The role of the recording studio
Author
Summary, in English
The transformation from analogue to digital recording techniques has not only changed the ways of working for the studiotechnician, but affects the
musician in the way he thinks about performance and sound, and therefore also his actual performance.
The signal processing and the staging of the singing voice in the studio is both influenced by, and influences the estethics of popular song performance.
In my dissertation on Swedish popular ballad singer and composer Olle Adolphson: "Visans Kontinuum" ( The continuum of [popular] ballad: words,voice and music. Studies of the music and performances of Olle Adolphson) I have looked closely upon the changes in sound and performance in popular music recordings by studying recordings of his voice done over a timespan of
40 years. Continuity and changes were fruits of his own efforts to develop
his music and artistic persona, but at the same time largely they reflects
the development of recording industry, technique and estethics in general on
an international level.
I think it is important to point out the impact studio technique and
management have over the recorded presentation of the artistic performance
and how interlinked with the music it really is. One has to look both at
continuity and changes, and for example acknowledge the impressive results
that we still can hear from the best quality recordings from the early days
of rock and popular music.
The ways music is captured or constructed in the studio largely determines
the componenents of the listening experience. This holds true for many
aspects inclusive how musical arrangements are carried out or made live in
the studio, placement of microphones, filtering, compression and effects
such as reverbs or delays, as well as for the recording equipment itself
such as microphones, mixer or recorders, digital or analogue. Not to mention the individual human mind of the engineers and producers and their access to
the sensitivity to use it.
musician in the way he thinks about performance and sound, and therefore also his actual performance.
The signal processing and the staging of the singing voice in the studio is both influenced by, and influences the estethics of popular song performance.
In my dissertation on Swedish popular ballad singer and composer Olle Adolphson: "Visans Kontinuum" ( The continuum of [popular] ballad: words,voice and music. Studies of the music and performances of Olle Adolphson) I have looked closely upon the changes in sound and performance in popular music recordings by studying recordings of his voice done over a timespan of
40 years. Continuity and changes were fruits of his own efforts to develop
his music and artistic persona, but at the same time largely they reflects
the development of recording industry, technique and estethics in general on
an international level.
I think it is important to point out the impact studio technique and
management have over the recorded presentation of the artistic performance
and how interlinked with the music it really is. One has to look both at
continuity and changes, and for example acknowledge the impressive results
that we still can hear from the best quality recordings from the early days
of rock and popular music.
The ways music is captured or constructed in the studio largely determines
the componenents of the listening experience. This holds true for many
aspects inclusive how musical arrangements are carried out or made live in
the studio, placement of microphones, filtering, compression and effects
such as reverbs or delays, as well as for the recording equipment itself
such as microphones, mixer or recorders, digital or analogue. Not to mention the individual human mind of the engineers and producers and their access to
the sensitivity to use it.
Department/s
Publishing year
2004
Language
English
Publication/Series
Conferance proceedings
Full text
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Document type
Conference paper
Publisher
IASP Canada
Topic
- Musicology
Keywords
- persona
- Popular music
- voice
Conference name
On the Right Track:
Conference date
2004-05-17
Conference place
Ottawa, Canada
Status
Published