LeeRosario
New member
Thunder33 said:
Right, but if you think about it, the performance fits the puzzle. As engineers, we are charged with the task of making the process easier for the sake of sounding better.
Fixing a bad drummer is not easy. Experienced drummers not only play well, they know how to sound good on tape (most of the time). And like producers, engineers do have the right to suggest an improvement for the sake of an esoteric performance.
Hiring a drummer, that's alright, but more of a luxury. Even then, professional drummers don't get it right sometimes. Which is why talking and listening with your drummer is good practice. Never think that you can't improve your client as a performer and that it's not your place to do so, thats simply not true. I learned that by watching really good engineers.
I've met musicians that are legends on stage, but still need an engineer's guidance in the studio.
Of course, all that is just my opinion and what I learned. If it sounds right to pappy, then I should just say, "whatever fits the shoe, don't let others tell you what to do".
I was having this conversation just last night with a producer I currently work for. It was something along the lines of, "you know what I like about analog recording? it forces people to really sound good before they hit the studio. None of this 'ah fuck it, I'll fix that later' stuff." Then in his brutal honesty way, he screams, "that's just lazyness. God damn it, pro tools makes people fucking lazy. I have no respect, none whatsoever".
So what can I say to that? I see alot of that. Certain studios and producers love to digitally correct performances no matter how horrible they are. A practice I never want to define myself for.
But more to the point, I'm simply stating the drawbacks to digital dependancy as a opposed to good ol fashioned "responsible" engineering.
just my two cents and a half.
