We're finishing mixdown (we're digital so I guess we actually don't mixdown anymore perhaps final mixes is the right term) on our second album. A couple of weeks ago I took home semi-final mixes of all the tunes. While I don't have a dedicated 2-channel system or room, I do my "critical listening" on my Onkyo 905 in "pure audio" mode. I also listen to the tunes on a variety of systems (bedroom, computer, car etc...). After a couple of days picking and listening I then use other professionally done albums in all genres, Jazz, Rock/Pop, RnB, Classical as a reference to "cleanse my sonic pallette" so to speak. Here are some things I've noticed.

1. The job of Producer/Engineer was way more important in the analog days. "Sounds" were real, Stax/Volt was not Motown, which was not Apple which was not you name it. Even if you don't know the song you might be able to pick the label out by listening.

2. Production is way more homogenized today. Levels don't vary, everythings sounds way too similar.

3. Everything today is mixed way loud. Perhaps for the Ipod generation I don't know.

4. Even professionally mixed albums of the 80's and 90's reveal "bad mixes". Vocals too high in the mix as to call way too much attention to it. Or vocals so low as to make the lyrics nigh unintelligble.

5. Making your own music is still the one of the greatest thrills I know. It's wonderful to be humming a tune and realize that it's one of yours.

Da Worfster