What defines........

[Ausrock]

OK, here's one that at least has the potential to cause some debate...................:

What (IYNSHO) really defines "good sound" especially in regards to rack mounted gear, ie; pre's, comps, etc.

[jkhuri44]

costs lots of money.

[peat]

Knobs/switches that have a good solid click, or a snap.
It's only good when you can feel an ever so slight pain in your fingers after turning one of them.

[Sammas]

All my gear has really terrific sounding bypass buttons.

[Drumstruck]

if it sounds better (to me) than the original when set flat and just passing signal through

[Chris H]

In by pass or set flat, the signal coming out is in no way diminished or less than sonically than the signal going in and any enhancement of the signal is musical or what you are after as the engineer.

[Paul Maybury]

I would say gear that works for any source. And as flat a frequency response as possible. This includes transducers.
Not noisy. High headroom with a soft and musical overload characteristic when that headroom limit is reached.
So that excludes quite a few popular industry standards......

[rick]

I like it when every time I use a device for the sound I thought was in it .. its the same sound that IS in it ..
I don't care if its digital analog new or ancient .. hi fi or no fi ..

If it does what I think it does when I think it should
that would be the definition for me

[headman]

The first time I used an La2a and went "that's how those famous vocal sounds are recorded (and now I've got it)"

That defined it for me.

headman

[walding]

The first time I used an La2a and went "that's how those famous vocal sounds are recorded (and now I've got it)"

That defined it for me.

headman

Same here with the DBX160 VU, 1176 and a 480.

[Wiz]

for me it was the KM84 on acoustic guitar... after years, and I mean YEARS!!! of trying all sorts of things, mics, postions strings rooms etc etc

I put a KM84 on my martin, and went... oh... I.. See... 8)

same again

LA2A

U47

1073


god I wish I was 21 and starting again, I would buy the right things first time 8)

[Manning]

Confession: I've got a Mindprint DTC.


I almost never use it, it's not even plugged in at the moment.

But I just can't bring myself to sell it because it looks so freaking cool.

I suspect this is not a good answer to the original question.

[Gian]

Manning, if you aren't using it, and have no plans to incorporate it in your system. Sell it

[Manning]

Gian, I tried - no-one wanted it.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7442

But now I don't need the money so much (at the time I was scrambling to find the cash to pay for a Blue Bottle)

[Gian]

haha, no worries.
Maybe you should plug it in. Do it today!

[chribble]

when you record something through it and you say "f*#Kin yeah!!!"

[AlCraig]

I know you're searching for answers regarding gear, but, my definition of good sound is:
A good song, with meaningful lyrics, "proper" harmonic progressions, and a great groove.
Musicians who can play their instrument(s) brilliantly.
Musicians who can tune their instruments properly and play in tune.
Musicians who can "get" the groove and stick to it.
Musicians who can add something to the session.
Musicians who can take direction and criticism.
(All the above includes drummers).
Singers who can sing in tune.
Singers who can work the mic.
Singers who "get" the groove.
Singers who can double with ease.
Singers who can harmonize with ease.
Singers who can take directions and criticism.
Then, engineers who can use whatever equipment they have available to allow the song and the music to be captured (or reinforced {for our Live sound brothers}) in the best possible way.
I know I'm stating the bleeding obvious here, but you asked.
IMNSHO
I have board tapes that were recorded 30 years ago that sound good because the above criteria was met.
Al

[Ausrock]

Al, I know I kinda pointed towards gear but after sitting on the replies for a while I think Rick's and especially your response probably gave the closest answer to the questions in my head. It kinda makes me wonder how much high quality gear is being used to record lesser quality performers and their performances..........methinks, shitloads.

Actually, come to think of it I know numerous technically excellent musicians and singers and if I'm honest, regardless of their technical proficiency (and in some cases, reputation), their ability to convey genuine emotional feel is sadly lacking..................God, now I'm feeling depressed.

[stosostu]

You can spen an awful lot of money on wonderful gear and still not be able to make a silk purse from a pigs ear, music wise, and then again, with fairly modest gear and talent, create some superb art.

[PeteB]

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