What's Production?

VoiceX · 05-08-2012, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

Artists are also produced to different degrees. Some artists only bring their voice to the studio. The producer does the rest, such as deciding what the instrumention should be and finding the right session musicians and how to get the best sound for the record, which involves reverb levels and everything else affecting sound.

New up and coming artists don't always have much studio experience. You can't just put them in the studio and expect them to make a good record because they don't know how to. The producer will be someone experienced who will help the artist make a good record or, perhaps sometimes more cynically, turn that artist into something that can make money. The bigger an artist is the more produced they tend to be, but it's often also the case that the more experienced artists tend to take more creative control over their music as they gain influence and have the know hows.

I found that comment as being both insightful, and straight to the point. I`m... also somewhat of a wannabe producer/I dunno how to describe it, myself. And ive been wondering about what production actually is, and the producers role in it. Thank you very much for your reply! that was lovely

Lisnaholic · 04-13-2018, 05:15 AM

( http://www.musicbanter.com/games-lis...litz-game.html )

If you've ever used the phrases "overproduced", "well produced" or "badly produced", how can you live with yourself if you can't give a good explanation to the OP's question?

Any uncontrovertible examples to illustrate what production actually is ? And how about "underproduced" ? Is that a thing too?

~~MicShazam~~ · 04-13-2018, 05:32 AM

I just use it as an all inclusive phrase to refer to various aspects of recording, post-production and sound engineering.

The recording equipment used, the microphone placements, instrument settings, added reverb, compression, equalization, etc. etc. etc.

If I fault an album for its "production", it means I think it sounds bad for reasons not having to do with songwriting or the performances of the involved musicians and singers.
If you check out some metal albums produced by Andy Sneap and compare them to albums produced by Rick Rubin, for example, it will be clear that there's more to the sound of an album than who plays what on it.

I don't really have any rules, though. What works for one album doesn't for another. I do like a nice, clean, dynamic album, but some albums work really well with something muddy and rough sounding, for example.

Perhaps I care more about this than most people in here. It's not uncommon that I refer to various aspects of the "production" of an album when praising it/complaining about it.

Lisnaholic · 04-13-2018, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicShazam

I just use it as an all inclusive phrase to refer to various aspects of recording, post-production and sound engineering.

The recording equipment used, the microphone placements, instrument settings, added reverb, compression, equalization, etc. etc. etc.

^ Well, I can't really improve on that detailed definition!

My concept of production is grounded in the work of prob the most famous producer of them all, George Martin. Especially apparent on Sgt.Pepper, he put together all the bits that weren't played by The Beatles. It's generally considered that he did an excellent job, and anyone can listen to how he meshed together a whole bunch of extra musicians and sound effects. What remains a puzzle to me is that presumably he also did an excellent job on Please, Please Me, etc. It's just that on those albums his work is all but invisible. Back in the old days, it seems, production was either competent or not; these fancy gradings of "over-produced" etc only began to be used in the 'seventies or (as per tore's post) 'eighties.

For anyone curious, here's the song that apparently has "gated drums." What are we listening for ?! The kind of slightly muffled, non-resonating drum beats, I suppose.

**Frownland** · 04-13-2018, 03:23 PM

I ****ing hate that song so much but I have to give it props for the gated reverb thing.

Mindfulness · 04-13-2018, 03:29 PM

the amount of energy put into the song

Lisnaholic · 04-13-2018, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I ****ing hate that song so much but I have to give it props for the gated reverb thing.

^ Yeah, I don't like it either. It's too slick for it's own good and was so overplayed when it came out - and for the entire succeeding year. ugh!

The Batlord · 04-13-2018, 03:51 PM

Too bad that's one of the greatest pop songs ever, you losers. And yes that does hurt me as a Genesis hater, but it is what it is.

**Frownland** · 04-13-2018, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Too bad that's one of the greatest pop songs ever, you losers. And yes that does hurt me as a Genesis hater, but it is what it is.

More like poop songs right fellas?

The Batlord · 04-13-2018, 03:59 PM

*stumbles on Frownland's musical incompetence and pukes on his mother's shoes*

04-13-2018, 05:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	( http://www.musicbanter.com/games-lis...litz-game.html ) If you've ever used the phrases "overproduced", "well produced" or "badly produced", how can you live with yourself if you can't give a good explanation to the OP's question? Any uncontrovertible examples to illustrate what production actually is ? And how about "underproduced" ? Is that a thing too? __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

04-13-2018, 03:23 PM	#15 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	I ***ing hate that song so much but I have to give it props for the gated reverb thing. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.* d e a f b o x

04-13-2018, 03:29 PM	#16 (permalink)
Mindfulness Be aware of the psyop Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Milky Way Galaxy Posts: 9,999	the amount of energy put into the song __________________ YouTube Videos The Discord Server February 28th, 2024

04-13-2018, 05:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,636	I just use it as an all inclusive phrase to refer to various aspects of recording, post-production and sound engineering. The recording equipment used, the microphone placements, instrument settings, added reverb, compression, equalization, etc. etc. etc. If I fault an album for its "production", it means I think it sounds bad for reasons not having to do with songwriting or the performances of the involved musicians and singers. If you check out some metal albums produced by Andy Sneap and compare them to albums produced by Rick Rubin, for example, it will be clear that there's more to the sound of an album than who plays what on it. I don't really have any rules, though. What works for one album doesn't for another. I do like a nice, clean, dynamic album, but some albums work really well with something muddy and rough sounding, for example. Perhaps I care more about this than most people in here. It's not uncommon that I refer to various aspects of the "production" of an album when praising it/complaining about it.