Having musical Influences
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Posted on Feb 03, 2008 01:20 pm
sourberry
Member Since: Jan 21, 2008
Forgive me if this is a stupid question. I've read some audio production books lately and they always say to use your favorite artist CD as a reference to set up your own mix.
The thing is the past year, I haven't had any favorite musicians. Maybe because I'm lazy to dig on itunes or other online music stores. I seem to like music from all genres lately, and have grown less and less attached to particular artists and genres.
What I'm trying to get at here is how important is it for a musician/mixer to have a focus on a specific genre and to have favorite artists within that genre?
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Feb 03, 2008 01:41 pm If you mean picking a favorite CD to set up your sound system, I think it's excellent advice. You know how that music is supposed to sound, and it's a good frame of reference.
I use Say You Will by Foreigner and Year of the Cat by Al Stewart, mainly to check that certain bass notes are clearly defined.
I hope that made sense.
RandalMcFloydI wish I had a profile pictureInactive
Since: Nov 11, 2007
Feb 03, 2008 03:05 pm Just like the music you like. Why stick to a specific genre? So you can chain down your creativity?
Just play what you want to play...could be just one genre or something entirely new.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Feb 03, 2008 05:00 pm Yeah, I use whatever is similar. Cheating, if you will. Use someone else's mix to compare your's to.
Fer instance, I may be mixing an acoustic song for someone. I'll grab some acoustic alchemy and listen to that, then listen to my mix, and see if mine is lacking, or I should say, where mine is lacking.
But if you have a set of music you are really in tune with, and know every nuance, then you can use that to set up your mixing environment. Listen to your 'known' music on your rig. If it doesn't sound right, then you need to change things.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Feb 03, 2008 07:23 pm I use other well mixed music, sometimes my own to keep my ear calibrated. It is easy to start focusing on a sound or go ear-dead and get all out of wack. I don't know if everybody suffers from this or not, but especially after a while of recording I can get what I think is a great mix, go out to the car and have a bass solo. Ooooops!
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
Feb 03, 2008 08:24 pm i think a reference is good too, but i also think you need to think about each instrument, how do "you" want it to be perceived in the mix, not just have it there coz, thats what the going thing is, but within reason, obviously there are fundamentals.
realating to genre, i also think there are fundamentals to stick to but be creative.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Feb 03, 2008 10:31 pm Amen Deon,
It's all about getting a better finished piece that what is on a shelf. To me the opening of this thread is a bit misleading, I think. "Influences" pertain more to composing a song per my thought process.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Feb 04, 2008 11:41 am I use 'Spilt Milk' by Jellyfish. Gives me a great idea of where each instrument sits in the mix. Plus it covers a lot of genres in the course of the album so I can hear clean and distorted guitars, piano, organ, drums etc. in different settings.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Feb 04, 2008 11:54 am I think to a point this technique can be used to obtain that certain sound of a specific band.
I personally use it as a reference so I may get to know my monitors. If I listen to Primus and then some Pink Floyd I definitely get a feel for how the different freqs are handled by my monitors.
So yeah, I don't put so much stock into the music unless trying to achieve a specific sound of a specific band. I put stock into the "recordings" if that makes any sense. For instance, I hate new Metallica but it is a damn sweet mix where all instruments are audible\clear. Definitely something to strive for.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Feb 04, 2008 11:58 pm I do much like CptTripps, I listen to alot of music I consider well mixed and how it sounds on my system, then I shoot for the general levels/eq etc, that way hopefully my mix is well balanced. It's not shooting for a bands sound that may or may not be an influence on me, as much as the frequency content/balance of the recording.
At least that's the theory, doesn't always work but it helps.
Dan
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Feb 05, 2008 08:25 am The whole "influences" thing is a lot like "genre'"; great for conversation over cocktails but not all that useful when it comes down to creating music.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Feb 05, 2008 12:53 pm Any new stereo system = DSOTM
Benchmark for me.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 05, 2008 09:18 pm If you want a good disc for checking your set up try Mathew Sweet Girl Friend. It is probably one of the best engineered works out there. Every thing is so well defined and put in a place other then right in front of you. That is probably my most used reference disc.
But mainly you want to pick something that you are extremely familiar with so that you know exactly how it sounds or should sound.
