let me know he wasn't in Arizona and couldn't take part but was coming to the conference," Sha Money XL explains. "His music felt like what I would be vibing to in a club, big sounds and club rocking drums and everyone there was feeling it too."

Each year the winner of the notorious Beat Battle has hailed from a different country which proves that this conference is an attraction that reaches . With plans to take the ONE STOP SHOP on the road in the next year Sha Money XL is keen for this networking opportunity to benefit countries where there is a void in the market. "We are open to taking this concept to other countries and with that being said we might explore making the conference international. Perhaps even Toronto, Canada next.'

"Hands down, this conference has got to be the best and most influential conference for both up & coming and established music producers and tech heads. Blessed to be apart of this. See you at the 4th Annual if you missed out!! "- Hi-Tek

check out Billboard the Producer's Myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/billboardprod

A&R Power Summit Urban Producers Panel 2009

Attention R&B and Hip Hop artists, musicians and producers, check out the recent A & R Power Summit hosted on by Urban Threshold in NYC May 2nd & 3rd.

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