Why most recording engineers suck...

[audioguynyc]

Originally Posted by Happy Musicfan

It's well documented that Phil Collins sucks... Tony Visconti sucks... and George Martin ? Yep, he sucks too !

dfegad

[audioguynyc]

Originally Posted by Chrislpp

Some serious points (maybe)

Most engineers that suck, suck because:

• The word 'engineer' is not protected like 'Doctor'

haha so true

[energizer bunny]

Its like saying angrily most cars suck cause someone sold you a flakey Toyota. Theres the Ferarris and Bugattis too, beleive it.

[keysmia]

This guy is a tool. I have the utmost respect for Real recording engineers who are trained. I have learned so much from working with some real pros. There is a real science and Art to Tracking, Mixing, mastering. I love the whole process. The real pros know the deal.

[BadOrange]

I think it important to state that most people suck at everything

most people suck at music
most people suck engineering
most people suck

nothing new

Being a musician, while perhaps helpful in communicating with musicians does not quite have much to do with engineering at all. In a way, most are failed musicians for a reason , in that they just played as a hobby and focused on their real passion. Recording. You can't be great at everything. But to use the word fail implies you know their goals like they wanted to be a musician which is asinine.

I have yet to meet a virtuosic musician that was a great engineer. You can't be an expert at everything.

Anyways, original poster is a wanker.

[booob]

Most are babyboomers, despite their tendency for essential skills like electronics and construction, most of which they were taught in school, they aren't great at it in general.

There are 1% good people and 99% mediocre, where I am from, in my area, this is generally true, so YMMV.

Some take up jobs without any real decent formal training, they get the qualifications when it is a requirement to do so, but are just in it for the money, can sometimes rip people off for tightening a nut in your pipes or replacing an expensive part that doesn't need replaced.

Then again there is a much younger generation that will have learned all they know from a 'degree' or from going to college and doing more writing than practical learning, those that just walk through the degree without any real passion, some will be great, many will not.

I've met a sound engineer in particular that built his studio in his 40s and learned from just recording every week and built up the gear from there, he hadn't much more than a general knowledge of recording and production, he was in the 99% that were really blagging it, still it was a £10k studio, so nothing U2 will be recording in.

Again YMMV

Many essential skills jobs are made up of baby-boomers that flunked school and are just winging it as they realise they have a lot of bills to pay.

But the earlier baby boomers are retired, the later ones are still there from the mid to late 50's

[arose59]

The biggest thing ive learned in engineering is its all subjective to the listener.
we have all heard there is no right or wrong way to get the results you want out of a recording. This doesnt mean you shouldnt strive for perfection, and yes being an audio engineer can make one ocd. It would be nice if there were an all knowing indicator that would let you know when you have a finished product, but thats why its also an artform.

All the egos, and contradicting preferences of so many individuals are just a distraction from the reason why we are audio engineers. I dont believe anyone can say "engineers are failed musicians", because audio engineering can branch out to so many directions..some not even involving music. If Recording music, it does help you communicate better with the artist, and if you are willing to learn, theres no reason you cant get proficient.

You can tell the serious, confident engineer from the amateur, self conscious one by the amount of negativity and criticism in their attitude. On the other hand using constructive criticism, means that person is actually "listening" to the sonic quality of a recording to put useful input in, to get a better product.

If someone thinks your recording is less than par and cant give any technical reasons why, its probably because they know they cant do any better and arent as educated as they claim to be.
Also, aside from learning the technical side of engineering, hopefully most people realize that they need to train their ears along as they learn all the theory behind the subject. Most people can learn the theory, but you need you ears to help you along the way. Engineering has gotten so visual with computers, people sometimes are looking at the visual representation more than trusting their own hearing.

[James Meeker]

The best way to be seen as a genius engineer is to work on material considered great by the listener. I can guarantee that if I produced the next Metallica album I would be considered an amazing genius and have a million dollars worth of work no matter how bad the album sounded.

[PopularDemand]

Originally Posted by James Meeker

The best way to be seen as a genius engineer is to work on material considered great by the listener. I can guarantee that if I produced the next Metallica album I would be considered an amazing genius and have a million dollars worth of work no matter how bad the album sounded.

thumbsup

[grhuntuk]

Originally Posted by James Meeker

The best way to be seen as a genius engineer is to work on material considered great by the listener. I can guarantee that if I produced the next Metallica album I would be considered an amazing genius and have a million dollars worth of work no matter how bad the album sounded.

After their last attempt, anyone would be.