2012/05/18 02:32:36
Danny Danzi
BenMMusTech


My one and only commment and defense:
 
Everybody asks why I when into a diatribe over what Danny said, and notice how I use the word diatribe :meaning:ironic or satirical criticism.  So not as Danny has taken it which was an attack on his soul.  This is first what Danny wrote which made me believe his inference was aimed at me:
 
Rule of thumb 2: If you can't go into detail to tell someone how, when, or why to fix something while having the right recipe that REALLY works, have the ability to deliver the right description while in the right frame of mind like a normal human being with a pulse and a sense of compassion, do us all a favor and don't post anything negative. Actually, don't post anything at all...especially if someone is really crying out and trying to learn. All you'll do is further confuse them with your infinite...ummm...whatever you want to call it but make no mistake, it is NOT wisdom. Mods should ban you for drama and for being an attention prostitute that doesn't care for anyone but themselves packing this forum with garbage...post after post.

Sharing links on the subject further confuses people. If you can't tell it in your own words in a language that an unexperiencied person can understand, don't bother wasting the space. If you do this and then try to be intimidating on top of it, how about just don't? I have a degree in hearing. The scope of my hearing test says "you suck and quite well I might add...so well in fact, you are nearly at the engulf stage".

I can explain something in one long post that *most* people will understand way better than your stupid, boring, cop of another persons findings that sound spoken in a language other than English. In school that was known as "Cribbing". Don't let the net fool you, you're still not a good engineer no matter how good your search engine leads you to believe.

The day your friends start telling the truth is the day they really become your friends. We got enough sugar coating and horsesh!t around here to create our own Candy Land board game. There's nothing wrong with being nice, but for heaven sakes, when someone delivers something that sounds bad and is a Richard Cranium on top of it, don't feed their ego because they are your friend or you feel sorry for them. Just think, if everyone were more honest, we'd not have the creature known as "he whos name we shall not mention". You guys built him, now the rest of us are stuck with him. Thanks.

 
Then there is this:
 
Tip of the day: Don't ever fall into the trap like "those that shall remain nameless and clueless". If you ever don't know something, say you don't know. The people that act like they know everything would be way cooler and welcomed with open arms if they just fessed up that they didn't really know much at all. Instead, we are left with...well, you know the deal there.

Then Philip names me because Philip knows who Danny is talking about, so I suggested to Danny that I had everyright to be here just as much as him, no barbs apart from that, Danny must think that I live in a bubble, if he thinks I don't learn something new everday doing this audio thing.
 
Notice also how I was the first to chime in with no ego and said to BOTR (I wish he would give us his name) hey it takes 10 years of experiments and maybe some school and then listed key jumping off points such as: EQ, Compression and Effects.
I wouldn't even bother with this comment if I wasn't acused of having a massive ego and basicly being told I was a forum wrecker and I should bugger off.  I mean the nerve.  Danny has obviously got passive agressive issues, I'm just plain aggressive.
 
This is the techniques forum and I was putting forward some ideas about there being a third or forth way and here is another thing that all amateurs, hobbyists and pro's alike should be interested in.  The disscussion of ideas. 
 
How dare anyone suggest that we should not disscuss Ideas and that the way we record is set in stone.  Because once again this is the inference that Danny is suggesting.
 
Finally BOTR and this is on topic we need to understand historical perspective, without it we don't know where we have been and we def don't know where we are going.
 
Danny in this thread has pissed on the Mona Lisa, actually criticising people who made what is considered by some one of the finest examples of popular music of all time.  Surely this shows Danny has no artistic perspective at all, very dangerous.  He may know a lot about technique and even that can be questioned when he critiques Bohemian Rhapsody and says and I quote:
 
If my answer is "absolutely not" in my mind, I've matured as an engineer as long as I can do better. I may not be able to write as good or play as good as that band, but in THIS scenario, we're looking at production/quality. I love Queen, but I'd never shoot for the production they got in Bohemian. And...chances are, because of my way of thinking, I might not ever come up with a mix that is as good. Then again...I might come up with something better, you never know. I actually thought of doing that. Replacing the bass, guitar and drums with my own and leaving Freddie sing on it  
 
I'd be seriously questioning any indivdual and their information who said this.
 
Here ended the lesson, I'm off to do what I do best make music, make art and yes stir the pot, hmmm
 
Neb

As I said in that post, it was not directed at anyone in particular. If the shoe fits, wear it. Your name was never mentioned. Guilty conscience? Did something hit home? Everything I said was truth. Not just my truth, THE TRUTH. I and others see the stuff I posted on here all the time. Wake up...hello, McFly? *knocks on head*
 
Queen: I gave the tune props when in full song format. Sue me for not liking the instrument choices when solo'd up. I do not think I would be alone in saying "engineers of today would not accept the sound of that instrumentation unless they were specifically going for THAT sound." I said I loved the band, I said they were talented. So I'm no longer credible for saying I didn't like the instrumentation prints on a classic rock song that was a hit? I also said that I probably wouldn't come up with as good of a mix with more polished instrumentation, yet you never know....there IS a possibility for me to better it...and in my mind, I would. That doesn't mean anyone else would like it...it means *I* would like it better and I'd better it to MY specs.
 
Ok, since you've totally twisted my words around and I'm not to be trusted, I'll go down in flames. Please add these to your list so that my credibility can drop more.
 
I don't like some of the sounds the Beatles got, but I love the Beatles. Oooh...I better build a fortress around me!
 
I can't stomach the sound of Steve Howe's guitar sound on the early YES albums, but I love YES.
 
I am not a Jeff Beck fan and though I appreciate him and can understand why people love him, he just never did anything for me.
 
I don't like Roger Daltry, Pete Townsend or his tone, but I love The Who.
 
I don't like Jimmy Page as a lead guitarist, but I love Led Zep. Ooooh...I better double that fortress now!
 
I don't like Bob Dylan's voice but I love his writing.
 
I don't like Neal Young's guitar playing but I like his tones and song writing.
 
I do not think Eric Clapton is God. I'd rather listen to David Gilmour or Eric Gales. Oh my, did he just say that? No he didn't...better enforce that wall with extra cement and sealer!
 
Janis Joplin was full of energy and a female icon, but had an annoying timbre to me.
 
I never liked The Greatful Dead and never understood why others did. Tones were always good though. Oh boy, now I've done it...9 trillion Dead Heads will show up my door and want to kill me!
 
I do not like The Rolling Stones AT ALL, but can understand why they are loved. Ok, that does it...someone will now drop a bomb on my house!
 
I never liked Aerosmith other than Tyler being one of the best frontmen that ever lived. I grew to like their newer stuff though. Why? Cooler production to MY ears.
 
Does the above make me less credible for not bowing down to these artists? I think not. I'm not slagging them, I just don't like the production some of them got and would not be caught dead attempting to land those tones unless I was asked to. All well and good for the times...some of them, still good for today but not my bag. I don't like things and worship them because "you're supposed to". I have that right. It doesn't tarnish my credibility, my experience or the knowledge I share. 
 
Sharing links: All well and good if the entire topic shared is something like John T shared. However, I have watched people drop links with pages and pages in them to where you have to search to find the answers the OP may have asked. No one should have to read through all that. Get to the point, high-lite or post the part to read, answer in your own words if you can, be thorough, or don't post at all. How many people do you think read through huge posts while searching for answers? Book worms maybe, but certainly not someone that is asking for help on something specific and certainly not someone that may be new to this. Yeah, go on and confuse them more...you're great at that as is.
 
I won't sit here and argue about the rest of your self-serving post that has done nothing to answer the OP's questions. You'd rather attempt to take good people down than do something good because you don't know what you're talking about and you have no good in you.
 
Be careful mentioning Philip's name. The man is a Saint and one of the few people left on this forum that has a little love for you. He didn't side with me or call you out...he showed you love and respect. He's a man of God and doesn't have an ounce of anger or malice towards anyone. Even to those that would attack him. Don't snap at him or bite him, he doesn't deserve it.
 
You snap at and bite those who have tried to help you, listen to you and reason with you. You're the dog that keeps poo'n on the lawns of our community. With each little turd you leave behind, the community gets sick of you. They try to reason with you, attempt to hear you out, listen to your pity posts to show you compassion, give you advice, show you love and courtesy when you don't really deserve it, yet you remain a turd burglar with a relentless trail of dung at every corner.
 
You not only degrade the community, you brag about your efforts because you sincerely feel you are higher up the ladder of intelligence than the rest of us followed by "you just don't get me or my art". We get you Ben...we got you since day 1. Your name may change, but your spots will forever remain. You go off and do what you're best at...just remember, it's not making music. It's making waves, bragging, creating drama and manipulating the truth in an attempt to gain attention in hopes that people bow down and respect you. Then of course, your degrees and how you know so much more than we do come into play and the whole place just goes to hell while you type incoherently and without purpose.
 
You'll never have a leg to stand on in this forum other than those that feel sorry for you. I did at first but I have to admit, I'm tired of ignoring the poo on my lawn and I'd bet all that I own that the majority here are sick of it too. They just choose to ignore you because those who have tried to reason with you always get snapped at because that's the nature of Ben.
 
Sorry Mona Lisa! (I never cared for her either...not my type. Great painting that I could not better or come close to, but I don't feel she is a very attractive woman just like the sounds used in Bohemian Rhapsody were not attractive to me when solo'd. So sue me!)
 
-Danny
2012/05/18 03:05:41
Danny Danzi
Trimph: I actually used to have a warehouse, but sold it in 2005. All my stuff is scattered between my house and my studios now. LOL! I got some really good old stuff that I should part with that I just can't seem to let go. I've been selling my guitars off though because they just sit here and are really worth something to people that enjoy the old classics. I had 48, I'm down to 16. No sense hanging on to these beauties if I don't play them, ya know? I think I'm done selling them off for now though. Just got rid of a few old amps too. The old stomp boxes, Electro Harmonix, Dan Armstrong and all the other neat little things, I'll probably hang onto for life. LOL! Glad you get stuff from my posts, it means a lot...thanks!

Ed: No problem and you're welcome. When that day comes, let me know. :)

Hockey: Ah, Atlanta....I'm usually in Griffon Georgia once a year for our annual Guitar War meetup. The host has since moved to Mexico for the time being so I had the last meetup in one of the big studio's I work out of. The guy let us have the whole place from Friday till Sunday. What a blast of a time. Nah I didn't go to the Bonnies Reunion or the recent Galaxy Reunion they just had. I was never in with that "clique" of people. They were mostly 10-15 years older than me, so I didn't feel it was something I would be into.
 
I still talk to quite a few of the stars from around here though on a regular basis. Tom Keifer from Cinderella, Reggie Wu and Mark Evans from Heavens Edge, Georgie Rumble from The Dead End Kids (he's doing an incredible Bowie tribute at the moment with Rod from Money and Mark Evans on bass) Jimmy Drnec...remember him? Dude is a big time attorney now. He's also playing in Reggie's new original band. I haven't heard them yet but I'm sure they're great.

Bill Mattson from Tangiers, Mark Chasen from WhiteFoxx, Frank from Krank (I actually was playing guitar with Krank for a few months) so quite a few are still around and playing. The only guy I know that has passed on from our time is Mario Perillo from Vulture/Oktober/Dora. Remember him? Incredible guitarist. Everyone else is still pretty much around and playing here and there. If there's anyone you were close to that you want me to say hello to for you, let me know. :) All the best in Atlanta brother...good talking to you.  

Rimshot: Thanks man, much appreciated. Yeah being mentored is quite a gift. I can't thank Wayne Davis enough for opening my eyes and smacking me around with tough love. Bob Katz was a huge help to me also. He's much easier to understand on the phone and through email than he is when you read his book. LOL! Beau Hill (famous producer/engineer from the 80's) has also been an incredible help to me. It's not every day we get a chance to call a guy on the phone and talk for 3 hours that has over 90 million total sales under his belt and one of the best track records for guitar tone in the rock business. So warm, considerate and one of those guys that never interrupts you when you talk. Yet when it's his turn, he has no bones sharing all that he knows.

I wasn't so blessed when I first got into this...like I said, people talked in riddles and never came right out and gave me the answers I was hoping for. From getting guitar tones to how to play something, how to do something, help with recording...I always failed with getting answers. I started to get help in 1998 and have been in good shape ever since. So heck, I try to give as much as I can back. :) We can all be useful on here and learn from each other. But we have to separate those that know things from those that wish they did and try to pull the wool over our eyes. If we don't, we can end up with too much confusion and never grow. Thanks for the kind words man. :)

-Danny
2012/05/18 03:08:59
jamesg1213
Danny Danzi

 
I don't like some of the sounds the Beatles got, but I love the Beatles. Oooh...I better build a fortress around me!
 
I can't stomach the sound of Steve Howe's guitar sound on the early YES albums, but I love YES.
 
I am not a Jeff Beck fan and though I appreciate him and can understand why people love him, he just never did anything for me.
 
I don't like Roger Daltry, Pete Townsend or his tone, but I love The Who.
 
I don't like Jimmy Page as a lead guitarist, but I love Led Zep. Ooooh...I better double that fortress now!
 
I don't like Bob Dylan's voice but I love his writing.
 
I don't like Neal Young's guitar playing but I like his tones and song writing.
 
I do not think Eric Clapton is God. I'd rather listen to David Gilmour or Eric Gales. Oh my, did he just say that? No he didn't...better enforce that wall with extra cement and sealer!
 
Janis Joplin was full of energy and a female icon, but had an annoying timbre to me.
 
I never liked The Greatful Dead and never understood why others did. Tones were always good though. Oh boy, now I've done it...9 trillion Dead Heads will show up my door and want to kill me!
 
I do not like The Rolling Stones AT ALL, but can understand why they are loved. Ok, that does it...someone will now drop a bomb on my house!

 

Are we brothers? Don't shut the door to the fortress just yet Danny, I'm running..
2012/05/18 03:12:44
Danny Danzi
Hurry up James...I see torches outside! :) I'll sneak you in the back!
2012/05/18 05:15:44
John T
It's trivially obvious that recording techniques and production styles have evolved since bohemian rhapsody was made. Far from it being credibility damaging to suggest that it could be re-made better in a technical sense now, this should be obvious to anyone who has even half a clue what they're talking about. 

Whether or not you could make a record that people would in general prefer is another question, of course. Probably not, it is what is, and is a product of its time and place, and the kind of x factor stuff can't be reproduced. 

But BR is nearly 40 years old, for gods sake. And the reason the multi-tracks sound the way they do is because everything had to be bounced over and over again due to track count restrictions. Danny has said nothing remotely controversial on that score; BR is a very impressive example of overcoming constraints, but the idea that it couldn't be *technically* bettered in 2012 is just ludicrous. 
2012/05/18 05:32:35
Bristol_Jonesey
I just hope Ben is true to his word when he says "My one and only commment and defense:"
2012/05/18 06:19:58
John T
Anyway, I'm going to attempt to tangent away from all of Ben's utter rubbish and talk a bit more about modern mix techniques.

Someone recently advised me to take a listen to the 40th Anniversary Mix of the Doors' 'Waiting For The Sun' LP. Never been a fan of the band, personally, but that's not the point here. Usefully, both that version *and* the original mix are both on Spotify for comparative purposes. 

Anyway, while they've obviously gone to great pains not to change the essential character of it, it's very interesting. The new mix absolutely slays the old mix. It doesn't sound like a modern record as such, it sounds like a record from 1968, just the clearest, biggest, widest, lushest record from 1968 you've ever heard.

I don't think I'm sticking my neck out to say that this is largely down to technology. The tools available for mixing now are better than they were 40-odd years ago. And the level of understanding of the craft is better, amongst it's most advanced proponents. Both technology and technique are far advanced from what they were in 1968.

And to clarify further, it's not like the original 'Waiting For The Sun' is a bad-sounding record. It's actually pretty state-of-the-art for the time. Sounds a hell of a lot slicker than anything the Beatles were doing at the time, for example. But the new version takes advantage of what's now available and blows it out of the water.

Does this mean everything should be re-mixed? Probably not. The Doors job has been done very tastefully by someone who clearly has a lot of respect for the original material, but a thriving re-mix industry would almost certainly not be like that, and we'd be getting into the realms of colourised film and what have you. I suspect it would be done badly more often than well.

Returning slightly to Danny's earlier point, anyone setting these old records as their technical benchmark for sonic quality (not talking about the subjective experience of it as art here, just talking about the technical aspect) is a thundering idiot. Writing better songs than Queen is quite possibly a tall order. Making better mixes than their 70s LPs, though, is actually aiming pretty low. Go and have a listen to their Jazz LP. I - and many other members of this board - could do a better mix than that in my sleep.
2012/05/18 06:26:56
trimph1
That is what I like about this thing. At this point of time one can, in fact, have that better mix than what was available back then. 

And that, if one wanted to, one could do something like a tape saturation thing ITB...


2012/05/18 08:32:56
Guitarhacker
Danny I see the point you made in the reply to my post. I'm glad there are people like you in this biz that can hear the subtle differences in the sound of the snare and the bass and all that makes a mix stellar as opposed to good. 

As I listen to many of the old albums and bands that were mega hits and packing the arena's of the day...I too cringe at the tone and quality that we thought was unbeatable back then. 

As a songwriter who pitches to publishers and producers, my goal is to know as much as I can to produce a mix in my studio that doesn't get thrown into the trash because the sound quality is not quite "over the high bar". My goal is broadcast/master quality (small "m") so that everything sounds good and can go direct to the producer or the artist, because no one these days takes the time to re-record a demo. I've even heard it said by songwriters in Nashville that the demo of "yesterday" is no more...... the "demo" of today must be master quality to get much of a second listen. 

I had the chance to hear the actual "demo" of a very well known #1 country hit in a seminar...and aside from subtle note differences in the parts and the lead singer's voice.... it could have easily been the same backing tracks on both... it (the "demo") was of that high of a quality.  They played both versions...the demo first and the hit song second.... back to back.  A casual listener would have thought it was the same song twice.

If I was producing for other folks, I would surely want to climb to the highest rung on the ladder possible. As a writer, my bigger concern is to have a song that is well written and with production of sufficient quality to get over the high bar of quality that is considered normal in the industry these days. 

That does not mean that I am content with my level of knowledge and skill..... by no means. I still read, study, listen, and do my best in the time I have for those endevours to improve my chops as engineer and producer. 

Oh and yeah.... on that list you put in post #71.... I pretty much agree with most of it too.
2012/05/18 09:17:31
The Maillard Reaction

The beauty of how our brains work with sound is that if you want to listen to older music your brain will quickly accommodate the different sound, tone, precision etc and you may choose to sit back and enjoy the music and it can sound as great as it used to sound.

You don't have to listen to it with 2012 ears... that is entirely voluntary.

best regards,
mike

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