Ah, Steve.  Still one of my favorite sponges around here. 

And Bobs with or without square pants.

bapu

webbs hill studio

bapu
{tongueInCheek}
Songs forum: Post links to your latest songs or projects.
Techniques forum: Discussion of recording and other production techniques.
 
Maybe some misunderstand and improperly use the songs forum for which the Techniques forum was designed? 
{/tongueInCheek}
 

I made that point yesterday but it slipped under the radar:
"What is the Techniques forum for if not for discussing recording techniques??
 

Now we'll both slip under the radar.

So maybe the inactivity in the songs forum is because people are posting their songs in the techniques forum.
I guess if one wanted to know the techniques it would help to have audio examples to work with.
 
Personally I found having books about techniques handy so I could work with them on a project the best process for me.
 
Of course...whatever the issues are is beyond me...I didn't know there was a lack of activity...as I stated I haven't been active there since '09.
I did notice the other day that I hadn't heard Notnat in quite some time.
I just shared why I moved on a long time ago. And from what I read here my reasons were quite different than many.
 
 
 
 

I haven't really been tuned in to the inner workings of that forum. Maybe I need to be more perceptive.I take most comments at face value. I would be surprised if everyone liked everyone's music.

Reading between the lines I had already guessed that a few of the better musicians are not into praising something that they think doesn't deserve it,and would you blame them? I have refrained from commenting on some material because it might have punched a hole in someone's hard work and helped to deflate their dream.I don't consider myself in that group though.I'm sure that's why some haven't commented on my material. My attitude is, here it is it's what I've done.If you appreciate it great. if I can improve on it I will. It's where I am now and I'm not ashamed of it.

Another thing that I see with gifted people is that the tolerance for lesser material is thinner. They can see the problem so why can't everyone else? I think they sometimes forget that it isn't that easy for everyone.

I mainly try to encourage people where they are and appreciate what they have done.This isn't to say we don't have some great talent here.I attempt to help if I can. I realize my views are subjective.I hope they understand that.

I see nothing wrong with A short comment.

If two or three people are saying a similar thing then chances are you might need to change that.

I think one of the biggest problems with any critique is the way someone delivers it.Some people can come off as obnoxious and rude.If they are really trying to help they don't always come across that way.No matter if the comments are spot on.

A lot of interesting stuff here..obviously some feelings which run pretty deep which I should have anticipated. 
 
Just to reiterate though - when I posted this thread, my observation was fairly straightforward; it wasn't that people have stopped using the Songs forum, or that it was becoming a backslapping fest (heard that many times before) it was that there are now so many people posting their own material but not listening to anyone else's, that in my view, it will eventually become like the 'Made In Studio One' section over at Presonus - a first page full of tunes, with zero replies on most of them, and will just grind to a halt.
 
I was just trying to get to the bottom of that really; why people are obviously still keen to let their material be heard, but not willing to listen to anything else.
 
I think Ed is right - if I took the time to compile a chart of who actually comments on songs there, it would be a fairly short, quickly tapering list.
 
The answer is right here in this thread though; the people who only post but don't comment have always been there, it's just that in the past there have been more 'regulars' who were willing to comment on just about everything, to keep the ball rolling. They've by and large now disappeared, which has thrown the former into sharp relief.
 
That means I'm one of the last to leave...

jamesg1213
 
That means I'm one of the last to leave...

Could you turn off the lights on your way out then?  Thanks... 

jamesg1213
A lot of interesting stuff here..obviously some feelings which run pretty deep which I should have anticipated. 
 
Just to reiterate though - when I posted this thread, my observation was fairly straightforward; it wasn't that people have stopped using the Songs forum, or that it was becoming a backslapping fest (heard that many times before) it was that there are now so many people posting their own material but not listening to anyone else's, that in my view, it will eventually become like the 'Made In Studio One' section over at Presonus - a first page full of tunes, with zero replies on most of them, and will just grind to a halt.
 
I was just trying to get to the bottom of that really; why people are obviously still keen to let their material be heard, but not willing to listen to anything else.
 
I think Ed is right - if I took the time to compile a chart of who actually comments on songs there, it would be a fairly short, quickly tapering list.
 
The answer is right here in this thread though; the people who only post but don't comment have always been there, it's just that in the past there have been more 'regulars' who were willing to comment on just about everything, to keep the ball rolling. They've by and large now disappeared, which has thrown the former into sharp relief.
 
That means I'm one of the last to leave...

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. It has to be a two way thing or as you say it will wither and die. I couldn't care less if I listen/comment to person A and person A doesn't listen/comment to anything I might post, but when person A doesn't appear to listen/comment to anyone else at all then I just don't bother with them and clearly others feel that way. I don't really buy the... " I don't feel qualified to comment" excuse because none of us are really and furthermore you don't need to be qualified to say that you like or dislike something. Personally the advice I was really after was the more insightful kind of stuff you would get from those who clearly have a better handle on all this stuff than I do, but almost all comments are valid and helpful and I will take all of them. Nothing wrong with a simple "I liked/didn't really think it works/maybe a bit long/vocal is a bit wobbly in places" if you have nothing more to offer. Unlike some, it also doesn't bother me that people are offering opinions when they are listening on laptops rather than "proper" speakers because the reality is that majority of people will be listening on something less than full-on audiophile quality systems, so how it sounds on them is almost more important. The reason that I say almost all, is that I see no point in the "you suck, find another hobby"  type comments that at least one person seems to delight in. No need for that really. If you can't say something constructive, don't say anything.
 
Like you, I find the perceived lack of interest in the work of others baffling. I want to hear something from absolutely everybody here, it's fascinating to me to hear people walking the walk instead of just talking the talk. I have many songs from SF contributors on my mp3 player and listen to them often. Over the years I have found a lot of inspiration there one way or another and it's sad to see the way it has gone. It would be great to see it back to where it used to be, but it seems to have gone the way of the FB era, where "it's all about me".
 

craigb

jamesg1213
 
That means I'm one of the last to leave...

Could you turn off the lights on your way out then?  Thanks... 

Bit sad that, perhaps the way is to rise above their pettiness, encourage people to contribute but in a polite way rather than the most common reply, which you can probably tell the source, "I am not going to comment until you comment on my crap tune" 
 
Personally I will keep going and listening and commenting when I like what hear or when I think I can be constructive.  I have always found the best artists, in whatever field of artistic creation, were the ones that helped and encouraged others not the ones that raise themselves above or over others.  They are usually the ones that need the most help.
 
Consequently please leave the lights on.

Hi James ,
 
your thread brings up a lot of interesting things and points of view.
 
Like you , I was around when the songs forum was much more vibrant and more of a community ...
 
there were times when the songs forum was like a life preserver and it kept me from slipping into the deep ….
there was a genuine feeling of the songs forum being a fellowship of creative people sharing their music and encouraging others along the way …..
 
I always felt that people were more than kind enough to me and very supportive of my guitar playing and music …..
 
Off the top of my head ,
I can't say that I have any new answers for anything that has been brought up in your thread .. 
we all know that some very good people have moved on for various reasons and it has left a black hole of a void .
 
I offer my apologies for not being as active as I used to be ….. 
when it was good , it was great over there  lets hope it can back on track 
for that to happen some people would have to put their egos in check  
 
Keep the lights on 
 
 
Kenny

It was nice Kenny.
 
One thing I don't see much of now is collaborating; I remember when collabs were a regular thing, and it was genuinely exciting to hear what a combination of players would come up with. Doesn't seem to be that 'community spirit' anymore where someone would offer up the bare bones of a track and just see what happened.
 
I don't mind admitting to being quite terrified getting involved in collabs with people like yourself, Mark Wessels, Randy Bowser, Ed Edge, Bill Davies etc, but I learned a great deal, because I had to raise my game considerably each time...and that's no slight on anyone else I may or may not be/have been collaborating with at the moment/in the past