Technology and the workflow

Here’s a subject I have been holding back on because it’s one of those things us musicians traditionally don’t like. I am talking about technology. And by this I am talking about many of the tools you get with your recording software these days. Things like virtual instruments, auto tune, time stretch, I suppose editing in general…

Yep I know in the ideal world we should all hire the best musicians, record everything on analogue tape machines using great valve pre-amps and vintage microphones, oh and let’s not forget the room! How about the abbey road? Or the Sun studios in Memphis? What did we use before Pro Tools? Pros!

So we get on our high horse, ride to the top of the mountain of egotism and wave of our flag of pure art! Surely we are better than the rest. We know what truly great music is made of.

So, let’s break this down a bit, shall we? I’d like to remind you that your ego does not pay your bills. It is the listeners, the people who buy your music, stream it online and go to your concerts. They are the people who put you in that very privileged situation of being able to make music. And these are the people you need to keep happy! I know you cannot please everybody, but your fans are your lifeline.

So what if there are tools out there that could speed up your process a bit? What if these tools would give you an opportunity to get more music to your fans? I released 52 songs in 2014 and my plan is to do the same this year. Do you think if I didn’t embrace some of the new technology I would have been able to do that? Hell no! D you have any idea how much 52 days in a studio would cost you?

Another thing I have noticed is that my workflow is fast. Every time I get other people involved, things slow down. Obviously this is a natural thing and I need to allow for it. But there are times when if all I need is a kick drum beat on the last chorus of a track just for that extra lift, I do not think there is anything “morally” wrong using a sample (which by the way I have paid for) from Logic Pro’s extensive library. I can do this in a less than an hour. Recording the real drum would easily turn in to a half day ordeal.

What about the all so dreaded auto tune? I do believe you need to be able to deliver a good vocal take that is in tune, if you want to be a professional singer. But there are times when you record a great emotional take that is perfect, apart from that one note… Sure you can drop in just that one note, but what if it does not sit in the mix? What if it stands out? So why would we just use the original take and leave in that one bum note? That is an option I have used many times. But the fact is that pretty much everything you hear on the radio these days is heavily processed with auto tune. It even seems to be the new trend in the mainstream country music… So the listener to certain extent expect this, or should I say the radio station bosses expect the listener to expect this. So if your vocal tracks are not in tune, guess what? Apart from that indie show 11pm on Tuesday night, your tracks will not get any airplay…

Don’t get me wrong, I hate how it has become the norm. And the technology has made it possible to use it live as well. Not sure if this is better or worse than miming… But it is the norm, it is what the major labels use. So should we just not use it on some moral grounds and let the major labels have the advantage? Now let’s say we do. So where do we draw the line then? For example your favourite Ibanez tube screamer pedal is only an emulation of a tube amp driven to distortion… Reverb? It is digitally created illusion of space…

What I love the most is seeing a band get on their high horse about all of the above stuff, but their songs are not up to scratch…

Let’s face it, the technology is here to stay. I’d even go as far as to say, in the future we will not think any of these “new” tools any differently as we now think of those guitar pedals. We all love to hate new technology, until it proves its validity. But lets not forget that electric guitar is less than decade old, same as electric bass. The vinyl record not much older than that. If we had not embraced these technological advancements, surely the music we listen to today would be very different.

J.P.

The author J.P. Kallio is a singer songwriter
To get EIGHT of his songs for free go HERE