demystifying (or further convoluting) the silly words we use
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demystifying (or further convoluting) the silly words we use
I'll start with some classics:
"warm" - rolled-off high end, slightly accentuated midrange. term usually applied to ribbons, tubes, tape, and band-limited older gear.
"smashed/crushed" - treated with very UN-subtle high ratio, low threshold compression
"heavy" - I think this one is best left alone, lest it lose it's magic
Your turn! "open"? "punchy"? "brittle"? "silky"? something original? something outright stupid?
"warm" - rolled-off high end, slightly accentuated midrange. term usually applied to ribbons, tubes, tape, and band-limited older gear.
"smashed/crushed" - treated with very UN-subtle high ratio, low threshold compression
"heavy" - I think this one is best left alone, lest it lose it's magic
Your turn! "open"? "punchy"? "brittle"? "silky"? something original? something outright stupid?
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TapeOpLarry wrote:http://www.tapeop.com/blog/2012/06/15/what-are-words/
Please, let's not discuss "the brown sound" (what, in light of the possible use of a "sound gun" here in Chi during the NATO conference was a fearful and present threat indeed.)
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I was there! I don't think it ever got deployed, however.vvv wrote:TapeOpLarry wrote:http://www.tapeop.com/blog/2012/06/15/what-are-words/
Please, let's not discuss "the brown sound" (what, in light of the possible use of a "sound gun" here in Chi during the NATO conference was a fearful and present threat indeed.)
Anyhow:
"brittle" - an obnoxious excess of upper harmonics in relation to the fundamental notes of (usually) an electric guitar track.
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Re: demystifying (or further convoluting) the silly words we
I've always associated "warm" with a nice balance of harmonic distortion rather than rolled off top end.
"Open" / "airy" = +2dB @ 17-18kHz
"Punchy" = all the gear along the signal path preserve transients (usually easiest with ribbon mics, no eq, suitably designed preamp, direct coupled amplifiers, maybe no caps at all, electrostatic speakers in the listening chain)
"Muddy" = +3dB @ 200-300Hz
My own terms:
"kitchen table sound" = emphasis on 400-800Hz, usually undesirable
"Nashville" = cut everything at 315Hz and 750Hz (although you still need a very clean signal path to go with it)
"Open" / "airy" = +2dB @ 17-18kHz
"Punchy" = all the gear along the signal path preserve transients (usually easiest with ribbon mics, no eq, suitably designed preamp, direct coupled amplifiers, maybe no caps at all, electrostatic speakers in the listening chain)
"Muddy" = +3dB @ 200-300Hz
My own terms:
"kitchen table sound" = emphasis on 400-800Hz, usually undesirable
"Nashville" = cut everything at 315Hz and 750Hz (although you still need a very clean signal path to go with it)
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Just posted to Larry's blog post, I'll re-post here:
One word I've had a lot of success with when dealing with the artist is "undefined." As in, "That kick drum is sort of undefined." It's not too specific, but it gets the dialogue going, and then some experimentation with level, EQ, filter, compression, etc, in an effort to find some "definition" for the track that works in the context of the mix. I think it works well because the artist can often suffer from the "Ooh, that's me coming out of the speakers!" syndrome: they're excited to hear their own music coming back through (hopefully nice) monitors, and aren't really sure what it should sound like in the context of both the mix, and the vision they hold in their own mind for their music.
One word I've had a lot of success with when dealing with the artist is "undefined." As in, "That kick drum is sort of undefined." It's not too specific, but it gets the dialogue going, and then some experimentation with level, EQ, filter, compression, etc, in an effort to find some "definition" for the track that works in the context of the mix. I think it works well because the artist can often suffer from the "Ooh, that's me coming out of the speakers!" syndrome: they're excited to hear their own music coming back through (hopefully nice) monitors, and aren't really sure what it should sound like in the context of both the mix, and the vision they hold in their own mind for their music.
Alex C. McKenzie
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He he he...Husker Du as produced by Albert Camus.
But in all seriousness, I've gotten that response, to which I'll say something like, "Eh, it [the track in question] is just sort of there. What do you think it should sound like?". Whenever possible, I'll try to get them to point to specific examples from other recorded works rather going down the rabbit hole of words like "warm," "punchy," etc.
But in all seriousness, I've gotten that response, to which I'll say something like, "Eh, it [the track in question] is just sort of there. What do you think it should sound like?". Whenever possible, I'll try to get them to point to specific examples from other recorded works rather going down the rabbit hole of words like "warm," "punchy," etc.
Alex C. McKenzie
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A good way to work. bypass the silly middleman of language.Tragibigzanda wrote:He he he...Husker Du as produced by Albert Camus.
But in all seriousness, I've gotten that response, to which I'll say something like, "Eh, it [the track in question] is just sort of there. What do you think it should sound like?". Whenever possible, I'll try to get them to point to specific examples from other recorded works rather going down the rabbit hole of words like "warm," "punchy," etc.
Some of my all time favorite moments in the studio with producers; involving the following words and/or statements and/or questions;
GIMME MORE "SUBSTAIN"
incorrect wording for the proper, "Sustain", in reference to decay of a musical note. You might need to make stuff longer, in some way.
"TURN UP THE METRODOME"
incorrect wording for the proper, "Metronome", in reference to the Click Track. Use a High Hat pattern of 1/16 notes, Then Adjust ear jabbing abrasiveness and tempo to taste,
MAKE IT "MUDDIYAH"
this is different from the obvious train of thought towards "adding of mud", as it is simply a request for more crud, underneath the mud.
IS THIS MIDIO? [A dilution of Audio and MIDI]
This question and beautiful wording mistake, is many times, raised with confusion about the signal flow in a session, sort of a chicken or the egg debate, but never the less, bewilderment is occurring about of the actual process here.
GIMME MORE "SUBSTAIN"
incorrect wording for the proper, "Sustain", in reference to decay of a musical note. You might need to make stuff longer, in some way.
"TURN UP THE METRODOME"
incorrect wording for the proper, "Metronome", in reference to the Click Track. Use a High Hat pattern of 1/16 notes, Then Adjust ear jabbing abrasiveness and tempo to taste,
MAKE IT "MUDDIYAH"
this is different from the obvious train of thought towards "adding of mud", as it is simply a request for more crud, underneath the mud.
IS THIS MIDIO? [A dilution of Audio and MIDI]
This question and beautiful wording mistake, is many times, raised with confusion about the signal flow in a session, sort of a chicken or the egg debate, but never the less, bewilderment is occurring about of the actual process here.
Adam J. Brass
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I got this in an advert email yesterday, and had to share.
SO MUCH WIN!!!
I will not mention from which company this was, as I do like their service.
"iZotope Alloy 2 is a powerful, easy-to-use plug-in for sculpting your unique signature sound. Serving up warm, punchy, vintage-inspired sound processing with precise digital control - it's the best of both worlds. Whether you're an artist, a remixer, a studio owner, or a post facility, iZotope Alloy 2 belongs in your virtual rack."
My eyeballs exploded as I read this. My eyes are still coming down to size as I write this.
SO MUCH WIN!!!
I will not mention from which company this was, as I do like their service.
"iZotope Alloy 2 is a powerful, easy-to-use plug-in for sculpting your unique signature sound. Serving up warm, punchy, vintage-inspired sound processing with precise digital control - it's the best of both worlds. Whether you're an artist, a remixer, a studio owner, or a post facility, iZotope Alloy 2 belongs in your virtual rack."
My eyeballs exploded as I read this. My eyes are still coming down to size as I write this.
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.
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