What whould you do ?

[cosmos]

happed to you before that during a session\recording, you thought that if you could change a line\ add line\ remove a melody\ diffrent drum pattern on line 4 in the song ... or maybe add another instrument to the song would make it MUCH MUCH better and musicaly would sound professional in the song and give certin vibe to that track .... that makes that small diffrence ....

it happens to me somtimes, im stitting in the studio, a band comes in, warming up, all tuned and we go recording...

hmmmm !!!! somthing just wrong here, dosent sit right, a line in the song dosent fit, "a diffrent chord in this part, would make it bigger then life" !

im not saying that the track is bad, it is very good, but theres that small thing that can make the diffrence from another good song to a be HIT.

my question here, does it appropiate to sujest to the band to do this and that, maybe give a small tip that i think that will make a HUGE diffrence ..... ?

[warhead]

Beware as you were not hired to "produce" them, correct?

If anything you could approach them and tell them that you have some production ideas and if they're interested in hiring you on to produce them...then proceed. Or they might say no thanks and at least you've not told them what you think is wrong with their songs UNSOLICITED anyhow...!

It is unsolicited and out of place at this point however.

War

[AlexLakis]

I think it's always good to share your opinions with the band. Ask them if they'd like to hear your views on the song. Then casually offer up advice. Even if you are not formally hired as a producer, that doesn't mean the band doesn't value your advice.

Some people can take this kind of advice the wrong way, but if you present it right, and the artist has an open mind at all (some are completely closed off,) it should be appreciated, even if they don't elect to take you up on it.

Don't use terminology like "The song would be better if you did THIS..." tutt

Say something like, "Hey, I was thinking, what if you tried this out on measure 4...I think that might really do something for me..."

Basically, make a judgement call on the personality type of the decision makers/songwriters in the band. This is a big part of being a good engineer. Would they take offense to it, or would they honestly consider your suggestions?

And remember, just because you think something should be a certain way, doesn't make it "better" than what's there. This is especially important to remember when working with music genres that you may not be very familiar with.

Years ago, I said something like "Ummm, that chord doesn't work there..." to a dischordant hardcore screamo band.

They were like "Uhh, yeah, we know. That's the point."

[cosmos]

Originally Posted by warhead

Beware as you were not hired to "produce" them, correct?

If anything you could approach them and tell them that you have some production ideas and if they're interested in hiring you on to produce them...then proceed. Or they might say no thanks and at least you've not told them what you think is wrong with their songs UNSOLICITED anyhow...!

It is unsolicited and out of place at this point however.

War

yea, i never did tell what i think, but somtimes the song is SO good and have a HUGE potential to be a hit, but somthing is just missing there ... but then again that not my job to tell them how to write their song ... somtimes i just feel bad not saying anything, but i keep my mouth shut .

[Bassmec]

Originally Posted by cosmos

yea, i never did tell what i think, but somtimes the song is SO good and have a HUGE potential to be a hit, but somthing is just missing there ... but then again that not my job to tell them how to write their song ... somtimes i just feel bad not saying anything, but i keep my mouth shut .

Remember the advise of Tom Lehrer "Plagerise!, let no ones work evade your eyes".
Regards Mark

[danasti]

Originally Posted by cosmos

yea, i never did tell what i think, but somtimes the song is SO good and have a HUGE potential to be a hit, but somthing is just missing there ... but then again that not my job to tell them how to write their song ... somtimes i just feel bad not saying anything, but i keep my mouth shut .

Just ask them if they wouldn't mind trying something for you. Tell them that you would like for them to hear it back. record it and play it back for them.

Ask first. Like Warren said, ask them if they need a producer. Most bands bennefit from a good producer - they are all wrapped up in the project and involved in the politics of eachother. It helps to have an outside opinion and to try a new things out. It's good to have someone to pull it all together who knows the fan base and listeners tastes.

That's the purpose of working in a studio anyway - so you can try new things out with quality gear and hear instantly what you did - hear what you sound like recorded and adjust - work out the best arrangements and get feedback.

[cosmos]

Originally Posted by danasti

Just ask them if they wouldn't mind trying something for you. Tell them that you would like for them to hear it back. record it and play it back for them.

Ask first. Like Warren said, ask them if they need a producer. Most bands bennefit from a good producer - they are all wrapped up in the project and involved in the politics of eachother. It helps to have an outside opinion and to try a new things out. It's good to have someone to pull it all together who knows the fan base and listeners tastes.

That's the purpose of working in a studio anyway - so you can try new things out with quality gear and hear instantly what you did - hear what you sound like recorded and adjust - work out the best arrangements and get feedback.