I had to learn to "listen through" things such as genre, style, etc. before I really got a handle on what reference recordings are all about.

The ears and the mind don't always agree. For some, the idea of listening to a recording of a genre in which they apparently have no interest is anathema, they are not likely going to be able to judge the recording only in terms of audio quality.

With time and an open mind about it, though, you may find that your ears become more able to "listen through" and only evaluate the actual audio events in the recording, which are basically going to be much the same for a good wuality recording, regardless of genre lines.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider about a reference reoording selection is that it should pretty much *match* the genre, style, instrumentation, etc. of your own recording at the moment. Thus bopping back and forth between the reference recording and your own gives you some place to stand in the way of comparison - and if you've done your homework regarding use of the Audio Tools available to you, it will also allow you to tailor your own recording's sound to better match or even duplicate the sound on the Reference Recording.

Always at low, "CONVERSATIONAL" listening levels on your nearfields. This avoids ushering in the dreaded ear fatigue sooner than later, it also really allows anomalies to seem to "JUMP" out of the speakers. At high Sound Pressure Levels, *anything* tends to sound rather good.

So if your own recording is seeking to emulate the Steely Dan "Aja" sound, then by all means use that for your reference when mixing and when mastering. But if your reccrding is seeking to emulate some *OTHER* sound, best to find a well-mixed and mastered recording that more corresponds to what you are seeking to do and use that for the reference recording at the time.

If you work with it enough, there should come a day when you find that you really don't need a reference recording anymore. The reference will then be YOU - your ability to hear, your ability to use the tools, your combined experience and knowledge. That typically doesn't appen overnight.


--Mac

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