Quote:
Originally Posted by coyotekells  People act like because it took 6 hours to track and all the verses were comp'd, the artist must not be good...
In my experience, THE BETTER THE ARTIST, THE LONGER I SPEND RECORDING!
Does that seem backwards? Here's why:
You can only get so much out of a subpar artist, going forever is pointless and depressing. But you can push a great performer into magical oblivion.
Just like "there's nothing so bad, that it can't get worse", I also believe there's nothing so good that it can't get better.
If I can tell an artist is never going to sound flawless on their song (could have to do with voice, instrumental, lyrics, performing ability, any combo big or small) then I'm only going to spend as much time as they want me to. Which usually is minimal.. people are lazy. And have an attitude that using their first take is "cool".
If I hear amazing potential in an artist and/or song, I'm now on a mission, above and beyond my pay check, to get the BEST I'm capable of coaxing out of them.
I believe it's an inexperienced and amateur attitude that believes the longer the tracking, the worse the artist. I believe the longer the tracking, the more everyone working on it (ie, engineer,producer,artist) believes in the artist and song, and wants to squeeze out every drop of beauty. That same artist probably bangs out what amateurs would call a "flawless take" on the first go. Don't assume because it took hours and hours to track, the artist and engineer could've have chosen to finish the song in an hour. But why? What happened to the search for greatness? |
If I can tell an artist is wack there are two options for me. 1. "Get out of my studio" or 2. Comp, tune, align, do what you gotta do to make it sound right. Some times that takes 6 hours on just the lead vocal.
I would never spend as much time as
they want me to, cause they don't know shit! I'll make the artist sing that shit till I'm satisfied!
But as I have mentioned before, I rarely work with those types of artists any more. Thank god!
If the artist is skilled, talented, studio-experienced, well-prepared, knows the voices and harmonies, the song, the arrangement, the vibe, the mood, the bla bla bla.. I.E. comes in and knows what the **** to do, then it NEVER takes as long as with a wack artist. PERIOD! But that's just me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by coyotekells "need" is a relative term. I suspect the same artist that YOU don't "need" to comp, other engineers do. You just don't hear it. Sorry. |
You don't know me man!