Archive for the ‘Beastie Boys’ Category

Audio update, now with Janet Jackson

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

Okay, so last night I had a near nervous breakdown over audio issues. Because that’s what normal people do right?

Don’t answer that please.

So, here was my problem: My ART USB Phono Plus for, whatever reason, did not agree with my new computer. When I went from line-in to USB (analog-to-digital) all the high end on my recordings got cut off. It didn’t matter what USB port I used, or how I configured my recording setup, no matter what I did it always sounds the same. And my other preamp, the cheapo regular one, gave me crazy R/F interference that practically made it unusable.

I was just about ready to call it quits for the night, but then I had an epiphany: What if I used my ART Preamp like a regular pre-amp? Meaning I would hook it up to my computer via USB for power, but then run audio cables from the line-out on it into the line-in on my computer? Maybe that would bypass the shit filtering that was going on with the USB connection and I would get my high-end sounding better?

Tried it. It worked. I could finally hear the high-end. I was happy. That’s where I left things last night, with my “MY SHIT SOUNDS DOPE” update.

I spoke a bit too soon though. While my shit sounded good, “dope” was a bit of hyperbole (especially DOPE in caps).

Upon further review, I was still getting a good deal of line noise. Nothing crazy, about the same that I had before, but since I was no longer losing the high-end, I think I was able to hear it better. It was driving me crazy. So, then I had another idea: the ART USB Phono Plus can be powered by either USB or AC. What if I powered it by AC? Would removing USB from the equation help?

Bought an AC adapter for it, plugged it in, gave that a go. Nope. Actually it made it worse. At least I thought it did. So then I plugged the USB connection back into the computer while leaving the AC adapter plugged in, and then I tried to do a compare and contrast between recording via the USB and recording via the line-in. However, I noticed something odd; with the ART running off both USB and AC power it generated far less line noise. It was nearly inaudible over my speakers, and very quiet over my headphones. I suspect that  may have properly grounded it? Maybe did something to block off more RFT? I don’t know.

I could still hear it enough for it to moderately bug me though, so I decided to give some software filters a chance. First I tried Audacity. As always, it fell short. The noise removal in that doesn’t do the job for me. It removes it from quiet sections just fine, but if you’re working with anything that has bursts of noise in a quiet section then you can still hear the noise buried int he louder parts, at least I can anyways. No matter how much I fiddled with the settings in Audacity I couldn’t get it to work. The hiss removal in iZotope wasn’t much better either.

Then I remembered that the maker of my favorite click removal software, ClickRepair, also sells a program that removes line noise, aptly called DeNoise. I download that and gave that a shot, sticking mostly with the automatic settings.

Wow!  It works great. Between my reduced line noise coming in and the added help of DeNoise, my recordings are quieter and clearer than ever before. The difference is pretty amazing, Now I think my shit sounds dope. I don’t know though. You be the judge with tonight’s recordings.

Janet Jackson
Miss You Much (Mama Mix)
Miss You Much (Sing It Yourself Mix)
Miss You Much (Oh I Like That Mix)
You Need Me
I was going to test out my new setup with an abstract orchestral composition by Ryuichi Sakamoto, but I thought it might behoove me to use a song that people have actually heard before, so they can compare and contrast. Hence, Miss Jackson (if you’re Nasty).

Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys Medley
Hey Ladies (Extended Funky Mix)
These are both from “Ultimix” LPs, special DJ only records. Typically, these things tend to suck. They’re usually quick and sloppy re-edits that don’t add anything new or original to the tracks. These mixes are pretty good though, the “Hey Ladies” extended mix ads a lot to the track and is a lot of fun.

 

Posted in B-sides, Beastie Boys, Janet Jackson, remixes | No Comments »

NO SLEEP TILL FUCK CANCER

Friday, May 4th, 2012

Beastie Boys
Rock Hard
Alive At Yauch’s House

 

 

 

fuck

Posted in B-sides, Beastie Boys | 10 Comments »

I Spent Five Minutes Thinking of a Title and This is the Best I Could Come up With

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Man, the week just flies by doesn’t it? I realize I have not been posting as much as usual lately, but life has been pretty hectic. Everything returns to normal next week though, so expect more quality (and not quality) content coming soon.

Until then, fucking Beastie Boys are dope, yo.

Beastie Boys
Get It Together (A.B.A. Remix)
Get It Together (A.B.A. Instrumental)
Three MC’s And One DJ (Live Video Version)
Negotiation Limerick File (Handsome Boy Modeling School Remix)
Body Movin’ (Kut Masta Kurt Remix Instrumental)
Negotiation Limerick File (Accapella Wet)
Can someone please tell me that the new Beastie Boys’ album is good? I want to buy it, but holy shit To the 5 Boroughs was trash.

Recently the Beasties re-issued their classic work in deluxe editions with bonus tracks and remixes, which makes it hard for people like me to find truly “rare” tracks. I guess these remixes were on the cutting room floor for those deluxe editions though, as they remain rarities as far as I can tell. I could be wrong though. I swear some release in the past had the video version of “Three MCs and One DJ.” Am I just imagining thing? Wouldn’t be the first time. Knowing me my intuition is probably flipped, that’s the only track that’s actually rare, and the rest are all on iTunes somehow and I missed them.

Hey, if I am wrong do me a favor, tell me. But don’t be a dick about it. I appreciate knowledge directed towards me in a non-dickish manner.

The remixes of “Get It Together” are from a 12″ single for the track, and the rest are from an odd vinyl EP called “Scientists of Sound – The Blow Up Factor Vol. 1.”

Posted in Beastie Boys, remixes | 6 Comments »

Hell of a Good DJ

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

Thank you everyone who gave their input in regards to my audio quality issues. After reading through all your input and doing some additional research on my own I’ve determined that the main issue is that the records I buy are usually used, and used greatly at that. I guess it comes with the territory. Still, if anyone has any specific advice on how to deal with that “lispy’ sound issue I’d be much obliged.

I also noticed that many people were making assumptions about the gear/set-up I run. So I thought I would just explain that right now to get it out of the way.

My turntable is a Stanton STR8-80, which I got used for about 80 bucks – a steal. It’s s straight-arm model, and I know that those aren’t the best for audio quality, but it’s always been a delicate balance for me when it comes to finding a turntable that can play at high quality and one that can play stratched, fucked up records. I know that straight-arm turntables can usually play more busted-up records, so that’s why I went with it over a curved-arm model.

The STR8-80 has a standard RCA cable attached to it, which I run to a pre-amp that cuts down/eliminates annoying R/F interference. Then I run the cable out of that to my computer via a RCA-to-line-in cable. Right now its hooked up to the computer’s onboard soundcard. While that’s not perfect, its not half bad either, and seems to be doing the job right now. I did a comparison between the onboard audio and my external Soundblaster and didn’t notice any difference, so I’m not going to bother with an external soundcard for now.

I use Creative’s cheapo recorder for recording the audio, and then I use Sony’s Sound Forge to touch it up and cut the raw WAV files into individual MP3s. I almost never use any automated “vinyl recording” features that touch up audio files. Sure, they can be great at removing pops and clicks, but they also remove high hats, finger snaps and any other similar sound. I do it all manually. I’m crazy like that.

Then I use MP3tag to tag the files. I used to use iTunes for this, but I was finding out that iTunes was leaving some fields black in the actual tags, and whenever I had to re-install iTunes I was losing information, which was incredibly annoying.

Nearly everything I use has been replaced at least once, and the “lispy” audio and slightly of-kilter audio balance have always followed to some extent, so until I get a really super high end turntable (i.e. A Technics SL-1200mk2) I’m now officially no longer caring about my audio quality unless there’s something free and easy that I can do to make it sound better. So, please don’t send me feedback telling me how I’m fucking everything up unless you have a no-cost, preferably software solution. I’ll give an automatic process a chance if it can fix this problem.

Or if my audio quality really bothers you then just send me a Technics SL-1200MK2 turntable for free. Hey, they’re only 600 bucks! Buy me two!

Beastie Boys
Intergalactic (Professors of Technology Remix)
Intergalactic (Fuzzy Logic Remix)
“Intergalatic” was the track I used to test my tonearm weight. The line “when I wrote graffiti my name was slop!” line was a good test of that “lispy” sound. The original version of the track had that problem pretty bad, but these remixes are fairly clean. Regardless of audio quality, they’re all funky as shit.

Hell
Follow You (Dominik Eulberg Remix)
I love Hell, the dude, not the concept of eternal damnation. I usually can’t stand minimal techno either, so the fact that I think this dude is the best DJ on the planet really says something about how awesome he is. He’s the only person not playing at UMF this year who I wish was.

Oh yeah, by the way, I’m totally going to UMF (Ultra Music Festival) in Miami this month! If anyone wants to recommend any DJ/artist let me know! There are SO MANY playing that it’s kind of hard to keep track of them all.

Posted in Beastie Boys, Hell, remixes | 4 Comments »

Sucka MCs Should Call Me Sometime

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

First of all, shout outs to everyone who hooked me up with those Janet Jackson remixes. I will be hosting them myself in a few days, so if you can’t get the files from the comment section just hold tight.

Now, without further ado here is my promised totally amazing old-school(ish) hip-hop post. Next up will be some ultra-bizarre/obscure/alternative hip-hop, which I hope to get up tomorrow. Until then, peace out my homies.

2 Live Crew
We Want Some Pussy (89′ House Mix)
We Want Some Pussy (The Classic “Dance”)
We Want Some Pussy (Liberty City Long Hard Mix)
We Want Some Pussy (Live In Concert)
So many things to talk about with this one. There’s the label art (classy), this AMAZING brochure I found in the sleeve, and ever-present 2 Live Crew disclaimer, “Unauthorized duplication wil get you messed up by the The Ghetto Style DJs.” Then there’s the song itself, a classic if there ever was one. Actually, no sarcasm aside this is a pretty damn good old-school rap song and you can’t deny that it’s catchy as hell. The house remix is full of recognizable samples, it has the James Brown “Oh! Yeah!” that you probably know from “It Takes Two” as well as a synth note from “Trans-Europe Express”/”Planet Rock.” The Liberty City mix also has a kickin’ guitar riff, but I can’t place it. If anyone knows where that sample came from please let me know. Be warned, this is 20 plus minutes of “We Want Some Pussy.” After listening to all 20 minutes multiple times it’s fairly obvious to me that these motherfuckers wanted their fucking pussy. I hope they got it.

Run D.M.C.
King Of Rock (Cut-Up Mix)
Call up a friend when you’re listening to this one and when they ask you what you’re doing say, “Listing to the best track of all time motherfucker, what are YOU doing?” Taken from a 12” single.

Beastie Boys
Intergalactic (Instrumental)
Intergalactic (The Strawberry Bath and Jelly Soles Instrumental Version)
Super-bummed about MCA’s cancer diagnosis. Was stoked to see these guys kick it old school (really old school, dudes are over 40) at Lollapalooza this year. But I guess that will have to wait. Word just came out that The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are replacing them as headliners that day. That’s cool, but they better do a cover of “Sabotage” in tribute. These instrumentals are from a 12”.

Mix Master Mike
Can of Ass Kicks (2 min Itchy Flea Bonus)
Bangzilla (Instrumental)
The i Micronaut
Can’t mention The Beasties without mentioning The Mix Master. These are B-sides from a couple of 12” singles. For more Mix Master goodness check out the live video for “Three MCs and One DJ.”

Posted in 2 Live Crew, Beastie Boys, instrumentals, Mix Master Mike, remixes, Run DMC | 3 Comments »