Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (censoring your songs)

[JSett]

Hey all, not sure where this should go so it's here. If it's supposed to be in 'Misc', sorry, I cant go in there

Quick question for those here that record their own stuff (and I guess listeners too) and have it out for the general public. My band occasionally has swear/cuss words in songs like most 'alternative rock' acts but we have been asked on a couple of occasions for 'clean' versions for broadcast. I'm actively trying to use less anyway but sometimes it's the perfect word for the sentiment or cadence of the line.

What is you preferred method of censoring naughty words? White noise PSSHP! Total word dropout? Quick reverse on the word? Replace word?... others?

Interested in what people listening prefer too as well, and what sounds less jarring to listen to.

[jthomas]

I have no experience in this, but I suppose that I would replace the offending word with one that sounded similar (e.g., "shirt" instead of "shit") or maybe replace the offending word with something odd and out of place (e.g., "fish" for "f**k"). Anyone listening close enough to catch it will know what was intended.

[Dr Tony Balls]

Other words but have fun with it. "this is what happens when you find a stranger in the alps" kinda shit.

[marqueemoon]

Another vote for a re-write here.

[Futuron]

Worst option is blanking it: sounds like a mistake and ruins the momentum of the song. Next worst is covering it with a beep: calls attention to the 1 word at the expense of everything else.

Replace the word with either something else of the same meaning, or something somewhat rhyming so everyone knows what you mean without it being distracting. (Like saying "barstool", "arms/amps" "ship" "mother father" etc.) Corny, but it's better than ruining the music with the other methods.