This week the topics of great recordings and great releases were discussed.
You technically can’t fault a great recording, it serves the artists required sonic quality even if you hate the content. People buy a recording for the content not the quality of the recording. With a great release it is the combination of performance and recording that makes you want to listen over and over.
I’d like to think that a producer can apply their unique production style in a unique way with every artist or project they work on. Music producers, like us all are constantly exposed to events evolving their collective experience. Every producer has their own tricks but I fail to see the point of a “one size fits all” policy towards artists. When this policy is implemented by a producer on the same artist over and over it eventually leads to the public being bored and a drop in sales follows.
“Timeless” production techniques will always sound right for the artist no matter what technological breakthroughs are to follow and will not follow “dated” fads or fashions.
If all the successful recordings of today have a delayed cowbell as the most prominent instrument in the mix – how will this sound in 10 years? This is where engineers look to production to match genre. Investigate common tricks and ways to capture “that” sound. Decide if you are going to do something else or continue and press your own bit of “timeless” production with your flavour attached by knowing the rules for that genre.
Choosing the right producer for a band will put the project into the ballpark to have the desired sound. For example band may want to emulate the success of Wolfmother with that 70’s sound. A producer may have a style that can achieve this. It is probably even possible to get a genuine 70’s producer with 70’s equipment.
Steve discussed classic traits exhibited by various genres. They relate to fidelity of the sound, mono/stereo, effects and live drummers forming loops or playing with loops.
So grab a heap of CDs of the style you are looking for, listen, learn but please try to take it to the next level or you will be dated.
References:
Music Technology Forum-EMU Adelaide Uni, Lect:Steve Fieldhouse
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