Bash this recording rant

[midKnight]

Hey Everyone,

First off, I'm probably going to come off like a jerk saying this, but this has been bugging me for a while, so I want to rant for a minute about recordings that get posted..

Let me first state that there are some extremely talented people who use these forums, and they write/record some great stuff. That being said however, lately it really feels like people are rushing too much to post stuff immediately, without really finishing off ideas.

For example, I won't mention any names, but I see a lot of posts that start out with this common theme, ...."Here's something I recorded in 2 hours yesterday... there are no vocals yet, and it's only a 1/3rd done...whaddya think?"..

...What do I think? I think you should go finish the damn song, and then post it. I'm really not too interested in commenting on something you self-admittedly have only spent 2 hours on, and that isn't even a complete idea yet.

For me, the benefit of this forum is to improve my "best efforts", not my "unpolished thoughts".. so in turn, I really want to critique your best work, not your unfinished work.

I can hear you now. "Well you don't have to comment on the unfinished ideas if you don't want too!"... And you're right, I usually don't. In fact, I usually jump out of the post right after I read .. this track is just a scratch guitar and no bass...

I also know my comments mean that less songs would appear on a daily basis in the bash section, but that's ok, I'd rather have quality over quantity any day. I'm much more likely to learn/be inspired by the amazing tracks, not the unpolished ones.

Am I alone in my thinking that way too much half ass stuff has been appearing in the bash section? Or if I'm just being too much of a jerk, I welcome those opinions too.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox now. Peace 'n love to all.
-N

[Vulconizer]

Might be posting another song to bash in like 3 or 4 years when I finally get one " finished ". I have yet to really finish one. I usually get to a point where I can't do 'em any more damage and I need something new to get sadistic with. /grin

Just messing. I usually post when I have all the elements in place and the mix is sounding good to me. I think it may still need something and that's where the bashing comes in, for me...

On the other hand:


I think some folks use it to see if they are in the ballpark with certain instrument sounds. Those are the guys that are likely to post the more unfinished stuff.

I think some folks use it just to see what others think of the songwriting ideas. The riffs, the hooks, whatever... Those may be unfinished for the same reason.

Some folks are wanting a look at the overall song: Arrangement, sounds, production, mix, etc... Those are more likely to be finished and polished.


I think maybe it's good for folks of different levels of skill to have the opportunity to present what they perceive as what they need help with.



Now, I have an idea. ( Brandon is prolly gonna be beside himself with joy because he doesn't have shit to do and has been waiting for me to suggest more work. ) Anyhow, here goes:

Maybe make an extra forum in the Bash section for "unfinished ideas"?
Might give folks a spot to place those unfinished things, those rushed things, those half-assed pieces of stuff that they want some suggestions on before they take 'em further? I don't know.

Might be you're just gonna have to deal with sorting through the stuff until you find the things that are useful to you, midKnight.

[zildjohn01]

I kinda agree with you dude. Personally I produce a song to death before I put it online. This is mainly a recording site, not a songwriting site.

I think this is where "Bash This Mix" and "Bash This Song" come in... if I remember correctly, either these used to be separate and got combined, or Brandon was just talking about splitting them up... it might be time to do it.

And Vulconizer, I don't think it's that much work to create another subforum. If it is though, I'd be happy to do it if he makes me an admin

[midKnight]

Now see, I think that's a great idea.. If we had a section that was seperate from bash this recording, (call it any of the above suggested ideas, bash this idea/sketch/mix), that would be awesome, because 10 out of 10 times, when people are uploading their half-finished, song they aren't asking for songwriting tips, just looking for comments on their guitar tone/drum sound/etc. etc.

Much like Vulcon, I do the same. I work something to death before I post it, hence my posts are far and few between, but at least people can be assured when I post something it is absolutely my best effort, at any given point in my learning curve with my tools & gear.

-N

[brandondrury]

I think this is where "Bash This Mix" and "Bash This Song" come in... if I remember correctly, either these used to be separate and got combined, or Brandon was just talking about splitting them up... it might be time to do it.

They were once split and it became impossible to isolate them. Guys would post a song in Bash This Mix but then the arrangement or performance would be flawed. I decided that it was impossible to separate the music from the engineering and I merged the two together. I have no plans of splitting them. This is the best way in my opinion.

For me, the benefit of this forum is to improve my "best efforts", not my "unpolished thoughts".. so in turn, I really want to critique your best work, not your unfinished work.

I 100% agree. From an engineering standpoint, a person should bust their butt to get a mix to be as good as it can possibly be. Then ask for help. If you know X, Y, and Z are screwed up it doesn't make sense to post it in my opinion.

When I mix, I'm a one-track mind kind of a guy. If something is screwed, I focus on it and nothing else. So when I hear that X, Y, and Z are flawed I have a hard time looking past those flaws.

Maybe make an extra forum in the Bash section for "unfinished ideas"?

This is the way to go.
Unfinished Ideas - Home Recording Forum

This will let us keep the "quality" factor high in the standard sections, but give us a "bullpin" where guys can work out their ideas.

Brandon

[midKnight]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

I 100% agree. From an engineering standpoint, a person should bust their butt to get a mix to be as good as it can possibly be. Then ask for help. If you know X, Y, and Z are screwed up it doesn't make sense to post it in my opinion.

When I mix, I'm a one-track mind kind of a guy. If something is screwed, I focus on it and nothing else. So when I hear that X, Y, and Z are flawed I have a hard time looking past those flaws.

Same here. I'm even a "can't get past a flaw I left in a recording when I'm done with it." type guy.. I *always* hear the flaw later when I'm listening to it again and I imagine everyone else can too.

Originally Posted by brandondrury

This is the way to go.
Unfinished Ideas - Home Recording Forum

This will let us keep the "quality" factor high in the standard sections, but give us a "bullpin" where guys can work out their ideas.

Brandon

Ahhh.. now how to let the masses know about it? So they will only post their finished works in the bash this recording section...

-N

[Vulconizer]

Cool enough. The problem has a solution.

[brandondrury]

Ahhh.. now how to let the masses know about it?

I've added it to my to-do list....which is getting to be the length of Santa's Naught-Nice list!

Brandon

[zildjohn01]

Why not add it to the rules thread in that section? It's a start

[Vulconizer]

I've been trying ( when I have time and remember ) to kind of go through and sort through the songs. If it's a " check out my spiffy riff kind-of-deal, then I move it to unfinished land. Sometimes it's a tough call, though.