piano from “still d.r.e.” by dr. dre | ToneDB
still d.r.e.
dr. dre
piano
Tone Profile
A clean, bright piano sound with a slightly compressed and polished feel, contributing to the track's signature West Coast hip-hop vibe. The tone is clear and present, cutting through the mix without being overly harsh.
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The Story
The iconic piano sound on 'Still D.R.E.' was created using a Yamaha Motif workstation synthesizer. The track was recorded at Sierra Sonics Recording Mansion in Reno, Nevada, with engineer Richard Huredia and Dr. Dre. SSL G-Master Buss Compressor was used during mixing to give the piano its polished, compressed feel that cuts through the dense hip-hop production.
Production Credits
Producer: Dr. Dre
Engineer: Richard Huredia
Recorded at: Sierra Sonics Recording Mansion (Reno, NV)
Signal Chain
Instrument: Yamaha MotifShop on Reverb
Processing: SSL G-Master Buss CompressorShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a clean, bright piano sample or synthesized piano patch.
- Apply compression to achieve a polished and glued sound. A buss compressor like the SSL G-Master Buss Compressor is a good choice.
- Use EQ to shape the tone, focusing on clarity and presence in the mix.
Original Gear
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- Yamaha MotifShop on Reverb(keyboard)
- SSL G-Master Buss CompressorShop on Reverb(compressor)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Yamaha Motif workstation
Modern successor to the Motif with the same piano engines and sampling technology used on the original track
Alternative to: SSL G-Master Buss Compressor
Official plugin version of the exact hardware compressor used to achieve that polished, glued piano sound
Alternative to: Yamaha Motif piano samples
High-quality sampled piano with similar brightness and clarity, works well for hip-hop production when compressed
Alternative to: SSL G-Master Buss Compressor
Budget hardware compressor that can provide similar bus compression characteristics for that polished feel
Alternative to: Yamaha Motif workstation
Quality MIDI controller that can trigger modern piano plugins to recreate the bright, sampled piano character
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