For those of you who long to be a "pro" engineer...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Harvey Gerst
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I think mixerman needs a vacation.

Or needs to get laid . . . or both.

Try and enjoy what you're doing, for cryin' out loud. So what if the drummer you're working with isn't a freakin' rocket scientist, or doesn't sound like Neal Peart. Make him sound as good as you can, and move on.

Live with it. Deal with it.

It's part of life. You'd think this guy's never worked with difficult people or in somewhat complicated situations before. It's called the real world.

Mixerman, if you're listening, you're sounding much more negative than the people you seem to enjoy criticizing so much. And your attitude towards your job is probably a notch below the level of professionalism as those you criticize as well. No wonder people are showing up late and not listening to you.

Enjoy the ride, mixerman. And quit your whining. Either that, or re-think your line of work. As entertaining and funny as this all is . . . in reality, it's pretty pathetic. You've been given an opportunity to work with someone who has a strong reputation in the industry. That's quite an opportunity and should be an honor. Instead, you treat it like it's a sentence to hell.

I hope you get fired from the job, and someone else takes over who is genuinely excited and enthusiastic about the opportunity. This is just plain sad.
 
And I think chessrock needs to lighten up.

Why shouldn't a guy be able to vent anonymously on the internet when he's frustrated? After all, it sounds like he's (mostly) maintaining a professional attitude in the studio, although as somebody pointed out on the ProSoundWeb forum, he probably shouldn't have badmouthed the drummer to the rest of the band. You'd probably feel the same way if you were in his shoes.
 
Right on C7.

One always hopes that, when one reaches a certain level of experience in a given professional field, that you could hope to work with professionals of a similar caliber and focus on taking it to the next level instead of miring in the fundamentals.

Mixerman is an Indy Car driver who showed up to the race, and found out his pit crew were fucklots from Fred's garage, and that the racetrack was gravel. It's hard enough to engineer a top-selling album these days, let alone spending your time babysitting the entire studio.

IMO the BAND was horribly irresponsible going into the studio with a drummer they knew was Barney Fife, let alone how intensely unprofessional the producer was in hanging Mixerman out to dry while tweaking his deal.

At that level, life's too short to push square pegs through round holes, I totally sympathized with Mixerman on this one. Can't wait to see the next round(s) heh.
 
QUOTE:.........."And I think chessrock needs to lighten up.

Why shouldn't a guy be able to vent anonymously on the internet when he's frustrated? "



Actually, I think Chessrock's vent is a result of severe frustration.......but of a different kind:o

:cool:
 
Real world? REAL WORLD??!!

" It's part of life. You'd think this guy's never worked with difficult people or in somewhat complicated situations before. It's called the real world."

Oh my goodness..hold me back, people.

I'm trying to go easy on you here, Chesscrock.

What MM is giving us, IS a glimpse into the real world. I'm amazed that I even need to say that. Getting tones and performances might seem fairly simple after you've spent some time in the studio. It's a whole different ballgame when big dollars are rolling around.

I don't even really need to explain. Careers..pressure..attitudes..stubborness..power..competition. These things can become huge factors when every tick of the clock goes "cha-ching".

Meanwhile, no matter how bad it gets (and evidently, it can get pretty bad), the people who are actually recording and performing are expected to produce the genius "product" that will determine what their entire life's work will amount to. It ain't easy.

Again, Chesstwot, just try to put aside your enormous ego and understand that you have no idea what those people are going through. As much as it pains me to say, you can learn a lot from what MM is sharing, and this will HELP you if you ever end up in a big session like that one.

Just like a mic that you have never used, you have no business discussing a major label recording. Now go eat a cheeseburger.
 
Hey Chessrock,
There's a big difference in "honoring" someone and kissing their ass. There's too many ass kissers in the world already. Mixermans only fault is expecting the same level of competency and dedication he displays.

DD
 
I ain't lettin' this turn in to another flame war.

I was in stitches over the accounts myself, and I can't wait to read more.

But I'm sorry; a lot of jobs are demanding. The job flipping burgers at BK when I was in High School was demanding, and I had to put up with a lot of BS. College was demanding, full of politics, and all of the jobs I have had since have been full of politics and difficult people, from clients to co-workers. I've had two companies (employers) go out of business, and have been forced to say goodbye to countless friends and co-workers as they have been laid off. That's a lot of cheesburgers and C1's these guys won't be able to afford now due to lower disposable income that unemployment doesn't quite afford them, Trewy.

I'm afraid some of you 14-year old suburbanites around here don't even know what pressure is. :D

You know what you do? You make the best of it, and deal with everything in a professional manner, and with a positive attitude. If you're a recording engineer, part of your job is to create a positive vibe where everyone can play their best. Demeaning the drummer behind his back, anonymously making him the but of jokes on internet forums, encouraging his bandmates to call him names like "cotton." . . .

. . . Come on. Sure, it's very funny. But what is it accomplishing?

And why is it that he portrays EVERYONE around him as being either an idiot . . . a bad musician . . . a poor worker . . . or bitter at the world. And everyone gets nicknames to celebrate their idiocy, while he somehow is the only sane person amidst this "sea of idiocy".

I have an idea for Mr. Mix: Try approaching things with a positive attitude. Look for the best traits in the people you're working with and bring them out. Enjoy the fact that you're getting paid and that you have a job doing something I assume you love and are passionate towards. Hell, in this economy, be thankful you have a job.

You're a horendously funny person with a witty sense of humor.
Try and apply it to your situation by making those around you laugh. Use it to break some of the tension in the air; particularly with the drummer. He sounds like the type who feels the tension of those around him and feeds off of the images that others project towards him. Lighten up and relax, and get the others to do the same . . . and he will sense a better vibe and will probably play worlds better. You may think he doesn't know of your disdain for him, but I'll bet he can sense it - and it will affect the way he plays.

I'm off my soapbox now. But this is my opinion. Sorry if it goes against the precious grain around here, or rubs a few of you the wrong way. I understand how important it is around here not to go against popular opinion, and the wrath that such behavior can most certainly incur. ;) That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the story. I still am, tremendously.
 
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When something is your hobby and you have the ability to walk away on a bad day. The fun button is on and everyone is smiling. When its your job the fun button is off (usually). There is a certain level of professionalism that is required to make records where more than one job is at stake if the whole thing falls apart. Whining and complaining with hints of negativity is more fun than it actually sounds. If you've been on the receiving end of things recently you might be a little sensitive or maybe some jealously could be involved since you would rather be doing it too. Wait a minute...is chessrock the drummer in question? Heh heh...

Antinegatism negativity :p



SoMm
 
Son of Mixerman said:
maybe some jealousy could be involved since you would rather be doing it too.
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Damn straight. I think a lot of us would love an opportunity to work with a major label, and with a big-name producer. If I had that opportunity, I strongly believe I would make the most of it and be as positive as I could at all times.

I realize it's hard when so much is at stake. Granted, I've never worked for a major label, but I have been involved in plenty of projects where the outcome would have dire consequences on whether or not the company would survive and my co-workers would be out of a job.

And yes, there have been people I've worked with whom I would have loved to strangle in the process. :D But you can't let those feelings get the best of you. I apologize for sounding like a motivational tape, but a positive attitude really is contageous. And it all starts with whomever is in charge. You may think others are somehow sheilded, but your attitude never exists in a vaccum.

Son of MM, your Dad, in this case, has to set the tone.

I don't feel bad for the drummer or anyone else who got insulted. I doubt they'll ever know. But I am angry that someone is doing something I'd love to be doing, and seems not to appreciate the truly wonderful opportunity he has been given. So the drummer sucks. Find out why he's sucking and learn what buttons need to be pushed to get him to play his best. And if all else fails, pull out Allsigot. :D And I understand it's frustrating when things feel like they're falling apart, but you can't let it get you down or turn your attitude negative. Especially towards those you are working with.
 
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Lame Thrower said:
Out for your morning 'troll today eh Chessie?
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Lame, you truly live up to your name, sometimes. :D Why is having a different opinion and, heaven forbid, expressing it a form of "Trollship?" And who ever annointed you Troll Police, anyway?

You're kind of like a floatation device that goes along with the current. If everyone were all of a sudden to change their opinion and say "Yea, I change my stance and agree with Chessrock now!" You'd find some sort of political way of wheasling out of your earlier comments: "Uh, yea. I didn't really mean troll as in a real troll. I only meant, uh, that he sort of looks big and ugly like a troll."

Up untill now, I've been pretty cool and collected about this sort of thing. But I need to be more vocal, because this thought pattern is dangerous.

Any of you out there ever read the Lottery or the crucible?
 
chessrock said:
You're kind of like a floatation device that goes along with the current. If everyone were all of a sudden to change their opinion and say "Yea, I change my stance and agree with Chessrock now!" You'd find some sort of political way of wheasling out of your earlier comments: "Uh, yea. I didn't really mean troll as in a real troll. I only meant, uh, that he sort of looks big and ugly like a troll."
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Bullsh*t. You've said this about me before. I replied that I stand by what I said. You went back and deleted what you said about me.

If you've got proof of this, cite it or shut the f*ck up.

Sorry for wasting everyone's time with this.
 
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Chess, have you stopped to consider that being negative towards negativity is still negativity? Positive, well-adjusted people who enjoy every aspect of life don't get into a dozen lame cyber-arguments every month.

This forum is like a monty python skit gone bad sometimes.

"Hi, I'm here for my argument."
"No you're not."

Slackmaster 2000
 
You stupid, puss filled boil on the ass of the world, you......oh...insults are down the hall and to the right.....
 
Lame Thrower said:
Bullshit. You've said this about me before. I replied that I stand by what I said. You went back and deleted what you said about me.

If you've got proof of this, cite it or shut the fuck up.
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Showin' our true colors, aren't we, Lame? Wow, you have even less class than I originally gave you credit for.

I can point out one thread in particular, which I find to be rather humorous looking back on. I'll post it if you want me to, but I figured I'd offer the opportunity to spare you the embarrassment. I pointed it out to you the last time you were on a Chessrock witch-hunt. This is taking up other people's time and your expletives are rather childish, so I think it would be best left to the PM's, so check your inbox in the next few days.
 
chessrock said:
I ain't lettin' this turn in to another flame war.

I was in stitches over the accounts myself, and I can't wait to read more.

But I'm sorry; a lot of jobs are demanding.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on both points. I like the story. Most people in creative fields are complainers. Mixerman is not exception. I'm sure Dumb Ass, even though he's an awful drummer, was out drinking over the weekend complaining about Mixerman when he ran into Grizzly Adams and they compared notes.

I guess it was bound to happen that Home Rec would get it's own Osbournes.
 
Slackmaster2K said:
Chess, have you stopped to consider that being negative towards negativity is still negativity? Positive, well-adjusted people who enjoy every aspect of life don't get into a dozen lame cyber-arguments every month.
Click to expand...

Herd: "Hi, I have an opinion."

Chess: "Oh, yea, well I have an opinion, too."

Herd: "F_ you and the horse you rode in on for having that opinion."

Chess: "Well excuse me for living."

Moderator: "Quit being a trouble maker, Chess. You realize that positive, well-adjusted people who enjoy . . ."
 
chessrock said:


Showin' our true colors, aren't we, Lame? Wow, you have even less class than I originally gave you credit for.

I can point out one thread in particular, which I find to be rather humorous looking back on. I'll post it if you want me to, but I figured I'd offer the opportunity to spare you the embarrassment. I pointed it out to you the last time you were on a Chessrock witch-hunt. This is taking up other people's time and your expletives are rather childish, so I think it would be best left to the PM's, so check your inbox in the next few days.
Click to expand...

Enh....

I shouldn't have posted on this thread to begin with. My apologies to everyone for dragging out the dead horse again.
 
Hey Chess I don't think Slackmaster was saying you're a trouble maker, he was just being a bit judgemental. IMHO you added a nice twist to this thread that's making me laugh especially the part showing how lame lame is, hehe. I'm wondering now if Lame is the drummer? :)

What's good for the Mixerman is good for the Chessrock, umm no it's not :)
 
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