Why Modern Metal Sounds Generic

I watched the whole video and he makes some good points. I appreciated his acknowledgment that different scenarios call for different approaches. I think this applies to music, as a whole - not just Metal. I also think it applies to live performances, in addition to the studio.

In some cases, I don’t want high production. When I see Eric Johnson in concert, I want as little technical help as possible. I find the sheer skill and sound coming from him and his band to be thoroughly satisfying. I think I would be disappointed if he employed too much production. I think he recognizes that and attempts to keep things scaled-down and intimate.

However, when I see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, that’s a different story. I know that is more like a play or a theatrical production than a concert. It is a multi-sensory, multi-media event. I want and anticipate a very highly-produced, highly-choreographed performance.

I generally am very reticent to apply a simple, “one-size-fits-all“ approach and try to take things in their context.
 
Clockworkmike said:
Im still so completely dumb to recording in DAW, where you can just cut and splice a mistake normally. Im the jackass and who just starts it all over back to the very beginning until i get it right. So basically a 4min song takes oh, i dunno, 90mins? Lol
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I do this too.

I always try to finish out the song first though, and then play it again, correcting mistakes from the previous run, until I can make it front to back without screw-ups. I don't like stopping midway to start over. If I was performing, I wouldn't get to stop everything and begin again, so I try to not to in the jamroom either. I feel like getting to the end is important, and recovering from mistakes is part of that as well.

When there are two of us (or more) attempting this, it gets double difficult lol

"We'll grind that axe for a long time"
 
Haven't watched it yet, but as far as the T75 is concerned... it's probably Marshall's best speaker for metal. It won't flub as fast as a 30 or even a 65. It handles frequencies better, and has many other positives going for it. It was also designed with harder rock in mind.


Rust is peace was recorded with T 75s so I hear and it best metal recording out there :)
 
SG John said:
I'm still of the mind set where you practice, then record it live. Or, not at all. Overdubs are for rookies.
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Sound quality can be better, better isolation etc, recording separately. Overdubbing fills etc is essential if one wants multiple layers.
That said, overproduction kills the energy as i mentioned earlier. I have no problem redoing parts amd overdubbing as required at all. But many multiple takes of the same thing kills it.
 
I don't know why some want to make their recording so perfect, we are not in a perfect World, even pros make mistakes when the play, and when they make a mistake they don't stop playing and start over. My guitar coach always told me from the start, if you make a mistake keep going don't stop! One of the mistakes in learning is overthinking the situation, play , practice have fun then things will come together.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Exactly.
https://soundcloud.com/id%3Dthatbastarddon%252Ftrilogy888master%3Btrack_id%3D976177816

Not a single overdub…ten minutes, forty two seconds….guitars and vocals doubled. I miss those days!
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Like everything I've done, here's 8:02 of a first, and only take. We did a scratch vocal for recording the bass, guitar, and drums. Then we added a bit of rhythm guitar under the solo, a couple of vocal layers, and then the Mellotron and Hammond organ. Every engineer I've worked with has the power to say "that sucked, do it again." We usually have always gone with take one or two.

https://soundcloud.com/id%3Dsg-john%252Fintelevision-mp3%3Btrack_id%3D127713351
Session 5 said:
I don't know why some want to make their recording so perfect, we are not in a perfect World, even pros make mistakes when the play, and when they make a mistake they don't stop playing and start over. My guitar coach always told me from the start, if you make a mistake keep going don't stop! One of the mistakes in learning is overthinking the situation, play , practice have fun then things will come together.
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"Perfection" is what makes most current music unlistenable. Usually, it's the tension created by one person being ahead or behind a beat that draws someone in. Often, any mistakes are only noticed by people in the writing or production process. The listener won't know if a F#7 was supposed to be played as a C#, or if a passing note wasn't supposed to be there. Just because a blue note is there, doesn't mean a track needs to be scrapped, and started over. Also, the concept of building tracks as was started in the eighties with more multi tracking options became available killed any life in music, as nothing was recorded live anymore, just to a click track. Yes, click tracks do have a purpose, but they are overdone now. Their sole purpose is to be able to cut and paste sections without the timing and pitch being off.

Some of the greatest recordings of all time were recorded with several people in one room, and a central mic. They knew what they were doing at Sun Records when they created rock and roll.
 
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OK HE says, reasons why Metal sounds better or not...

If you ask me for my opinion on Metal or any music for that matter. Who the heck cares about better than... ? If you don't like the music, don't listen to it and go elsewhere. Anyone remember Disco and what followed? Hair Metal, then Grunge...? Doom vs Thrash vs Death etc?

Cycles and trends will come and go, The good will always be compared to " other" music. Bad and Good is gonna be relative to each listener. like that old saying. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I will listen to the clip some more and see what else he says.
 
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SG John said:
Like everything I've done, here's 8:02 of a first, and only take. We did a scratch vocal for the bass, guitar, and drums. Then we added a bit of rhythm guitar, a couple of vocal layers, and then the Mellotron and Hammond organ. Every engineer I've worked with has the power to say "that sucked, do it again." We usually have always gone with take one or two.

https://soundcloud.com/id%3Dsg-john%252Fintelevision-mp3%3Btrack_id%3D127713351

"Perfection" is what makes most current music unlistenable. Usually, it's the tension created by one person being ahead or behind a beat that draws someone in. Often, any mistakes are only noticed by people in the writing or production process. The listener won't know if a F#7 was supposed to be played as a C#, or if a passing note wasn't supposed to be there. Just because a blue note is there, doesn't mean a track needs to be scrapped, and started over. Also, the concept of building tracks as was started in the eighties with more multi tracking options became available killed any life in music, as nothing was recorded live anymore, just to a click track. Yes, click tracks do have a purpose, but they are overdone now. Their sole purpose is to be able to cut and paste sections without the timing and pitch being off.

Some of the greatest recordings of all time were recorded with several people in one room, and a central mic. They knew what they were doing at Sun Records when they created rock and roll.
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That sounded phenomenal man! Sounded real and old school, the way it ought to.

And I COMPLETELY love your take on recording vs then and now. Old school way was you gathered into a studio, you practiced the song til it was perfect and you laid it down in a single take, single track. It worked beautifully as far as what i can hear on old albums. Even simple double tracking was ok, until it became so many layers, it became stale and sterile
 
Ok I made it to about 2:20 mark and kept saying, cmon dude get to the point. Within the next couple minutes he starts to make points as he over acts in his presentation. By 5 mins I got bored. Just get on with it dude.

Can anyone summarize and his his high points? I can't watch 23 mins of him, even though some of his message hits good notes............. like the where is it too perfect to be art or not....?
 
Session 5 said:
I don't know why some want to make their recording so perfect, we are not in a perfect World, even pros make mistakes when the play, and when they make a mistake they don't stop playing and start over. My guitar coach always told me from the start, if you make a mistake keep going don't stop! One of the mistakes in learning is overthinking the situation, play , practice have fun then things will come together.
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True but mistakes on recordings aren't necessary. I can see doing that over. Out of tune on a pro recording for examole sounds like a high school garage band. Live, different story.
 
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