(*Play video/instrumental while reading*)

Man, It's been 21 years since Dr. Dre's Chronic 2001 was released!

Although there are several quality references I can use from Dr. Dre's catalog,  whenever I work on improving my ear for mixing - I pull up this album. The main song I listen to is "What's The Difference". 

The way Dre got everything to sit in the mix is remarkable. 

{ Also want to give credit to Mix Engineer Richard “Segal” Hureida who worked on the album as well } 

The drums, the eqing and clarity of the sample, vocals (the art of mixing vocals is another story..) set a high bar for cats like me.That song sounds like the music is sonically surrounding me when I hear it. I mostly mix in the box, so I know i'll never achieve the warm, punchy, crisp analog sound that way, but this album will forever be one of the benchmarks that changed how I measure the quality of mixing.

Busta Rhymes' "Get You Some" off The Big Bang album is another record I used as a reference back in the day.

Geez.

 

Salute to one of the greatest and iconic producers in the game, Dr. Dre. 

Shout out to all the Recording/Mixing engineers out there.