Comments on: The Rick Rubin Approach To Recording http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/ Make Home Recordings Pro Audio Recordings Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:25:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: This Fear Of Looseness Has Got To Stop http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-2039 This Fear Of Looseness Has Got To Stop Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:49:42 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-2039 [...] produced Radiohead’s “The Bends” can’t play a single instrument. We’ve heard Rick Rubin’s view on producing. So why is it that these two dudes, who have avoided the musician way of thinking and certainly [...] [...] produced Radiohead’s “The Bends” can’t play a single instrument. We’ve heard Rick Rubin’s view on producing. So why is it that these two dudes, who have avoided the musician way of thinking and certainly [...]

]]> By: Ian Shepherd http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-1988 Ian Shepherd Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:01:19 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-1988 Great post ! I've written a couple of blogs recently on similar issues that some people might find interesting - both mention Rick Rubin, for better or worse ;-) <a href="http://productionadvice.co.uk/what-is-a-producer/" rel="nofollow">The Top 7 Types Of Record Producer</a> <a href="http://mastering-media.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-rick-rubin-deserves-his-producer-of.html" rel="nofollow">Does Rick Rubin Deserve the "Producer Of The Year" Grammy Award ?</a> Cheers ! Iam Great post ! I've written a couple of blogs recently on similar issues that some people might find interesting - both mention Rick Rubin, for better or worse ;-)

The Top 7 Types Of Record Producer

Does Rick Rubin Deserve the "Producer Of The Year" Grammy Award ?

Cheers !

Iam

]]> By: Cole B http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-1937 Cole B Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:22:56 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-1937 I've studied so much about composers like John Cage and musicians like John Coltrane who played free jazz. Cage was a student of the I-Ching. He believed that all sounds were good and beautiful. And Coltrane and Eric Dolphy played without a key or a tonal center. Write what you want, because classical musical theory has been blasted away by the decades. Trust me, I've studied music history extensively. I've studied so much about composers like John Cage and musicians like John Coltrane who played free jazz. Cage was a student of the I-Ching. He believed that all sounds were good and beautiful. And Coltrane and Eric Dolphy played without a key or a tonal center. Write what you want, because classical musical theory has been blasted away by the decades. Trust me, I've studied music history extensively.

]]> By: sailor_jon http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-1902 sailor_jon Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:39:05 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-1902 Being educated is a wonderfull thing. Having 'talent' and a 'natural ear' for music is also wonderfull, what's so wrong with putting the two together? I spent my youth playing rock and roll..and having fun..then I went back as an adult and learned some music theory and how to read sheet music and orchestra music, while learning the Cello. Now that I play guitar again, I have a whole new apppreciation and ability to expore things that I was unaware of as a kid, it has definatly brodaen my horizons as a muscisian and a newere approciation for music when I re-listen to old songs and new stuff, you can predict where its going and why. Makes it lots easier to write really good stuff..when you have an actual vocabulary. Theres nothing wrong with education. Being educated is a wonderfull thing. Having 'talent' and a 'natural ear' for music is also wonderfull, what's so wrong with putting the two together? I spent my youth playing rock and roll..and having fun..then I went back as an adult and learned some music theory and how to read sheet music and orchestra music, while learning the Cello. Now that I play guitar again, I have a whole new apppreciation and ability to expore things that I was unaware of as a kid, it has definatly brodaen my horizons as a muscisian and a newere approciation for music when I re-listen to old songs and new stuff, you can predict where its going and why. Makes it lots easier to write really good stuff..when you have an actual vocabulary. Theres nothing wrong with education.

]]> By: Jeff Shattuck http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-1816 Jeff Shattuck Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:30:05 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-1816 Thanks for posting this. I just discovered your blog and love it. As for this whole discussion of music theory, to my mind it's not about knowing what bit of theory underlies a song, it's about knowing what a song needs, if anything, to be great. Rick Rubin is a master of this. Jeff www.cerebellumblues.com Thanks for posting this. I just discovered your blog and love it.

As for this whole discussion of music theory, to my mind it's not about knowing what bit of theory underlies a song, it's about knowing what a song needs, if anything, to be great. Rick Rubin is a master of this.

Jeff
http://www.cerebellumblues.com

]]> By: solidwalnut http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-1727 solidwalnut Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:46:35 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-1727 Ok wait. No tangential arguments, no 'my opinion is better than yours' crap. These comments are really important, but how about addressing the article instead of arguing about the commentary? It's about a different approach to signing artists at the label that the status quo. If you want to talk about 'technical', even though that technicality has nothing to do with music, then let's talk about how the labels find and recruit artists (can you say $ before talent or heart?). Rubin has his own kind of structure. He's not structure-less. This is the guy who gave RAP music a hook and made it famous. He tightens up structures of songs and tightens up rhymes. Everyone is lead by both technical and heart decisions. Some just more than others. It's a spectrum and no one has a lock on the right formula. I'm for sure a huge fan of 'learn the craft so the craft can serve the inspiration. But you can't argue with what works. Music, in the end, is all about an experience of the heart and mind. The article is more about the industry and where labels stand and how music is delivered today. It's about how a guy who knows music is actually in charge of a record company now. That's never happened before! Technicalities or heart don't bring home the bacon, what brings home the bacon is how the stuff gets sold and who is buying what. The current model obviously isn't working, and we'll see if a person who actually knows music can't help change that model. How do we take this stuff to heart as far as our own music?? To each their own, and let the chips fall where they may. Quit trying to be like someone else and do what you feel is right. Ok wait. No tangential arguments, no 'my opinion is better than yours' crap. These comments are really important, but how about addressing the article instead of arguing about the commentary?

It's about a different approach to signing artists at the label that the status quo. If you want to talk about 'technical', even though that technicality has nothing to do with music, then let's talk about how the labels find and recruit artists (can you say $ before talent or heart?).

Rubin has his own kind of structure. He's not structure-less. This is the guy who gave RAP music a hook and made it famous. He tightens up structures of songs and tightens up rhymes. Everyone is lead by both technical and heart decisions. Some just more than others. It's a spectrum and no one has a lock on the right formula. I'm for sure a huge fan of 'learn the craft so the craft can serve the inspiration. But you can't argue with what works. Music, in the end, is all about an experience of the heart and mind.

The article is more about the industry and where labels stand and how music is delivered today. It's about how a guy who knows music is actually in charge of a record company now. That's never happened before! Technicalities or heart don't bring home the bacon, what brings home the bacon is how the stuff gets sold and who is buying what. The current model obviously isn't working, and we'll see if a person who actually knows music can't help change that model.

How do we take this stuff to heart as far as our own music?? To each their own, and let the chips fall where they may. Quit trying to be like someone else and do what you feel is right.

]]> By: TheSilentDrummer http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-1726 TheSilentDrummer Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:41:48 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-1726 Hey: you don't need music theory to make great music. Music theory is particularly helpful when performing other people's music. Different themes and music composition devices have been traditionally used to express emotion. For a simplistic example, minor has been used to express sadness (even though if we look further back, into the modal times, minor was actually joyous... but that's all music theory and history...). Knowing what they were thinking when they composed the music and what their devices mean can help maximize emotion in a song. As far as writing your own music, if you can express your feelings easily through music, then you have probably done a good job. "If it sounds good, it is good." is a pretty good standard to use, but even more so, your music should evoke the maximum possible emotion. Music theory could be helpful if you were having trouble expression a certain emotion. Knowing and having studied theory could expose you to what devices composers used in the past. Hey: you don't need music theory to make great music. Music theory is particularly helpful when performing other people's music. Different themes and music composition devices have been traditionally used to express emotion. For a simplistic example, minor has been used to express sadness (even though if we look further back, into the modal times, minor was actually joyous... but that's all music theory and history...). Knowing what they were thinking when they composed the music and what their devices mean can help maximize emotion in a song.

As far as writing your own music, if you can express your feelings easily through music, then you have probably done a good job. "If it sounds good, it is good." is a pretty good standard to use, but even more so, your music should evoke the maximum possible emotion. Music theory could be helpful if you were having trouble expression a certain emotion. Knowing and having studied theory could expose you to what devices composers used in the past.

]]> By: brandondrury http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-1725 brandondrury Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:00:57 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-1725 <blockquote>I wonder why people that have bothered learning music theory never mention in interviews that they wish they have not? That's just simply an excuse to be a dumbass, not know the language of music and find excuses to defend your ignorance.</blockquote> That's one angle, but a bit oversimplified. There are 24 hours per day. A person is works on engineering and producing 16 hours per day and sleeps 8 hours would have to stop what they are doing and cancel sessions in order learn this music theory. So while music theory classes may reduce musical ignorance, it would also use up resources that could be used elsewhere. I wish that music theory guaranteed better music. I'd tell everyone to run out get their degree in music. I think that keeping some things a mystery keeps them innocent. It's common knowledge to anyone who wants to read up on it that being "in love" is little more than a state in which the brain knocks out your common sense and focuses on an infatuation with another human being. Tell that to any chick and see how far you get. Music is a series of mathematical frequency combinations. The human experience is little more than a series of chemical reactions. I think both of these are technically true, but who in the hell really wants to live their life with this perspective of the world? Brandon

I wonder why people that have bothered learning music theory never mention in interviews that they wish they have not? That's just simply an excuse to be a dumbass, not know the language of music and find excuses to defend your ignorance.

That's one angle, but a bit oversimplified.

There are 24 hours per day. A person is works on engineering and producing 16 hours per day and sleeps 8 hours would have to stop what they are doing and cancel sessions in order learn this music theory. So while music theory classes may reduce musical ignorance, it would also use up resources that could be used elsewhere.

I wish that music theory guaranteed better music. I'd tell everyone to run out get their degree in music.

I think that keeping some things a mystery keeps them innocent. It's common knowledge to anyone who wants to read up on it that being "in love" is little more than a state in which the brain knocks out your common sense and focuses on an infatuation with another human being. Tell that to any chick and see how far you get.

Music is a series of mathematical frequency combinations. The human experience is little more than a series of chemical reactions. I think both of these are technically true, but who in the hell really wants to live their life with this perspective of the world?

Brandon

]]> By: ADorian http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-1723 ADorian Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:05:27 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-1723 I wonder why people that have bothered learning music theory never mention in interviews that they wish they have not? That's just simply an excuse to be a dumbass, not know the language of music and find excuses to defend your ignorance. Look at Rick Rubin now and check your production values in comparison - to me the last Slayer and Metallica records are utter sheit. The production of those records is also disgusting. I think guys like this were at the right place at the right time with the right wad of cash. I wonder why people that have bothered learning music theory never mention in interviews that they wish they have not? That's just simply an excuse to be a dumbass, not know the language of music and find excuses to defend your ignorance.

Look at Rick Rubin now and check your production values in comparison - to me the last Slayer and Metallica records are utter sheit. The production of those records is also disgusting. I think guys like this were at the right place at the right time with the right wad of cash.

]]> By: Funkyriffic http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/producing/the-rick-rubin-approach-to-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-1714 Funkyriffic Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:37:49 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/?p=129#comment-1714 You have to know what the rules are before you can break them. You have to know what the rules are before you can break them.

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