What seperates a great recording from a decent one?

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twoeyes

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I've heard shit recordings, ok ones, good ones. I think I have a good enough grasp to know why they are good, ok, or shitty. But what makes a great recording, in your opinion? I still can't quite put my finger on it.
 
Yes, and I've definitely heard great performances shine through on shitty recordings. But been aggravated by the poor recording quality.
 
A recording can be technically accomplished but emotionally unmoving.

Conversely, a recording can be technically challenged but deeply moving.

Which is better?

Given those two options, I would settle for the second.

What I would really like to hear, though, is recordings that are technically brilliant, but also highly moving.
 
gecko zzed said:
A recording can be technically accomplished but emotionally unmoving.

Conversely, a recording can be technically challenged but deeply moving.

Which is better?

Given those two options, I would settle for the second.

What I would really like to hear, though, is recordings that are technically brilliant, but also highly moving.
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Gold star answer!
 
There's always so much emphasis on using the right gear at the right time, which often gets translated to expensive mics, preamps etc. This tends to put pressure on the new home recordists to make sure they buy the best gear they can afford. Now while this not a bad idea, it's not the full picture.

A great photographer is not a great photographer because he has an expensive camera, it's because he understands how to use it, how light can be used to benefit the image and has a creative eye. The theory is huge. If you gave that same photographer a cheap point n' shoot camera, they'd still be able to blow your mind artistically and conceptually, although the image would contain technical flaws from an equipment point of view only.

My point is, I believe its a combination of knowledge, creativity, AND equipment that make up the differences in varying qualities of recordings. I personally believe the first 2 listed are the most important. Finally, if you don't put great talent in front of the mics, all the knowledge, creativity and equipment in the world won't translate to a great recording, ever.
 
A great recording in my opinion is one in which it feels like whatever was recorded is right in front of you. And conveys the essence of the emotions and performance correctly.
 
I assume you mean "great" as in audio quality (the performance quality is understood as also needing to be great).

Getting that last 10%-20% of audio quality is always the hardest. I know some folks hate this answer...but it's about $$$$.
Yes, million dollar studios DO sound better.
Of course, it goes without saying that you need to know how to use that million dollar gear to squeeze out that final 10%-20%. I novice in a million dollar studio will probably still have a hard time getting the sound that a seasoned pro can.

But "good gear" and good skills can cover most of the ground. There's a lot of good music out there that I don't think would fall into the high-end audiophile level of quality...so I don't think it's a deal-breaker NOT to be able to get that last 10%-20%.
If the song is good, the performance solid, and the recording "clean" and well done (as-in without a lot of noise/hash or poor EQ/mixing))...it's going to sound pretty good to most people.
 
It's true ! There's only one ! Online, over and out !! :D
 
I think I'd rather someone said to me "I absolutely love your song but it's really shittilly recorded" than "That is a really fantastic recording and mix. The song doesn't do anything for me, though."
 
Yeah...a shit recording can be redone/reworked...but a shit/lifeless song is dead not matter what.
There a lot of well recorded, well promoted, ----yaaaaaaaaawn--- music.
 
miroslav said:
Yeah...a shit recording can be redone/reworked...but a shit/lifeless song is dead not matter what.
There a lot of well recorded, well promoted, ----yaaaaaaaaawn--- music.
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I actually meant that presuming the song you hear is the final edition, not one that's going to be redone.
 
grimtraveller said:
I think I'd rather someone said to me "I absolutely love your song but it's really shittilly recorded" than "That is a really fantastic recording and mix. The song doesn't do anything for me, though."
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Lol. I'm the total opposite. I don't give two shits if someone likes my songs. I just wanna make good recordings of them.
 
twoeyes said:
I've heard shit recordings, ok ones, good ones. I think I have a good enough grasp to know why they are good, ok, or shitty. But what makes a great recording, in your opinion? I still can't quite put my finger on it.
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Repeatability.

That little something extra that lets you / makes you want to listen to it OVER and OVER and OVER.

A little post production can do wonders. As I find the video version ala Fuse TV of Christina Perri's Jar of Hearts to be quite repeatable. But I heard a youtube version of her on acoustic guitar at home singing the same song, like six months earlier, and passed it over without a second thought. It just had that nails on a chalkboard brittle high end sound that makes even the cat leave the room.

Not to imply a great song, but well performed and on my playlist now of things to play while winding down to fall asleep to.
 
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