Hip Hop Production Secrets: Masterclass with Producer Focus...

Jul 10, 2018 | 972,174 Views

Watch acclaimed hip hop producer Focus… (Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé) reveal his personal hip hop production and mixing techniques. Learn how to get your kick and snare to pop, create space for lead vocals and more.

Topics include:

Building a beat from scratch
Getting drum samples to stand out
Translating ideas and feelings into music
Making space for lead vocals in arrangements and mixes

This masterclass originally streamed live July 7, 2018 as part of the Waves Open Sessions series.

Watch more Waves Open Sessions.

[{"nodeGUID":"9f60641c-d2ee-4b60-bf96-62a837e31bfe","nodeID":267,"documentName":"Renaissance Vox","documentID":267,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/renaissance-vox","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/renaissance-vox.png","msrp":129.000000000,"skuPrice":35.990000000,"discount":72,"mainOrder":10006,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":196,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"V5-RVT40","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The first-choice vocal compressor for top engineers worldwide. With its approachable interface of just 3 controls for gating, compression and output gain, R-Vox is the quickest route to a legendary vocal sound. ","tagline":"Classic compressor/limiter optimized for vocals ","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Vocals","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"3k\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":602,"rating":4.8255816,"saleEndDate":"2024-12-03T03:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"b0ef8e6c-2f40-4783-97b3-41f8fa9b2df0","nodeID":261,"documentName":"Renaissance Bass","documentID":261,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/renaissance-bass","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/renaissance-bass.png","msrp":129.000000000,"skuPrice":35.990000000,"discount":72,"mainOrder":10024,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":184,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"TBS10","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The industry\u2019s favorite plugin for delivering a richer, deeper low end that translates even on small playback systems. A tried-and-true workhorse for countless Grammy-winning engineers. ","tagline":"Rich bass enhancement for music and voice","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Bass","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"1k\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":520,"rating":4.7884617,"saleEndDate":"2024-12-03T03:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"13d3e859-ba57-4d80-98a5-1e7d2b51af82","nodeID":277,"documentName":"SoundShifter","documentID":277,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/soundshifter","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/soundshifter.png","msrp":129.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":77,"mainOrder":10028,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":199,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"USW379-1362-600","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The world\u2019s most advanced time and pitch shifter plugin, SoundShifter makes it easy to change keys, tempos, durations, and manipulate the time-pitch continuum.","tagline":"Time- and pitch-stretch audio with multiple options ","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Pitch \u0026 Time","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"700\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":361,"rating":4.493075,"saleEndDate":"2024-12-03T03:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"be6de178-b65b-40ed-a560-94af168c953d","nodeID":288,"documentName":"Torque","documentID":288,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/torque","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/torque.png","msrp":79.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":62,"mainOrder":10044,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":646,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"TRDRRT","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Enhance the tone of snares, toms, kicks or an entire drum kit in your mix, with natural-sounding results that no regular pitch-shifter will allow.","tagline":"Tune the pitch of drums, in your recordings or live","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Pitch \u0026 Time","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"500\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":382,"rating":4.7172775,"saleEndDate":"2024-12-03T03:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"d291df9d-afd8-4e0d-ba5e-f46a046ac6cc","nodeID":276,"documentName":"Smack Attack","documentID":276,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/smack-attack-transient-shaper","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/smack-attack-transient-shaper.png","msrp":79.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":62,"mainOrder":10047,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":624,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"SMATCK","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Add smack and bite to drums, loops, synth hits and all percussive sounds by designing the level, shape and duration of their transients\u2019 attack and sustain \u2013 from surgical tweaks to savage effects.","tagline":"Emphasize, tame, and shape drums and percussion","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Compressors","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"500\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":350,"rating":4.84,"saleEndDate":"2024-12-03T03:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"f43a3f06-807b-4973-86ac-923c33357b63","nodeID":140,"documentName":"Doubler","documentID":140,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/doubler","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/doubler-1.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":70,"mainOrder":10054,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":106,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"DBLTDM","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Using a combination of delay and pitch modulation, Doubler vocal doubling and harmonizer plugin sounds great on vocals, polyphonic instruments and full mixes.","tagline":"4-voice doubler/imager with modulation and detuning ","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Delay","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"900\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":304,"rating":4.7203946,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"57a3a300-bf82-4d45-b05f-f0e090dddc15","nodeID":164,"documentName":"Grand Rhapsody Piano","documentID":164,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/grand-rhapsody-piano","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/grand-rhapsody-piano.png","msrp":79.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":62,"mainOrder":10071,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":625,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"ELGRNDRHPN","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Sampled from the Fazioli F228 grand piano housed at London\u2019s Metropolis Studios \u2013 the very piano played on Grammy-winning hits such as Adele\u2019s Hello.","tagline":"Luxurious acoustic grand, multi-miked and sampled to perfection","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Virtual Instruments","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"300\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":525,"rating":4.521905,"saleEndDate":"2024-12-03T03:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"e1a0dccd-06cc-4bf6-ad1f-272da0ca8cae","nodeID":133,"documentName":"Codex Wavetable Synth","documentID":133,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/codex","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/codex.png","msrp":149.000000000,"skuPrice":29.990000000,"discount":80,"mainOrder":10149,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":488,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"CDXNA","note":"","documentPageDescription":"Cutting-edge polyphonic wavetable synthesizer based on an advanced granular wavetable engine and powered by Waves\u2019 Virtual Voltage technology.","tagline":"Monster synth with a massive sonic palette","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Synths \u0026 EMP","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"200\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":275,"rating":4.5963635,"saleEndDate":"2024-12-03T03:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"1e72bf41-b965-402b-9eb9-06ce826885f2","nodeID":76,"documentName":"Renaissance Maxx","documentID":76,"documentUrlPath":"/bundles/renaissance-maxx","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/bundles/600/renaissance-maxx.png","msrp":399.000000000,"skuPrice":64.990000000,"discount":84,"mainOrder":10220,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":282,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"USW379-1362-532","note":"","documentPageDescription":"10 classic Waves plugins that combine the warmth of analog gear with the precision of digital control: staples of modern production, with the sound you know from countless award-winning records. ","tagline":"The go-to plugins for modern production: From R-Vox to R-Bass and beyond","departmentID":1,"gsfCategory":"Home Studio Bundles","fixedPosition":true,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"100\u002B bought in past month","couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":417,"rating":4.848921,"saleEndDate":"2024-12-03T03:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""}]

Loading....

More Mixing & Production Tips