Project Perspectives

Right or Wrong?  Whether you’re a producer, engineer or self-recording artist, there are some rules that you need to be aware of when it comes to audio.  Rules are, of course, sometimes made to be broken (which occasionally yields amazing results) but some you need to follow pretty closely.  For example, unless you’re purposely trying to achieve a weird, boxy or thin tone from a guitar by micing it with 2 microphones you need to be aware of how multiple mics interact with the physics of sound.   For this example, the 3-1 rule would apply and help you eliminate phase issues.  Recommendation: stick to this rule and learn more about mic techniques at every opportunity.

Imitation or Creation?  You might like that overly compressed and smashed sound on that recent track you heard by <insert band name here>.  It sounds great when you listen to it but before you go and apply the technique to your next production or project, ask yourself if you’re doing it because it’s cool or if you’re doing it because that’s truly what the song needs or will benefit from.  I find that many of us often unwittingly follow certain trends because it’s what we hear all over.  By adopting an approach of understanding how to achieve a certain sound and then perhaps using it judiciously or even modifying the technique to come up with something new we can be more on the edge of setting trends rather than following them.  So much music is over-compressed and robbed of dynamics these days.  Recommendation:  break the mold and try something different.

Engineer or Producer?  Sometimes it’s a fine line.  Do your clients know the difference?  Do you make the differentiation?  Not all engineers can produce and certainly not all producers are engineers.  Stick to your strengths to give your clients your best.  If you’re a great engineer, let them know that you can record them and get great sounds but you may not be the best judge of a great performance or be able to guide them to their ultimate musical and artistic expressions.  A good producer can do that however but if you’re that producer, tell your clients that you may require a good engineer to work through to help them achieve their goals.  If you are in fact, good at both then offer your clients tiered pricing – simple recording and engineering for one price and another, higher price if they want you to produce the recording too.  Recommendation:  Don’t know where to draw the line?  Do your research.  You might be surprised at how much of both worlds you’ve been living in but it’s good to set boundaries if you have the ability to offer both services.

Burning Bridges?  Recommendation:  Don’t.  The music industry is fickle and your partner one day may be your competitor the next.  Even when you feel you’ve been treated unfairly, resist the urge to bad-mouth, dis or burn bridges with your clients, partners, etc.  That kind of stuff will eventually come back to bite you.  A solid, dependable, courteous and respectful outlook will win you clients and jobs in the long run even when it may seem that the ones who use others and try to short-cut the process find success faster.  Yours will last, theirs rarely does.

Hope these are helpful insights.  Nothing earth-shattering here but sometimes it’s good to take a moment and think a little bit before the next step, even if it’s a step you’ve taken many times before.