MASTERED AT NASA LABS: Human Story by Hired Gun from the Hits & Pieces EP.  I recently got the opportunity to mix and master a full EP from Hired Gun called the Hits & Pieces EP.  It features 6 tracks.  I’m always really happy when I can guide a projects sound from the mix to the mastering stage and am eager to share what I can do in such situations.  On this particular mix I was able to do some cool stuff with automated panning and some distorted vocal effects to add contrast to the chorus vocal among other things.  The album is full of treats, The Pressure is another of my favorites on here.  Go and support Hired Gun at http://freshroots.bandcamp.com/

FRESH OUT THE LABS: Bombs Not Rations (Nasa Remix - feat ADAM) by DCK VNNGT.  Nasa Produced this track, Mixed it and Mastered it at Nasa Labs.  Also jumped on it as ADAM too.  Check out more from DCK VNNGT on December 10th when they drop MRDR DTH KLL on Uncommon Records.

MASTERED AT NASA LABS - Open Mike Eagle’s New EP, “Extended Nightmares Getdown: The Dark Blue Door” has just been released by Hellfyre Club and premiered at LATimes.com.  The EP features production from Busdriver, Blockhead, Awkward and more.  Check out this track from it called “Experimental Dream FLCL” which was produced by Awkward.  

Mike is a really talented emcee and musician, it was great working on a project of his, this one is free so definitely go and check it out.  He will be performing at Yule Prog in NYC at Southpaw on December 8th as well, so if you are in the area, go to that show!

MASTERED AT NASA LABS - “Slum Dog Millionaire” by Black Panther feat. Nine & Vanessa Liftig.  I just mastered Black Panther’s new LP called “Soul Eater”, it was released last Tuesday.  I had the pleasure of mastering this track featuring one of my High School heroes, Nine (best known for Whutcha Want?, Make or Take and other classics).  It was great to hear him still at top form these years later.  The album also features Masai Bey, Respect Da God, Shabaam Shadeeq, Oktober Zero, Mr. Metaphor and many more.  It’s entirely produced by Black Panther.  Grab it right now at Itunes.  Find out more about Black Panther here: DJBlackPanther.com.

Recently got a great chance to listen to some of my recent work at MSR Studios in NYC.  I stopped by since a friend of mine works there and we met up to head out someplace that night.  I believe I was shown “Studio C” where some of the high rollers that want to be someplace private go for sessions.  Some high profile folks had been there recently, but I won’t be that dude to name drop.  The studio itself sort of isn’t done justice by my pic here.  I love how the glass into the live room is so low and close to the floor.  It kind of makes the engineer be in a position where their in the live room too in a sense instead of look down or across at it.  The ceilings in the live room are super high too in what is a pretty cozy space.

The point of bringing it up is how helpful it was to monitor there.  A lot of people coming up in hip-hop say things like “monitor your music on the shittiest system, because if it sounds good, it will sound good anywhere”.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  This is why I mix and master on what I am most comfortable with that I think actually sounds good.

When you listen to your music through a set up like they have at MSR, my theory is only backed up.  As an engineer, I still feel great when my work sounds incredible through high quality systems in well built rooms.  Whether that’s a studio, a venue or even a great car stereo, you better hold up when quality equipment calls.  I was reminded of this lately there.

I played stuff from Adam Warlock’s “Dark Weapons” and Gajah’s “Man the Ship” (2 recent projects to come through the lab) and both sounded really great to me.  They responded great to the huge bass bottoms they had installed.  Then I played something that was released by a large indie label that I knew I didn’t like the sound of, just to get a reference and to confirm some of my own listening sources.  Yep, sounded like shit there.  That’s the bottom line. 

A good lesson, that you can never learn enough.  Mix and Master to the highest quality possible, let the people listening on a transistor radio from 1995 figure it out.

MASTERED AT NASA LABS: Gajah (from Acid Reign) hit me up last minute for a late night mastering session last night for his new EP, “Man the Ship”.  Of course, I was there for him because that’s how we do at Nasa Labs.  Check out the amazing EP here.  The song posted is called “Sound Blast”.  Support Acid Lab Records on their debut release.

MASTERED AT NASA LABS: I’m Wize (feat. Sadat X) by Wize One from Godsendant Music.  Just finished this one up a few weeks ago and it’s already available on Amazon as a single.  Nice big sound from this one with the cameo from the legend, Sadat X.

MASTERED AT NASA LABS: Goodall by The Hinderance (Passive65ive & Issuez) featuring production by Gold Panda and others.  Pick it up at their Bandcamp today, some classic Progressive Hip-Hop from the UK.

MASTERED AT NASA LABS: “Lose Control” by Leadheart Deadbird.  This track is on the full length mastered at Nasa Labs called, “72”, it features lots of live band hip-hop like this.  Really dynamic sounds that show off the talent of the band and the capability at Nasa Labs.  Go get the album now at http://leadheartdeadbird.bandcamp.com/ (there’s a Digipack CD version there as well as the Digital DL).

Mastered at Nasa Labs it’s the Superhumanoids “Malta (Lesands Remix)” released by RCRD LBL.  Check out this terrific track from the Superhumanoids.  From the RCRD LBL site:

Lesands’ fat ‘80s bass and cloudy guitars don’t fully transform Superhumanoids’ “Malta” into a gossamer pop confection, but considering the weight of Cameron Parkins’ vocals, it’s pretty impressive how close they come. If Morrissey is ever elected prom king, this will play as he’s handed his crown. The original can be found on Parasite Paradise, available digitally and on vinyl.

This track is a great example of what can be done at Nasa Labs, it was a pleasure to work on.  Keep your eyes peeled for more Superhumanoids/Hit City USA work mastered at Nasa Labs to hit the internet soon.