#974389 - 06/03/00 02:25 AM
Honk if you love your job!
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Dembones_dup1
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Registered: 02/11/01
Posts: 11
Loc: Medford,OR,UNITED STATES
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Have any of you ever had a session or other studio experience that just breaks the routine and you are reminded that you are doing something important and "right?" I LOVE engineering and producing and I can't imagine doing anything else, BUT it is still a job and things can still get monotonous...
I had a session yesterday consisting of just a woman and her guitar - a folky kind of thing - She is a very talented 40+ songwriter, and I've worked with her before, but she did this song that just utterly moved me. I just sat there behind the board, looked around me and realized that I am doing exactly what God put me on this Earth to do. The song isn't a commercial endeavor and won't be sold on an album. It will get airplay on a local indie radio station, but that's it. Still, I had this overwhelming feeling that here this Woman created something special, art, if you will, and I was able to be a part of it in some way.
Sorry to get all spiritual on y'all, but every couple of years I get a big kick in the butt reminding me why I do what I do, and it's much more than putting food on the table... What about any of you?
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Demian Norvell
AppleSeed Studios
Ruch, OR
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#974390 - 06/03/00 02:34 AM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Anonymous
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Every once in a while I get that feeling... maybe one session a year. But that pretty much makes it worth while.
I imagine that guys who restore old recordings for all time, for people in the future to appreciate, must feel like that a lot.
Rich...
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#974391 - 06/03/00 05:24 AM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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THE MIX FIX
Platinum Member
Registered: 03/01/00
Posts: 1552
Loc: NYC Area
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The best, and strangest feeling I get, (and if anyone else ever gets this, please let me know), is when you're doing a mix or something, and you zone out so much, that you can't believe it's YOU that is actually doing it!! 
It's like, you lose your ego, totally (I know, I know, you don't believe me  ), but you're just listening to this thing, and realize "Hey I'M doing this"!!
I can only get it to last for a second or two, but it sometimes gives me goosebumps, and makes the cat food I sometimes have to eat to survive, taste a lot better!!
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Bob.
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#974392 - 06/03/00 05:43 AM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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jfinevog
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Registered: 02/16/00
Posts: 227
Loc: vancouver bc canada
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HI you know sometimes I get that feeling not often though and less as the years go by. but just for a min you go wow I am surrounded by all these people and gear and I am the one in charge of everything and then in the next seccond you go of course I am and man it sounds good. I think its like the first time you jam with a band and things are jelling and you get this feeling like none other its great. Right now I am working with a 17 year guy who is a singer song wrighter I am getting great players in for him and he really has some good songs. the best part is seesing the glimmer in his eyes when things are sounding great it really gives me a boost amd gives me a reasion to keep up the good work.
_________________________
t.v creates imaginary friends for lonely people.
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#974393 - 06/03/00 12:12 PM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Pro Jules
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 03/11/00
Posts: 2729
Loc: A yank living in London, UK si...
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Putting magic in a bottle! It is a cool job (or hobby) we have.
While an assistant I always loathed hearing people / producers on sessions say - 'I KNOW how this should sound'.
I don't! I just make it up as I go along! Shit / magic happens!
I am lucky in that I am always producing these days and get that 'good feeling' considerably more often than a few times a year!
I also belive that there are a few people 'closer to god' than the rest of us to marvel at in the music field, Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Elvis, Miles Davis and so forth.....
Still, the color of a flower or the sound of a baby gurgling can also be a wonder...I'm off to make an espresso!
Life - savour it all, till the last drop!
Love
Jules
[This message has been edited by Julian standen (edited 06-03-2000).]
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#974394 - 06/03/00 02:23 PM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Oli P
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Registered: 04/20/00
Posts: 155
Loc: Copenhagen, Denmark
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It is nice when you get that "God was here" feeling when you play back....
Equally sad when you get that "I was there too much" feeling when you hear it on the radio
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#974395 - 06/04/00 04:59 PM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Uh Clem
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Registered: 03/13/00
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Loc: Atlanta, GA USA
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Music is one of the most amazing things on earth to me. To be involved on any level is a blessing.
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#974397 - 06/04/00 09:41 PM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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alphajerk
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Registered: 03/06/00
Posts: 7950
Loc: asheville nc usa
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god, thats funny. the heavenly music corporation.
i dont work with people who would make it mundane. recording is a monkeys job, i feel more blessed to be in the room with people who create the magic and hold my breath that i dont fuck up the perfect take. fortunately in my short life, i have been blessed to work with some of my heros (that are alive). ive had accomplishments that have given me more than satisfaction.
but alas i still chase the holy grail of sound. the recording that will solve world hunger, end homlessness, cure the sick, and create peace on earth.
_________________________
alphajerk FATcompilation "if god is truly just, i tremble for the fate of my country" -thomas jefferson
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#974398 - 06/07/00 03:21 PM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Ed Cherney
Gold Member
Registered: 02/11/00
Posts: 547
Loc: Venice, Ca.
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This is a great thread....I always strive for, and feel fulfilled in my job when I disapear into the music, and cannot hear the work, just the music. Of course, in the course of a mix, let's say, many of us go through every human emotion, from elation, (oh boy, do I have this nailed), to utter despair (where did the song go?). Sometimes it seems like I relive my entire life in the course of mixing a song. Heck, it's only rock and roll, but...........
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#974399 - 06/07/00 03:26 PM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Ed Cherney
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Posts: 547
Loc: Venice, Ca.
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I just remebered when we recorded Bonnie Raitt, the tracking dates, all live of "I Can't Make You Love Me", and from the previous record, the song "Nick Of Time". We sat and cried like babies.....being careful not to let anyone else to see, so they wouldn't know we were such pansies. Moments like those are few and far between, but being truly touched makes it all worth it.....expecially when you truly touch others with it.
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#974400 - 06/08/00 05:02 AM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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alphajerk
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Registered: 03/06/00
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Loc: asheville nc usa
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capturing lightning in a bottle.
when you do live sessions, how do you set it up? do you let it bleed? what kind of monitoring do you use? (for the players)
_________________________
alphajerk FATcompilation "if god is truly just, i tremble for the fate of my country" -thomas jefferson
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#974401 - 06/08/00 05:12 AM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Ed Cherney
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Registered: 02/11/00
Posts: 547
Loc: Venice, Ca.
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Let it bleed, give the musicians in the studio what we are listening to in the control room.....feed em the stereo buss, with some "more me" additive off of a cue send, if somebody asks for it.
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#974402 - 06/08/00 11:44 AM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Madjef
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Registered: 02/14/00
Posts: 17
Loc: Minneapolis, MN, USA
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In my current studio configuration, the mixing desk and monitors face the recording booth with my view of a large window looking out into the beautiful scenery, with my back to the vocal booth. At first I thought this would never work, but after years of working in studio's without windows I was determined to make it work. When you are sitting there doing vocal take after take it can be hard on both you and the talent. I've been accused of not pulling any punches regarding pitch, intonation, etc, I learned from real drill seargent type producers. So I thought I would really help the talent by letting them know that I trust thier ability to sing, and that is why they are in the booth. What I discovered is they do feel that they are kinda on their own to sing in the correct key, etc and don't need to be watched or stared at during the recording process, a number of talented singers I know don't what to be watched while singing. But I've found that with this setup, if a really bad note is sung, I just hit stop, try a second take if it happens again, I tell them what I'm hearing the problem as being and we proceed, they never see me cringe or make any facial expressions that would cause them to lose confidence, but most importantly they don't get to see me, yes me Madjef crying like a little bitch when they start singing in perfect pitch, time and with passion. Just me, my kleenex, the trees and the greatest profession known to man. 
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#974403 - 06/08/00 06:01 PM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Jon Atack
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Registered: 04/22/00
Posts: 920
Loc: Paris, France
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Madjef, I wuz glad to hear that. My studio is also set up that way and I do appreciate not having to manage facial expressions when the vocal isn't happening yet.
It's true as well that the talent don't always enjoy being observed during their take. Much of the time they switch the lights off and track in the darkness just to be in their own world where nobody can see them. When they have the lights on (like when they don't have their lyrics memorized) many do seem to appreciate not being stared at during their take.
I love that moment when the great take comes out of the speakers, like magic. It makes all the ordinary moments worth it. Whew.
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#974404 - 06/09/00 02:45 AM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Anonymous
Anonymous
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Oh man.... Ed is one of those sensitive guys!
Whenever I feel like I'm about to be overcome like that I throw on some american football and then go hunting. Once I've killed something I feel better.
Then it's back to mundane sessions.
(I'm kidding of course.... I never watch football)
Rich...
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#974405 - 06/09/00 08:06 AM
Re: Honk if you love your job!
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Anonymous
Anonymous
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VO comedy session... clueless talent... clueless read... FAN****ING PERFECT!!! Laughing my butt off so hard I could barely punch the buttons.
God is good! The Divine and the ridiculous all in one moment. You never know when it's going to happen.
I love this biz!
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