You have developed a reputation as the go to guy for replaying samples. How did you get into replaying samples?
I spent a lot of years recording with live musicians. It started off with me wanting my own drums. I didn’t have the time and knowledge back when I first started to go beat diggin’.
I practiced drums for many years and studied records and recording methods to the point that my drum sound didn’t sound like me playing.
It sounded like an old record. It expanded from replaying drums to other instruments and whole samples.
Name some of the records that you replayed?
A lot of Wu-Tang records. Wu-Tang Forever, As High As Wu-Tang Gets had me playing drums. RZA and I incorporated ideas from records and had live musicians come in.
Most recently I did some replays on Tony Ya Yo album and Get Rich or Die Trying soundtrack. You can hear some of my work on MOBB DEEP’s album Blood Money. I did a lot of replays on my album The Majestic 12 project.
Describe some of your sample replay techniques used to achieve accurate results? (When It Rain It Pours by 50 Cent)
Unless you’ve done some research on how the original recording was recorded you’re going in blind. The first 2 hours is intense listening of the sample. You’re able to direct the musicians once you’ve heard all the elements.
Once you’ve laid down all the tracks I do what I call a aging process. I have a name for it called the "Integrated Process".
You basically utilize analog tape, Tube EQ and a lot of High-end components just to recreate a sample. The mixing process is critical.
Carlos Bess is the secret weapon behind 30 plus platinum records and counting. He is sought after for replaying samples down to the fiber.
This Super producer, engineer, and artist has sonically exposed Wu-Tang, Jay Z, 50 Cent, G Unit and countless others during his career.
We caught up with Carlos Bess at his world class recording studio (INTEGRATED STUDIOS) in New York City. INTEGRATED STUDIOS appeared on the front cover of MIX magazine in July 2006.
What was the recording process like for “When It Rain It Pours”?
It’s intense layering. If you think the keyboard part is just a piano don’t be fooled. It’s like a guitar in there too. You might hear a little trumpet behind the piano. Let’s say the piano is the main instrument in most cases there are a heap of instruments playing behind it.
Once you identify them you have to match the same characteristics. It’s not as simple as dialing in the instrument on your Triton or virtual instruments.
It’s a lot of EQ, compressing, reverb and various settings on every track. The bass track may consist of 3 tracks layered. It could be 4 tracks. A simple guitar sample can take up to 30 tracks just to recreate.
The recording process can take me a couple days just to lay down the instruments in between coming back and forth with fresh ears. You constantly do a lot of A & B comparison.
You’re recording then comparing through out the whole process. Sometimes it’s hard to compare in the early stages because all the instruments & layers aren’t there yet.
How do you pick from a wide selection of guitars to achieve the sound you’re hearing in the sample?
Guitar Plug-ins can give you virtually any sound that you want. Guitar Rig is a VST plug-in that will emulate guitar/bass amps and speaker cabinets.
Knowing the instrument is important. Soon as you hear a guitar you’ll know if it’s a Fender or a Les Paul. You can hear the difference automatically.
If you’re a guitar enthusiast you can tell the difference between all of them. You can hear the difference in tones and body. It’s important to know all the instruments.
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