Differenc between Formulas and Gateways in aspects of mixing, recording?

[Akkush]

Hi there!

I'm just interested in your opinion about the production of these two albums.
What kind of differences do you hear, what do you like or don't like?

For me in short, Formulas has a much more darker, raw, oldschool lo-fi vibe, while Gateways, the guitars are much tighter (how do you do that without change something in the guitar gear?), overall much clearer, and has a modern, "digital" feel.

On Formulas, the didn't used triggered drums?
Also, Trey mentioned in an interview that he get new cabs for the recording of Gateways, maybe that makes a differenc?
(He uses stock 1960Bs with G12-T75?)

If you want, we can discuss other albums

Thank you for your input!

[vO)))id]

...the fuck?

[zim]

just imran trolling

[zim]

Hi there!

I'm just interested in your opinion about the production of these two albums.
What kind of differences do you hear, what do you like or don't like?

For me in short, Formulas has a much more darker, raw, oldschool lo-fi vibe, while Gateways, the guitars are much tighter (how do you do that without change something in the guitar gear?), overall much clearer, and has a modern, "digital" feel.

On Formulas, the didn't used triggered drums?
Also, Trey mentioned in an interview that he get new cabs for the recording of Gateways, maybe that makes a differenc?
(He uses stock 1960Bs with G12-T75?)

If you want, we can discuss other albums

Thank you for your input!

i remember steve saying in an interview that they mixed gateways in such a way that it would sound good on any audio system, i thought that was cool

[User]

obviously G has meh drums compared to F, let's start there

[Akkush]

[/quote]
i remember steve saying in an interview that they mixed gateways in such a way that it would sound good on any audio system, i thought that was cool
[/quote]

Hm, that sounds interesting. You mean they optimized the mixing for hi-fi speakers, not for the studio monitors?
That makes sence. I thought they do that all the time.

[Akkush]

obviously G has meh drums compared to F, let's start there

I read all the time that folks don't like the drums on the album.
Personaly, I like it more, it's more clear, and I like that they put a lot of reverb on them.

[zim]

i definitely like the rawness of the drums on formulas, gateways sounds like the drums could have been 100% programmed

[vO)))id]

The drums on G is a digital drumkit. Hence the sound.

Just two completely different productions.

Also, you would always (mix and) master something to sound good on all systems. That's the goal of a mastering engineer.

Every production, every recording and every mix is different. So every album will sound different. This was Trey's vision for G compared to F, so of course there are plenty of differences.

Going into the real details is anyone's guess because we were not there during the creation process or have any notes of those events. All we can use to discuss such things are the final results.

[Akkush]

Thank you for your input!

I few new thoughts...

Do you think that on G, the drums are lower in the mix?

Also, do you think the G sounds more compressed, less dynamic?

[vO)))id]

I'd need to compare them side by side for that.

I think G sounds a bit more open and it has more air. The music is able to breathe a little more.

I guess the drums are a little lower in the mix but everything still sounds balanced to me.

But keep in mind what Formulas REALLY is... it's a direct backlash and outburst of Trey's frustration towards the production of Domination and what David was all about back then.

And that savagery of F is what I love. Everything about it is perfect IMO. The drums, Pete's snare sound, the rhythm guitar and lead guitar sounds, the presence of the bass guitar which is less audible on G. The vocals, the songwriting, the flow of the album, the instrumentals and how they work back and forth with the regular songs. The way they start with new material and then from Hellspawn: The Rebirth they harken back to the old days because all those songs were already written in 86 - 88. Also the fucking weird made-up-by-Trey pseudo Sumerian is fucking crazy! But it works! No one else would be able to pull off that shit.

Comparing all that to G and it's an entire different universe. Even if it's the same band. That's what I loved about Morbid. Just one band that were able to have a fresh and new approach to every album. Each of them sounding completely different but you were still able to say "this is morbid angel" after the first riff.

Just pure magik and brilliance.

But F is my all time favorite Morbid album so I'm a bit biased.

[Akkush]

But keep in mind what Formulas REALLY is... it's a direct backlash and outburst of Trey's frustration towards the production of Domination and what David was all about back then.

And that savagery of F is what I love. Everything about it is perfect IMO. The drums, Pete's snare sound, the rhythm guitar and lead guitar sounds, the presence of the bass guitar which is less audible on G. The vocals, the songwriting, the flow of the album, the instrumentals and how they work back and forth with the regular songs. The way they start with new material and then from Hellspawn: The Rebirth they harken back to the old days because all those songs were already written in 86 - 88. Also the fucking weird made-up-by-Trey pseudo Sumerian is fucking crazy! But it works! No one else would be able to pull off that shit.

Now that was spot on, thank you!

[H4T3M4CH1N3]

I'd sum it up like this:

Formulas: Cocaine
Gateways: Cannabis

[vO)))id]

I'd sum it up like this:

Formulas: Cocaine
Gateways: Cannabis

Hah. Yeah that"s kinda true.

[Akkush]

I'd sum it up like this:

Formulas: Cocaine
Gateways: Cannabis

I haven't tried any of that, I don't have reference

[Aðalsteinn]

Formulas is such an amazing album. Bought it right upon release and was stunned right away. I hadn’t particularly liked Domination, but Formulas totally redeemed my faith
Gateways however was kind of a letdown. Probably my least favorite MA album (apart from Illude obviously).

[droidspawn]