The Art of Production: 808 State - The making of Cobra Bora

TL;DR

In the 90s, track production involved using loop-based software on Atari computers, which allowed for layering different parts and creating complex compositions. The focus was on experimenting with different sounds and textures, often influenced by Latin and Fusion music.

Transcript

one of the early tracks is Cobra borer off the album 90. and I picked this one because of its um to show you how we used to put a track together back then um most things these days are quite linear and you compose on Modern doors in a very linear way I do at least but back then the the Atari computers and the software that they had then worked in a... Read More

Key Insights

• 👣 Track production in the 90s involved loop-based software and Atari computers, providing a non-linear and experimental approach to composing music.
• 🛢️ The Roland R8 drum machine was popular for its realistic drum sounds and groove parameters, adding a human feel to programmed drums.
• 🎹 The track "Cobra" was influenced by Latin and Fusion music, aiming to create dance music using drum machines, keyboards, and samplers.

Questions & Answers

Q: How was track production different in the 90s compared to modern methods?

In the 90s, track production involved using loop-based software on Atari computers, which worked in a loop rather than a timeline. This allowed for layering different parts and building the track in segments, giving a more experimental and non-linear approach compared to the linear composition on modern DAWs.

Q: What drum machine was commonly used during the 90s?

The Roland R8 drum machine was popular in the 90s for its realistic drum sounds and groove parameters. It allowed producers to create dynamic rhythms and add a human feel to the programmed drums.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the track "Cobra"?

The track "Cobra" was inspired by Latin and Fusion music. The producer aimed to create dance music using drum machines and keyboards, taking inspiration from the energetic rhythms found in Latin music. The use of different keyboards and samplers like the Casio FZ1 allowed for the creation of various textures and sounds.

Q: How did the producer experiment with different sounds and textures?

The producer utilized keyboards such as the D50 and Mini Moog to create a wide range of sounds and textures. The focus was on using keyboards as a paint palette, combining plasticky sounds with rough and analog sounds to achieve a unique and intense musical experience.

Key Insights:

• Track production in the 90s involved loop-based software and Atari computers, providing a non-linear and experimental approach to composing music.
• The Roland R8 drum machine was popular for its realistic drum sounds and groove parameters, adding a human feel to programmed drums.
• The track "Cobra" was influenced by Latin and Fusion music, aiming to create dance music using drum machines, keyboards, and samplers.
• The producer used keyboards like the D50 and Mini Moog to create various textures and sounds, experimenting with different elements to achieve a unique composition.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In the 90s, track production involved using loop-based software on Atari computers, which allowed for layering different parts and creating complex compositions.

• The R8 drum machine was a popular choice for its realistic drum sounds and groove parameters, allowing for the creation of dynamic rhythms.

• The track "Cobra" was inspired by Latin and Fusion music, aiming to create dance music with drum machines and keyboards, creating an interesting mixture of electronic and organic elements.