G
R
RAMI
Guest
I think we're all barking up the wrong tree.
We need to ask Mike Tyson.
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
S
StevenJacksonMu
New member
Supercreep
Lizard People
Phase alignment of multiple mic sources. Incidentally, I learned it from Grrrrrg.
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
I wasn't ignoring a point that was never made. I stand by my observation, however, regardless of whether the artist is a pretty creme puff or a mugly duggly. If your definition of good music is that which makes one feel good, then even the shittiest song ever qualifies as good music if it makes someone (or a million 'someones') "feel good".
The problem is in that definition of 'good music' and the assumption that there is a universal standard. There isn't.
B
bdenton
New member
I need some advice on how to train my ears to be more capable of telling good music from had ones.
Getting back to the original question...
I used to listen to music on a really cheesy turntable through a Radio Shack speaker mounted in a cigar box.
Was that good enough to differentiate between "good" and "bad" music?
In 30 seconds or so I would decide whether a record would be a hit or not. Those that I thought were hits would be played on my radio station; those I thought were not wouldn't.
Most of the times those I picked as hits sold a lot of copies and made a lot of money for a lot of people; those I thought were misses didn't.
Some of the hits were lousy recordings; some of the misses were great recordings.
My "kill ratio" was about 90% on hits; 85% on misses. In the industry I was considered to have a "good ear".
Some I picked as hits I personally hated; some of the misses I liked.
A lot of people bought a lot of hits I picked, even though some of them were records I hated.
Am I more capable than others of telling good music from bad music?
Getting back to the original question...
I used to listen to music on a really cheesy turntable through a Radio Shack speaker mounted in a cigar box.
Was that good enough to differentiate between "good" and "bad" music?
In 30 seconds or so I would decide whether a record would be a hit or not. Those that I thought were hits would be played on my radio station; those I thought were not wouldn't.
Most of the times those I picked as hits sold a lot of copies and made a lot of money for a lot of people; those I thought were misses didn't.
Some of the hits were lousy recordings; some of the misses were great recordings.
My "kill ratio" was about 90% on hits; 85% on misses. In the industry I was considered to have a "good ear".
Some I picked as hits I personally hated; some of the misses I liked.
A lot of people bought a lot of hits I picked, even though some of them were records I hated.
Am I more capable than others of telling good music from bad music?
Shadow_7
New member
Well, if the slap base part from a '70's adult film makes you feel good, does that really mean that it's good music. If it is not something that you'd want to share with others or relatives or even listen to in the presence of others?
I've lived a few places and my tastes seem to change with the region that I'm at. When I lived in Georgia, country music was quite appealing. When I lived in Pennsylvania, Pop was what I gravitated towards. When I lived in Kentucky, country music again. Now I live in Texas, and if I travel, country for Austin, Heavy Metal for Dallas, and possibly Blues for Houston. I'm not sure why, it just feels right. If I ever drive through Compton, CA., I seriously doubt that I'll be blaring some Juice Newton, even though I like her work.
gcolbert
Sonar Fanboi
I remember watching some four-eyed bug-eater from MIT on the Today Show a couple of years ago explaining a new computer program he had developed that would analyze a piece of music and provide an +80% probability of if it would be a commercial success or not. Possibly we can get him to publish this as a VSTi that will just delete music projects that don't meet the requirements for good music?
Not having a good musical ear has some distinct advantages. I can be perfectly happy playing a guitar that is out of tune (within some limits). I have friends and acquantances who spend more time trying to tune to perfection and little time actually enjoying playing. A guitar (and a lot of other instruments) can't be tuned 'perfectly' anyway.
So admiting that I don't have a good ear and am not at all qualified to reply to this post, I would recomend that you do what you enjoy in an environment where you can share your work with others and encourage them to critique your work without it hurting your feelings. If you like to sing, a choir might be a good answer, but don't expect to get an honest critique.
Not having a good musical ear has some distinct advantages. I can be perfectly happy playing a guitar that is out of tune (within some limits). I have friends and acquantances who spend more time trying to tune to perfection and little time actually enjoying playing. A guitar (and a lot of other instruments) can't be tuned 'perfectly' anyway.
So admiting that I don't have a good ear and am not at all qualified to reply to this post, I would recomend that you do what you enjoy in an environment where you can share your work with others and encourage them to critique your work without it hurting your feelings. If you like to sing, a choir might be a good answer, but don't expect to get an honest critique.
D
delfy
New member
Just listen, its completely subjective!
S
soundtips
New member
You know, I never really thought of it that way... yes, I guess I could clarify by saying it is crap to ME, but then who really cares! 
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
That's why I mentioned those particular people. With hearing problems, they were/are able to assess the sonics of the music they're involved in. On the other hand, I have near perfect hearing {
} but I can't tell if a song has the frequency spectrum filled in a balanced way. Sure, I can tell you if I find a song trebly or muddy, but until you mentioned it, I don't think I'd ever even thought about it !Well, exactly. That's the point I was making. It's in the ear of the beholder.
Mind you, there could be many reasons that you'd not want to share with others a piece of music that you personally dig.
That's my take on it. I personally abandoned any universal notion of 'good' and 'bad' music long ago. For me there's music we like, music we don't like and music we're indifferent to.
However, when assessing recordings, it's a different story. You might accept a song as good, even though you hate it.
S
stevieb
Just another guy, really.
Ah, a legend in your own mind!
Go ahead, try and take my lunch money from me. If you are lucky, they will bury your body right next to the last guy who tried that.
diggy_dude
Now 169% diggier!
That's why I mentioned those particular people. With hearing problems, they were/are able to assess the sonics of the music they're involved in. On the other hand, I have near perfect hearing {
I find that my hearing is a little dull compared to what it was 20 years ago - can't tell what frequency band(s) the dullness is in - but I can still tell if a track is well-balanced. I suspect part of it has to do with memory. The recordings that sounded good back then still sound good, and vice versa.
