February 2012
18 posts
laziestgenius asked: I am that person. A person that wants to be a musician/composer/sound engineer so bad, has equpment, has made a few tracks here and there, studies a wide range of music, but is too scared to fully commit due to self doubt/artist awe. It's something I dream of day in and out, and I'd never forgive myself if I didn't at least try in this lifetime. What do you suggest I do? Just give...
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Anyone in NY this weekend? I'm throwing a 4th...
Invite:
http://www.facebook.com/events/248327261917408/
Will you come?
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Musicians are like avocados. You never know when...
Some study and study, are in awe of other musicians and take a really long time to actually make music.
Others learn (“learn”) how to play 2 notes and are out there, on stage, sounding really horrible, with bad technique…(I know, effort and alla that shit, I don’t care, it sounds horrible.) A bad musician playing with other good ones just regresses the music and the...
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Apple steps it up in terms of how compressed/lossy... →
Really good read, and something for all of us audio production professionals. Download the tools and start using them, because this compressed, MP3 shit ain’t going nowhere.
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$350 says yes, I do/ Money talks, bullshit walks/...
My goodness, I’m so mad.
And I am also glad this happened.
Giving discounts to friends can backfire in an ugly way, but at least it teaches you: Do not work for free/ give deep discounts.
As an independent, I get to write the rules of my studio. It’s not a “If you don’t like it, leave” set of rules; it’s not a “Only eat the orange M&Ms”....
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Great specs on this Microphone signal booster. →
Gain and noise are always an issue when recording, no matter what. If I was still recording, I’d get the Cloudlifter for those mic pres we have that don’t have the appropriate gain. You know we all have them.
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Next time you go to a show; analize the openers...
It’s happened many times that I go to a show and the openers are better than the headliners!
Many reasons for this. One is that I think once you get to headliner status you get lazy. You lose the hunger that the openers still have.
Trying to impress. Get more followers.
Like you know who said: “Keep hungry”
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Why Music Is Not A Product & Three Reasons Why... →
Good read. I was discussing this a week ago in Colombia with my musician friends.
I always put the case of King Crimson and Godflesh. Both really good musicians that have been there, doing their thing for a long time, get a small check every month and live off their music. You DO NOT need a hit to do what you want. In fact, You will live guilt-free the rest of your life if there’s no hit...
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You are not the only one who knows what's good....
That’s what I do.
I stand outside the field and watch you play. Making decisions. Cutting and pasting, duplicating, recording over.
Sending mixes for consideration.
“Is it ready for mastering?” “What do you think I should do?”
I’m your priest, your editor.
If you let me.
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Self-consciousness should not have a place on...
I love musicians that make a mistake onstage and do not look like they did.
I love it when they own it.
You are the owner of your act and if something happens, I don’t need to know. I get it, it was a mistake. Big deal. I have seen Adrian Belew mess up onstage. He smiles and carries on.
Madonna missed a step at the Superbowl and what happened? nothing. Carries on.
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Don't bore us, get to the chorus. →
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How do u cultivate an audience? Playing show after...
At some point, even your friends will stop going to your show because it’s the same thing gig after gig.
Being creative involves… being creative! That “New tunes tonight!” thing really works if you want people to be there night after night. Even when touring.
I won’t go see AC/DC or KISS again, because it’s the same songs over and over. I love them, but one...
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January 2012
20 posts
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Neil Young: "We're in the 21st century and we have... →
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This reminds me of that one “Mastering...
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If you go to the planetarium you will understand...
Or look at a terrarium, do you really want to be one of those ants that only know that little glass box?
This is a phrase I have heard a lot of people utter, in different settings. I like the general concept.
And by the way, ants rock.
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Everything you are listening to has an influence.
If you go back in your catalog, you will find how the production/music/mixes you have done very interesting.
I did recently and was taken by surprise by how my mastering sounded a year, 2 years, 3 years ago.
That is because the music that you are listening to right now influences you. You might be thinking at some point how crappy recordings (in my case it’s The Misfits) sound good to...
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Do what your pocket tells you to. Or not.
Musicians these days want deals, and I don’t blame them, I want deals too.
The one thing I get the most at the mastering stage is: “Could you give us a discount?” I say yes most of the time, but the thing is the little money you got can only get you so far.
Then I also have the people that want discounts and then print 1000 CDs and can never get rid of them. In my mind, I...
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Drink to pleasure, not to seizure.
Same with making, mixing, mastering, singing, writing music.
Keep the buzz and avoid ending up in an alley, passed out and throwing up.
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State of recording. So many articles lately about... →
“And if you’re listening to “Tattoo” on fifty nine dollar speakers, or the ones that came free with your computer, YOUR OPINION DOESN’T COUNT!”
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Original and wacky names are back.
Google makes it easy to know if there’s another band named Bad Girlfriend.
Shweatty Ballz.
The curse of the black mouse.
Hub on the table.
Roll aluminum pat.
In the 90s a band in Colombia named Neurosis had to change their name to Neurosis inc. because Neurosis sued them.
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ADAMs 5A review, if you're shopping for monitors,... →
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I'm not telling you.
Sometimes I send clients 2 versions of a song, so they tell me which way to go, the one that resonates more with them, makes them move more.
Pay attention to the music more.
In this times when you look at your music instead of listening, they ask me “what are the differences?”
“I’m not telling you. Choose the one you like best”
Always works.
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New Akai MPC! →
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Young people DO prefer good quality audio, do you?... →
Basically this article states, after research and experimentation, that young people do prefer good audio over MP3s. I do hope that we are approaching the tipping point and keep making good sounding music.
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The brotherhood of the 7/8 signature.
Ever since this came out, this,
this
this
and this
Became really easy to play and Metal bands have embraced time signatures other than 4/4. (I don’t call them “weird”, “unusual” or “rare”)
It has become too easy, so sometimes a band get labeled as “prog” just because they can play a 7/8.
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Great read on what goes before burning a master... →
December 2011
31 posts
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I knew you were trouble the moment I picked up the...
I was gonna write “The fucking phone”
I have had to throw 2 people out of my studio because they were being just assholes.
Turn it up. Higher. Make it louder. Louder. Louder. More bass. Do this. You don’t know what you’re doing.
YOU KNOW WHAT, MOTHERFUCKER, GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY STUDIO.
“You don’t want my money”
“I need your money, but I...
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Basics of music recording studio design. →
The definition of budget and cost is a great read.
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23 ways to make horrible recordings. →
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Listen up, motherfuckers, you have to be healthy.... →
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Droney’s Law — Life’s a bitch, then you mix.... →
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I know when I don't like it.
I just do.
It’s the main thing that makes me good a what I do. I don’t give credit for the effort. I don’t just like it because it’s out there, looks/sounds like _____, The singer is cute…
Same with sound and rollercoasters. I just know I don’t like it!
Maybe it’s the accumulation of data in my head that makes a triangulate calculation and goes...
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RSVPs don't mean shit.
You invite people to your event on Facebook, by email and all those rsvp websites.
The rsvps are 500+
You change venues last minute because of “so many people coming”
100 people show up.
And this is just recently, at least in my life. I used to say yes to parties, and go.
Why is this happening? People just go “I’m attending” and then what? What do you (an...
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"Imperfect sound forever" Good read for engineers... →
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Would you play without your singer?
You have a good band, with followers, sold out shows, etc.
People love your singer.
He is the image of the band, does a great show, sings very well, etc.
Your singer is gone now, and doesn’t want to sing anymore.
Would you play without him and embarrass whatever is left of the band?
