What is it with producers/engineers today?

[Thomas Stanley]

To me ... there is nothing better than playing and singing with a group of musicians who have learned their craft well and are more concerned about making the song sound great than they are about making sure their instruments get heard above the other player.

I have seen much too often a group do a sound check ... then the bass turns up the volume ... then the guitarist ... etc ..... soon you need to play the fiddle through a Sessions 400 ... (and then you just hope that when the instrumental or turn around comes along that they will all back off a little so the lead instrument can be heard and perhaps understood). No wonder we have to use in the ear monitors!!!! Soon ... we will be using FLASH CARDS that say "A" "1151" !!

To all of those that understand and use dynamics you are to be commended. To those that don't ... try it ... you might learn something.

[David L. Donald]

Layering tracks became pretty standard after 'artists'
started realizing the power to not pin you ideas down early was there.


I have heard some layered mixes that were great,
and whole lot that sucked.

Sgt. Pepper was bounced between 2 very high quality
4 track recorders, and tracks were added and kept
during the bounce phases also.
i.e. they HAD to get the playing and the mix RIGHT,
or go back to the begining of the song/take and start again.

[Brint Hannay]

I don't know how it's done, but it's possible to mix a recording so that the lead vocal is perfectly intelligible, but not "out front".

For an example, I would cite Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced" album. "Purple Haze" and "Hey Joe" are perfect examples. Or Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". The vocals seem on equal footing with the instruments, but you can hear every word.

I speak as a listener only. To my regret, I have very little experience with recording, in front of or behind the desk.

[Ron Page]

I haven't been able to clearly understand rock music lyrics for 30 years. I think the modern mixing we're discussing comes from the rock genre where the vocals have always been secondary to screaming guitars. But, hey!, if it has a melody then that's at least an improvment over a lot of it.

[David L. Donald]

IMHO,
one should always mix, so that the
'instrument' carrying the focus of the song/music,
should have enough promenance to be heard clearly,
followed by, but not obscured by the counterpoint melodies.

Some don't feel this is correct, or after this was done properly,
'another hand' over-compressed it, and took that difference of dynamics out of the mix.
Stupidly, but intentionally for reasons of
profit or fitting in with the market.

[Michael Johnstone]

Writing,arranging,playing,recording,mixing and mastering music are all very difficult and take decades to master.That's why you don't hear much good work. Everybody is stupid,lazy and wants instant gratification from their new protools rig.It dosen't matter anyhow because they're pandering to a world full of idiots who gladly lap up whatever drivel they're served up. It's just another episode of "Short Attention Span Theater" folks.

[Ron Page]

... and perhaps those WITHOUT A.D.S. are the exceptions nowadays.