Who creates the sound of an album Engineer or Mixer?

keano · 30th August 2010

I am looking at some albums I dig and can't figure who has create the most influence on the songs.

Sigh No More by Mumford Sons @ ARTISTdirect.com - Shop, Listen, Download

AstralPStudios · 30th August 2010

The answer is both. A mix engineer is still an engineer

.

I understand what you're asking though between a recording engineer and a mix engineer, but the answer is still both.

What the recording engineer takes in is what the mix engineer has to work with and hopefully the recording engineer does it right and the tonal balance is adequate along with getting rid of any phase issues and whatnot.

Mix engineer has more creative choices in regards to comp/EQ/effects/etc. Without a great recording though, it can be difficult to get a great mix, so both have to play their parts well and understand what the artist is going for with their sound and give them what they want.

That's my .02

777Artin · 30th August 2010

None of them.

It's the songwriter + performer with the help of the producer that makes it.

Recording engineers should only capture what's happening + make coffee.

The mix engineers should only mix and do what the producer whats................... + make coffee of course

777artin

AstralPStudios · 30th August 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777Artin

None of them.

It's the songwriter + performer with the help of the producer that makes it.

Recording engineers should only capture what's happening + make coffee.

The mix engineers should only mix and do what the producer whats................... + make coffee of course

777artin

To say that nobody but a producer/artist has any creative choices is definitely not a statement I would agree with. EQ is a creative choice, effects are a creative choice, everything in the mixing stage is a creative choice and is all part of shaping the sound of an album.

dustyreels · 30th August 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777Artin

None of them.

It's the songwriter + performer with the help of the producer that makes it.

Recording engineers should only capture what's happening + make coffee.

The mix engineers should only mix and do what the producer whats................... + make coffee of course

777artin

I agree to a extent. The engineers need to listen to the producer and artists and from there make decisions to achieve that sound. So without doubt both engineers have a major impact on the sound, and hopefully make good coffee.

AstralPStudios · 30th August 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustyreels

I agree to a extent. The engineers need to listen to the producer and artists and from there make decisions to achieve that sound. So without doubt both engineers have a major impact on the sound, and hopefully make good coffee.

I'm gonna rip off Soulja Boy here and say "Scott, boy tell em'"! LOL.

CheneysGun · 1st September 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777Artin

None of them.

It's the songwriter + performer with the help of the producer that makes it.

Recording engineers should only capture what's happening + make coffee.

The mix engineers should only mix and do what the producer whats................... + make coffee of course

777artin

Your statement almost made me physically angry.

777Artin · 1st September 2010

Why........can't make good coffee?

dustyreels · 1st September 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralPStudios

I'm gonna rip off Soulja Boy here and say "Scott, boy tell em'"! LOL.

Thanks for the support but I want to make it clear that I respect 777Artin's opinion, I just didn't fully agree with it.

dustyreels · 1st September 2010

AstralPStudios, I like the name of your studio btw. A topic of long term interest to me.

binarymilton · 1st September 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by keano

I am looking at some albums I dig and can't figure who has create the most influence on the songs.

Sigh No More by Mumford Sons @ ARTISTdirect.com - Shop, Listen, Download

Quite often the recording engineer is the mix engineer. A lot of the engineers I like both tracked and mixed on their best work (eg Robert Corranza, Ethan Johns).

Here's the personnel on the album you're linking to, by Mumford & Sons:

Markus Dravs - production
François Chevallier - engineering
Samuel Navel - assistant engineering
Ruadhri Cushnan - mixing
Bob Ludwig - mastering

I'd say all of the above will have made quite a contribution to the sound of that album. I'd say that even if it had been mixed and produced appallingly, Bob Ludwig would have got it sounding pretty bloody good.

Personally, I don't like the sound of that album. I don't like the reverb used on it, I don't like the big sound. (I don't like the band either, but that's neither here nor there)

Laura Marling's 'I Speak Because I Can' features many of the same musicians, but has a much nicer sound. That one was mixed and produced by Ethan Johns. And also mastered by Bob Ludwig. It sounds amazing.

reloaded · 1st September 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralPStudios

I'm gonna rip off Soulja Boy here and say "Scott, boy tell em'"! LOL.

I astral project.. awesome..

maybe ill have to project in on a session..

RTR · 1st September 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheneysGun

Your statement almost made me physically angry.

Seriously?

CheneysGun · 1st September 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTR

Seriously?

haha not literally. I just like the team effort approach better than the hierarchy. It has to be with the right set of people in the studio, it doesnt work with everybody. The creative talent should extend beyond the microphones

Just how i like to do things! to each his own

Bob Olhsson · 1st September 2010

Musicians and songwriters can add to the sound. Engineers and producers can pretty much only polish by taking away.

dustyreels · 1st September 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

Musicians and songwriters can add to the sound. Engineers and producers can pretty much only polish by taking away.

What about just the right reverb, or that bit of compression? Most bands lack the dynamics it takes to mix by their playing alone. I think it's a team effort.

AstralPStudios · 2nd September 2010

It's absolutely awesome to me that quite a lot of us believe in the team effort aspect. Quoted from my page:

"We all have to work together, it's inevitable! We must reach an understanding of our goals as a unit."

To me, that's what this industry needs is more team players. There is no I or ME when it comes to album production. It's EVERYONE involved.

Also, thank you for the compliments on my studio name

. I'm pagan and highly enjoy the metaphysical, so that's exactly where it came from

.

Reloaded, just don't say anything or tap me on the shoulder haha.

30th August 2010	#1
keano Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 355 Thread Starter	Who creates the sound of an album Engineer or Mixer? I am looking at some albums I dig and can't figure who has create the most influence on the songs. Sigh No More by Mumford Sons @ ARTISTdirect.com - Shop, Listen, Download

30th August 2010	#2
AstralPStudios Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 1,506	The answer is both. A mix engineer is still an engineer . I understand what you're asking though between a recording engineer and a mix engineer, but the answer is still both. What the recording engineer takes in is what the mix engineer has to work with and hopefully the recording engineer does it right and the tonal balance is adequate along with getting rid of any phase issues and whatnot. Mix engineer has more creative choices in regards to comp/EQ/effects/etc. Without a great recording though, it can be difficult to get a great mix, so both have to play their parts well and understand what the artist is going for with their sound and give them what they want. That's my .02 __________________ Astral Plane Studios APS on Youtube APS on FB

1st September 2010	#15
Bob Olhsson Motown legend Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Songwriter Gulch, Nashville TN Posts: 10,638	Musicians and songwriters can add to the sound. Engineers and producers can pretty much only polish by taking away. __________________ Bob's room 615 562-4346 Georgetown Masters 615 254-3233 Music Industry 2.0 Interview

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30th August 2010	#3
777Artin 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended. Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 368	None of them. It's the songwriter + performer with the help of the producer that makes it. Recording engineers should only capture what's happening + make coffee. The mix engineers should only mix and do what the producer whats................... + make coffee of course 777artin

1st September 2010	#10
dustyreels Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Asheville, NC Posts: 1,372	AstralPStudios, I like the name of your studio btw. A topic of long term interest to me.

2nd September 2010	#17
AstralPStudios Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 1,506	It's absolutely awesome to me that quite a lot of us believe in the team effort aspect. Quoted from my page: "We all have to work together, it's inevitable! We must reach an understanding of our goals as a unit." To me, that's what this industry needs is more team players. There is no I or ME when it comes to album production. It's EVERYONE involved. Also, thank you for the compliments on my studio name . I'm pagan and highly enjoy the metaphysical, so that's exactly where it came from . Reloaded, just don't say anything or tap me on the shoulder haha.