INDEX
What Makes Good Sound?
Earlier, you mentioned that “you can usually tell when someone is creating sound in a pyramid shape.” What do you all consider good sound?
Sasaki: Hmm, it’s hard to describe. But everyone definitely has their own sense of it. They’ve solidified it within themselves.
DMX: I don’t know… maybe it’s the texture? Like when you dry off with a towel after a bath, you might think, “This towel feels good, but this one doesn’t,” something like that. It could be similar.
Sasaki: Everyone’s ears are different, and even with volume, some people may find it comfortable, while others think it’s too loud or too quiet. Sound is a very abstract thing, right? But after doing this for so long, you start to understand the “pressure” that the body feels, like where the right volume should be or what feels comfortable. Most of the time, it’s about working to bring the sound to that point. The best thing is when both I and the audience feel good. But there are various patterns, like “I feel good, but the audience doesn’t,” or “The performers think it’s good, but I don’t feel the same.” Over time, these things start to align, and it becomes, “If I feel good, then everyone else will too.” That’s always what I aim for. If I feel good, then it should be good for everyone. It’s about refining that process.
DMX: For me, it’s more like, “I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I did my best and that’s it.” Recently, though, a lot of people from the audience have been coming up to the booth and saying, “That sounded amazing,” or “It felt great.” And when production people say, “It was great,” then I’m like, “Well, that’s good to hear.” It’s like that. It used to be different, though. Back then, I thought, “I’m the best, I’m number one” [laughs].
Sasaki: Exactly! The ego really comes through in the sound [laughs].
Uchida: For me, “delicious” is a universal feeling for humans. Anyone eats Japanese food, the delicious things are still delicious, right? I want to aim for that kind of sound. I believe there’s a sound that anyone can listen to and think, “This sounds good.” I don’t have the answer, but it’s something I’m always exploring every day. There’s no prescription for it, though.
DMX: It would be great if we could just insert a “Ajinomoto” plugin into the master channel, right? [laughs].
