Testing…
August 7th, 2005 by GoldFalcon
Just thought I would send a probe out into the uninhabited space that is the weekend blogosphere (ya know, it works in reverse on the rest of the Internet: traffic picks up on the weekend). I finished setting up my home studio today and finalized some equipment and noise issues.
I hate audio engineering and production. In my opinion production quality rates right around “cover art” in terms of album quality. Watch Jerry Lee Lewis or early Elvis. No post production there, just unbelievable talent and mastery of their form. Some of my favorite albums of all time contain things like dogs barking, airplanes flying over, strings breaking, arguments between the musicians, the artist slurping a beverage, etc…
I’d rather have the color of knowing what the artist is really like in candid moments.
That’s one of the reasons I like Austin City Limits, everyone gets stripped bare there. It’s the same reason I liked MTV’s unplugged when it first came out. Speaking of Austin City Limits, the Nickel Creek re-run was freaking awesome. Bluegrass and Jazz musicians are more proficient at their instruments than any other category of musician.
Anyway, even given my hatred for production value it has recently been brought home to me that I don’t get to live in my world so sometimes I have to do what other people want. What other people (like booking managers) seem to want is a well produced product.
I just finished tracking the new version of “My Pretty Ones” in the studio a few minutes ago. The production value is now release quality (i.e. CD or Radio quality). I’ll be finishing up the lead tracks tommorrow and ironing out any kinks. Expect it to be released in about a two weeks as a two song “single” download with a “hidden track”. I haven’t set the pricepoint yet, but all profits from the sale of the single will be donated to Armed Services support organizations.
I feel your pain. I am finishing up a full blues album now…and it is hard work not to over produce, but make it better than my 4 track at home. It’s a fine line between a radio/release quality and the full on robot chubby production that kills the vibe of what you are doing.
And it gets worse when you start adding a full band… LOL
CL
I hear ya Chris, I’ve only got me, but the most I’d worked with before was four tracks. I’m working on a 16 track DAW actually working for a release product for the first time. It’s been frustafun (that’s frustrating and fun at the same time). I’m getting through it though :).