How to find that last 10-15% 'commercial' sound fully ITB?

[EfreetiSultan]

You wanna know what I've learned in the very short time I've been here? You guys are set in your ways. It's almost like some sort of echo chamber. And when someone comes with something outside of that chamber, it gets attacked by the residents.

The rules of discourse are as true here as they are anywhere. Avoid making sweeping generalizations. Don't present your opinions as facts. Think twice before attacking people's opinions. Allow people to have differing opinions from yours and recognize that there may be validity to their perspectives.

btw, speaking as someone who has been on the unhappy side of the quoth.

I agree to all of that.

[vurt]

it is what we were discussing, can in the box production, sound commercial?

Yes, a good engineer can use pure itb tools to make a radio hit.
The discussion was, has that actually happened? 100% itb? Not could it happen, but did it happen. And no, Billie eilish and living la vida loca does not apply unless someone can prove they were purely itb..

what about burial?

[elxsound]

If only that was it, then I would have agreed 2 days ago

But it was only that.

The only one who moved the posts was VoodooU and you came to his rescue.

Yes because there's (to my knowledge) no evidence that was the case

Are you even looking? Obviously as per the thread, basically anything after 2020. Are they chart toppers, not that I can find but I’m willing to bet they’re radio ready and nobody would know if it was hardware or ITB tools to mix.

https://uadforum.com/community/index.ph ... itb.49209/

https://www.mbrauer.com/discography

[whyterabbyt]

Well stupid, the OP clearly stated:

I produce and mix 100% ITB (no outboard gear, no instruments out except for mic).

I'm content as can be with the basics - arrangement, mixing, balance, EQ, compression, etc...HOWEVER I'm finding that my songs overall have more of the forward 'exposed' naked sound of a 'home' studio production and less of the polished more 'receded' rounded clarity of commercial tracks

I've found the below recently helped get me a lot closer to that 'commercial' sound I'm talking about - (more specifically the late 90s and early 2000's sound + not a huge fan of in your face highly compressed brightness you often hear with most recent radio pop)
- stereo imaging
- meticulous compression to remove pokeyness and smooth out elements
(indivudal tracks and mix bus )
- touch of reverb on the mixbus
- EQ mixbus especially scooping mids where relevant
- Rear bus technique (parallel compression of sorts ala Andrew Scheps)

BUT I still feel like im not quite there yet!
I'm very aware that the actual recording\ tracking of ORGANIC instruments is a huge part of this (given that you can adjust mic placement to create tasteful airy distance between the instrument\ vocalist and the mic and perhaps this is part of the difference but does anyone have any tips on how to achieve\ at least provide the 'illusion' of this quality and the above fully ITB

yes indeed he did. clearly you didnt read what he said, though.

And you replied:

practice and experience

So there you go. You are asserting one can get a polished commercial track entirely 100% ITB with "practice and experience".
Consider me a liar all you want.

I answered his question. Do you need reminded of what his question was?

the OP clearly stated:
does anyone have any tips on how to achieve\ at least provide the 'illusion' of this quality and the above fully ITB

not getting it yet?

the OP clearly stated:
does anyone have any tips on how to achieve\ at least provide the 'illusion' of this quality and the above fully ITB

how about now?

the OP clearly stated:
does anyone have any tips on how to achieve\ at least provide the 'illusion' of this quality and the above fully ITB

any better?

the OP clearly stated:
does anyone have any tips on how to achieve\ at least provide the 'illusion' of this quality and the above fully ITB

Did he ask for instructions on how to get 'a polished commercial track entirely 100% ITB' or did he ask how to achieve at least the illusion of this quality.
Hmmm. Sounds tricky. You can have three guesses.

[donkey tugger]

If one was to be a pedant (moi?) one would point out that for a USB mic you don't need an interface- it is the interface.

That's absolutely correct. My bad. I meant "a USB mic right into the computer".

I know what you meant, just getting in on the general tone of the thread.

Anyway, USB mics aren't that bad these days, a lot of the better ones are just repackaged USB converted versions of other mics. With a hefty bit of post-processing and eq etc even a cheapy model can be ok. Remember recording the acoustic guitar and vocals for this using my little Samson GoMic (https://samsontech.com/products/microph ... nes/gomic/) when staying with parents for a few days, some years ago. Never bothered re-recording it with the better mics at home as it was ok and I actually played and sung it quite well.

https://donkeyt.bandcamp.com/track/comm ... etishism-2

[RunBeerRun]

Something Snoop Dogg and Kim Wilde have in common is they use mastering engineers and it pays!

Can't argue with that

[vurt]

Something Snoop Dogg and Kim Wilde have in common is

the both had a xmas hit with bon bon hovis loaf.

[whyterabbyt]

it is what we were discussing, can in the box production, sound commercial?

Yes, a good engineer can use pure itb tools to make a radio hit.
The discussion was, has that actually happened? 100% itb? Not could it happen, but did it happen.

Hmmm, must be seismic tremors on the pitch.

As for pop music (i.e top 100 billboard) there's literally zero that has not been mixed and mastered with tons of outboard gear.

[whyterabbyt]

Billie eilish album was not done 100% itb.

Edit. BTW which album are we referring to just to be precise?

guffaw.

tons of outboard gear, right? tons of it.

[EfreetiSultan]

it is what we were discussing, can in the box production, sound commercial?

Yes, a good engineer can use pure itb tools to make a radio hit.
The discussion was, has that actually happened? 100% itb? Not could it happen, but did it happen. And no, Billie eilish and living la vida loca does not apply unless someone can prove they were purely itb..

what about burial?

I'm unfamiliar. Who's that

[whyterabbyt]

it is what we were discussing, can in the box production, sound commercial?

Yes, a good engineer can use pure itb tools to make a radio hit.
The discussion was, has that actually happened? 100% itb? Not could it happen, but did it happen. And no, Billie eilish and living la vida loca does not apply unless someone can prove they were purely itb..

what about burial?

I'm unfamiliar. Who's that

If only we had search engines.

[EfreetiSultan]

If one was to be a pedant (moi?) one would point out that for a USB mic you don't need an interface- it is the interface.

That's absolutely correct. My bad. I meant "a USB mic right into the computer".

I know what you meant, just getting in on the general tone of the thread.

Anyway, USB mics aren't that bad these days, a lot of the better ones are just repackaged USB converted versions of other mics. With a hefty bit of post-processing and eq etc even a cheapy model can be ok. Remember recording the acoustic guitar and vocals for this using my little Samson GoMic (https://samsontech.com/products/microph ... nes/gomic/) when staying with parents for a few days, some years ago. Never bothered re-recording it with the better mics at home as it was ok and I actually played and sung it quite well.

https://donkeyt.bandcamp.com/track/comm ... etishism-2

USB mics are great nowadays!

[Shabdahbriah]

it is what we were discussing, can in the box production, sound commercial?

Yes, a good engineer can use pure itb tools to make a radio hit.
The discussion was, has that actually happened? 100% itb? Not could it happen, but did it happen. And no, Billie eilish and living la vida loca does not apply unless someone can prove they were purely itb..

what about burial?

I'm unfamiliar. Who's that

It's not a "who" as much as an anticipated (if not preferential) eventuality were one to engage with harryupbabble's brothersfromanothermother.

[EfreetiSultan]

it is what we were discussing, can in the box production, sound commercial?

Yes, a good engineer can use pure itb tools to make a radio hit.
The discussion was, has that actually happened? 100% itb? Not could it happen, but did it happen. And no, Billie eilish and living la vida loca does not apply unless someone can prove they were purely itb..

what about burial?

I'm unfamiliar. Who's that

It's not a "who" as much as an anticipated (if not preferential) eventuality were one to engage with harryupbabble's brothersfromanothermother.

OK

[vurt]

it is what we were discussing, can in the box production, sound commercial?

Yes, a good engineer can use pure itb tools to make a radio hit.
The discussion was, has that actually happened? 100% itb? Not could it happen, but did it happen. And no, Billie eilish and living la vida loca does not apply unless someone can prove they were purely itb..

what about burial?

I'm unfamiliar. Who's that

It's not a "who" as much as an anticipated (if not preferential) eventuality were one to engage with harryupbabble's brothersfromanothermother.