Broadcast quality?...yes/no...Got an answer

[rld]

Hey folks,I recently got a return for this with a checkmark in the "not broadcast quality/recording" box.I'd like some opinions on this as I'm pretty sure it meets the criteria...I'm not saying it rivals a major release or anything, but it is broadcast quality IMO.Caught in a Trapwhat do you think?CAUTION: Its guitar rock so it starts off loud.Thanks. ****UPDATE****I'm updating this as I appreciate everyone's comments and thought you might be interested.I emailed Robin asking for a clarification...this is the meat of the reply....The screener's concern has to do with the drums.He felt that the overall feel of the drum track was too programmed, that it could be humanized more...Needless to say I don't agree with that assessment, and I don't think anyone commenting on this thread thought the drums were "too programmed".In fact Big Blue Barry, who is a drummer said,"REALLY good job of programming the drums" So there ya go...I got an answer...not the one I expected, but such is life.

[davekershaw]

Quote:what do you think? Welcome to the club!Sounds good to me.Tasty guitar!Dave.

[iceman]

Sounds clean to my ears. From what I know of your work, you would not submit anything less.Maybe the screener simply checked the wrong box. Or maybe you frightened the screener with that agressive drop tuning. ha,haRandy

[bigbluebarry]

I took a listen to the song, and then another listen, and then another, and another, and another... notice a trend? I REEEEAAAAALLLLLLYYYYYY like this song man. Now, I'm listening to it at my office with iPod earbuds so I can't give a definitive answer on the broadcast quality, but after listening to it back to back against other songs from commercial releases, it sounds up to par to me. I LOVE the riffs man. Great stuff!The only thing that I could possibly think that would made them check the not broadcast quality box, and this is just an opinion, would be that I think there are a few spots where the lead vocal could be stronger. Let me say, I'm not a vocalist, though I try to be at times on the REALLY heavy stuff. So I'm always hesitant to offer up critiques in regards to vocals because I don't always feel like I know what I'm talking about.That being said, the 2nd and 4th lines of Verse 1 "All messed up...""You can make..."and the 2nd line of Verse 2 are the lines I'm referring to specifically."Why do I..."The first note of each those lines almost has a Garth Brooks "friends in low places" kind of feel to it. Again, that's just my opinion. I forced myself to be extra picky and that's the only thing that I could hear on this track that might make them select that box, but if that were the case, I would think they would select the "vocal" box instead. So I guess what I'm saying is, I'm just as clueless as you as to why they said it's not broadcast quality.Hope that helps,- Big Blue

[ibanez468]

Sounds like another one of those funny/bogus returns ta' me!

[rld]

Thanks guys...I'm 100% sure this is broadcast quality, but sometimes you just like to bounce it off others.I certainly understand that the song may not be right for the listing, and I guess the screener could have checked the wrong box, but since that's the only feedback we get on theses listings, that's a pretty serious error if we are expected to make changes from the feedback.Barry,Garth Brooks... I totally get what you're saying there, but again that would make it not right for the listing, instead of "not broadcast quality."

[rld]

Hi Viki,The drums were put together with a drum VSTi ala Addictive Drummer or EZ Drummer (I can't remember which).They are in sync all the way through, IMO, but maybe you should tell me where you think they are not. The solo is followed by a section where I wanted an "a capella" feel...to kind of change things up a bit.You said "it seems just a little out of the box", but I'm not sure what that means.This song has been forwarded before, and returned, and interestingly the other return was from the same screener, so maybe he/she hears something that they find objectionable...?I don't know what...but I'd like to find out.

[hummingbird]

Mar 5, 2009, 3:21pm, rld wrote:The drums were put together with a drum VSTi ala Addictive Drummer or EZ Drummer (I can't remember which).They are in sync all the way through, IMO, but maybe you should tell me where you think they are not. The solo is followed by a section where I wanted an "a capella" feel...to kind of change things up a bit.You said "it seems just a little out of the box", but I'm not sure what that means.This song has been forwarded before, and returned, and interestingly the other return was from the same screener, so maybe he/she hears something that they find objectionable...?I don't know what...but I'd like to find out. yeah, overall I thought it was pretty good. Somewhere before the bridge something seemed out of sync in drums/rythm for one mo. Just on first pass. The solo/vocal in the bridge seemed to be louder than the rest of the song, but again, just on first pass... listening to try to hear what the screener might have heard. I could be totally out to lunch.

[bigbluebarry]

Mar 5, 2009, 12:02pm, rld wrote:Thanks guys...I'm 100% sure this is broadcast quality, but sometimes you just like to bounce it off others.I certainly understand that the song may not be right for the listing, and I guess the screener could have checked the wrong box, but since that's the only feedback we get on theses listings, that's a pretty serious error if we are expected to make changes from the feedback.Barry,Garth Brooks... I totally get what you're saying there, but again that would make it not right for the listing, instead of "not broadcast quality."Oh I totally agree. That's what I was trying to say. I just gave it a listen here on my studio machine and there is no way that this track is not broadcast quality. I think you did a great job on this one. REALLY good job of programming the drums.- Big Blue

[southpaw]

Great jam RLD. I gave it a few times through on bose desktops.. This is broadcast quality as far as i can tell man. The hh/ride part might benefit from a little roll off in the upper registers, it adds some 'phasy' sounding elements that were a little distracting, to my ears anyway.. With the screener saying not broadcast quality my thoughts are: Since they listen via cans, for one.. i wonder what kind of headphones they listen with.. There is a big difference between what will be heard through cheap phones, and through 'true' monitors or good speakers. (I've also had some mixes checked off as 'not broadcast' quality' from one screener, and then another screener make a point to say how professional the mix sounded...?) That said, after listening several times, the mix is definitely solid. With the guitars tho, i think their is a little boominess, and a little too much midrange presence. The hh thing as i mentioned, and the kick also sounds a teeny bit thin. These are minor mix issues, somewhat subjective, and just what my ears said through my playback system tho. There sounded like a little to much ambient reflection of some sort.... Not sure what time based fx you are using. Anyway, these small observations i had are something to think about, and things i wouldnt nitpick unless the mix critique was on a professional level already. I dont agree with your mix not being broadcast quality. hthJamie