How long to make a pop album? - Page 2

Mike Tholen · 23rd July 2007

Ministry's Psalm 69 took 18 months...a labor of love it turned out to be.
That album is tight ass a gnat's ass and is ProTool free, painstaking overdub sessions.

It can be worth it.

Musiclab · 23rd July 2007

I can usually do a record in 25-40 hours per song depending on the song and what I think it needs. Thats not doing a band, thats more the singer songwriter thing which is what I tend to do more of. If they're self financing and can only come in one day a week, it takes a long time to get an album done. That said I did a film soundtrack album in six weeks.

musicmann · 23rd July 2007

Sedohr. I think you posted a cosmic rhetorical question, whether you meant to or not.

Every artist and their needs are different, as is every producer's method. There are so many variables, it nutz!!!

sedohr · 23rd July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmann

Sedohr. I think you posted a cosmic rhetorical question, whether you meant to or not.

Every artist and their needs are different, as is every producer's method. There are so many variables, it nutz!!!

True. And "pop" isn't really a definition. I know.

I have of course made an album in a week, with a great band and minimal overdubs. And that particular album is in fact one of my favorites. But my usual albums always seem to take longer to finish than I think they're going to take.

But there have been some good points from you people. It's good to know that I'm not taking more time than others in making those records.

Jim Williams · 23rd July 2007

Frampton Comes Alive was done in an hour.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

davet · 23rd July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Frampton Comes Alive was done in an hour.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Yeah, and set Peter up for life!!

DaveT

networkresearch · 23rd July 2007

anything over 40 min. is too long.
12 songs, 3.5 min. each.

sedohr · 23rd July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by networkresearch

anything over 40 min. is too long.
12 songs, 3.5 min. each.

thank you, I bear that in mind!

emkay · 23rd July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay Lee

I remember Max Martin having said in his early days as starting to be a hit producer (Britney Spears Hit Me Baby One More Time etc.), that he can use a week only for choosing and tweeking drum sounds and such for a song... Don't know if it's true...

Probably true.....I remember a great joke I heard at a session years ago.
"Did you hear that Mutt Lang is gonna have an album listening .
Yeah, after six months he's gonna play the "snare drum sound" for the ballad"

taturana · 23rd July 2007

i´ve seen records tracked and mixed in a week, and others that take years and years to be finished...

it really depends...

allencollins · 23rd July 2007

unless the record is called 'Chinese Democracy'
it shouldn't matter how long you take to record it

Alex Niedt · 24th July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by midigod

To be honest, if I spent a week on a mix and it turned out like that tune, I would weep with joy. That track's production and arrangement are astonishingly good. It shouldn't matter whether you like Britney, or even the tune, there should still be the ability to appreciate the effort and talent on everyone's part that came up with that final mix.

Craig

Exactly! It never ceases to amaze me how many people don't get that.

Kenny Gioia · 24th July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Frampton Comes Alive was done in an hour.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Yeah. But I heard there was a lot of pre-production on that one.

Kenny Gioia · 24th July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by allencollins

unless the record is called 'Chinese Democracy'
it shouldn't matter how long you take to record it

Unless you're getting paid an All-In budget.

Then you'll care.

sphereman · 24th July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by quietdrive

It is, they spent one week mixing "baby one more time"... or was it one month? Not sure, but Max spends A LOT of time on his songs, that why they're hits.

McDonalds sells more hamburgers than any other food in the world. But that does not make it the best food in the world now does it!!

lane thaw · 24th July 2007

Great thread. Depends on the starting point, and it starts with good song writing. For me 18 - 20 months sounds about right, that and $62,000 later gave 8 songs, 35 minutes of music. Was it worth it, you'll have to ask my daughter when she's in a Community College

Lane Thaw
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Benmrx · 24th July 2007

The record I'm doing right now, has an estimated 67 days of work. That includes pre-production, tracking and mixing, but not mastering.

12 songs, just under 45 min.

23rd July 2007	#32
Musiclab Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2002 Location: Elmont NY Posts: 6,278 3 Reviews written	I can usually do a record in 25-40 hours per song depending on the song and what I think it needs. Thats not doing a band, thats more the singer songwriter thing which is what I tend to do more of. If they're self financing and can only come in one day a week, it takes a long time to get an album done. That said I did a film soundtrack album in six weeks. __________________ Lou Gimenez www.musiclabnyc.com

24th July 2007	#47
Benmrx Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,300	The record I'm doing right now, has an estimated 67 days of work. That includes pre-production, tracking and mixing, but not mastering. 12 songs, just under 45 min. __________________ www.mysteriousredx.com "Sorry man I played guitar instead of going to school." -- James Lugo

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23rd July 2007	#31
Mike Tholen Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 901	Ministry's Psalm 69 took 18 months...a labor of love it turned out to be. That album is tight ass a gnat's ass and is ProTool free, painstaking overdub sessions. It can be worth it.

23rd July 2007	#33
musicmann Gear nut Joined: Jul 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 87	Sedohr. I think you posted a cosmic rhetorical question, whether you meant to or not. Every artist and their needs are different, as is every producer's method. There are so many variables, it nutz!!!

23rd July 2007	#35
Jim Williams Voiding warranties Joined: Feb 2004 Location: beautiful Carlsbad, CA Posts: 10,081	Frampton Comes Alive was done in an hour. Jim Williams Audio Upgrades

23rd July 2007	#37
networkresearch Gear nut Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 146	anything over 40 min. is too long. 12 songs, 3.5 min. each.

23rd July 2007	#40
taturana Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 4,059 13 Reviews written	i´ve seen records tracked and mixed in a week, and others that take years and years to be finished... it really depends...

23rd July 2007	#41
allencollins 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended. Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Rosedale Cemetery Singing Beach, MA Posts: 4,873	unless the record is called 'Chinese Democracy' it shouldn't matter how long you take to record it

24th July 2007	#46
lane thaw Gear addict Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 410	Great thread. Depends on the starting point, and it starts with good song writing. For me 18 - 20 months sounds about right, that and $62,000 later gave 8 songs, 35 minutes of music. Was it worth it, you'll have to ask my daughter when she's in a Community College Lane Thaw Home