copperx wrote on Tue, 28 February 2006 07:14 |
Thinking about it, much of what most engineers do is to impart a sonic imprint of their preconceived notions of "what is right" to the artist's work. Slipperman says recording engineers are "secondary sound transduction ARTISTS". Artists? I don't know ... behaving like an "artist" when engineering someone else's work is, I think, the sign of a failed musician converted into an engineer. Of course, I've done it, and it feels GREAT to twist someone's else work to fit your notion of "good sound" or "good engineering". But then you begin to doubt: "hmm that record I did two years ago sounds dated, that distorted vocal sound was my choice, not the band's, perhaps I should leave it clean the next time ..." I would feel better saying "hmm that distorted vocal sounds dated, but that's what the band thought was good for them at the time." It becomes a piece of history. I get it. I would feel much better.
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Well.... As long as I'm getting quoted for my cockamamie theories... I'll say this...
Do what ya think is conscionable.If you are not comfortable putting your idea of how things should sound on a clients mixes.
Don't do it.
Steve's viewpoint represents the exact polar opposite of mine on this subject.
And I understand and respect it wholeheartedly.
It works for him and his clients.
End of story.
Me.... on the other hand...
I feel I'm every bit as much as an "artist" as any of the loomers who bash and bang away on their shit and expect me to make it come out of little boxes with cones in 'em with some degree of uniformity and lucidity.
And just as a side note: Not fer nuthing... I sure as fuck ain't a "failed musician". Last gig I played was in front of 5,000 or so kids in North Germany who knew Every fucking word of the songs we were playing.
It was 2000. I was 38. A quarter century of conjuring the devil behind the skins. HOHOHO. Ignorance is indeed bliss.Anyhoo.
Nope. I was the kid who stole the 1/4" Wollensak(still got it) from the school AV room in 5th grade to record anything and everything that moved or made a noise. In my late 20's I decided it was time to let my 'career' as a musician STOP INTERFERING with my first love.
Twisting knobs.
And twist I fucking will.
Twist until they love it.
And refuse to use anybody else...
Twist until they hate it.
And would rather endure a hot lead enema than listen to another of my mix abominations.
Twist until they go.... "meh"... and go find somebody more exciting...
Whatever.
Eventually we all choose our clientelle thru the way we hear.
Even Steve Albini.
It's unavoidable.
In the end:
I CAME TO MAKE A JOYOUS NOISE.
Not to sit on my fucking hands while somebody else does...
And just because I sit behind an audio desk and not a drumkit these days.... I gotta be a fucking "RECORDIST"?
My balls.
That works for Steve...... but it SUCKS for me.
I'll be
fucking shit up until they kill me or run me outta the business.
Anybody who doesn't dig it is encouraged to go elsewhere with the absolute best of both my regards, and wishes.
There's room for all of us out here.
Best to all,
SM.