I agree that many "clean" mixes are just not emotionally satisfying. But my take on why is a little different. I believe that the good gear allows each element the opportunity to be heard clearly without having to fight for attention. Therefore, it's too easy to have a mix in which nothing is fighting for attention. This is the utmost in mediocrity to me, and not a realistic portrayal of living, breathing emotions. There is ugliness in the world, and there should be a little bit of beautiful ugliness in a mix to give it "edge". Discomfort gives you a point of reference from which to guage comfort.

So, bust out that MXR delay, or midiverbII... Put a pignose at the bottom of a trashcan and mic it with a 57... Sing an alternate vocal track with a megaphone in the shower (with the water running)... Punch a toolbox on every snare beat... Make it ugly, make it ROCK! :)

Lets see let me write these down (1)Pignose, trashcan...........

A list of cheap 'n dirty gear would be great, Here's my contribution:

Get an old speaker, mic it up and start attacking it - rip up the cone a little, stick pins in it.

Here's another - Guitar stomp boxes for vocals

Here's another - Guitar stomp boxes for vocals[/QB]

When you do this, try going straight out of the board into the box & back. The impendence mis-matches can give you a little extra 'funk'.

It's great to forget everything you know and do things wrong or badly. I'm so bored with these slick (sick?) polished, overproduced acts.

Fuck 'em! I'm going to go and band some dustbin lids just like Tom Waits.

At times this

"run things through pedals" thang, irrates me for some reason..." (mostly because I have'nt tried it much!)

I think some of it is that if you work with loops (I dont much) I've heard that you need to 'mash them up' to make em sound good... Thats followed quickly by having to 'mash' everything up to sit with the loops...

Then there is the almost sadistic humor of some perhaps 'bored' or stirr crazy producers getting an act with the very best of gear to use a ciggarette pack sized 'joke amp' to overdub with.. (oh, but that is 'brilliant' isnt it?!)

:)

Rant asside - (for a second only) I did hear one good tip... Balance purchases by buying something very cheap and funky after every pricey item. Mix it up a little!

I need to follow my own advice more... I need to get more cheap crap in my life! Thanks guys! I am off to buy a box full of broken stylaphones and a bull horn, cant wait to take a pichur for Tape Op! Oh goody! I will need a band to record that has at least one girl in it that appears to be wearing a dress made from old curtains. Can anyone lend me some heavy glasses and a band aid too! It's all coming together now I can see it!

:)

Jules