The mark of an amateur

[kidkage]

Hi Bobby!

If you had to put your finger on just one thing,
What in your opinion is the biggest/most obvious problem with home/amateur recordings?

Thanks,
Sunny- a.k.a 'kidkage'

[Bobby Owsinski]

I'll try to find the blog post, but I posted "The 7 Signs of an Amateur Mix" on my production blog. Among the things, too much reverb, too much low end, leaving things in like count-offs, the level of the tracks are inconsistent, there's not focal point to the mix, there's not clarity and punch.

[Bobby Owsinski]

That blog post is here - Bobby Owsinski's Big Picture Production Blog: The 7 Signs Of An Amateur Mix

[moresound]

Thanks Bobby. I was having a hard time finding it.

[kidkage]

Wow!

What a killer blog.
I'm picking up some books this weekend for sure

[Harvey Gerst]

I'll try to find the blog post, but I posted "The 7 Signs of an Amateur Mix" on my production blog. Among the things, too much reverb, too much low end, leaving things in like count-offs, the level of the tracks are inconsistent, there's not focal point to the mix, there's not clarity and punch.

Geez, Bobby,

I just call all that "My Style."

[moresound]

Geez, Bobby,

I just call all that "My Style."

You go Harvey!

[Track Rat]

In my best PeeWee Herman voice, "I meant to do that".

[ocnor]

7-signs-of-amateur-mix. ...3. The Mix Is noisy – Clicks, hums, extraneous noises, count-offs, and sometimes lip-smacks and breaths are all signs of an amateur mix.

Some of the best sounding albums from the 70s have some or all of these things going on. Led zeppelin albums are loaded with that sort of thing. Does that make Jimmy Page an amateur? I think it adds character to the songs unlike most modern mixes which are bland. Back In Black by AC/DC starts with the high hats counting off. So according to you Mutt Lange is a hack.

[kidkage]

Some of the best sounding albums from the 70s have some or all of these things going on. Led zeppelin albums are loaded with that sort of thing. Does that make Jimmy Page an amateur? I think it adds character to the songs unlike most modern mixes which are bland. Back In Black by AC/DC starts with the high hats counting off. So according to you Mutt Lange is a hack.

but Mutt Lange didn't mix Back in Black.

I don't think that the point of the 7 signs is: "if it has this... it's amateur!!!"
as much as it is: "if it's amateur... it has this!!!"