Producing Equipment in the 90's???

[BOOBOO619]

What were the major or common producing equipment used in the 90's? I'm trying to figure out why beats sound so cheesy these days. haha j/k I know why beats sound so cheesy these days, it's the producers themselves and the rise of skilless rappers with laffy taffy POP dance music intentions. If anything we should have more tools to make good beats these days, yet it seems were falling way behind "musically."

What Drum Machines, Synthesizers, etc... were popular back then and what VSTs or sample packs if any can emulate them now? I know there was the MiniMoog keyboard synth and there's various VSTi's that do a great job of emulating it, but what else?

For example what do you think they used to make these songs:

KnightOwl - In Love with a Gangster (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=Ag8Nur...hurl.exe?clipid=025087501070006900&cid=600109) The leads and everything else sound great in this song.

Celly Cel - Baillin' Thru My Hood (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AhoBUU...hurl.exe?clipid=005203401020006900&cid=600109) Same, great leads, strings and everything else.

Everything sounds synthesized, that's why I'm wondering. I just really miss this kind of stuff. This is real music.


Also whoever is Luni Coleone's producer, most of his beats are sick. Songs like: "Thug Shit," "Ya Okay," "Ya Ya," "1 Mic," "Ride da Beef," "Where You At," "Straight Nigga," "I know this," "Friends," "Mouth Of Maddness"... These are all some really quality beats for being quite new.

 

[BOOBOO619]

you should explore this site.

www.vintagesynth.com

they have a really nice database of vintage, and no so vintage keyboards, drum machines, and modules. i've logged many hours on there just reading about the different things those old boards could do. they also have a message board with all kinds of info. there's a software forum there that may answer many of your questions.

i think the difference between then and now is that it's too easy to make beats. gear is so inexpensive that anyone can afford a good workstation and the sounds are built in and ready to use. i think the learning curve was a little more steep back in the 80s and 90s.

Thanks! I forgot about that site, I been to it a couple of times before, but forgot what it was called. Now it's bookmarked, thanks.


But yeah, beats are indeed probably just too easy to make these days, therefore you get a lot of BS in the process or stuff that's rushed unfortunately.

 

[DJ Mark 7]

besides analog boards, I would say the ASR-10 (which I and many others STILL use), MPC-60, Nord Lead, SP1200....Those are some of the components I remember seeing

 

[Sick Wid It]

The Kurzweil K2000 and Roland JV-1080/XP-80/JD-800/etc were used a lot then. Korg Trinity.

 

[Doggie]

sp1200 and s950

 

[Espy]

i would agree with the ASR 100% then and now or even any of the old Ensoniq keyboards. i think the part when BooBoo619 said " What Drum Machines, Synthesizers, etc... were popular back then" that was the answer right there. that was what was popular! now a days it seems like those are disappearing. like dude said its too easy now. with all the software and computer based studios the sounds just not the same as all those old sounds from the 90's or 80's when everyone was bangin on keys and sampling wasn't as clean as it now. everyone was playing there shit in someway shape or form back then. now a days theres alot of clicking,dragging,dropping already used sounds as wave files to make a beat.

thats just my 2cents

 

[BOOBOO619]

i would agree with the ASR 100% then and now or even any of the old Ensoniq keyboards. i think the part when BooBoo619 said " What Drum Machines, Synthesizers, etc... were popular back then" that was the answer right there. that was what was popular! now a days it seems like those are disappearing. like dude said its too easy now. with all the software and computer based studios the sounds just not the same as all those old sounds from the 90's or 80's when everyone was bangin on keys and sampling wasn't as clean as it now. everyone was playing there shit in someway shape or form back then. now a days theres alot of clicking,dragging,dropping already used sounds as wave files to make a beat.

thats just my 2cents

True True. I guess back then was just more grimey, you actually had to work and take the time to get the sound you wanted. More physical hands on shit. There was more of an authentic feel to it I suppose. Like you said, people these days be dropping the same exact already used samples n shit because their easily accessible through wave files and passed around on the internet through sample packs and what not. Everything just sounds so damn clean these days, but I wouldn't mind to hear some of that vinyl dust, scratches, noise and what not.