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-- Are digital "labels" killing EDM?
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Well, those were all kinda found very gradually, some a couple months ago and some last week, usually in about an hour without much digging, I tend to just stumble upon them. I listen to these things through laptop speakers and a small cheap portable mp3 player, so I don't really get a good feel for the mastering. I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt, I'm definately not an audiophile.
the paniq cd was made in buzz and for a non danceflor type setting, more a music compo so the tunes were all around three minutes, people were sitting down behind computers. I enjoyed the way the hats kicked in a couple minutes into the thing, maybe that has a limited appeal.
I'll take your word on trip, tiny speakers kinda distort my perspective
same with gleiter, i dont hear bass all that well on my system.
Suck My Disc was my attempt to show a less serious side, I imagine you didnt enjoy that voice at the beginning
I didn't think those selections would reveal the cheapness of my stereo and mp3 player, this has sure been a learning experience! I will go ahead and admit this stuff I chose isnt gonna rock any clubs but it is great for winamp rotation on my laptop.
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| Originally posted by Zombie0915 did you listen to any of those things that he linked? I found that some of them really did sound like a person spent alot of time thinking about the pieces. Occasionally I will bump into one of these internet musicians in IRC channels and stuff, and I find that they can actually be quite thoughtful people. Maybe we are just listening to different music, I am not finding formulaic tunes in the internet releases im getting nearly as much as I do in trance tunes. I guess there is no real point in trying to convince anybody, people will think whatever they want to think, but I think you guys would be surprised about the good music out there that is free to download, and I'm just trying to share the enjoyable stuff I've been finding. |
I'll check out the tunes in your sig like PsyT has when I have some time available, probably tomorrow.
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| Originally posted by Psy-T i've just listened to the tracks in your sig, here's what i think of them: *qwam!* you say these are in a way a collection of the best digital labels have to offer (as determined by you, utillising the assistance of others' 'top picks'), and 90% of them are indeed subpar (at least by my take), which would lead to assume either you are not the best of censurers, or the digiworld doesnt have that much to offer... |
Re: Re: Are digital "labels" killing EDM?
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| Originally posted by isoterra i can see exactly how you mean and have questioned this many times before, but i don't see it as purely a bad thing. DJs will have far more choice, and the ones who search the hardest will be rewarded the most. i personally find it far more satisfying finding something good after searching though pages of unknown tracks, as opposed to just picking up the new awesome vinyl release everyone's talking about. |
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| Originally posted by a98 those aren't from digital labels, they are from so called netlabels, there's a big difference on them. some people in this thread seem to have mixed them. netlabels aren't really "real" labels, they are basicly just a websites putting people's (their members) tracks up there for free. i've been a part of one or two before, and there are some who have big quality control, but even that is only for the musical part and most of the netlabel releases lack in sound quality and mastering. but then those are in demoscene and most of the artist are demo artists and beginners. digital labels on the other hand means real labels, but who only sell tracks digitally in the mp3 stores. and then there are labels like subtraxx and real music who have some other format releases too, but most of the catalogue being digital. the third are labels who mostly put out vinyls or/and cds, but tend to release those tracks digitally aswell. |
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| Originally posted by a98 and most of the netlabel releases lack in sound quality and mastering. but then those are in demoscene and most of the artist are demo artists and beginners. |
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| Originally posted by Dumb_Dan Netlabels have nothing to do with "demo artists and beginners". Maybe you just found the poor ones out of the roughly 500 now existing and active netlabels? |
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| Originally posted by Semirk Agreed, netlabels are more about the producers who love music than want to cash in on it. Which is what music should be, something producers should willingly share with others for free because of their passion for it. Theres no greater reward than producing and making others happy because of their music for free in my opinion. |
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| Originally posted by sandstorm03 free |
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| Originally posted by Semirk Yes, free on the internet. |
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| Originally posted by sandstorm03 not really |
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| Originally posted by sandstorm03 not really |
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| Originally posted by Semirk Ok, I really don't get where your coming from. |
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| Originally posted by Dumb_Dan Netlabels have nothing to do with "demo artists and beginners". Maybe you just found the poor ones out of the roughly 500 now existing and active netlabels? |
seems to be a pattern in this thred heh.
as far as my picks not impressing you guys, I'm sorry, I tried, and I still enjoy the things I've chosen. I kinda have this romantic view of how the whole netlabel world works, much like what semirk just posted. I don't remember the names of the linked pieces I enjoyed. What I do with my playlist rotation is kinda arrange it into groups, when I like something I'll move it into a higher group than where it goes when I first download it, so when I feel like listening to good stuff I'll play the elevated group and when I feel like exploring I'll play stuff in the group that hasn't been sifted through yet. Some of the things I've heard have made it into my elevated group, but I'm really bad with remembering all these names, so what I do is just "oooh that sounds pretty neat, clicky clicky".
I guess it is just different priorities, I find that I enjoy music that sounds like it has a little cheapness in it, there is just something really charming about shitty mikes, freeware synths, public domain samples, and vintage computer sounds that makes me happy. I like all the different sounds I hear, like I can't wrap a single stereotype around them the way one can do with EDM tunes. I don't listen for mastering and intricate sound design and alot of these other expensive tastes. So for Psy-T and people who share his same tase then I probably am a crappy censurer, I'm not listening to this stuff through a club system or a pair of monitors, just trying to have some fun with my shitty sound equipment and limited budget, because at this point in my life it's all I got.
I think a98 was refering to the paniq track in my sig, that guy is from the demoscene instead of a netlabel release, and alot of the demoscene kids are ameteurs, but I am a big fan of paniq, he's a really thoughtful guy.
I've only found like 3 trancey tunes on all the stuff ive been through so far, I'm not missing it much TBH, plenty of hypnotic patterns and unusual sounds to keep me entertained..
Hey guys. I don't post that much on forums anymore, but this actually seemed like a very interesting subject and I'd just like to share my view. The way I see it there is both a very positive as well as a very negative side to the rise of digital labels.
The extra exposure artists get through digital distribution (with the scene heavily relying on the internet these days) and the ease of being able to get good quality music without even having to leave home are obvious advantages. Also the money that is made of digital releases is very welcome, as vinyl just tends to break even these days. I noticed some comments about MP3 sales being no match for the money that should be made of vinyl, but as far as my experience stretches that is not true. Sites like Beatport sell more than a thousand copies of popular tracks, which is definitely a welcome income on top of vinyl sales / compilation profits. Not entirely sure how that translates to digital trance sales but proper house / progressive tracks definitely make the label a good amount of money through digital distribution.
The negative trend we're seeing lately is indeed, as mentioned before, new digital only labels releasing the rejected tracks of larger labels or digital labels launched specifically to put out a large number of 'low-quality' releases. Looking beyond quality, a large portion of these labels do not even have the contacts nor the experience to make these releases a succes. The only way these labels can stand out from the mass is by having a good promotion list. The advantage of having the distribution take care of vinyl promotion is obviously not there, forcing the label to do their own promotion.
Having ten internet DJs play a track is *not* proper promotion the way I see it. Good promotion is getting a track directly to all the big names out there; being in personal contact with known DJs and producers around the globe. That is something a lot of these labels lack, getting that kind of relation requires a long term basis in the scene as well as experience. Just putting a track up on Beatport or any other digital download store for that matter is not the way to do a release.
Then there is also the issue of sound quality. I receive quite a lot of promo material and I am time and time again surprised by tracks that totally lack mastering or just sound bad in general. Mastering is something that costs money and thus is 'saved' on, but mastering is also essential!! If the track does not sound right over speakers at home, without a doubt it will sound like shit in a club.
The above problem with mastering is also the result of tracks getting picked up easier. Music used to be a more professional business, only the people that had the time and money to invest in their hobby (and equipment) got the 'privilege' of releasing a track on vinyl. With the more digital era we are in these days everyone with a personal computer can download software and start to produce music. Not much thought is given to essential requirements such as monitor speakers, studio acoustics, etc etc, which results in the large portion of average and badly sounding tracks we are seeing right now.
The negative impact on the vinyl industry is also a consequence of the blooming digital era. However, I do not think this is something that can be changed, I believe it to be something natural. Vinyl will run out anyway with the rising oil price and the shortages, it is only a matter of time. The industry does not stop evolving and CD's and digital downloads are simply the next step in music distribution. Labels should take full advantage of that. Fortunately sites such as Beatport are already filtering heavily on 'bad' labels. More sites are getting more selective in what they offer for download which is a very good thing. In time this will definitely reduce the amount of crap which is flooding the scene right now.
Just my 2 cents 
Eelke
Very nice post, Eelke, I appreciate your views.
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| Originally posted by Mr.Mystery Very nice post, Eelke, I appreciate your views. |
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