In hip-hop, the producers set the tone
It is often the star rappers who claim sovereignty over the sound of a track. A team from the University of Hamburg has now shown that it is more likely to be the producers.
In order to determine the sound characteristics of the songs more precisely, the team led by musicologist Tim Ziemer used MFCCs (Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients), which are commonly used in music practice. MFCCs are characteristics that describe the so-called spectral balance of a song, i.e. how bassy, brilliant or dull a song sounds. The researchers also used the so-called goniometer. This is a typical analysis tool used in recording studios to determine the spatial dimension of a mix.
According to the university's statement, the result was clear. Each producer has their own typical sound - both in terms of spectral and spatial balance. The producer's sound profile also remains dominant in the interplay with the rappers' voices. Even the distinctive voice of a rapper does not seem to influence the typical sound profile of a producer.
Original publication:
https://aes2.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22793
