Recently we had a golden opportunity to speak with the man with the golden ears Steve Sola.  Who is Steve Sola you may ask ? well if you have to ask  you must be living under a rock. He is a World famous audio recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Mastering Engineer, Song writier & musician. His credits include albums from Gold to Multi-Platinum Albums such as

Jodeci........................The Show,the After Party,the Hotel
Nas.............................It Was Written
TSO...........................Christmas Eve & Other Stories 

Platinum Albums
Mobb Deep................Murda Muzik
Next............................Rated Next
Method Man................Jugdement Day
QBs Finest................QB Finest
Notorious BIG..............Duets
Eminem..............Presents: The Re-up

Gold Albums
Prodigy.......................HNIC
Mobb Deep................Infamy
Violator......................Compilation
FunkMaster Flex........The Tunnel
Nichole Ray................Make it hot
Wu-Tang Killa Bees and RZA..............Swarm,Vol.1"

Gold Singles
Nas...........................Street Dreams

 

Need we say more ? So the VIP SOUNDLAB had the once in a lifetime opportunity to ask steve a few questions to gain some knowledge and insight with his super human skills and techniques as well as some personal questions.

 

 

Zaahir: What was the frist Hip Hop song you heard?

 

Steve Sola: I think Rappers Delight or Walk this way.

 

Zaahir: What was your first home studio like?

 

Steve Sola: lol ...8 track Tascam 1/2" analog recorder.I used to have track 8 for smpte and that would lock all the MIDI synthesizers.I would have track 1-6 for vocals and live instruments.I learned how to program the sequencer software on the computer to do program changes to all the synths.So each song would just play correctly....It was so cool 

 

Zaahir: Whats your favorite musical instrument?

 

Steve Sola: Guitar...hands down....think about it....whats better than guitar ?....lol

It can sound sweet, angry, mellow  etc ...anything you want.Besides singers its the only instruments that had God next to it.....Guitar God.The only instrument that had superstar musicians...a super star guitar player. 

 

Zaahir: Whats your go to Drum Machine/Sampler?

 

Steve Sola: MPC 3000 is the KING and then the maschine.

 

Zaahir: Whats your favorite microphone for recording vocals ?

 

Steve Sola: U87

 

Zaahir: Recording Vocals is an important process is song creating. What tip could you give to us for placing vocals in the mix?

 

Steve Sola: Center ....up front but not too loud. Its annoying so on top of the music. Sounds like a mixtape or demo when artists want their vocals super loud. 

 

Zaahir: lol right we agree....Analog or Digital?

 

Steve Sola: Digital won the war.........But I try and make sound analog, cause our ears and heart are analog..

 

Zaahir: Well said...Who was your first artist you recorded?

 

Steve Sola: Kyoto but people wont know them , it was 25 years ago and I was not a certified audio engineer.

Jodeci and Nas were the first artists that I recorded that are known. That was about 18 yrs ago. I went into engineering full time in 1994...yep 20 years ago. Golden Age of Hip Hop.

 

Zaahir: wow thats amazing you are a true vet ! Do you have any up and coming projects?

 

Steve Sola: The Mix King Album. All amazing artists ....Please hit me up to be featured .Ash Sidy,Be Cleare, Jae -Dub, QB Rap, Carl Gershon, First Class, Jok1  etc.. ( some that I cant mention yet) Albums , EPs and singles coming soon.The Plain Truth Ent Tour.All amazing artists that want to perform ....Please hit me up.