Madlib

In this YouTube video, Madlib uses the SP-303 to sample from a vinyl record. It can be seen most clearly at the 1:07 mark in this video.

In this photo (from this article http://www.stonesthrow.com/news/2004/03/making-madvillainy-photos), Madlib uses this Fisher Price children's turntable and a BOSS SP-303 to sample vinyl for his collaborative album with MF DOOM, Madvillainy.

At 13:22 in this video, otis can be seen using an original sp 404

Spotted on stage at 8:45 in this video of a live set. The SP1200 itself is clearly visible at the :55 mark of the same video.

It was used extensively on the collaboration with MF DOOM "Madvillainy". Madlib can be seen holding one on the back cover of that album.

In this video, Madlib can be seen making a beat using an Akai MPC 2000XL (along with a Boss SP-303). The MPC 2000XL appears at around 0:10 and can be seen throughout the video.

"Are you still recording all analogue? M: It's a mixture. I keep my jazz analogue. But it depends. I mean, I still use my SP-12 and I've got an MPC-4000, but what I like the most is my little 303. A $200 machine, and I've done everything on that. So that shows you that you don't need all of this other stuff. "

In a user-uploaded photo, Madlib's Boss SP-505 Groove Sampling Workstation is visible on the right side, positioned next to a Korg D1600.

In this article about Madlib's early bedroom studio, we can clearly see the 8-track Portastudio in the first picture. He also talks about it in his Red Bull Music Academy lecture (http://vimeo.com/29834586), but doesn't mention the actual model.

Tascam 388 can be seen on this photo under the Tascam Portastudio 488.

"There is, of course, a method to the madness. It all starts with the Boss SP-303 Dr. Sample, which Madlib uses to capture and chop all his distinctive loops before layering them for mixing on a 16-track Roland VS-1680 digital workstation."

Used for Champion Sound and Madvillainy, according to the following sources:

Remix September 1, 2003 (linked)

Recorded under the name Jaylib, Official (Stones Throw, 2003) is a chopped-up, fractal, freestyle swingfest with both artists building loops for the other to rhyme over. It's the perfect vehicle for what Madlib jokingly refers to as his “caveman method,” in which the main ingredients are a Roland/Boss SP-303 Dr. Sample and a Roland VS-880 digital 8-track.

yeloocproducer on Gearslutz, November 22, 2006 (discussing MF Doom's Madvillainy vocal chain)

Madvillain I think was straight into a VS880... no preamp or compressor...unless it was maybe a mackie preamp.

I'm guessing Dangerdoom was a bit more mid/hi-fi, again not sure.

Definitely not "rocket surgery"

yelooproducer on Gearslutz, August 3, 2008

Madlib... SM57, SM7, or AT4033 if I remember correctly.... pre's would be mackie or VS880 straight in for the most part.

Doom... AT4033, don't know what kind of pre.

This is just what I remember....not positive though.

Used for vocals on Champion Sound and Madvillainy, according to the following sources:

Remix September 1, 2003 (linked)

“I think Madlib pretty much just invents his own rules,” Peanut Butter Wolf muses. Studio engineer Dave Cooley claims that holds true even when a different setup is needed. For “React,” Jay Dee's beat and 'lib's turntable cuts were flown into Digidesign Pro Tools from separate stereo and 4-track masters. Madlib then tracked his vocals on an Audio-Technica 4033A and a Shure SM7, from there going into a Neve 1099 preamp, a GML 8200 EQ, a Universal Audio 1176LN limiting amplifier and finally a dbx 902 De-Esser. “We usually de-ess maybe 4 dB off of the vocals and then compress with a ratio of 8 to 1, which is pretty high,” Cooley explains. “But Madlib likes his shit loud, and it's mixed loud to begin with. He has a really cool ‘angular’ mixing style: Something is always sticking out.”

Dave Cooley, yeloocproducer on Gearslutz, November 12, 2006 (discussing MF Doom's Madvillainy vocal chain)

AT 4033 I believe. We did some stuff on SM7 on the unreleased (internet circulated) madvillain, but Doom decided to go for a more laid back, lo-energy feel (in his delivery) for the final Madvillain.

Agno on Gearslutz, January 7, 2007

He's right... it's an AT4033.

Dave Cooley, yelooproducer on Gearslutz, August 3, 2008

Madlib... SM57, SM7, or AT4033 if I remember correctly.... pre's would be mackie or VS880 straight in for the most part.

Doom... AT4033, don't know what kind of pre.

This is just what I remember....not positive though.

madlib using an SP555

In this interview with Mad Skills, Madlib talks about drum machines he uses:

Madskills: "Are there certain pieces that you feel more comfortable around, that you tend to use a lot?" Madlib: "Just these little box machines, like the (Roland SP) 606 and the (Boss SP) 303. I like the 606, 'cause it has a gang of effects on it."

Madlib uses these headphones throughout the video.

The official factory box for the 'Roland VS-2000CD' can be seen in the last photo of the Instagram slideshow, uploaded on Madlib's official Instagram account. The actual model can also been seen on top of a monitor in the fourth photo of that same slidewhow.

In this picture featuring Madlib & DOOM working on the Madvillain album, a Korg D1600 multitrack recorder is sitting at the center of the picture, in front of them. The D1600 can also be seen in this photo taken in Madlib's studio.

Madlib mentioned on Twitter that he created all the beats for his album "Bandana" using an Apple iPad. This highlights his innovative approach and encourages producers to embrace technology in their music-making process.

Used for the vocals on Champion Sound, as stated in this September 1, 2003 Remix article.

“I think Madlib pretty much just invents his own rules,” Peanut Butter Wolf muses. Studio engineer Dave Cooley claims that holds true even when a different setup is needed. For “React,” Jay Dee's beat and 'lib's turntable cuts were flown into Digidesign Pro Tools from separate stereo and 4-track masters. Madlib then tracked his vocals on an Audio-Technica 4033A and a Shure SM7, from there going into a Neve 1099 preamp, a GML 8200 EQ, a Universal Audio 1176LN limiting amplifier and finally a dbx 902 De-Esser. “We usually de-ess maybe 4 dB off of the vocals and then compress with a ratio of 8 to 1, which is pretty high,” Cooley explains. “But Madlib likes his shit loud, and it's mixed loud to begin with. He has a really cool ‘angular’ mixing style: Something is always sticking out.”

A CR-8000 can be spotted to the left of Madlib in the background of this picture taken in his studio.

It's located in the far left of the photo, next to the opened 'Ecko Shoe Box' and 'sandwiched' between some other gear that's unfortunately unidentifiable.

Madlib makes a beat using the Roland Fantom G7 in this video. A clear overall view of the keyboard can be had at 1:39 but it appears throughout the whole video.

Korg ESX-1 and Roland SP606 seen on the floor in this photo

You can see Madlib use the Tascam 2488 at 5:07 and 6:50 to record and mix his music.

In this video, Madlib uses the Rane TTM 57SL mixer along with a pair of CDJ 2000. The 57 appears throughout the whole video and can be clearly seen at around 1:19

Keyboard can be seen in the photo.

Madlib mentions in this interview that he uses the 'Jen SX-1000'

In the image, Madlib's Akai S1000 can be seen positioned just below the Korg D1600.

Used for the vocals on Champion Sound, as stated in this September 1, 2003 Remix article.

“I think Madlib pretty much just invents his own rules,” Peanut Butter Wolf muses. Studio engineer Dave Cooley claims that holds true even when a different setup is needed. For “React,” Jay Dee's beat and 'lib's turntable cuts were flown into Digidesign Pro Tools from separate stereo and 4-track masters. Madlib then tracked his vocals on an Audio-Technica 4033A and a Shure SM7, from there going into a Neve 1099 preamp, a GML 8200 EQ, a Universal Audio 1176LN limiting amplifier and finally a dbx 902 De-Esser. “We usually de-ess maybe 4 dB off of the vocals and then compress with a ratio of 8 to 1, which is pretty high,” Cooley explains. “But Madlib likes his shit loud, and it's mixed loud to begin with. He has a really cool ‘angular’ mixing style: Something is always sticking out.”

In this picture, Madlib is sitting in front of a CRUMAR Roadrunner 2. The controls on the left side of the keyboard are likely covered by the cymbal. This image is from a series of Madlib's studio pictures that were released by Stones Throw.