Analysis 3 (For Presentation)

Song: Starships
Artist: Nicki Minaj
Mix Engineers: Carl Falk, who has also worked with One Direction and Akon
                         Trevor Muzzy, who has worked with Jennifer Lopez and Lady GaGa
Recorded at Conway Studios in LA
Mastering: Brian “Big Bass” Gardner (30 Seconds to Mars, Angels and Airwaves)

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug12/articles/it-0812.htm

    I chose this track as a genre that I would not normally listen to, and it challenged me to listen because the Sound on Sound article claimed there were real instruments in there and I just could not hear them at first.  I think he took a really interesting approach to this song.  Since it is dance music, there is emphasis on different parts than what I am used to hearing predominantly in a more acoustic, laid back track.  After giving the song a closer listen, different elements did start to become apparent. 
    I think this song has A LOT going on.  There were a lot of effects used on a lot of the parts.  One thing I found interesting was that Muzzy said he prefers to use frequency-conscious compression as opposed to using EQ when he wants to tweak certain frequencies.  I don’t know that I would necessarily agree with this practice, because I am not a fan of the amount of compression that is found in a lot today’s mainstream music.  Another thing I found interesting is the lack of bass in the chorus and parts of the verses.  It kind of just drops out and reappears.  I was surprised, considering it is referred to by Muzzy as a dance song.  After reading the article, I felt I had more of an understanding and appreciation for mixing this genre.  I don’t know that I really gave these mixers enough credit, but honestly, it has to take a lot of work to create something like this.



Instruments             Pan                Level

Drums                       5                      5

Electric Guitar          -3                      5

Bass                     -4 to 4                   4

Synth                        -1                      7

Lead Vocals               0                      6

Backing Vocals          3                      5


00:00-00:03 Electric Guitar
00:04-00:15 Electric Guitar and Lead Vocals (some backing vocals)
00:16-00:22 Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Drums
00:23-00:39 Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Drums, Bass, Synth
00:40-00:53 Synth, Lead Vocals
00:54-01:10 Synth, Lead Vocals, Drums
01:11-01:24 Electric Guitar, Synth, Bass, Drums, Background Vocals
01:25-01:32 Synth, Bass, Lead Vocals
01:33-01:55 Electric Guitar, Synth, Bass, Drums, Lead Vocals
01:56-02:11 Synth, Lead Vocals
02:12-01:26 Synth, Lead Vocals, Drums
02:27-02:41 Synth, Bass, Drums, Background Vocals, Electric Guitar
02:42-02:56 Synth, Vocals
02:57-03:12 Synth, Vocals, Drums
03:13-03:31 Synth, Drums, Bass Vocals