A sound engineer is responsible for the Balancing of all the sounds and
tones in the song. An ARR song may contain thousands of such tones, layered
fashionably. The SOUND ENGINEER is responsible for balancing volumes, in
each layer, such that an important layer is not overshadowed by the sounds
in another layer, or all the layers together, makes only noise, thus making
every layer unclear. A sound engineer ensures that layer is perfectly
balanced. H. Sridhar was a legend. He knew, what ARR exactly wanted in each
layer. He used to improve the effects of synth-samples, and live
instruments, by enhancing their sounds. For eg: U have a beautiful intro to
the song 'Maham Maaye' in Puli. But it sounds plain for many of us, who have
been listening to ARR songs since years. It is not ARR's fault, it is ALSO
not the fault of the sound engineer(that he cannot match H Sridhar). We all
are used to H Sridhar's sound in those areas. Like, he would have enhanced
the quality levels, such that, we felt in something like, what I call a 3
Dimensional Sound (Where we virtually feel inside the song).
Take the song Khoyee Khoyee Ankhen from Tehzeeb. The song has a similar feel
of Maham Maye (The song was the basis for Mayya Mayya and Khalbali).. But
Khoyee Khoyee ankhen sounds MORE amazing and ecstastic than Maham Maaye, NOT
because it is better than Maham Maaye, juz because, the pads and tones had
been stylishly enhanced with H Sridhar's sound!
And this topic, is mainly regarding this issue. The absence of such a
MASTERTOUCH is missing nowadays in ARR's masterpieces.
