I'm not an engineer by any standards... but I am curious (and somewhat knowledgeable) about most of the processes involved in recording an album. Is there such a thing as a perfect mix... I know that nothing is ever perfect, per say... But is there a recording in existence (no matter how lame the content may be) that is considered to be the "PERFECT MIX"??? Or does anyone have an album in mind that they believe to be a recording of this calibur?!

Spiderland.

As tired and overheard as it may be, Steely Dans "Aja" is the litmus test.

-.

There's no such thing...




...But if there were it would be "Under Pressure."

[quote]I can understand that when a persons name is going to appear on
the credits of a piece of music they would naturaly want it to be the best
representation of their work.[/quote]

i'm still amazed by the fact that many engineers approach every session
as if they're recording the same band and, therefore, everytime they
mix a band it sounds similar enough that many of the bands sound the
same.

i know that every engineer, dentist, or painter has certain tools that they
like to use, but if you're truly performing a service for a band shouldn't
you at the very least ask them what they want the final product to sound
like and then guide them to at least attempt to achieve the final product?

i took the above quote out of context. most of stevemallory's post was
about making the client happy. i just don't think it happens that often.
i think more often than not an engineer is lazy or pushes too much of their
own opinion into a band's recording.
best,
brian

i'm still amazed by the fact that many engineers approach every session as if they're recording the same band

Years ago, we were remixing some stuff with a fairly well-respected guy in Seattle. He threaded the tape, looked at an EQ and said "toms set the way I like 'em? Yep!" I don't think he'd even listened to the tape yet.

We wanted to break him in half. Maybe we should have, it's hard to say.

here's a handy checklist!

question 1: does it rock?

ans: yes-->go to question 2
ans: no-->it is not perfect. keep trying.

question 2: can you hear everything?

ans: yes-->it's perfect. congratulations.
ans: no-->so what, it rocks. quit while you are ahead.

tmidgett wrote:here's a handy checklist!

question 1: does it rock?

ans: yes-->go to question 2
ans: no-->it is not perfect. keep trying.

question 2: can you hear everything?

ans: yes-->it's perfect. congratulations.
ans: no-->so what, it rocks. quit while you are ahead.

that is awesome!! i'm printing this out and taping it up next to my monitors!

tmidgett wrote:here's a handy checklist!

question 1: does it rock?

ans: yes-->go to question 2
ans: no-->it is not perfect. keep trying.

question 2: can you hear everything?

ans: yes-->it's perfect. congratulations.
ans: no-->so what, it rocks. quit while you are ahead.

Yes that is indeed gold! Thankyou!