Production vs. Engineering - definitions

[musicalweather]

Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie to Taxi and just got my first review. I'm wondering what the difference is between "engineering" and "production" on the evaluation form. I certainly know what each of those terms means, but in my mind there's actually a lot of overlap between the two.

Anyone care to clarify this for me? Thanks!

[cardell]

I guess it's a matter of opinion, but the way I see it...

Engineering: is [predominantly] pertaining to technical results &

Producing: is [predominantly] pertaining to artistic results.

Stuart

[rnrmachine]

A producer don't necessarily know how to record, EQ, compress and or mix although many of them do know a lot. Their job is to do things like... I think this would sound great of we added a strong reverb tail on the vocal here (choosing which reverb is also a production type thing)... or add a Sax in there. Maybe tell the guitarist to put a lick in at this spot, etc... They will choose what is the focal point here and there throughout the song as well.

An engineer does the "prior to recording" stuff, like mic placement, although a producer might tell him... try moving the mic out/in a bit more to get this or that sound. An engineer will also do some EQ and compression/limiting at this time as well. An engineer, most of the time, will know FAR more about gear and how to use it then a producer. The better they both are the more the lines blur that divide the two aspects.

Sometimes the engineer will mix as well... and I have heard of the RARE occasions when a producer mixed. Bruce Springsteen's one album... I saw a thing on TV about it and in the end a producer mixed it because Bruce didn't like what they were getting with the mix-engineer.

I believe it was called: "The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town"

I thought it was an awesome documentary,

Rob