Saturday Night Live

ashlee simpson was famously bad on snl

which iirc was both a performative and mixing issue, all the issues

Which was worse for Ashlee Simpson's career? The SNL tape disaster, or actually singing live at the Orange Bowl?

I mean, this is...BRUTAL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5YPiBx9MJs

i feel bad for everybody on that stage/field who is not ashlee simpson

haha wow

she looks so proud of herself and then

live from new york's ok if you like saxophones

Actual, if I recall correctly, the first really bad sound red flag really came with TV on the Radio a couple of years back, and they were jam packed with horns.

This came a few months after the SNL thing, and a big deal was made about her singing absolutely live. It was not the best idea.

lol the giant anarchy symbols on the giant prop drum kits

http://jakefogelnest.com/post/798738330

when i visited SNL set as a teenager they emphasized how the studio was like built especially for acoustics and is somehow detached from the rest of the building idk the details but i remember being shocked at how impressed they were w/ their acoustics when generally they sound pretty terrible. i think they bragged about how bands loved to play SNL for that reason -- i'm sure bands love to play SNL but probably not bc it makes them sound better.

maybe it sounds good live

broadcast sound and room sound are totally different things

I've never actually seen any game-changingly bad performances on the show

but that wasn't exactly a mixing issue per se

Sorry, yeah, I've deffo seen some bad performances on SNL, but none that I can recall were because of "a bad mix". I haven't seen the TVOTR one tho. Maybe I did! Saxes on the stairwell? Colin was in that one, too. I never really know what TVOTR are supposed to sound like, though, even with their records I'm like "are you sure? is that your final answer?" so who knows

interesting - i didn't realize that. i assumed if it sounded good live it would sound good on whatever expensive broadcasting hardware they must be using. or is the problem that they're not using high quality broadcasting equipment? you'd think they could afford it.

I would assume they have two totally separate mixes - one for the band/live audience and one for broadcast

^^^

also, if they are broadcasting the room mix out live, that would explain why it's often super horrible

yep

@ Mordy "expense" is the least of the issues. The mixer is strictly mixing for broadcast. There is one mix. The mixer is not even in the room, s/he is mixing in a separate room on monitors. There are just so many factors that could contribute to "bad mix", esp. if the mixer is confronted with too many channels.

In my experience the hardest thing about putting a Working Band on a studio stage with new faces at the desks is that the monitoring is completely different and most musicians don't know how to verbalize their needs. Every band that's big enough to appear on SNL will have a full-time monitor tech to ring out their wedges and get their vocals sounding good. And they'll have excited people in front of them to make them psychologically "not give a shit". Singers have gotten used to a particular environment and struggle in a new one. In my experience.

Ultimately tho I don't really care I don't watch SNL's musical performances for anything but research and/or lols

I do have big respect/awe for bands that really shine in the studio environment tho (Vampire Weekend)

goon tie can you confirm this rumor a musician friend told me: when appearing on a late nite show, for each "vocal mic" that is requested and set up, the band's appearance fees go up by like an additional $900 due to some union rules/regs?

so a band like ozomatli can rake in an extra $5k just for asking that each member have a vocal mic for a call and response part of the song they're performing

sorry everyone for shitting up the snl thread i'm sure there's a better place to ask

If that is/was true, it might explain why for years on "Late Night" the "band" would often just be one or two principals playing with the house band (e.g., two Pixies, two members of Pere Ubu, Ray Davies without any other Kinks, etc.)

gr80 I can't confirm that, I've never heard that, but it wouldn't at all surprise me. Singers can be members of both AFM and ACTRA, and both unions are known for special dispensations for special ""skills"".

It's tough to be a Canadian in your thirties and not in(-to-) Arcade Fire in Toronto at least

lmao very true

Glad to hear it Stevie <3

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oh miley

miley sounds great

of all people

hillary sketch was pretty funny... nasim pedrad's ariana huffington is crazy good

This has been a pretty killer episode

for a non actor i thought miley was exceptional

well i guess she is/was an actor but whatever

loved mornin' miami

miley sounds great

― J0rdan S., Sunday, October 6, 2013 4:34 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

you've come a long way, Jordan S.

i don't know what that means, i was just referring to the conversation earlier this week about everyone sounding bad on SNL

big upping Taylor Swift records, calling Miley's acting exceptional, you've softened over the years. I think it's a positive obviously.

positive in which column?

*updates xls*

i thought miley sounded great! i like her on snl comedy-wise too. kinda hope she keeps that

dug her getup for 'wrecking ball' btw

she did sound great; imo pop singers shouldn't dance and sing unless they've gone through the Beyonce Boot Camp

Poetry teacher character was brilliant. Bayer seemed to dominate this ep.

Set it to record, missed the last 20+ minutes because of its late start. Anything I should try to track down after the cheerleading sketch?

mornin miami, poetry class, and the kyle mooney thing were after so i'd say yes

this was mostly dire

interesting that bruce willis is hosting nxt week

nah hes the musical guest

lol I would love it if Katy Perry hosted and Bruno came out and played his version of "Respect Yourself" twice.

"mornin' miami" was definitely by and far the best of the night, although of course it was the one that came on right after i went to bed, so i just now watched it online

I passed out after Morning Miami so that's good to know