Hello All-
 
I am fairly new to the Songs forum, and have fairly quickly realized that - if not specifically requested - it is difficult to know what path a discussion regarding a song posted here should take.
 
It is easy if the post requests such or has the subject "My new song: Is the bass too loud?" or "Song X please critique". But many posts have no indication as to what the poster expects. I guess my question is, what is the default level of discussion? Is anything posted here fair game for civil, well thought-out observations, some of which might be construed as critical? Or is that not really welcome unless solicited?  
 
I have taken a look at the "Code of Conduct" and "Community Handbook" sticky threads, and in the "Code" we see an example critique given regarding EQ, but nothing really too specific regarding this dichotomy. 
 
Comments welcome! :)
 
Thanks-

Personally, I'd say anything goes around here, as long as it's civil...  and it rarely isn't!   So much about music and to an extent mixing is so subjective that I find this forum is a great way to get varied feedback, sort of like listening to a mix in different environments to see how it translates.  
 

Yes, just say what occurs to you while listening. Some will bridle at honest opinions, most will appreciate them. For me, the thing I don't want to read on my tunes is 'great job', 'nice!' or 'thanks for sharing' because that tells me nothing. The more insightful and considered the response, the more I learn from it.

Just say all my submissions are ggGGGGGGGGRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAATTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!! and we be good.

Sometimes the most constructive response IS "sounds nice!", because sometimes all people want to know is that they don't completely suck, and just getting a thumbs up is enough to keep them going. In fact, I would go so far as to say that that's more common than any of us want to admit. I know I have often thought "Wow, this thing I'm working on is awesome. I want other people to think it's awesome too."
 
rbecker, I applaud you to attempt to incorporate this kind of etiquette into the forum. It would be terrific! Maybe when someone posts something with no indication as to what kind of response they're looking for, someone else can respond with "Let us know what kind of response you're looking for" so they can let us know what kind of response they're looking for. Then we can provide the kind of response they're looking for.

Polite honesty.


And don't use words like dichotomy ;)

jkoseattle
...Maybe when someone posts something with no indication as to what kind of response they're looking for, someone else can respond with "Let us know what kind of response you're looking for" so they can let us know what kind of response they're looking for. Then we can provide the kind of response they're looking for.

I actually did that once - Ask if a critique was desired - but never got a reply from the poster. I worry a bit about being offensive, but am more concerned that a poster is looking for honest feedback, and gets nothing substantial because everyone is worried about offending. A balancing act.
 
BAPU - Your tunes are certainly beyond criticism.  As you say: "Ggggrrraaaaaaaaaate" 

...and while we're on the subject; take the time to regularly comment on other people's stuff, not just when you have a tune to plug. It keeps the place moving.
 
Oh yeah. Avoid words like 'anachronistic'.

If someone doesn't specifically ask for feedback, I'm not going to give any. Here are the typical ways that can go:
 
A: Here is my song
B: I don't like X about it
A: Well, I didn't ask what anyone thought
 
- or -
 
A; Here is my song
B: Love it!
A: Thanks!
 
What's not represented is:
 
A; Here is my song
B: Love it!
A: Well, I didn't ask what anyone thought
 
So by this law of nature, if someone posts a song and does not specifically ask for feedback, the only "polite" response is "love it!". Although this might not be the honest response. If I'm really honest, I don't "love" much music I hear at all, here or anywhere else. I "like" a lot of it, but the enthusiasm hoped for from a poster is rarely my most honest response. And I'm certainly not going to reply to a post with something such as "I like, but don't love, this song". Maybe what I should start doing is saying "I listened to your song. Thank you for posting it." :-)
 
If I ask myself honestly, the more I like a song, the more I have to say about it, because I'm --engaged--. I hang out in forums like this because I find it endlessly exciting to hear music that is maybe unfinished or a step on a longer journey. These aren't products, they are living art. If I want to hear the greatest music in the world, I have my iPod. 
 

That's a tricky one.... because not everyone wants the truth. However, I do try to error on the side of caution with regards to my comments.  I don't want to tell someone it's good when it's not but I also want to let them know what they could do to improve the song, the recording, whatever.
 
Mostly, I've been at this for some time, as have many of the folks here.  So I try to assess the overall quality of the song, try to determine based on that what level the person is currently at, and give the advice I think would be appropriate at that level. If I think the person is a beginner, I'm not going to go very deep into the complexities of EQ and compression. Simple comments like the bass can be louder, the vocals are a bit too loud will suffice.
 
Unless the person specifically asks for a brutal assessment, and even then, you can still be civil and polite and kind in your comments.... make them constructive or don't make them at all.....
 
At least that's how I and most of the folks here are. There are some great ears here and tons of experience, so don't be offended..... if you are, shake it off and ask for an explanation. It's really easy to misunderstand the written word sometimes.