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I know it has been said more than a hundred times, but it seems we’ve flipped a b*tch on evolution. Musically speaking, what has technology done to music? Obviously not many people can afford to go out and buy an old 50’s RCA microphone and 4 track tape recorders etc. and then put it all on a vinyl via their own record recorder. It’s a ton cheaper to go buy a computer and some software and a decent set of mic’s. Have a listen to anything recorded today electronically and then listen to Henry Mancini, Louie Armstrong, or really just any old recordings from that era. Why is it that we seemed to have it right back then and now, we’ve gone to electronic sounding recordings? I understand that affordability and availability prohibit a lot of people from really great sounding recordings, however what’s going on when famous bands that have millions are using the same programs and computers that I could go buy? Why are there no really good recordings out there anymore? I know that J. does a good job in the studio, he still goes to tape. What is it about tape and vinyl that sounds so great? I have argued the c.d. vs. vinyl bit into the ground. I have changed a few minds and made the rest contradict themselves saying things like "cd’s are far superior to vinyl" but later saying "the only reason that VINYLS SOUND BETTER THAN CD’S is that vinyl has extended low end." There is always the arguement that I get in return, vinyls are harder to keep in good shape with regular play than cd’s. My responce to that is always, my grandmother has cases of vinyls she has had and collected since the 50’s. I have found records from the 40’s that are scratchy but still sound better than most new cd’s. I know you usually hear this rant from older men who have been in the business since the 50’s and don’t understand the new ways…..but I am from the era that’s supposed to like computers and I personally think they are killing our sound. I think that if companies would manufacture more of the quality equipment that they did in those days then it wouldnt be so hard to afford them, they just think that they have to overprice everything. Honestly how much does Nuemann or Neve, Soundcraft, etc. spend on one mic or board? Yet how much do they charge for that item? $1,400.00 for two overhead mics from Nuemann, sound excellent but are they really $1,400 worth of sound? I have used them on both of my recordings and have loved the sound they produce, but I dont think that they were THAT great.
Anyways, anyone have anything to add? Defend?
R/J
I hear what you’re saying and agree too. I understand why I would want to choose the cheaper route right now…..because its….cheaper! I don’t really think it’s individuality…or well, originality anyways anymore….if everyone is doing it this way now. Meh, I don’t know….I just wish that could record again. I do however like to find little weird ways to record things, or record with speakers instead of mics. I mic’d a bass drum with a 1×15 Peavey Bass cab once…that sounded pretty cool. Singing through a tweeter sounds pretty kool too. Lots of odd little things you could try, I just wish that everyone didn’t sound the same. Oh well.
R/J
i totally understand where yer coming from, RJ, and agree with you on all fronts. but……..one great byproduct of the "evolution" is that alot…..i mean A LOT more musicians are having their music heard…and that is a good thing. sure..i would love to have a classic analog studio to record in any time the muse hit me, but alas, i’m pretty sure that will never happen. but now…if i hear a cool riff in my head, or a cool melody…i can fire up my computer and record it in an instant. when i first started writing songs i taped them using the built-in mic on my boombox. and (holy shit is this funny) to add tracks, i would get another boombox and record the bass track over the original..hehe. (some stellar recordings in those days..). when i got my first four track i thought i had died and gone to heaven. sure, if i ever have the means to record an album proper, i will do it as low-tech as possible, but until then i’ll gladly take the results of this evolution and run with it. ok…that’s it for my rant.
if this has nothing to do with yer original post, i’m sorry..but i’m totally baked.
mmmmmmm baakkked
Yeah, I used to do the whole two stereo recording thing too. It’s good to see that other people did that as well. I do agree, it is a good thing that we, as underpaid working folk can get recordings done cheaply at home now. I think however a lot of what I was complaining about….though it may not have came out right, is that when a band gets big, they still use the same stuff that I use for recording something crappy so I wont forget it. I think if you have the resources to make a great sounding recording and you dont utilize that….whats the point? I know bands like Flipper or Crass sort of get off on having terrible sounding "pro-level" recordings…but that is understood as they are (what I call) "Raunch Rock." Again, J. is doing it right. Of course he has earned his money and gear and because of that he can make really good sounding recordings.
meh…….?
R/JQuote:I think if you have the resources to make a great sounding recording and you dont utilize that….whats the point?i guess this boils down to…..what is a "great sounding recording"? personally, i like to hear a few pops and hisses..and a missed note or two. but i’m sure alot of bands don’t think that way. they think that perfectly played totally sterile clean sounding recordings are perfect..
in the end, it is up to the folks making the music. tons of "big" bands could record their stuff at muscle shoals on sweet vintage equipment…but choose not to.
I get ya….I like what a lot of rappers have done. A lot of the artists dont really have any intention of putting the music to vinyl, so they add the pops and hisses. I’m with you on that, and thats kind of the thing I’m talking about. To me (as well) a great recording sounds live, like the group/band is right there with you. There is a lot of ambience going on around a home, and people dont always perfectly play songs so missing a few notes happens. A friend of mine did a "live" recording outside his home and had kids playing in the background, cars going by, dogs barking….he missed a few things, and that was a great recording. I was jealous that I didn’t think of that first. I know a lot of ways to get really good recording sounds, but that was really good. I’ve done my share of reading and I have to tell you, you need to get a copy of Jazz Country by Nat Hentoff…great learning from that book. Anyways, the Shinning is back on…..
RJ
heh……as for the background noise and such….i really love "the texas campfire tapes" by michelle shocked. you can hear the traffic passing by in the background, and the crackle of the fire. on the other hand…studio gimmickry can be cool too. when i first got "ok computer" i couldn’t stop listening to it. seemed like every listen i heard some cool new bleeps and blips.
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