Mixing Masterclass with Bob Power [MixCon Video]
In this video, go deep with veteran mixer Bob Power, GRAMMY-winning, platinum-selling engineer for the likes of D’Angelo, De La Soul, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Tribe Called Quest, Macy Gray and many more.
In this video from the third annual MixCon, Bob takes us under the hood of a real neo-soul mix and imparts decades worth of hard-won wisdom and best practices for delivering mixes that leave a real and lasting impact on listeners.
This video is made possible by Soundtoys. Check them out at soundtoys.com
Special thanks to Ester Rada for allowing us a deeper look at her excellent track “Cry for Me”. Check her out at ester-rada.bandcamp.com
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JBlythe
August 28, 2017 at 6:25 pm (7 years ago)I wish he pronounced “timbre”, not as “tamber”, but the proper way: just like “timber”. This is an example of a “meme”.Otherwise and excellent tutorial.
Justin C.
August 29, 2017 at 11:29 am (7 years ago)Interesting. I have never in my life hear anyone pronounce “timbre” as “timber” unless they were just reading it for the first time. I always hear “tamber”.
To my understanding, it comes from a French word, and “tamber” is supposed to be the closest to the original French pronunciation.
I just checked, and Merriam Webster and a handful of other dictionaries seem to agree “tamber” is the preferred way to say “timbre” as well.
Out of curiosity, what country do you live in, where you hear it pronounced differently? And do you have a favored dictionary where that is listed as the primary pronunciation? Always interesting to get other perspectives on this kind of thing!
Justin C.
August 29, 2017 at 11:45 am (7 years ago)Just looked it up in a few more sources, and it appears that the preferred pronunciation in French and in British English is more like “tom-bruh”. But in American English, “tam-bur” is much more the norm. (Depending on precisely how those versions are said, the difference can be subtle or significant.)
I can’t find a place where “timber” is the norm on a quick search, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some parts of the world where it is commonly said that way. Still, that seems like an even farther cry from the original French than the American pronunciation is.
I’m probably as unlikely to start saying the “proper” “tom-bruh” as I am unlikely to start calling that famous painter Vincent Van “GoGchk” like the Dutch do. Here in the US, “tamber” is probably the way to go—unless you like dropping your French accent skills around and saying “tom-bruh”. But not everyone can pull off that kind of thing with a straight face 🙂
JBlythe
August 29, 2017 at 3:38 pm (7 years ago)Justin, thanks much for your comment. You are in one respect, that of tradition or convention, correct about the pronunciation. I am an American, and was an ESL teacher, who believes the English is in dire need of do-able reforms. For example, matching more phonemes with their spelling is one such reform. Another reform would be to pronounce more phonemically, so “been” rhymes with “seen”, and not “in”.. Not many ppl would want to do this, however. But most reforms would defy the “authority” of the dictionary, which is a slave to convention, not common sense. Tho the English lexicon contains many French words, there is no need or “rule”, imo –in the dictionary or not– which should require native English speakers to Frenchify these in the name of tradition’s propriety. Timbre– and I pronounce it, tim-bruh– is an example. So is “detain”, as opposed to ” deteign” in French. Etc, etc. Convention can be changed–with no one’s permission! THanks again Justin, interesting feedback!