Someone else's sound

  • Thread starter Thread starter peopleperson
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peopleperson

peopleperson

I'm so sorry.
Seems to me that these days, a lot of people are coming around and asking how to get someone else's sound. I guess I'm just posting this to encourage people to go get their own thing. Everyone has influences, sure, but no one and nothing is the ideal sound for everyone and everything. I love Bonham, but those type of drums don't work in everything. I love Hendrix, but that type of sound doesn't fit everywhere either. When it comes to doing your own stuff, utilize your influences, sure, but quit trying to directly emulate other people's stuff. Nothing will ever be fresh if this kind of attitude prevails. This applies to mixing too. I'll take creative and different over the recording world's standard of "good" any day, and I'd still rather listen to Guided by Voices recorded on a boom box, than to tolerate say...anything from Nashville.
 
I agree. No music should ever be made with the intentions of making it sound like someone else's music. It's already bad enough that pop music radio works this way (at least in Kansas City) and all the stations play the same garbage for 3 or 4 weeks, only to play different garbage after that, and so on and on with this awful cycle. Having a wide variety of music to listen to and learn from is so important, because this is what helps you create your own styles based on the things you enjoy most from what you listen to.
 
I pretty much agree, but I have to say when I first got into recording I learned a lot by trying to reproduce some of my favorite stuff. I never got any of it to sound like the original, but I also learned what worked and what just outright stank. The internet has unfortunately made it easier for people to look for answers elsewhere rather than trying to figure it out for themselves.
 
I agree Mad Audio, you have to start somewhere. I just seems like there's an extreme few amount of folks who can break into their own thing.
 
peopleperson said:
Seems to me that these days, a lot of people are coming around and asking how to get someone else's sound. I guess I'm just posting this to encourage people to go get their own thing. Everyone has influences, sure, but no one and nothing is the ideal sound for everyone and everything. I love Bonham, but those type of drums don't work in everything. I love Hendrix, but that type of sound doesn't fit everywhere either. When it comes to doing your own stuff, utilize your influences, sure, but quit trying to directly emulate other people's stuff. Nothing will ever be fresh if this kind of attitude prevails. This applies to mixing too. I'll take creative and different over the recording world's standard of "good" any day, and I'd still rather listen to Guided by Voices recorded on a boom box, than to tolerate say...anything from Nashville.
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So, can you make me sound like GBV? Or, how about a mix between Guided by Voices and Linkin' Park? I want the cheezy guitar and drums of LP (and a DJ scratchin'...cuz that's killer-sick), but I'm definitely gonna sing like Pollard (and maybe get a crummy rapper too)...will that work?

Just kiddin'. Good post. :D
 
He said killer sick....haha

I dunno about Linkin Park, but I can definately make your recording sound like GBV. My rates for this are good, just a tad bit of labor charge, and of course, the cost of the Maxell 90's.

Viva la GBV. Making "professionals" cringe since 86.
 
peopleperson said:
He said killer sick....haha

I dunno about Linkin Park, but I can definately make your recording sound like GBV. My rates for this are good, just a tad bit of labor charge, and of course, the cost of the Maxell 90's.

Viva la GBV. Making "professionals" cringe since 86.
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Honestly, I'd really rather sound like Tobin Sprout's solo stuff. Moonflower Plastic is one of the most brilliant 38min I've ever encountered. And, I think I have some Maxell's in a box somewhere. :D
 
I posted this on another thread, but I think it bears repeating:

When asked about the scores of young guitar players coming out all sounding like Eddie Van Halen, the late Steve Clark (Def Leppard) said he would rather be known as the first Steve Clark then the next Eddie Van Halen.

It's dated, but I think it's still true. I don't have the ability or inclination to sound like anyone but me. And I am proud of that.
 
Rokket said:
It's dated, but I think it's still true. I don't have the ability or inclination to sound like anyone but me. And I am proud of that.
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Well said.

I get so sick of the "clones" wanting me to record them to sound like someone else. It really keeps them from making music that's worth a darn.
 
Seems like, as home recordists, even if you try to sound like someone else, since none of us are those people, have their equipment, or have their studio skills, you won't end up sounding like them anyway, so you end up with something original anyway. maybe not good, but original. maybe.
 
I have also notice that the guys that want to sound like someone else never have the equipment required. Most of the time, it's kids with Crate amps and CB-700 drum sets that want to sound like Metallica or something. Once these guys came in with a beutiful Gretsch drumset (a really nice one), the guitar player had a 5150, all pretty cool stuff. When I started mixing the project, they were disapointed. They wanted it to sound like Pantera!!! A 5150 and an overgrown jazz drum kit is not going to do it. I ended up resampling the drums and rerecording the guitars. It sounded better the original way, it was more like them.
 
Hehehe... I get the same thing!

Bassists, for some reason, have the worst equipment in the bands I record. One guy had a beat up Squire Precision and a 50 watt Peavey and wanted to sound "like Green Day."

Strangely, if you DI the signal and don't mic the amp you can get away with a cheap bass. It won't be great, but it will be passable.

Guitar, on the other hand, can be a nightmare if their amp sucks. That's why I like to have 2-3 amps with me when I record so I can get them to plug into a Fender Twin, or even a Laney AOR 100.
 
Cloneboy Studio said:
Hehehe... I get the same thing!

Bassists, for some reason, have the worst equipment in the bands I record. One guy had a beat up Squire Precision and a 50 watt Peavey and wanted to sound "like Green Day."

Strangely, if you DI the signal and don't mic the amp you can get away with a cheap bass. It won't be great, but it will be passable.

Guitar, on the other hand, can be a nightmare if their amp sucks. That's why I like to have 2-3 amps with me when I record so I can get them to plug into a Fender Twin, or even a Laney AOR 100.
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Those laneys kick ass (I'm assuming the late 80's AOR) I used to be endorsed by them. I got rid of everything but I still have a 20th anniversary 100 watt.
 
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