How do you listen to music?

[HERESY]

At first the question may seem as if it doesn't make sense, but think about it for a second. For those of you who make music/beats, produce or engineer do you hear music differently now that you understand the process of recording? I'm not asking have your ears gotten better, but what I am asking is now that you know the terminology, know what compression sounds like, know what a slap delay sounds like, etc can you listen to music strictly for enjoyment purposes or do you listen for the technical achievments?

Personally, I can't listen to music strictly for enjoyment, and I've lost that ability years ago. I mean I enjoy some forms of music, but when I am listening to albums (new and old), demos, unreleased material from various artists, songs on the radio, songs on tv, etc, I am listening to the technical aspect of the music. Do you guys understand what I am getting at? Am I alone here, or do others share a similar experience?

 

[T.C]

At first the question may seem as if it doesn't make sense, but think about it for a second. For those of you who make music/beats, produce or engineer do you hear music differently now that you understand the process of recording? I'm not asking have your ears gotten better, but what I am asking is now that you know the terminology, know what compression sounds like, know what a slap delay sounds like, etc can you listen to music strictly for enjoyment purposes or do you listen for the technical achievments?

Personally, I can't listen to music strictly for enjoyment, and I've lost that ability years ago. I mean I enjoy some forms of music, but when I am listening to albums (new and old), demos, unreleased material from various artists, songs on the radio, songs on tv, etc, I am listening to the technical aspect of the music. Do you guys understand what I am getting at? Am I alone here, or do others share a similar experience?

although, i do find myself dissecting songs as i hear them i still am able to listen for enjoyment. but i think thats due to the fact that i spend more time in the creation aspect than i do the engineering/recording.
i'm pretty sure theres more of us out there

 

[Sick Wid It]

I know exactly what you're talking about Heresy. It's almost impossible for me to listen to music without picking damn near every aspect of it completely apart. I'm still able to be a fan and enjoy music for what it is though because I appreciate the art of creativity. And I have a genuine love for music both as a fan and as a musician.

 

[3VID3NC3]

I feel what your sayin. I dont consider myself to be at the point where I can listen to any piece of music and break down how everything was technically done but with most rap and hip hop these days, it just doesn't seem as impressive anymore since Ive been learning about recording and composing music for about 7 years now.

 

[GHP]

yeah it sucks since i went to audio engineering school I can't bump underground shit that isn't mixed well even if it slaps cuz i just dwell on the poor quality of the recording. Fuck it i feel my favorite artists at least owe me a properly mixed album for my 16 bucks

 

[BOOBOO619]

I don't necessarily listen to the sound quality of the song, mastering, mixing, recording aspect. I like to pay more attention to the sound choices, the style and how the track was built. So more of the creativity process of the track. For example, I don't like that bass, it sounds too digital for my taste or a bit too high. Or d@mn, that snare sounds nice and phat, it pops, that whistle is f-ing wack has to go, that guitar riff sounds bad @ss, etc..etc... So I can listen for enjoyment as long as the quality is half way decent, but I like to take more notice of the sound choices and styles, the creativity behind the track.

 

[Vince V.]

Im the same way, I pick shit apart, but mostly the local stuff. I don't really pick apart major label stuff, because it's usually pretty decent quality.
I pick apart beats tho. Like Laffy Taffy! WTF? I can't believe that shit was in rotation, that's what really bothers me.

 

[HERESY]

Im the same way, I pick shit apart, but mostly the local stuff. I don't really pick apart major label stuff, because it's usually pretty decent quality.
I pick apart beats tho. Like Laffy Taffy! WTF? I can't believe that shit was in rotation, that's what really bothers me.

LMAO!!!!

 

[HERESY]

Ok, so it seems I am not alone thank god. But even with songs I enjoy, I still find myself listening to the mix and arrangment moreso than the actual "music". Besides rap/hip hop/r&b what does everyone here listen to? Me, I listen to a lot of funk (because of my older brothers), Metal (I've always liked the sound), jazz (because the music actually "talks") and some reggae. I listen to classical music every now and then, but lately I've been searching for some old blues music because I'm searching for artists who influenced Layne Staley.

 

[50cal]

I think the majority of hip hop and R&B today is horrible..I find myself just throwing in some old school R&B/funk....like SWITCH?bRASS CONSTRUCTION/ LTD...

 

[T.C]

Besides rap/hip hop/r&b what does everyone here listen to?

i listen to jazz (mostly hard bop or brazilian) when im not listening to hiphop/RnB...its usually when i need to take a break from the 4/4 time signature.

ive also been getting into broken beat type stuff and also grime....and every once an a while i listen to some rock, some coldplay or something with a similar sound

 

[Nonstop]

i dont listen for enjoyment either...

i try to put myself in the writer engineer and composers head of stuff i like to try and put myself on their level... it sounds weird, but sometimes it helps me out of ruts..

ive had alot of ppl explain there writing process, and a well known writer/composer/producer told me that "music is here for us all, some ppl might show you a part of your self you didnt know was there, just by listening to em play"..

producers that try to act like "biting" so-to-speak is the cardinal sin of beat making, are all hypocrites, because NO PRODUCER/COMPOSER is original.. yeah some bring new ides into play but fact of the matter is they all got there sound from someone... period... even the pioneers

 

[3VID3NC3]

Besides rap/hip hop/r&b what does everyone here listen to? .

I been listening to alot of 70's funk, soul and jazz myself latley..stuff like Herbie Hancock, Lonnie Liston Smith, Mandrill, Willie Hutch, Mickey & The Soul Generation and a bunch of funk compilations that have been coming out the past few years.

 

[DJ Coma]

For the past few years, ever since I started learning about recording engineering and gained a good understanding for it I haven't heard music the same way. One of my teachers of one of my recording classes was basically teaching us how to hear music from an engineer's point of view rather than just as a fan. The first thing he told us is that it pretty much ruins the enjoyment of listening to music, and i agree 100%.

I am 100x pickier with what I listen to today than 3-4 years ago. Nothing drives me more crazy than a great song that had bad mixing/mastering. It ruins the song for me, even though its a great tune, if it doesn't sound right to my ears im not playing it. The basic difference between how i listen now compared to how i used to listen is that i hear every individual sound that's happening, effects that may have been used, and the pan. Before I could pick apart every little piece of music in a song it seemed like songs were just vocals with music over them and it was all meshed together if that makes any sense.

Other genres I listen to are funk, soul, and r&b. Especially early 90's r&b like some Teddy Riley type shit.

 

[Home-E]

i'll analyze the song technically for a couple listens, then i'll enjoy it for what it is

 

[donte_johnson]

Yea I too pick at beatsthe sounds people try to make fit sometimes is like c'mon now and I'll fuck wit jazz funk oldies and some rock-linkin park-some korn- some disturbed...

 

[3VID3NC3]

^Wanna put that in English?

 

[HERESY]

^Wanna put that in English?

Yeah, what are you saying?

 

[BOOBOO619]

Im the same way, I pick shit apart, but mostly the local stuff. I don't really pick apart major label stuff, because it's usually pretty decent quality.
I pick apart beats tho. Like Laffy Taffy! WTF? I can't believe that shit was in rotation, that's what really bothers me.

Exactly, that kind of SHIT like Laffy Taffy really bothers me. It amazes me how so many people do like crap like that. Easy money for the artists, that's for sure. Their probably laughing. 10-20 years from now, fools like D4L will probably look back at songs like Laffy Taffy and laugh all day long, knowing they made millions off some real crap.

 

[BOOBOO619]

Besides rap/hip hop/r&b what does everyone here listen to?

I listen to a lot of electronica style genre of music. Like Trance, House, Drum N Bass/Jungle,... I've always been into that stuff. Reggae, Trip Hop. Also older rock from 90's and down especially. Oldies, funk.. Whatever, I kind of like it all, I ain't one track minded by only liking Hiphop because there's so much good music in this world and good for different occasions, vibes and what not.

Only thing I really can't stand right now is this Crunk/Hyphy $hit, I just can't feel any of it. It should only be used as a tool to get bitches and that's it, I personally wouldn't listen to it on my own time, buy it, or bump it in my car. To me it's all silly sounding. I pretty much only listen to 90's rap still or if it sounds hard like G-Funk style especially.