3 ms·

Reading on the recording of OK Computer, "about 80%" of it was live, no audio separation, it took two months to mix, I can't find the time it took to master. I

• zamnos 4y ago
  OK Computer ended up with 12 songs, although OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017, the 2017 reissue of OK Computer included 3 extra previously unreleased tracks (plus a bunch more extras). If we assume those 3 tracks were mixed and mastered for OK Computer's original release, but just didn't make the cut for whatever reason, we have 15 tracks. Thousands of man-hours is the five members of the band, plus their producer, plus an audio-engineer working 40 hrs/wk. There are 43 business days in 2 months, or just under 3 days per track. 3 days to do a bunch of technical work to balance the recordings juuust right, and then balance those recordings between each other to make it worthy of being called a Radiohead album. Personally, 3 days per track actually doesn't sound like enough time for that since you mix it, and then have to listen to that particular mix until you get bored, and then come back to it after, listen to it again some more, figure out how you feel about that mix, and then repeat. Of course, you can half-ass it and throw the tracks into Ableton, spend 20 minutes and call it a day, but you didn't used to get to be Radiohead with that kind of effort. ML algos on the horizon seem like they'll be able to do just that.
  • pfannkuchen 4y ago
    If production gets easier, I’m guessing the competitive bar will raise to a point where you still can’t do this with little effort. There may be an adjustment period where you can, but I think it will be temporary. An arms race will kick off with the new tools.