Messian Dread - Dub Whyze (Dubroom Net Label Release)

MESSIAN DREAD - DUB WHYZE
DUBROOM NET LABEL RELEASE

WWW, November 2014 - The urban, futuristic atmosphere of this release is depicted in the art work that comes with it. Over ten minutes of deep Dub created from two brand new original Dubroom riddims: here is Dub Whyze!

In many ways, this release marks the beginning of yet another change in the Dubroom's studio. With the recent arrival of Propellerhead's Reason 8.0 music production software and the Dubroom's in-depth coverage of the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) came changes for the way the music is actually produced. Those who follow the Dubroom recently will have noticed all this coverage as it was the sole focus of the Dubroom throughout the months October and November in this 2014. Several tracks have been created and put on You Tube as part of this coverage, but Dub Whyze is the first official release from the Dubroom's Net Label.

Both tracks have an effect on the vocals that is, to say the least, highly controversial. It works on the vocal and gives it a different melody. The effect is called "Auto Tune" and much is said about it. Some claim it can turn the worst voice into the best singer but that's not the way it's used in this release. As with everything in Dub, effects are there to be noticed and not to cover up anything. Love it or like it, but the effect does give a special vibe to the overall mix and in itself justifies the cover art.

No need for any further tech-know? Here's two tracks for your musical pleasure.

TRACK DESCRIPTIONS

Murderation YY

The tempo is slow, drum and bass lay down a heavy line: When You Hear This One It's Serious. From start to end, that is. In a cool and dreadly pace that should not be underestimated. Horns, guitars and other instruments drop in and out as they get totally transformed by the multitude of effects and detailed mixing work. A Dub with a deeper meaning for real. 

Urban Poison

The city without pity. For a dread it can be hard to dwell in it. Keeping your roots and culture where they should be is often made impossible by a multitude of rules, regulations and repression. That's what this track is all about. A steppers drum with a bassline that says a thing or two, instruments and echo's get splattered into a million pieces like breaking glass: another hard hitting Dub from the Dubroom studio and net label.

TRACKS

1. Messian Dread - Murderation YY (5:15) (320Kbps MP3)
2. Messian Dread - Urban Poison (5:14) (320Kbps MP3)

Please do not re-publish the actual music, because unlike Dubroom releases before 2014, this release is © Messian Dread/Dubroom. Available for free: 128 Kbps/320 Kbps MP3 Files, CD Quality Wave Audio.

CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO THE DOWNLOAD PAGE

SOME SOURCES:

   

Reason 8.0 In Dub (3): Delayerings and Reverberations

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (3): DELAYERINGS AND REVERBERATIONS
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - Reverb and delay: the two basic effects for a Dub mix. In this third chapter of REASON 8.0 IN DUB, both effects are subject to a deeper reviewing in word, sound and sight. Another original Reggae riddim was created, rendered to eight audio tracks and imported into a multi-track DUB set up in Reason. A report.

Before we'll take a look at some of the delay and reverb devices and -more important- see and hear them in action, a few words about creating a riddim in Reason. Reason 8.0's new browser is a tremendous help during this process. Where it's rather obvious how the quality of the work-flow had dramatically improved since Reason 3.0, this browser in itself contributes significantly to it. Picking sounds for your sampler or drum computer goes very quick, especially when you use the drag-and-drop possibilities.

Love it or hate it: the Neptune Voice Synthesizer does it's work quite well. Just load a few vocal samples and make sure they're fit in the rhythm.

After this, make a little midi harmony in the Neptune's sequencer channel (see picture right, click to enlarge), make sure the vocals feed the Neptune and you have your very own harmony vocals 21th century style.

Another thing worth mentioning here are the two amps created by Softube that ship with Reason 8.0.

When you want to use real guitar sounds next to the real bass guitar sounds, both the guitar amp and the bass amp do a wonderful job. The wah-wah guitar you'll hear in the mix has a significant better sound when run through the amp and so does the bass.

Creating a riddim is as easy as your inspiration will let you fill in the blank sequencer. It does take computer power, though. Even running the DAW in 64 bit modus with full 8 gigabytes available will not let you set up a complete Dub environment while using all the instruments. Rendering your riddim to audio tracks solves that problem and will bring you directly in the situation wherein Dub is actually made: after all, it's a remixing technique of multi-track recordings or "stems".

For this series, a special multi-track Dub environment was created in Reason. Unfortunately it's not possible to make the stems available for download because of license limitations, but when you take a look at the Dubroom's tutorial on making Dub with computers or at the graphic right (click to enlarge), you'll get the idea. This is the principal according to which the Dub environment is set up. 

Since Reason's console has eight auxiliary outputs, you'll have the possibility to connect six effects. Route the output of the effect devices to a channel input and you can layer effect over effects. This is exactly what's going to be done quite heavily in the Dub that was made for this report. 

Now, let's take a closer look at the effects themselves.

• Aux-Out 1: DDL-1 Delay -> PEQ-2 EQ
• Aux-Out 2: RV-7000 Ping-Pong Delay
• Aux-Out 3: THE ECHO with a Dubroom preset
• Aux-Out 4: RV-7000 Reverb and/or Synapse DR-1 Reverb
• Aux-Out 5: Echobode Rack Extension (random preset)
• Aux-Out 6: T2 Phaser (Dubroom preset)
• Aux-Out 7: Audiomatic (Psych preset)
• Aux-out 8: RV-7000 Reverse Reverb

In the Dub mix, you'll hear both reverb devices or just the DR-1. At the console, the two channels at the far right feed the devices. There is quite a difference to be heard when you hear both reverb devices, as both devices come back into the console in the same channel. To achieve this set up, use was made of the FREE Audio merger and splitter Rack Extensions by Blamsoft.

You'll hear a little bit from the Echobode Rack Extension. This is a frequency shifter and delay device that at this point is yet to be reviewed deeper. THE ECHO is taken to a deeper level as well. Of course, the manual delay (aux 1, more info here) and the RV-7000 with a Dubroom Ping Pong delay preset are featured.

The T2 Phaser (available for around 15 euro at the propshop) does some crucial things to the drums. A Dubroom preset is used for it. This is a heartically recommended Rack Extension. Just listen to what it does with the drums!

Nuff read. Look and listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPoce6sON8

The signals feeds like the Ping Pong delay, which at it's turn feeds THE ECHO. That's just one layering of effects used in this mix. There's a lot more going on, all possible because of the way everything is routed. Tweaking the EQ on the reverb channel is quite effective, but that was already made clear in the previous dub mixes.

It's not easy to create Dub effects in the lower frequencies (read: bass line), but both the DR-1 and the RV-7000 showed to be perfectly able to deal with the deeper realms. They sound nice together as well. 

To conclude, a word about the Echobode. The first audible patch was taken and the thing tweaked just a little bit, without being hindered by any knowledge of the device itself. This in itself showed a potential that most certainly will be looked at more in-depth.

For now: 

One Love,
Messian Dread

LINKS
DUB MIX (MP3) - GUITAR AMP PATCH - BASS AMP PATCH - PHASER PATCH - GET T2 PHASER - GET T2 PHASER - GET SYNAPSE DR-1 - GET FREE MERGER - GET FREE SPLITTER - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

Reason 8.0 In Dub (2): The Echo And Synapse Wetness

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (2): THE ECHO AND SYNAPSE WETNESS
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - For this second part of REASON 8.0 IN DUB, Messian Dread created another original riddim and took a thirty-day trial of the Synapse DR-1 Reverb Rack Extension. He also tweaked THE ECHO in what became yet another fat Dub created only with Propellerhead's Reason 8.0. Another report from the studio.

Reason's RV-7000 Advanced Reverb does more than a decent job, especially when you consider it's the standard reverb in a 450 Euro DAW. It has been used by many producers whose choice was the RV-7000. Still, it turns out the blue device doesn't do everything and that's exactly where the DR-1 comes into focus. Taking a thirty-day trial for the 35 Euro Reverb device is free, and it turned out to be a very interesting choice.

Another thing that really needed a deeper review is THE ECHO, Propellerhead's very own "Advanced Delay". To see it live in action during a Dub mix is obviously the best way to discover some of it's features and that's exactly what can be done in this report.

Yet a third thing is the bass. As it turned out, feeding the AUDIOMATIC with the "Psyche" preset, which at it's turn feeds the DR-1 produced a wonderful effect on the bass. 

Before the Dub could be mixed, again from eight different audio tracks or stems, the riddim had to be made. Drums, percussion, bass, organ, piano, guitars, horns and vocals. Once again, the NEPTUNE Voice Synthesizer was applied to create some kind of effect on the vocals just because of the vibe it gives. For the vocals, just a few phrases were used. Once again, the bass amp was used for the bassline and two different guitar amps for the two different guitars. The horns went through DR Octorex's own filter before it was rendered to an audio track.

Here you are: enjoy another Dub of Infotainment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82jjIb8VdEc

When you would like to compare the DR-1 with the RV-7000, download the MP3 files. The two mixes are identical, the only difference is the reverb device.

One Love,
Messian Dread

DUB MIX (DR-1) - DUB MIX (RV-7000) - GET SYNAPSE DR-1 - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

Reason 8.0 In Dub (1): Action Rack Extension

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (1): ACTION RACK EXTENSION
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - After the very well received review of Reason 8.0 especially for the DUB Community, the Dubroom continues to explore and review Propellerhead's flagship. In "Action Rack Extension", Messian Dread mixes eight audio tracks into a heavy DUB using all six FX outputs on Reason's console. A report in sight and sound.

The best way to explore Reason, obviously, is to create riddims and make a Dubs from them. This is exactly what has been going on these last weeks over here in the Dubroom. At a later stage, more about creating riddims with Reason. For now, just the report that creating riddims is a true joy and Reason has a positive role in the inspiration.

Reason runs in 64bit on a machine with 8 Gigs of RAM and Intel processors of the newest kind. The software was loaded with drum computers, sound modules, loop players and of course the Neptune voice synthesizer. As soon as Reason hit the ceiling, the riddim was rendered to hard disk in the form of eight multi-tracks or stems. Unfortunately these multi-tracks cannot be shared as that would go beyond the Dubroom's license, but the result can be witnessed in the form of a You Tube video you can watch later on in this report. 

In fact, making a DUB from an audio multi-track is the authentic and original way of making DUB. This is how the music came into existence, as the Jamaican studio bands played one riddim after the other into the multi-track recorder and the DUB engineer turned everything into that music we all love to play so much. This is exactly how the DUB for this report was made.

Reason was set up with eight audio channels, one for sound FX, and six console input channels for all six auxiliary outputs. Yes, six different effect devices are used in this particular set up. Their output goes to console input channels. Over here, we don't deal with returns but you can read about these things elsewhere in the studio. 

Next to different RV7000's for delays and reverbs, The Echo was put in there as well as two Audiomatic devices. The Audiomatic is a Rack Extension, Propellerhead Reason's very own plug-in format. It ships for free with Reason 8.0, just like the excellent bass amp responsible for the warm and deep bass sound in this mix. 

Another Rack Extension used is the T2 Phaser (review). You can download and use the device in your Reason rack for free for 30 days or decide to buy it. It's only about 15 euros and worth much more than that. In fact, for DUB created only with Reason the T2 is obligatory.

Rack extensions work like any other device you can load in Reason's rack. Connect them, make a sequencer track and start recording your automation. 

The T2 and the Audiomatic Rack extensions turn out to integrate fully in a DUB environment. The Echo on top of that gives that extra touch but at this time, the device is not fully tested so there is much more potential than the stuff you can hear in the mix created for this report.

After an initial sound check on the correctly connected set up, finally the DUB could be mixed. An exciting moment. This would show how much is true concerning Propellerhead's claims about workflow in Reason 8.0. Will there be hick-up's when the loop points are changed? Will everything be in sync in the first place? How about latency when you use the on-board soundcards with an ASIO4ALL driver? 

Everything went extremely smooth. Six different effects that take up their processing power, not to speak about the console itself and the eight different audio tracks can all be handled in virtual real-time. There's no experienceable latency, as the Reason sequencer records and plays the mixing automation.

The Dub? Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeP7oyIMImo

Both the Audiomatic and the T2 get their fair chance, especially in the second half of the mix when the two effects follow up on each other. The Audiomatic turns out to be crucial in deforming both the bass and the drums. Especially when combined with other effects (reverb), this little big thing can drive your mix to a next dimension. The T2 (reviewed here) is a very, very decent phaser that works excellently as well. 

The RV7000's and the manual delay do their thing. A ping-pong delay, a reverse reverb and a more or less standard hall effect for the RV7000 devices. The Echo is tweaked at a certain point showcasing some of it's potential, but there has to be some deeper exploring of the delay.

Even though not so much effort was put in the actual riddim, the result is a very reasonable Dub mix. Mixing the Dub is a true pleasure, and Reason's workflow plays a part in it, definitely. The technique behind the automation and everything is very high in quality and low in causing problems.

One Love,
Messian Dread

PATCHES (ZIP) - GET T2 PHASER - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

The T2 Phaser Rack Extension (Studio Dubroom On Propellerhead's Reason)

THE T2 PHASER RACK EXTENSION
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - The in-program phaser in Reason is not the DAW's strongest feature. This very fact has been picked up by "That Music Company": they developed a very fine phaser which can be yours for the price of about 15 euros. Presenting the T2 Phaser Rack Extension!

Rack Extensions. It's Propellerhead's name for the Reason internal plug-in format. You get a few when you purchase Reason, you can download one or two for free but the bulk can be discovered by visiting the "Prop Shop".

For a DUB engineer, browsing the Rack Extensions can be, well, time-consuming. After all, most are aimed at the production of EDM ("Electronic Dance Music") and will not really add much to the standard effects and instruments in Reason.

Not so with the T2 Phaser (see picture, click to enlarge). It's the second device created by the small Rack Extension developer "That Music Company", based in San Jose (California, USA) and it truly is an extension to your rack.

First thing that stands out is the price. For about 15 euros, the T2 is yours. That's fifteen euros to de facto replace Reason's standard phaser because as soon as you run the T2 in your set up you'll hear the power in the thing.

It basically has three main sections: Overdrive, Phaser and HPF (Hi-Pass Filter). Overdrive and HPF will add vibes to the main sound the Phaser section produces. You can set waveforms and on top of that, different steps. Pan effects belong to the possibilities too, you can even trigger the T2 by midi notes.

Got Reason? Get the T2. It's that simple. Just download the phaser, you will have thirty days to discover the fully functional device before you will undoubtedly decide to have it permanently in your effect collection.

WEBSITE - PROPSHOP - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

Reason 8.0: A Review For The Dub Community

REASON 8.0: A REVIEW FOR THE DUB COMMUNITY
STUDIO DUBROOM SOFTWARE AND SOUNDWARE REVIEW

 

 

WWW, October 16 2014 - It's been close to a decade since the launch of Reason 3.0 and the Dubroom's review of the then groundbreaking, ultra-flexible Dub-friendly music production software. We've promoted the software continually ever since it was established how it was possible to make Dub using just one program. Just recently, Reason 8.0 was released and arrived in the Dubroom not much later. We went in-depth again, from 3.0 straight to eight and came back with this review exclusively for the Dub Community.

Of course, we don't have to re-establish how it is possible to make DUB using Reason as a Stand-Alone Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). We did that when Reason 3.0 had arrived and changed the way to produce the music we all love to produce. It's obvious that Reason 8.0 enables you to do what version 3.0 offered, and it's obvious that we're a decade later into the research and development at the Scandinavian laboratories.

Just in case, though. Yes, you can make Dub not just using just a computer but using just one program. The name of that program is Reason, of which version 8.0 was released just two weeks prior to the publication of this review. 

In a way, this is not just a review of Reason 8.0, it's a review of ten years of development at Propellerhead and in the production of DUB Music using just a computer. In this decade, producing music with just a computer has become what it should be: commonly accepted. No longer is it considered to be avant-gardistic to side-step snobby studio owners with attitudes and reach your audience directly with computer-based productions. 

No longer are computer-based producers looked down upon, and Reason has played a huge part in this wonderful development.

It's October 2014. Welcome to a review of Reason 8.0, software that enables you to turn that idea in your head into sounds from your audience's speakers.

We're going to take a deep look into the many new features that have been added to Propellerhead's flag ship during the last decade. Sure, there are many new devices that look promising at first sight. After all, that's what we need in our studio. Brand new in Reason 8.0 is the updated browser, which needs to be examined too. Will it be quicker in this new way to find what you're looking for?

Questions, questions. 

Door locked, all projects put on hold for more than a week. Reason was the object of undivided attention as this review was written, Dubs created and put on You Tube along with other things like detailed screenshots taken. You can read all about this in this extensive, in-depth review of Reason 8.0 where all things DUB are considered and tried.

In fact, the review is so long that it's divided in different parts. However, it's possible to check out the full review on one long page as well. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION CLICK TO READ
A review for the Dub community - A Dub engineer's perspective - The configuration - The installation process

PART TWO: FIRST STEPS CLICK TO READ
A first impression - A closer look - A first session

PART THREE: FEATURES CLICK TO READ
The mixing console - The rack -The devices - The sequencer - The browser - Two missing links - Rack extensions

PART FOUR: THE DEVICES CLICK TO READ
The effects - The instruments - The utilities

PART FIVE: CONCLUSION CLICK TO READ
The work-flow - A final Dub - Reason eight straight out...

REASON 8.0: A REVIEW FOR THE DUB COMMUNITY CLICK TO READ
Read the full review on one page

Reason 8.0 Has Arrived (Dubroom Announcement)

REASON 8.0 HAS ARRIVED
DUBROOM ANNOUNCEMENT

WWW, October 8 2014 - Currently, the Dubroom Webmaster is doing virtually nothing else but reviewing the brand new REASON 8.0 music production software. Since this is going to be an in-depth review with sights and sounds next to the words, there won't be any major updates, reviews or releases until this project is completed. How long it will take, remains unknown at this date but it could be more than a week. 

In the mean time, check the thread on the Studio Dubroom forum to read small updates on the project. Or join the Message Boards and state your comments or questions that might be incorporated in the review. 

Bubblin' Hot for 2014: Serving the Online DUB Community (Dubroom In-Site #36)

BUBBLIN' HOT FOR 2014: SERVING THE ONLINE DUB COMMUNITY
DUBROOM IN-SITE # 36

WWW, October 2014 - Well over a month after the release of the first Dubroom album in years, it has been everything but quite before and behind the scenes in the Dubroom. Both on the musical side and on the website, that is. Messian Dread reports and announces a special in-depth review of the recently released Reason 8.0 music production software.

encouragements

With the EP "Step It Up In Dub" released a few days ago, Reverb Nation updated it's counter to 35 released tracks this year. That's kind of nice to announce as opening for this 36th episode of Dubroom In-site. Next to a virtual 7" featuring Ras Kitchen and Asante Amen, music continues to be released from the Dubroom studio via the Net Label to the world wide massive and this is not going unnoticed.

The Dub Zone Podcast featured Dubroom productions, and so did the very popular Midnight Raver who also listed the Heavyweight Dubwise album as "Bubblin' Hot for 1024" next to Mad Professor and Luciano's "Deliverance" Showcase (Dubroom Review). On top of that, we were played on the October 1st episode of the well known Echo Chamber Radio Broadcast. Of course this is a humbling and thankful experience, as the Dubroom Productions are released to promote (DUB) Reggae and Consciousness much more then our studio, label or website.

Two virtual 7"s have thus far been released featuring vocal samples from Ras Kitchen, whose free vocal sample pack has the daily attention of visitors and users of Studio Dubroom. The packs are to promote the Ras, who makes a humble living and partly depends on donations. The Dubroom is not reluctant to forward this request to all who like our Dub tracks with Ras Kitchen. And we're grateful for Ras Kitchen's Big Up at You Tube!

The Dubroom's purchase of licensed vocal recordings by not just legends like U Roy and Dennis Alcapone but also younger vocalists like Asante Amen and Ras Khaleel sometimes draws the attention of one of the vocalists whose works we're blessed to be able to use. We surely hope that our releases will promote these excellent singers and chanters and when one of them writes publicly "Total fulldorsement from I Rasta!!! Sen it a road :)" we're again humbled and encouraged to continue.

More encouragement came in the form of two articles at the French Culture Dub website, one a review of the Horseman EP. We also received a positive review at the Dubophonic Net label blog and at Dubmassive.org!

studio stuff

Studio Dubroom is a Dubroom subsite especially for producers and artists. One very well visited part of the studio is the tutorial on making Dub with computers. Since this tutorial started way back when, some of the earlier chapters have been re-written while more chapters have been added as well. In fact, there's now a special page from where you can keep track of every update on the tutorial.

There's also a new feature in the studio called "Digital Dignity". It's a portal to all Reggae products at Loopmasters and visiting will provide you with an explanation of the name and with 560 Mb of High Quality, legal and licensed material. Yet another thing that has been added to the studio is a simple page where you can find links and short descriptions of Online Music Distributors (OMD's). Members of the Dubroom Message boards and others are encouraged to add information to this list.

Reason 8.0 in-depth for the Dub community

Now, there's more news for the users and visitors of Studio Dubroom: only minutes after this update is posted, Reason 8.0 will be the topic of the undivided attention of yours truly for quite a while. Yes, the people at Propellerhead have just launched the latest version of their groundbreaking, ultra-flexible and DUB-friendly music production software and over here in the Dubroom everything is going to be reviewed on an in-depth level.

When Reason 3.0 arrived almost a decade ago, the Dubroom reviewed the software and continued to promote it. This is software from a company that has provided a generation of online (DUB) Reggae producers with the means of creating some of the finest works available. Even Reason 3, which is now considered antique, remains to be a crucial tool.

So, what about Reason 8. five versions further?

Expectations are high, but this-and-that has to be verified, tested, studied. Not a thing you do in a day.

Keep an eye on the Dubroom for updates and more, even more releases.

One Love,
Messian Dread (Editor/Webmaster, Dubroom.org)

Willi Williams: "Smugg Records Are Pirates"

WILLI WILLIAMS: "SMUGG RECORDS ARE PIRATES"
DUBROOM (DUB) REGGAE NEWS AND VIEWS

WWW, October 3 1014 - In a very informative, but partly disturbing interview the Midnight Raver recently held with well known Reggae Singer Willi Williams, the Ammagideon Man was quoted about a release called "One Love". As the album was reviewed and promoted by the Dubroom, it was shocking to hear what the brethren had to say about this release. In short: it's pirated, don't buy!

Ask Bunny Wailer about the early Wailers Black Ark recordings you can find almost everywhere. Ask Scientist about his well-known Greensleeves Dub Series. Ask Willi Williams about "One Love. Not the concept, but the album. Released by UK-based Smugg Records. Who were so kind to send the Dubroom a promo copy years back when it was released. Which was subsequently reviewed and promoted from this very website.

This is what he has to say:

“The ONE LOVE record is a pirated record. These guys been releasing my records for years and no matter how you try to get to them to let them know that it is not legal they insist on doing it. I send plenty letters from my lawyers and every ‘ting but they are shady. Its a shadowy business but Smugg Records is one of the pirates, they just using that name to sell the records. Especially this new record was pirated by them at whoever is behind this Smugg Records. I even got to one of the guys one time and he was very shadowy and could not tell me how he got it because I have no agreement with them. You know I did some tracks way back with an individual named Steven King out of the UK – him have a label called Uptempo – I did a couple of tracks with him as producer and he went and took my tracks from these sessions along with some others and I suspect that is how they release these pirated records.”

source

The Book of life teaches us how "The Love For Money Is The Root Of All Evil". That's not the One Love Willi Williams sings about, that's not the definition of One Love over here in the Dubroom, either. That's the love for pounds, euros, dollars. The kind of love that brings people to make wars and kill millions.

Needless to say that from this place we offer our apologizes -without any objection- to Willi Williams for having promoted something that did not provide him with the daily bread that he works for so hard. 

Equally, we gladly extend this piece of information from Willi Williams aka The Messenger Man to everyone who considers buying or promoting the album. 

One Love (yes!),
Messian Dread (editor, dubroom.org)

CLICK HERE TO READ THE INTERVIEW

Step It Up In Dub (EP) (Dubroom Net Label Release)

STEP IT UP IN DUB (EP)
DUBROOM NET LABEL RELEASE

WWW, October 2014 - Hard hitting Steppers riddims form the foundation of this EP featuring seven vocalists in three long and intense Dubwise mixes. Extreme Dub work-outs on the bass, in fact there's a lot of abuse of the effect devices overall in this release. While the vocalists deliver enough lyrical content, sounds of creation and full blown instrument sections add to the undeniable power of the drum and bass lines.

While the three tracks can be played as a single track, for example in a play list or DJ set, listening to the full 16+ minutes will put them in a perspective. This EP is about the power of the bass, which -as a scientific study recently documented- is not just a slogan chanted in the Dance or otherwise, but a reality. The bass as foundational sound? Here is where DUB undisputedly stands at number one. That's reality too!

The second track is very deliberately put in the center of the three-track release. It's about the sound of a much greater power than any man-made bass instrument. It's about a power described in oh so many Rastaman lyrics and that's the power of JAH, audible in the real thunder and lightning. In the first track we'll hear everything about the bass line, in the last track we're rising up the Red Gold and Green banner of Conscious Dub.

The power of the bass, of thunder and lightning, blesseth are those that know themselves to be rooted in JAH.

Of course, with this trinity of Dub track about (Jah) Power you're given a hint to search something about another Ikon of the Power of Jah, Who Himself is a Trinity just like we little people are (body, soul spirit). 

With such a foundation, yes, step it up!

Stepping it up in three different Dubwise mixes, wherein no instrument, voice, slider knob or button is left untouched. Even though everything stays coherent, the hardware was put to enormous work as sometimes no less than seven different effects are used in the same time. 

Stepping it up in three hard-hitting steppers riddims, all with real horns and real this-and-that and original Dubroom bass lines. Visit studio.dubroom.org when you are interested in the more technical or legal aspects of this release, which is -as all Dubroom productions- fully legal and licensed.

TRACK BY TRACK DESCRIPTION:

Jah Rooti - Dub Up Di Bassline

It takes a while before you know what Jah Rooti is talking about, but after about 30 seconds or so you'll get the point more than clear. As the tune continues to develop after the initial start, effects are layered to the extend that it is no longer clear just what effect comes from which source. Not just nice for a little studio research but also for the enjoyment of Dub music. 

Then, everything drops except for the bass and Jah Rooti chanting about the bass line. Filters and reverbs are not spared and when the drums finally drops back in the Dub gets into a yet weirder phase, only to come back with full instruments and singing and lead to the end in yet another segment of full-effect style mixing.

Ras Khaleel - Pray Up In Dub (ft Aiva and Penti)

Definitely the center-piece of this EP, it's length being an indication of it's importance in the story of Step It Up In Dub. True sounds of nature open up, including a massive thunder roll. During this exposition of Jah Power, a melodica and Ras Khaleel lead us to the horns and Penti telling us what to do when we wake up in the morning: chant a psalm. Ras Khaleel enters asking for some positive thoughts while I and I pray as we pray about serious things.

Why does Babylon take our life for granted, killing our brothers and our sisters in a continual war against mankind and it's Creator? It should be about love, no hate should come around as we live this life that our Creator has given us. Once again, here is the message of One Love in Dub.

Excellent backing vocals by Aiva, crucial Horns by the Zion Train massive, intense Dub mixing from the Dubroom's in-house engineer, over six minutes of deep Dub meditation.

ADX - Dub Up Di Banner (ft Soulja and Penti)

Penti opens up giving a short history lesson before ADX continues to describe the current situation. Soulja takes over and calls for more love, honor and respect which is what has to be done in these current times of violence and hatred. Reggae, and especially DUB has spread from Jamaica to the UK to the whole world and has stood at the roots of virtually all electronic musical styles and techniques. 

Where the music is so influential, so should the Message that comes with this Music since ancient days. 

That's why we rise up the Banner of Red Gold and Green.

1. Jah Rooti - Dub Up Di Bassline (4:55) (320Kbps MP3)
2. Ras Khaleel - Pray Up In Dub (ft Aiva and Penti) (6:08) (320Kbps MP3)
3. ADX - Dub Up Di Banner (ft Soulja and Penti) (5:17) (320Kbps MP3)

Please do not re-publish the actual music, because unlike Dubroom releases before 2014, this release is © Messian Dread/Dubroom. Available for free: 128 Kbps/320 Kbps MP3 Files, CD Quality Wave Audio.

CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO THE DOWNLOAD PAGE

SOME SOURCES:

   

Dub Dynasty - Thundering Mantis (Dubroom Album Review)

DUB DYNASTY - THUNDERING MANTIS
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - Digital download, vinyl, CD, or a combination: the formats vary, the source does not. That source being the UK DUB Twins Alpha and Omega with a brand new release on their Steppas Records label. Nine vocal tracks featuring a world wide group of singers alongside their DUB counterpart carrying the unmistakable Alpha and Omega sound.

Dub Dynasty is Alpha and Omega and Alpha Steppa: yes, the next generation. Son and nephew, to be exact. 

With that out of the way, let's talk about the music. Thundering is the right word for the floor-shaking bass sound that we're used to when it comes to AO productions. This double vinyl release doesn't lack any of it. The real interesting part of Thundering Mantis is the fact that not just do we have a whole range of vocalists ranging from a more meditative eastern style talk to heartical singing (Prince David), there is an equal amount of producers who lent some of their material to Alpha and Omega. 

It's Alpha and Omega, yes, and it's more.

With two vocals and two dubs featured on Radio Dubroom 2014 Chapter Eight, you can get an idea.

This is a musical release that's, well, kind of obligatory when you are into the more heavy side of Sound System DUB. Whether you're into digital download, CD or just plain vinyl for that bass sound the choice is yours. 

Whatever you do: support the independent DUB movement with your purchase, it's so much needed.

BUYING OPTIONS

   

READ REVIEW AT DUBROOM WEBSITE

Ras Kitchen and Asante Amen - One Perfect Love Dub/Rastaman Camp Fire Dub (Dubroom Net Label Release)

RAS KITCHEN AND ASANTE AMEN - ONE PERFECT LOVE DUB/RASTAMAN CAMP FIRE DUB
DUBROOM NET LABEL RELEASE

WWW, September 2014 - The second "virtual seven inch" featuring Ras Kitchen has a much deeper Roots and Culture vibe than the first one. Two heavy Roots Dub tracks, each having their very own distinctive vibe and approach. What both track have in common is the superb vocal singing of Asante Amen, Horns from Mad Professor's Ariwa studio and Messian Dread's Dubwise mixing.

Together, the two different tracks show the versatility and wideness of variety possible within Roots Reggae (Dub). In a way, it's also a statement concerning the use of "real instruments" versus programmed music. There is no "versus", there is just one thing: the rhythm of Roots Reggae as a means of communication. Playing and producing is one thing, knowing yourself and Reggae music is quite another.

One track has the (played) drums from Roots Radics drummer Style Scott, the other has a programmed Drum rhythm from Mad Professor's Ariwa studio. One track has a digital filter on the bass, the other track has a virtual analog. One track has a piano and guitar playing just the riddim where all the echo's and other effects do their thing, where the riddim or skank section at the other track features a lot of play with guitar wah's and an organ bubble.

Both tracks feature the vocals of Ras Kitchen and the very, very talented and skilled singer Asante Amen. Both men "happen" to be Rastaman, and a Rastaman comes with reasoning and with a meditation or a message if you will. Food for thought. 

In one track, you'll hear Assante Amen chanting and praying for equal rights and justice which "happens" to be the state of reign when Babylon is finally downstroyed and the Most High rules visible for all mankind. Yes, this is when Righteousness will Cover the Earth as the Book of Life tells us. This fire is blazing in the hearts of all true Rastaman, and if you want to make the parallel between the Rasta Food that Ras Kitchen is cooking and explaining in the track and the reasoning Asante Amen gives as a Rasta Food for thought, you've made the same parallel as Messian Dread when he made this Dub.

In the other track, there is much more a dialogue between Ras Mokko and Asante Amen. Together, they chant down racism and point out to the One Love, the One Perfect Love that enables people of all color to come together. We do not want no division along racial lines and lies, so that we are all equal and there is no one race superior and another inferior. This is what the Rastaman works on on a global scale, this is the message to the world and not just from the two vocalist but equally from the producer of this free release.

When you like the music, consider donating a little bit of money Ras Kitchen and/or purchasing tracks by Asante Amen.

1. Ras Kitchen and Asante Amen - One Perfect Love Dub (3:59)
2. Ras Kitchen and Asante Amen - Rastaman Camp Fire Dub (3:48)

Please do not re-publish the actual music, because unlike Dubroom releases before 2014, this release is © Messian Dread/Dubroom. Available for free: 128 Kbps/320 Kbps MP3 Files, CD Quality Wave Audio.

CLICK HERE FOR THE DOWNLOAD PAGE (128/320 KBPS MP3 OR CD QUALITY WAVE AUDIO)

SOME SOURCES:

   

Various Artists - United As One (Dubroom MP3 Album Review)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - UNITED AS ONE
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 20 2014 - Something brewing in the Mediterranean: The Maltese Net Label Dub Key and it's Cyprus based Dubophonic counterpart joined strength with a solid and varied (DUB) Roots Reggae release as a result. Music with a message, music with a soul and general conscious vibes. Can't refuse this one. 

They've been anticipating this release with an excellent promo mix that could be download only a hundred times. That is, until the day of the actual album release and -not completely coincidental- the day of this review as well. Over here at the Dubroom we've anticipated with the inclusion of the very same promo mix in a podcast released yesterday and a determination to publish the first review of this more than excellent album for the online massive.

Why?

You've guessed it: this is not just another musical release. In fact, where the two Mediterranean Net Labels continually work on increasing their quantity and quality, this release drops the two heavyweights together with a musical explosion as result. Remember: when the music hits, you feel no pain but you do feel the positive vibes of this collaboration. "United As One" sets an example for this time, wherein we do no longer need to "kill soundboys" but rather say "One Love", especially in the Sound System culture with which both Dub Key and Dubophonic have their connections.

Both labels have singers and players of instruments, engineers and producers and they've been voicing, playing and mixing each other's work. The album that came out on this September 20 2014 carries 16 mixes of four riddims. Vocals and Dubs follow each other as each riddim is presented in a truly different form. Truly sixteen different tracks, that you really want to play from the top to the very last drop. Unless you're a (online) selector in which case you will find that the track will be very fit for a different sequence in your own DJ set. 

This is niceness, this is a must download. The only problem you face is this: from which website are you going to download it? From DUB KEY or DUBOPHONIC? 

You'll sort it out.

READ MORE

Music For The Roots And Dub Massive (Radio Dubroom 2014 Chapter 8)

MUSIC FOR THE ROOTS AND DUB MASSIVE
RADIO DUBROOM 2014 CHAPTER 8

WWW, September 2014 - One hour and twenty minutes of not just pure niceness, because some of it can only be heard at this podcast and yet other selections are not yet released or released only on vinyl. This is a special selection that you just cannot afford to miss out.

The set starts with a track from the recently released Heavyweight Dubwise Selection LP, followed by a fine track with to-the-point lyrics from the Irie-On-Air Net Label. From the Original Dub Gathering another fine track with ditto Dub, followed by a track that can/could only be downloaded hundred times. This is a track about an upcoming duo-release from the Dubophonic and Dub Key Net Labels. 

The segment that follows contain two tracks from STEPPAS.com's Dub Dynasty and two from Moa Anbessa, recently reviewed in the Dubroom. All tracks with their Dub version, of course. Of course! There's one excellent Dub from the Dub Reservoir Net Label in the segment, too.

The show closes with a Discomix by Horseman and Dillinger, one by Seamus Ikonya which is on You Tube and a Discomix featuring Kojak at the microphone stand. That track has -just like the previous one- a Dub one the recently released Heavyweight Dubwise LP and is currently unreleased. 

Hear it here!

PLAYLIST 

01. Messian Dread - Loving Dubwise (Free Download)
02. Echo & Reverb All-Stars - Tres Caravelas (Free Download)
03. Echo & Reverb All-Stars - Christopher Colonus (Free Download)
04. Fu Step- Holidays (Free Download)
05. Fu Steps - Holidays Dubwise (Free Download)
06. Red Star Martyrs - Roots Rock Rebel (Discomix) (More Info)
07. Moa Anbessa and Prince David - Watch Dem (Vinyl Release)
08. Dubwise (Vinyl Release)
09. Dub Dynasty and Prince David - Evil Fe Bun (Vinyl Pre-Release)
10. Dubwise (Vinyl Pre-Release)
11. Dub Dynasty and Ngoni - We Got Jah (Vinyl Pre-Release)
12. Dubwise (Vinyl Pre-Release)
13. Barbes D and Emanouel - King Of Dub (Free Download)
14. Moa Anbessa and Jules I - Jah Calling (Vinyl Release)
15. Dubwise (Vinyl Release)
16. Horseman and Dillinger - Dangerous and Famous (Discomix) (Free Download)
17. Seamus Ikonya - Babylon System (Unreleased Discomix) (Video)
18. Kojak - Prevail (Unreleased Discomix)

DOWNLOAD PODCAST (128 or 320 KBPS)

Five Ways To Start A Dub And A Final Version (Making Dub With Computers Chapter 31)

MAKING DUB WITH COMPUTERS CHAPTER 31: FIVE WAYS TO START A DUB AND A FINAL VERSION
STUDIO DUBROOM TUTORIAL

WWW, September 18 2014 - You're a selector on a tight budget, whether financially or timely. In any case, you have to browse quickly through the available catalogue of Dub tracks. Or perhaps you're a Dub collector and you're looking for that next addition. Whatever the case, I'm sure you'll agree that when you're looking for or listening to new music, the first let's say 20 seconds are pretty decisive.

That's what we're going to address in this final chapter of the Version Excursion into the basics of Dub mixing.

I've prepared five different ways to start a Dub, using the riddim we've made for this tutorial. All four effect devices are used, just like in the previous chapters. Here they are, with a small explanation:

Variation A:

1. Drum Roll
2. Skanks
3. Bass drops in
4. Drums drop in

When you start with a Drum roll, then cut the Drums to let only the Skanks play, cut the Skanks with echo and start the Bass during the Echo with the Drums entering later, you create a tension. You tend to get impatient to hear the drum and bass. 

This is just one way of doing it. However, it is a rather classic method that you most certainly will hear back in many classic Dub tracks.

Variation B:

1. Drum Roll
2. Bass Drops In
3. Horns Drop In and Out
4. Pucking/Clavinet Drop in and out
5. Skanks Drop In and Out

Starting with a Drum Roll, then cutting the Drums while only the Bass plays and the rest of the instruments are quickly (un)muted at strategic points. 

It creates yet another vibe of tension, as you want to hear the Drum and the Bass.

Variation C:

1. Pucking/Clavinet only Wet through Pre-Aux 4
2. Bass Drum Drops In and Out
3. Bass Drops In
4. Drums Drop In

Running the pucking Guitar and the Clavinet through the Aux 4 Pre out to the Reverb, with the bass drum hitting once or twice before the bass line drops in, is a more spaced-out vibe.

It's not so much to create a tension, it's more a spaced out thing. 

You know...

Variation D:

1. Drum Roll
2. Bass, Skanks, Horns Drop in With Space Echo
3. Skanks are muted directly
4. Horns (un)muted Strategically

Because of the many 16th notes played in the Horn Them, just (un)muting the channel at (no so) random will give an instant Dub vibe that will catch those that love their "Dubbing With Horns".

Know when to (un)mute and you can create special echo's. For more information see the Tutorial at studio.dubroom.org

Variation E:

All channels open Aux 3 (Space Echo)

1. Drum Roll
2. Drum and Bass
3. Skanks (un)muted
4. Horns (un)muted
5. Pucking Guitar and Clavine (un)muted)

The Space Echo is so spacey, that in itself feeding the device by merely (un)muting channels does give a Dub vibe. When you have trained yourself in knowing where to find the strategic places to (un)mute, you're pretty close to creating a reasonable Dub in one take.

Here are the Five Ways To Start A Dub Mix:

CLICK HERE TO READ FURTHER

 

Crucial Alphonso - Visionary Creation (MP3 Album Review)

CRUCIAL ALPHONSO - VISIONARY CREATION
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - True Original Sound System Style: six titles all with two versions. Pumping steppers riddims, some played by the mighty King Earthquake (UK) and all created in Crucial Alphonso's Belgian Studio. When you like your digital, when you like your steppers, when you need your bass, just download this free release by that Maltese DUB KEY Net Label.

Crucial Alphonso grew up with Reggae. His father a Reggae DJ, his own voicing at Sound Systems and ability to create his own electronic devices, it was only a matter of time before he would start releasing his own production. As said, as done. Twelve outstanding pieces of digital niceness that yuou can play soft but preferable loud with a lot of bass.  

READ REVIEW, GET THE MUSIC AND MORE

Ondubground And Jahko Lion - Chapter One EP (Dubroom MP3 Review)

ONDUBGROUND AND JAHKO LION - CHAPTER ONE (EP)
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - French (DUB) Reggae band OnDubGround with five tracks featuring Jamaican singer Jahko Lion. Both showing their versatility as Jahko rides laid-back, Ire riddims and heavy steppers with the same ease as they are played into the multitrack recorder.

In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty. Someone said it sometime and it could very well be said about anyone looking for conscious (DUB) Reggae and not knowing about the enormous wealth of music from the online Net Labels. Thanks to the Internet, the world wide Roots Massive connects and produces collaborations that were only available for the industrial and commercial boys and girls. 

READ REVIEW, GET THE MUSIC AND MORE

Using EQ With Space Echo And Reverb (Making Dub With Computers Chapter 30)

MAKING DUB WITH COMPUTERS CHAPTER 30: USING EQ WITH SPACE ECHO AND REVERB
STUDIO DUBROOM TUTORIAL

WWW, September 16 2014 - It's often said how in Dub, the mixing board turns into an instrument at the hand of the engineer. Like a keyboard player touches the keys, the guitar player the strings. True, true, true. Pressing the mute buttons, using the sliders, and not just on the mixing board. The effect devices are not safe from the hands of the Dub engineer. 

During my live performances when I dub a band live, it happens that I have to use the PA of the hall. As I count the drops of sweat on the head of the engineer as I'm telling him how I am going to use his mixing board, I hear him think: "there goes my setting". When I continue to tell him how I want the delay and other effects routed back to the mixing board via a channel input, I see him watch the aux-out buttons while in his head he hears the feedback. Yes, the mixing board becomes an instrument.

Where an engineer usually fine-tunes his mix and explodes whenever someone wants to change anything, a Dub engineer continually changes these settings. No, just by (un)muting channels and not just by knowing where to drop what kind of echo and how to transform the echo feed with EQ like we did in the previous chapters. Here's another general guideline: whatever you can change with EQ, change it!

In this next video, it's not just the simple Dub delay with it's EQ and the reverb. Remember, we've added a Space Echo at Aux 3. That's what we're going to use now and we are going to use the EQ settings of the reverb as well. Before you press play, though, just a little bit more info about the "Space Echo".

There are many soft- and hardware devices similar to the Space Echo. Even free VST effects that are perfect to use, but that's for another place. In a way, you can look at the Space echo as a combination of Delay, Reverb and EQ. Where I use a separate EQ with my Dub delay and layer it with reverb from the mixing board, the Space echo does all that in one device. 

Watch as the "decay" (length) buttons and the EQ on the blue devices change. The blue device at top is the Reverb at aux 2, the blue device below the mixing board is the Space Echo. Read the extra information as you watch just how EQ and other things are used:

CLICK HERE TO READ FURTHER

 

Digital Dignity: Half a Gigabyte of High Quality Free Licensed (DUB) Reggae Samples In a New Studio Dubroom Feature

DIGITAL DIGNITY: HALF A GIGABYTE OF FREE LICENSED HI-Q (DUB) REGGAE SAMPLES AND LOOPS IN A NEW STUDIO FEATURE
STUDIO DUBROOM NEWS

WWW, September 2014 - Attention (DUB) Reggae producers and other visitors/users of Studio Dubroom: a brand new feature in the studio will provide you with over 560 Mb of free, legal, fully licensed high quality (DUB) Reggae Samples and Loops. We're talking drums, bass, guitars, horns, vocals, Dub effects and everything else you can think of in the field of the production of (DUB) Reggae Music.

It's called "Digital Dignity" and for a reason. There are too many online (DUB) Reggae artists that make use of jingles, loops and samples from well known or lesser known albums. For non-commercial productions that's quite a common practice but it will not lead you as a producer to the ability to release your music commercially. It's a common practice, but it doesn't really do anything else but make people think of the original.

Yes, it is better to get some dignity in your productions by getting some dignity for yourself: over half a gig of that material is waiting for you in our brand new Loopmasters (DUB) Reggae portal.

So what did we do and what can you do?

First, we've gathered all thirty (DUB) Reggae products that come with a demo file from the Sample Boutique and -second- created a page for each release. From that page you can directly download the Demo file attached to the product. You'll have to be registered and logged in to the Loop Masters website, but since that is a free thing and can even provide you with more goodies, registration at Loop Masters will not hurt you at all.

We are talking about samples and loops by Ariwa studio, Jesse "Dubmatix" King, the heavyweight champions at Drum Drops, and a lot more. A large part has authentic vocal loops and samples, but you can find some nice horns and other material.

Read the introduction page and start downloading. When you have a reasonable fast Internet connection, about 15 minutes of your time will deliver you a very valuable addition to your Sound library.

This is not a collaboration between Loop Masters and the Dubroom, this is the sole decision of the Dubroom and it is done out of a genuine appreciation with the good quality, service and prices at the Sample Boutique. 

CLICK HERE VISIT THE PORTAL

 

Various Artists - Strictly Analog Dub (Dubroom MP3 Album Review)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - STRICTLY ANALOG DUB
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - It comes with the puristic title "Strictly Analog Dub", but Dutch Net Label Dubbhism does not deliver that with this otherwise very interesting and enjoyable free Net Album. No, this is not the first negative music review in the Dubroom. Confused? Read On.

You got purists -some would say fetishists- of all kinds. Reggae purists, Dub purists, Analogue purists, Digital purist, Vinyl purists, ah, well you get the idea. The kind of purism that's brought forward in this really nice album is the analogue purity. That is to say, analogue recording and effects purity. Not all tracks are Dub, not all tracks are Reggae, not all tracks are played with analogue equipment. Unless you would call a drum computer and other obviously sequenced stuff analogue. Like these folks.

READ REVIEW, GET THE MUSIC AND MORE

Dub Echoes and Reverb (Making Dub With Computers Chapter 29)

MAKING DUB WITH COMPUTERS CHAPTER 29: DUB ECHOES AND REVERB
STUDIO DUBROOM TUTORIAL

WWW, September 14 2014 - Basically, the main thing a Dub engineer does is (un)muting channels and emphasizing these (un)mutings with effects, the two obligatory ones being reverb and delay, or echo. That's something we're going to look at as we continue our version excursion. Just how and where reverb is placed, and different things you can do with delay.

Very common in Dub mixing is adding reverb to snare drum hits, like every 2nd or 4th. When the skanks play, hit one chord with a Reverb attack. Or unmute the skanks and hit the very first chord with a reverb attack. Or the last one, just before you mute. Use a pre-aux and put the volume slider of the drums close to zero while feeding the reverb device with the drums.

Echoes, or delay, can and should not be just a repeat of itself like in the previous chapter. You can change the sound of the echoes by adding reverb on them but also by applying (slight) EQ changes in the echo feed. Or both. You can let the echo run along with the drums while changing the EQ feed, or just make a long echo of let's say a horn hit and change that feed.

Again (un)muting is essential. Let the skanks play along with the drum and bass and mute them at an unexpected time. Or unmute the skanks every 4th or 8th hit. Mute the horns before the theme is over, or unmute the horn while the theme is already playing. Surprise. Shock. Do the unexpected. 

he following video contains all the elements described in the previous paragraph. You will see the Reverb device, the Echo and it's EQ plus the master mixing board. In fact, that's everything that's used in this mix. On top of the screen you'll see a few remarks about the mix. Press replay, pause, whatever. 

 

CLICK HERE TO READ FURTHER

 

(Un)Muting Channels and Using Echo (Making Dub With Computers Chapter 28)

MAKING DUB WITH COMPUTERS CHAPTER 28: (UN)MUTING CHANNELS AND USING ECHO
STUDIO DUBROOM TUTORIAL

WWW, September 13 2014 - Create multitrack recording of instrumental Reggae track: check. Add effects and make a set up: check. Finalize it with a sound check: check! In principle we're ready to make our first Dub. At least, we're ready for an introduction into what this is all about: making Dub with computers. 

Dub is both a technique and a form of art. You can learn the techniques but without the art-istic approach it won't be much. On the other hand, creativity can so much be enhanced with just a little bit of technical knowledge. So, before we'll start to look in some actual techniques we really need to consider our actual artistic feelings and desires when it comes to Dub.

There are many, many different ways to start a Dub. We'll take a look at some of them later on in this tutorial. There's the thing, are you making a Dub of a track that is also to be released as a vocal, are you making a Dub for a single release or as part of a Dub album? All need a different approach. What is it you're trying to communicate with your mix? What are you trying to say with that one particular effect you're using? These questions should be answered in your final Dub.

Where there are so many different forms, styles and techniques in Dub, one thing that all good Dub has in common is the fact that the Dubs are remixes of full musical tracks, with or without vocals. Dub is the Art of taking away, and when there is nothing to take away, things become a bit weird. Dub is the art of transforming a musical track by the use of effects and changing of settings on mixing board and devices. You'll need a musical track to transform, even when you're never intending to release the original track you made the Dub from.

Before I make a Dub, I open the instrumental track in my DAW and save it under a different name. I usually give my riddims a number, like 201401master.rns which I then save as 201401mix01.rns just to help myself keeping track of what I do.

The actual Dub is made in exactly the same way as it would be done in a real studio, with a couple of extra features that were unable in the times when Dub came into existence. It means, that while the track is running you'll change sliders, knobs and everything else you can possibly change and record these changes. This is called automation and every serious DAW should have this possibility. Some programs require you to arm tracks for automation, others will automatically record movements on the mixing boards and devices. 

The last thing I do before I start recording my mix is to make an initial setting. Usually this means I mute every channel except for the drum, bass and effects (channels 11-14). When I don't do a thing, the drum and bass will just play. Only when I unmute another channel and/or mute channels 1/2 (drums/bass), you'll hear something else. 

I do this because one very important general rule is that the drum and the bass should be dominant, there should be many parts where it's just the drum and the bass (plus perhaps an echo), and there should be let's say at least three little parts in your mix where drum, bass, or both will drop out. You could call them "breaks", in a way. That was a tip I got very early on, a tip I gladly pass on.

Now, let's take a little version excursion: a first mix wherein some of the mentioned principles are being put into action. Let's just play a little bit with the track by muting and unmuting channels while channels 3-5 have a little Dub delay (aux 1). 

Take a look at the following video and also watch some basic use of the slider in channel 11, that basically functions as the echo volume:

CLICK HERE TO READ FURTHER

 

Finalizing the Set Up with A Soundcheck (Making Dub With Computers Chapter 27)

MAKING DUB WITH COMPUTERS CHAPTER 27: FINALIZING THE SET UP WITH A SOUNDCHECK
STUDIO DUBROOM TUTORIAL

WWW, September 12 2014 - We have our instruments set up in proper sub mixes, we've added the effects for dubbing and for enhancement of the instrument's sounds, now it's time to actually enhance these sound and make a reasonable mix. We're going to do that in this chapter in word, sight and sound. Actually, this is pretty much the same as a live soundcheck just before a live performance by a band. 

Truth be told: I did a little bit of preparation by using some specific settings on both reverbs. In short, I use a longer, heavier reverb for the Dub mixing (the one at aux 2), and a short one for the instrument enhancement (aux 4). I've also set the Space Echo as a Space echo (aux 3) but we're not going to use that in the soundcheck itself. 

We'll start that soundcheck with the drums. It gets some extra EQ-ing, and a little bit of reverb. The bass is next, gets some extra EQ-ing as well. Then the skanks and the horns. Both submixes have their own phaser, and they are put in action. The balance between the instruments is made in the submix, and then the skanks and the horns are balance with the bass and drums. The last part is for the accompanying elements: the guitar and the clavinet. While you could also add a phaser to that submix, for this tutorial we'll leave it at that. 

I've made three temporal midi tracks for the horns, to make them play the theme all over again. After all, we have to make a setting. After the soundcheck, I reinstated to original horns track. 

This is the sound check, live and direct.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ FURTHER

 

Luciano and Mad Professor - Deliverance Dub Showcase

LUCIANO AND MAD PROFESSOR - DELIVERANCE DUB SHOWCASE
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - What's the difference between a Showcase and a Dub Showcase, Ariwa Style? Well, the fact that not every vocal track is followed by it's Dub (which you can easily change in your player) plus the fact that there's an extra Dub version Of "Three Meals A Day" labeled Sound System Dub. Luciano and Mad Professor In Fine Style!

Of course, when Luciano sings into the multi track recorder at Ariwa studio with Mad Professor at the controls he listens to excellent music. Of course, when Ariwa prepares for Luciano they will come with a variety of musical works that will all emphasize a different side of The MessenJah. Of course a collaboration between Luciano and Ariwa brings niceness.

This is a Dub Showcase, not a Showcase and not a Dub Album. This is an album about Luciano, and the Dubs are there to recall the vocal tracks while they're still fresh in your memory. While Luciano showcases his many sides, from smooth Lovers' Rock to strong Prophetic Calls and Chants to JAH, Ariwa shows they have just the right music for the right vibe. After all, Roots and Lovers Rock are two specialties of the London-based studio's.

As the album plays for this review, the Dubs are all programmed to be played directly after it's vocal counterpart. That means, no change in the sequence for the first 4 titles. Tracks 9-11 subsequently are three vocals, followed by four dubs. Almost one hour of good vibes, freedom sounds and nice dubwise.

The arrangements, playing of instruments, backing and lead vocals, everything is perfectly worked out. Luciano gives his best, while Mad Professor does his best to emphasize the MessenJah in Dub Showcase style. This is not a Dub style for an all-dub album, this is a Dub style that gives you meditation, gives you some extra time to skank pon di riddim. A Dub style that makes you hear new things every time you play the music.

How shall we call it? What about Roots Lovers Rock Reggae, to combine the two dominant styles on Deliverance Dub Showcase? Mad Professor showing he's not just one of the Dub masters in the world, he knows how to produce music by using top musicians and how to mix Dubs from that music in fine style.

From the very first track, a crucial rendering of Dennis Brown's song that gave the title to this album as well, to the very last one ("Three Meals A Day, No Rent To Pay and No Wife To Obey, Talking Bout Detention....") which is a heavyweight Roots Steppers with equal Heavyweight Dub Mixing, this album is what it says. This is Mad Professor showcasing Luciano in his own special style.

So, what was that about an extra Dub version called Sound System Dub? This is Luciano singing from the top to the last drop with Mad Professor mixing the music in Dub style.

Get all tracks, or just a few. When you're into Dub, get the Dub from "Three Meals" called "One Dub A Day". 

The cheapest place is Emusic and no we do not get paid to say that.

BUY AT AMAZON - BUY AT ITUNES - BUY AT EMUSIC (JUST 0.49 PER TRACK)