Luxey
March 21st 15, 05:25 PM
http://tapeop.com/blog/2015/03/18/end-rant-104-food-thought/
*Recording equipment matters, but it doesn't really matter.
*It may take you years to learn, or outgrow, some of your gear.
*At a certain level of recording gear, every $500 step buys you tiny, incremental benefits.
*Vintage gear is a mirage; not something you really need, but maybe something to conceptually strive for.
*Some random chain of vintage equipment isn't what really made those records worth listening to 40 years later.
*Considering every possibility in front of you is paralyzing.
*Just because you came up with a new overdub or part doesn't mean it's good.
*Percussion overdubs are 90 percent unnecessary.
*Backing vocals are 75 percent unnecessary.
*It's not possible to steal someone's recording tricks; they never work the same for you.
*Fidelity means everything and nothing, at the same time.
*Sources that sound natural might not be natural at all.
*"It was recorded live" doesn't indicate anything about the quality.
*A simple recording is not a bad recording, nor is it underproduced or lo-fi.
*Recorded simply does not mean recorded poorly.
*Using more mics doesn't always equal great sound.
*Anything that "looks" in time is likely not really in time.
*Anyone casting doubt on the way another person records is a fool.
*Great songs sound better, no matter what happens next.
*Excellent arrangements make the instruments and vocals sound better.
*Quality instrumentalists make their parts sound great and fit together better.
*The best singers make the mic sound better and the song more compelling.
*A great engineer can make a recording sound better, but they usually can't affect the five scenarios above.
*A great producer can put the right people in the right situations and make them shine.
*A bad producer can make everyone uncomfortable, pick the wrong people, choose the wrong takes, and still make great recordings despite all this.
*Recording equipment doesn't make records; people make records.
*Nothing else matters when people get to enjoy the music.
*Recording equipment matters, but it doesn't really matter.
*It may take you years to learn, or outgrow, some of your gear.
*At a certain level of recording gear, every $500 step buys you tiny, incremental benefits.
*Vintage gear is a mirage; not something you really need, but maybe something to conceptually strive for.
*Some random chain of vintage equipment isn't what really made those records worth listening to 40 years later.
*Considering every possibility in front of you is paralyzing.
*Just because you came up with a new overdub or part doesn't mean it's good.
*Percussion overdubs are 90 percent unnecessary.
*Backing vocals are 75 percent unnecessary.
*It's not possible to steal someone's recording tricks; they never work the same for you.
*Fidelity means everything and nothing, at the same time.
*Sources that sound natural might not be natural at all.
*"It was recorded live" doesn't indicate anything about the quality.
*A simple recording is not a bad recording, nor is it underproduced or lo-fi.
*Recorded simply does not mean recorded poorly.
*Using more mics doesn't always equal great sound.
*Anything that "looks" in time is likely not really in time.
*Anyone casting doubt on the way another person records is a fool.
*Great songs sound better, no matter what happens next.
*Excellent arrangements make the instruments and vocals sound better.
*Quality instrumentalists make their parts sound great and fit together better.
*The best singers make the mic sound better and the song more compelling.
*A great engineer can make a recording sound better, but they usually can't affect the five scenarios above.
*A great producer can put the right people in the right situations and make them shine.
*A bad producer can make everyone uncomfortable, pick the wrong people, choose the wrong takes, and still make great recordings despite all this.
*Recording equipment doesn't make records; people make records.
*Nothing else matters when people get to enjoy the music.