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Technical question: engineering what?
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| ripped |
you can find this in credits of any LP/EP, in this case EDM release produced by one person
and in the credits
it says: Written, Produced and Arranged by ...somebody
then: Engineered by ...somebody else
what exactly they engineer, as I know sound engineering is such a vast branch of profiles that this one word says to me
could that mean mastering, maybe?
anyway, those who know, please, explain |
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| EddieZilker |
| quote: | Originally posted by ripped
you can find this in credits of any LP/EP, in this case EDM release produced by one person
and in the credits
it says: Written, Produced and Arranged by ...somebody
then: Engineered by ...somebody else
what exactly they engineer, as I know sound engineering is such a vast branch of profiles that this one word says to me
could that mean mastering, maybe?
anyway, those who know, please, explain |
An engineer is someone who's sole function is that of mixing the individual tracks, together in a tune. While there are a great many things which can be done, in an individual's studio, some people want to take it to the next level and get it done in a fully blown, professional one. That's not a place a lot of producers are very familiar with. Hiring an engineer, who knows the equipment and the studio, ensures a better result with the end product. They also have expertise specific to mixing that a lot of producers aren't going to have.
Master engineering is different than studio engineering. A mastering engineer works with the final mix coming from the studio to refine it in small ways that make certain everything can be heard clearly. A good mastering engineer tempers the dynamics of a final mix to create a finished master that is easy to listen to and rich in detail. |
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| ripped |
^ ok, Eddie, thanks
that's what i was asking for |
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| ripped |
yup, he's the mastering genius, really that studio and his approach are impressive
I guess that's what they call mastering engineer, right?
and from now on I'll be calling him Robert Babitch :stongue: |
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| Chimney |
| quote: | Originally posted by ripped
yup, he's the mastering genius, really that studio and his approach are impressive
I guess that's what they call mastering engineer, right?
and from now on I'll be calling him Robert Babitch :stongue: |
Yea, listening to his tracks in HQ is a thrill, really. Everything has a deep, clean sound. Amazingly enough the best mastered records I've ever heard have been pop, such as Lady Gaga's "The Fame" some stuff from Katy Perry (which were obviously toned down instrumental-wise to fit her voice). I'm still looking for Babicz's "Welcome to the 90s" in FLAC. |
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| sg_57 |
| quote: | Originally posted by EddieZilker
An engineer is someone who's sole function is that of mixing the individual tracks, together in a tune. |
LOLWAT? Recording engineers would certainly take exception to this... many are quite specialized in what they do, and you should live through the pressure of recording an 80-piece orchestra in one take on a scoring stage to understand how much skill this requires (totally separate from mixing)
Most pop and rock albums are engineered (recorded) by someone totally different than the person who later get hired to mix them. (Like the Lord-Algee brothers, Tony Maserati, etc...) |
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| EddieZilker |
| quote: | Originally posted by sg_57
LOLWAT? Recording engineers would certainly take exception to this... many are quite specialized in what they do, and you should live through the pressure of recording an 80-piece orchestra in one take on a scoring stage to understand how much skill this requires (totally separate from mixing)
Most pop and rock albums are engineered (recorded) by someone totally different than the person who later get hired to mix them. (Like the Lord-Algee brothers, Tony Maserati, etc...) |
Pedant!
But the question concerned EDM. I probably should have said mixing engineer, but...
Well, correct me if this is wrong, regardless, but my original post stands minus pertinent errata.
EDIT:
| quote: | Glossary Definition: Individual who operates studio equipment during the recording of a song.
From Page 12: The engineer is the person who has complete knowledge of the studio gear and all of its operations. He is the producer's right hand man. Basically he is the person pushing all the buttons, knobs, and faders that are inside a recording studio control room. The engineer is responsible for getting the sound that the producer or artist is trying to achieve. The engineer usually the one doing the final mixing as well. |
That's from Music Producers and Engineers Bible by John Thomas |
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| MSZ |
i wouldnt be surprised if engineering also included sound design consultation, more accurately synthesis patch work and effects.
but jupiterone already posted a wiki, so /thread. |
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| sg_57 |
| quote: | | Originally posted by EddieZilker That's from Music Producers and Engineers Bible by John Thomas |
It could well be that the John Thomas book you're quoting from is a bit out-dated, describing the days of Tom Dowd, Bruce Swedien and Al Schmidt (which for all intents and purposes describe a 'music business' that has long vanished).
Nowadays it's fairly uncommon for the same engineer to record and mix an album, especially for major acts. Mostly because the A&R guys at the big labels feel as if they need the insurance policy that a 'brand name mixer' provides them with, and it's sort of the expected way to do things from the artists and their managers' perspective.
There are of course many exceptions to this, but usually the person who sits for weeks tracking vocals, comping and punching lines in and out with the band or the artist is very seldom the same one who does a mix for radio.
Yeah, it's the Internet and nobody likes to be called out on something they only read about by someone who's in fact done it professionally for years.
| quote: | | An engineer is someone who's sole function is that of mixing the individual tracks, together in a tune |
You first clearly described the engineer as just the mixer. That is fairly inaccurate, and the reason for my answering you, not trying to 'win'.
I am glad you changed your tune, even if you don't like being reminded that what you wrote might not have been the whole story, and subsequently amended it. It's all good, and I have no desire to derail the thread with this... but only mentioned it because it is (in my mind) an important distinction that the OP might benefit from knowing about ... since he asked. |
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| ripped |
| quote: | Originally posted by MSZ
i wouldnt be surprised if engineering also included sound design consultation, more accurately synthesis patch work and effects.
but jupiterone already posted a wiki, so /thread. |
yeah but I really wanted to know what exactly that means in the EDM scene
is that wiki article concerning specifically EDM engineer? I guess not
usually wiki provides general info
anyway I'd like to see some more responds as i got a bit confused after all
and that's why I guess credits do not specify what kind of engineering was provided because that would include all that array of services (eg. mastering, mixing, arangement and so on) and so label decides just to stamp the general "engineered by" credit |
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