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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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

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

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.”

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.”

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.”

As seen in 'Behind the beat' book studio picture, circa 2005

Evidence confirming Madlib's use of the Akai S5000 sampler can be observed in the music video for "Crate Diggin'" by Lootpack, where, at the 1:01 second mark, the sampler is visibly situated beneath a Roland VS-880 digital recorder within the studio setting. This visual documentation is provided by the official music video hosted on the Stones Throw YouTube channel, underlining the Akai S5000's role in the production of numerous beats for Lootpack.