How do you tell someone..?

[PianoMan1986]

Hey,

Just thought I'd see what your thoughts are on something...

How do you tell someone that the work and effort they put into something isn't that good?

To explain, our guitarist offered to do the recording work for our promotional demo to help us with booking (we play a mix of covers from 70's rock/pop through today's Top 40). My assumption with him doing this is that he would actually know how to use the program (Logic Pro 7 I think? -- never worked with it, I use Pro Tools 8 LE), but I guess he was still getting the hang of it. I will give props on recording drums because I've never done that before, but to get to the point, the songs sound like shit to me. Parts that he had me re-record are nonexistent in the demos. The vocals are over-processed and reverberated at times; there are even points where the timing slips when we were all supposed to cut our tracks to the original recordings (as guide tracks)!

Ok, enough ranting out of me. Thanks to those of you who took the time to read this.

Nick

[Don]

Have a second person analyze everything. If they come to the same conclusions you did, then it's probably not more so your opinion but an obvious fact that the guy sucks. You go to the guy and let him know what you found wrong with it. If the guy isn't any good, he needs to know so he can actually try to improve himself or look into finding another hobby that he might better at.

[PianoMan1986]

Have a second person analyze everything. If they come to the same conclusions you did, than it's probably not more so your opinion but an obvious fact that the guy sucks. You go to the guy and let him know what you found wrong with it. If the guy isn't any good, he needs to know so he can actually try to improve himself or look into finding another hobby that he might better at.

Thanks Don

I'm not bragging about my own abilities with DAWs or my ears for that matter, but some of the stuff is just too blatant -- my own girlfriend had no hesitation in telling me that it sounds nothing like us LOL (granted, the difference of a bar scene vs. recording).

[Jonny B]

Pretty much happened to me. Not in terms of mixing but in line-musician work. I gave up on music because nobody was truthful enough to tell me in my face that my music sucked. And going back to my demos 4 or 5 years later, I sadly agreed with 69% of the opinions. It's discouraging.

[kgdjpubs]

Have a second person analyze everything. If they come to the same conclusions you did, than it's probably not more so your opinion but an obvious fact that the guy sucks. You go to the guy and let him know what you found wrong with it. If the guy isn't any good, he needs to know so he can actually try to improve himself or look into finding another hobby that he might better at.

Thanks Don

I'm not bragging about my own abilities with DAWs or my ears for that matter, but some of the stuff is just too blatant -- my own girlfriend had no hesitation in telling me that it sounds nothing like us LOL (granted, the difference of a bar scene vs. recording).

I'm not sure girlfriend is exactly the right "second person". I like the idea, but in a situation like this, you want someone who is impartial, and NOT in a relationship with a band member.

[PianoMan1986]

Have a second person analyze everything. If they come to the same conclusions you did, than it's probably not more so your opinion but an obvious fact that the guy sucks. You go to the guy and let him know what you found wrong with it. If the guy isn't any good, he needs to know so he can actually try to improve himself or look into finding another hobby that he might better at.

Thanks Don

I'm not bragging about my own abilities with DAWs or my ears for that matter, but some of the stuff is just too blatant -- my own girlfriend had no hesitation in telling me that it sounds nothing like us LOL (granted, the difference of a bar scene vs. recording).

I'm not sure girlfriend is exactly the right "second person". I like the idea, but in a situation like this, you want someone who is impartial, and NOT in a relationship with a band member.

I understand, she just happened to be around shortly after I heard them and I needed a second opinion.