Mixtape: what is it and what is different from the album

Each music listener has a few favorite hits that you can listen to an infinite number of times. They diligently build them in order in their playlists and embark on a rhythmic journey through the musical waves. Professional musicians went to meet their listeners and came up with a phenomenon like mixtape. What is this and who creates them?

History

Mikstejp is a type of sound recording, which implies the connection in one tape of several musical compositions or monasteries (short prosaic stories). In fact, it is a collection of songs, but having a specific purpose and the principle of mixing tracks or their fragments and represented by a single composition.

The history of mixtape begins in the 60-80s of the last century, when 8-track tapes were created by handicraft method. However, then the term itself was not yet. The pioneers of this method of recording are truckers who mix their favorite music on audiocassettes. Later they began to appear on flea markets. The most popular mixtapes of that time are Super 73, Top Pop 1977,

However, there is another point of view regarding the history of the mixtape phenomenon, that such a concept could arise in the professional environment of American "black" rappers. That's why today audio mixing is common in hip-hop culture.

In rap

Mikstejpe in rap most often is a mixture of tracks of different artists. Usually they are just musical favorites of the creator of the mix. There is another reason, when the compositions can be united by a common theme. In this case, the tracks belong to one artist or different performers read the bits of one particular bitmaker.

Mixstape and album

Mikstepy are created quickly and unofficially. There is no strict boss, a producer who will evaluate and criticize the music collection, adjust it for radio release and censorship. Mikstejp is the absolute freedom to choose an artist, musical accompaniment, instruments. Here you can take the singer-bard, dilute the female lyrical vocals and put all this on the rhythmic music of the famous rap hit.

If everything is so clear and transparent with the concept of mixtape, what is an album? The difference here is immediately apparent. The album is a long and laborious work of a professional musician, which is accompanied by a certain advertisement and the release of video clips. This is an official music release, all rights are protected, and samples (sound fragments for writing music) are bought. Naturally, all these components are reflected in the quality and availability that author music has. Albums work for the creation of a label first, promotion of the artist's name.

Kinds

Today mixtapes are divided into two large groups: DJs and rappers. Their names themselves determine the creator. The first, of course, belong to DJs who mix different compositions, turning them into a single musical stream. Rappers in this version act as hosts (hosting), accompanying the recording by reading a certain text or placing emphasis on the transitions of one track to another.

However, there are purely rapper mixtapes. They are created without the participation of a DJ. Musicians connect their tracks or strangers, perform rap, use their own or other people's texts. Here the number of options is infinite. Therefore, it is very difficult to answer unequivocally what a mixtape is in rap. But the determining factor is that the leading role belongs to the rap artist and his personal preferences.

Amateur mixtapes also stand out. They are created by ordinary music listeners at home. Such non-studio recordings are made using other people's musical creations. As a rule, they are slightly lower in quality and originality of the mix.

Mikstejapy of any kind, whether professional or amateur, are usually built according to three principles: a random list of favorite songs, a conceptual mixture of compositions of a general mood and a theme, or they represent a kind of personal statement addressed to a specific addressee indicated at the beginning of the tape (intro) .

Known Mixstappers

Among the well-known rapper projects in this vein, there is an American hip-hop group Diplomats with Memorial Day Mixtape or Ukrainian rapper Drago with "New Russian rap" or mixtape "There was no sadness".

Many DJs also gained popularity on the creation of mixtapes. So, in 2008, the original mix of White Owl Drop That 31 from American DJ WhiteOwl was released. It was already the 31st recording of this type. According to certain principles and categories, such records turn into a series of mixtapes and have a semi-official character.

Purpose of creation

To understand what a mixtape is in music is not difficult, just listen to a couple of entries that are widely available. From the hands of professionals and amateurs, they come in large editions and, without official status, easily spread among amateurs. However, it is more difficult to answer the question of why mixtapes are created.

Today, many novice artists use them as an advertising presentation. They give their musical creations to DJs, they mix them into a single tape and present the work in an original frame to the general public. At the same time fragments of compositions are used, that is, intrigue is created, interest to the performer increases.

Author's music, albums require a lot of money and effort for mastering, mixing, creating clips. While mixtapes are more accessible and almost unlimited. If a musician has several songs, he can mix them in a short time and quickly spread it on the Web.

Amateur mixtapes are created for various reasons: for personal listening, statements about their musical tastes, creative talents, or for testing new equipment, programs, creativity, etc.

Do it yourself

If a person feels creative potential, understands music well, nothing prevents him from creating his own mixtape. It can be composed by favorite compositions of different artists or their own creations. The case for small - to understand how to make a mixtape, so that he liked listeners. The whole process can be accommodated in five steps:

1. Concept. It is best that the future mixtape is not built chaotically, but on a specific idea, direction, had a title and cover. If the mixtape includes songs or hermitages of your own work, then you must select only new material that has not yet been published.
2. A selection of bits. When the own bits do not correspond to the notion of how a mixtape should sound, you can refer to other people's creations. There are a lot of them on the web. You can take, for example, instrumental versions of your favorite tracks or buy a unique material from an enterprising Internet producer.
3. A selection of samples. We must clearly understand, creating a mixtape, that this phenomenon is quite common in a professional environment, so you can use high-quality and popular samples with author's texts. But not everyone will want to listen to such an interpretation. And here there are two ways out: create your own music or use the work of predecessors that were not allowed to the albums. Among such known creations of groups The Beatles, Pink Floyd and SteelyDan.
4. Recording music. If the author of the mixtape himself can not record his project for some reason (no hardware or skills), one can turn to a professional DJ. He will pick up several suitable tracks, and the author will be "rapping" for them. If the mix is taken by the rapper himself, you need to be sure of the quality of the equipment, the microphone and the selection of the necessary programs. All this works for good sound quality.
5. Cover. If the author of mixtape is going to spread his creation not only on the Web, but also on the hands of his audience, it is necessary to prepare a cover for the future CD. It should be catchy. You can use your own original processed photo or other image. It is better to avoid unnecessary details. Success in this case is based on three whales: the original name, the name of the mixtape and the memorable picture.

Can I sell mixtapes?

If there is demand, then why can not there be an offer? After all, a lot of talent has been invested in making a mixtape. But since this is an unofficial issue, its sale is carried out "from the tray," that is, it is distributed among a circle of acquaintances and fans of the creator. In the DJ environment, this is taking place more formally today. Mikstepy come out in large editions, spinning in clubs and on the radio.