Subjective-ness of Sound & Terms for analysis/description...???

[Chew_Bear]

Obviously...We all know that sound and music is all SUBJECTIVE...

With that said...

1. How does a beginner begin to understand and analyse other producer's "TERMS" or "WORDS" for describing, analysis and comparison when talking about any subject matter related to sound/music production...???

Because...obviously....

2 people can be talking about the SAME EXACT SOUND/MUSIC.....BUT.....'EACH' can still come up with totally 'DIFFERENT' sets of terms/words and views to describe, analyse and compare those sounds/music.

For example...Sound Design with Synthesis. One person can come up with words like crunchy, screechy, wobbly for a particular sound...BUT...let another person listen to the same exact sound....and you can have a TOTALLY new set of words/terms.

So...how does a beginner begin to sift thru all the different ways and methods to describe sound/music and yet still find their own unique way of describing it them selves...???

Help...???

 

[Epsilon-144]

Most terms have one meaning (ie. Equalizing, compressing, panning, subtle reverb, layering, notation, key signature, etc). What's subjective about music is what sounds good to different people. Somebody may love country and hate hip hop, while somebody else may love hip hop but hate country. The terms of production are well defined though, whether you're recording a country band or producing a hip hop track. Similar fundamental skills are required for both, but obviously with the different (subjective?) take on each type of music.

 

[Critical Vibrations]

As David Byrne said, "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture."

How does a beginner figure out what people are talking about when they use subjective terms? You don't! You have to go through the process of becoming not a beginner.

Leaving aside matters of taste, and technical terms which have precise and agreed-upon meanings.....When one person says a sound is "harsh" another person might say "grating" but really they are saying the same thing, because another person probably will NOT say "soft" or "gentle"....So, you're right, people use differing words but RARELY is one person's subjective experience completely the opposite. So....If people are truly using words that other people do not understand, then one or both of them either need to expand their vocabulary, or train their ears better.

Anyway, why do you feel like you need to come up with your own unique words for describing sounds?? Just come up with your own unique sounds.