Things that Bug Me Chapter 3, Bad Pro Tools Editors......
I recently got back some files to mix that I record 95% of, several of the songs still needed BGVs and with a masterling deadline looming in the future and my schedule, they had to be farmed out.
Now as I have have said time after time, I DO NOT consider myself Gods Gift to mixers, but maybe just the apostle of neatness.
The Comment Box On Pro Tools: USE IT!!! Who sang it, where did you sing it, who are you, what is your contact info, anything special about the mic or pre amp??? what was the date of YOUR MAGIC recording session.........
Don't send me tracks back labeled: Audio 1, Audio 2, etc.....
Don't send me back files without cross fades.......
Don't send me back crossfades in the middle of breaths......
Consolidate those tracks when you are finished. If you're scared to, make an alt playlist, then crossfade and consolidate..........
Look at the labeling process for the sessions. If there is only one then OK, but if someone goes through the effort to keep track of progress as such:
Title 01 Tracks
Title 02 Lead Vocals
Title 03 Comps/Tuning
Don't send me back sessions that are labeled:
Title 03 Studio Name
This screws up the sequence....
This is the correct way:
Title 04 BGVs Studio Name
Don't place your new tracks at the end of the track list, behind the inactive tracks, under theMIDI track heading UNUSED!!!!
Every engineer needs to read the Pro Tools protocol setup by NARAS. I'll post a link next in this blog...........The schools need to teach this!!!!!! Every intern should be required to memorise It!!!
I could go on but I'll let others post their bad Pro Tools Editors stories.....
P.S. Also, It wouldn't hurt to learn how to use a compressor...............
Now as I have have said time after time, I DO NOT consider myself Gods Gift to mixers, but maybe just the apostle of neatness.
The Comment Box On Pro Tools: USE IT!!! Who sang it, where did you sing it, who are you, what is your contact info, anything special about the mic or pre amp??? what was the date of YOUR MAGIC recording session.........
Don't send me tracks back labeled: Audio 1, Audio 2, etc.....
Don't send me back files without cross fades.......
Don't send me back crossfades in the middle of breaths......
Consolidate those tracks when you are finished. If you're scared to, make an alt playlist, then crossfade and consolidate..........
Look at the labeling process for the sessions. If there is only one then OK, but if someone goes through the effort to keep track of progress as such:
Title 01 Tracks
Title 02 Lead Vocals
Title 03 Comps/Tuning
Don't send me back sessions that are labeled:
Title 03 Studio Name
This screws up the sequence....
This is the correct way:
Title 04 BGVs Studio Name
Don't place your new tracks at the end of the track list, behind the inactive tracks, under theMIDI track heading UNUSED!!!!
Every engineer needs to read the Pro Tools protocol setup by NARAS. I'll post a link next in this blog...........The schools need to teach this!!!!!! Every intern should be required to memorise It!!!
I could go on but I'll let others post their bad Pro Tools Editors stories.....
P.S. Also, It wouldn't hurt to learn how to use a compressor...............
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lynn Fuston on -
It was not uncommon back then to spend 4-5 hours per song on a lead vocal and one time I spent 13 hours over 3 days on one lead vocal. This was pre AutoTune.
One other pivotal point.
I NEVER took notes for anyone else's benefit but my own. Call me selfish. When I made notes, it was to help me get back to something fast if I suspected we'd recut the vocal or so that, months later when I was mixing, when I said to myself "Man, that snare sounds killer. What did I use on THAT?" I could go back and check.
I was learning the tools and kept copious notes. I was never documenting it for the record label or the artist or the NEXT engineer. No one, apart from me, cared that much.
I like to say "If engineers aren't obsessive about sound and our tools, who else will be?"
I auditioned three different preamps and three different mics on one guitar cabinet on one day. Was I taking notes of which was which? Sure I was, mentally. I learned what I needed and the producer/artist got what he needed. That's why I'm there.
In truth, apart from the tracking engineer, how many people do you think would actually CARE what your CL-1B settings were on that lead vocal? Or what preamp you used? Not many.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Capps on -
"In truth, apart from the tracking engineer, how many people do you think would actually CARE what your CL-1B settings were on that lead vocal? Or what preamp you used? Not many."
Wow, I strongly disagree......
I was working on an Unnamed, but Grammy Nominated project two years ago. I was brought some files to do a little editing on. I put up the first song and was completely blown away with the sound of the lead vocal. Now take in mind this is one of the best singers around, but I would swear that she was standing with her nose 3 inches from mine singing to me. I had to call the engineer that cut the vocals and find out the path. C24 > Console Pre > CL-1B......... Simple, but I wanted to know. I think there are a lot more of us that want to know than you think, Lynn..... Now in defense, I had to re cut into this great sounding vocal and the tech notes helped to dial it back in. The first engineer wasn't available for that day, so I had to match it. Could I have done it by ear, yes, but the fact that it was documented help get it up to speed, seeing that the artist was there and ready to do her fixes and get home.....
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Permalink Reply by Anita Walls on -
I just love your comments and could not agree more. So many engineers so little experience...lol..
FYI I once got a dat from a client at -20. I called the engineer......and he told me that he did it on purpose to allow for headroom in the mastering....what.....ya think....
So much gear...so little knowledge.
[url=http://www.musicrowmastering.com/][img]http://www.musicrowmastering.com/musicrowimages/music%20row%20maste...[/img][/url]
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