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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 3, 2021 17:14:08 GMT -6
COMMUNITY Having the fortune of coming up through various studios, it’s Community which is the strongest element absent for the Home recordist. So what do I mean? You don’t find at 1234 East MyHouse St. a complex of studios with, say, DuranDuran in B, Joni Mitchell in C, and a “Movie of the Week” score going down in A. Imagine the quantity and quality of talent present on that single evening. Not just the artist, but the engineering staff, arrangers, contractors, cartage, piano tuners, session musicians, technicians, etc.. The exposure and cross-pollination is just beyond. Hanging out in the lounges or hallways rubbing elbows, sharing ideas and experiencing that hive energy... no substitute on earth. Nothing comes close. Community Those types of stories are so inspiring, but does that really happen anymore? I suppose I've been in studios where this or that artist stopped by to pick up some roughs or this producer popped in to drop off a borrowed mic, but nothing like what you're describing. Maybe the studios in Austin aren't structured the same way as L.A. or NYC?
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 3, 2021 17:17:45 GMT -6
My answer is: everything. A friend of mine that's in a couple bands I engineer/mix is working on a solo record, and he decided he wants to engineer and mix it all himself. He bought some total garbage gear, set it up in his untreated apartment, downloaded a free DAW, watched some YouTube videos on how to engineer, and has been making his record. It sounds absolutely atrocious. His bandmates want me to lead an intervention because they don't have the heart to tell him how bad it sounds. It's really too bad because some of the songs are brilliant, but they will never get any radio play and never get added to a streaming playlist because the sonics are unlistenable. The songs will disappear and never be heard. The trend over the last couple of decades is everyone wants to have their own studio. Unfortunately, even $5k is just enough to put together a garbage studio. That same $5k could be used to record a full album in a top-tier studio with a seasoned and accomplished engineer. Besides the gear aspect, people who try to get good at everything tend to fail at everything. It takes years to get good at mixing, and every hour you spend learning to mix is an hour you could've spent getting better at your instrument or writing songs, which are things that music fans really care about. Then there are the less tangible and less noticed things that others have mentioned in this thread that really add up to a big difference: the ambience/mood of the place, the efficiency and workflow of a professional, an engineer with a calm and non-judgemental demeanor that puts musicians at ease and allows them to give their best performances, the little things like coffee, a phone charger, some candles, a clean bathroom... First of all, this is really true in many, many cases. But it's also kind of binary thinking. Is it a waste of time for an artist to learn about paint composition? I'd say no. Are there some songwriters that are more inspired when they have the tools to create what they're creating right in front of them? An entire industry exists for this, so of course. It's not a zero sum game. Your friend can learn to make his stuff sound not like garbage and also spend time on his songwriting or performing craft. But just like I don't go on stage and perform on the instrument I just starting fiddling with last week, it's probably not smart to try to make a definitive release with your "A material" before you have some idea of how to do this thing called recording.
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Post by gwlee7 on Mar 3, 2021 17:21:53 GMT -6
2006: I'm listening to tracks that I captured during my first live recording of a 7-piece trad Irish band. Me: I'm really disappointed in how these came out Friend: I think those horns sound pretty good. Me: Those are violins... You mean that wasn’t a banjo on the tracks you sent me?
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 3, 2021 17:28:23 GMT -6
COMMUNITY Having the fortune of coming up through various studios, it’s Community which is the strongest element absent for the Home recordist. So what do I mean? You don’t find at 1234 East MyHouse St. a complex of studios with, say, DuranDuran in B, Joni Mitchell in C, and a “Movie of the Week” score going down in A. Imagine the quantity and quality of talent present on that single evening. Not just the artist, but the engineering staff, arrangers, contractors, cartage, piano tuners, session musicians, technicians, etc.. The exposure and cross-pollination is just beyond. Hanging out in the lounges or hallways rubbing elbows, sharing ideas and experiencing that hive energy... no substitute on earth. Nothing comes close. Community Those types of stories are so inspiring, but does that really happen anymore? I suppose I've been in studios where this or that artist stopped by to pick up some roughs or this producer popped in to drop off a borrowed mic, but nothing like what you're describing. Maybe the studios in Austin aren't structured the same way as L.A. or NYC? Obviously, nowhere near that level at my place, but I think most people that come in feel the sense of community. We have a lot of cross pollination with artists playing with each other at my spot. Different players sitting in on peoples songs and stuff.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 3, 2021 18:11:19 GMT -6
Those types of stories are so inspiring, but does that really happen anymore? I suppose I've been in studios where this or that artist stopped by to pick up some roughs or this producer popped in to drop off a borrowed mic, but nothing like what you're describing. Maybe the studios in Austin aren't structured the same way as L.A. or NYC? Obviously, nowhere near that level at my place, but I think most people that come in feel the sense of community. We have a lot of cross pollination with artists playing with each other at my spot. Different players sitting in on peoples songs and stuff. Yeah, that's the vibe in Austin for sure. The place I did my last "proper" record very much has that same feeling. I've played on probably five records there and only one of them my own. Sort of place you could swing by just to say hi and hear who's working if you felt like it. Not quite the same as seeing John Lennon pouring himself coffee in the break room but... it's got it's own charm.
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Post by jeremygillespie on Mar 3, 2021 18:23:34 GMT -6
Powerstation / Avatar used to be like that. With as many rooms as they had it would be hard to not run into people the way it was set up.
Bummer that it got “Berkleeeed”
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 3, 2021 19:50:15 GMT -6
In the old-ish days in Austin, Music Lab in was where about 65% of bands rehearsed. You could walk through the halls and literally trip over the replacement bass player you just found out you needed for that night.
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Post by brenta on Mar 3, 2021 19:58:49 GMT -6
Powerstation / Avatar used to be like that. With as many rooms as they had it would be hard to not run into people the way it was set up. Bummer that it got “Berkleeeed” Damn, I didn't know that happened. While it is a bummer that it's no longer 100% commercial facility, I'm sure if Berklee hadn't bought it, it would be probably be a condo or office building like most of the others are now. It looks like Power Station New England is still independent though?
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Post by bigbone on Mar 3, 2021 21:04:27 GMT -6
Gear doesn't matter if you got shitty musicians,it's all start from there.
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Post by srb on Mar 3, 2021 22:17:38 GMT -6
Gear doesn't matter if you got shitty musicians,it's all start from there. A shitty song recorded well is still a shitty song.
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Post by askomiko on Mar 3, 2021 22:59:31 GMT -6
Gear doesn't matter if you got shitty musicians,it's all start from there. A shitty song recorded well is still a shitty song. All the songs on the radio are shit, but well done shit.
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Post by srb on Mar 3, 2021 23:15:13 GMT -6
A shitty song recorded well is still a shitty song. All the songs on the radio are shit, but well done shit. That is, and remains contingent upon what radio one listens to.
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Post by Guitar on Mar 4, 2021 5:39:58 GMT -6
My big head-trip lately is, ORGANIZATION.
All rack gear is patched on the patchbay, anything not getting used is OUT OF THE ROOM, this is an artistic space, not a storage unit/studio.
Plugin folders organized. No unused plugins in the folder, arranged by catgeorys. DAW templates for every session type, channel presets for every common track type, and so on.
Goes without saying but everything is clean and tidy, squared up, nothing too cramped.
If you are having trouble with loud drums and monitoring / other people issues just get some e-drums. Use what you need, not what you "wish you could use." Work with your space.
Anything broken needs to get fixed, no excuses. Everything has to work all the time.
Guitars on hangers, tuned, etc. Little places for cables and drum sticks, etc, guitar picks and so on. Coozies on the table for coffee cups, etc.
Monitors in every "zone" that needs them. For example your piano zone away from the main DAW station, you need speakers there.
You get the point.
I didn't realize how far off base I was until I started the big re-org a couple weeks ago. It has taken me almost two weeks of full time work to get where I am today, and I feel inspired, creative, and productive. Just do it!
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Post by svart on Mar 4, 2021 8:21:08 GMT -6
__ Years of experience and failure __
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 4, 2021 10:05:56 GMT -6
All rack gear is patched on the patchbay, anything not getting used is OUT OF THE ROOM, this is an artistic space, not a storage unit/studio. Goes without saying but everything is clean and tidy, squared up, nothing too cramped. Putting my "artist/talent" hat on... these are must-haves for me when selecting a studio/engineer/producer/whatever. I need to feel like I am bringing my project to its home, not like I am working in someone else's space. I know your wife wants those extra mic stands out of the garage, I get it, but I don't want them in the room that I'm paying $400/day for either.
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Post by Ward on Mar 4, 2021 10:24:06 GMT -6
I wonder how much we are seduced by all the "fun" tools to mix and fix and how much that directs our attention to the wrong place. I use those tools during tracking. Get it working before rolling tape. +1 (I know so 2010 but I just had to)
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Post by Ward on Mar 4, 2021 10:25:22 GMT -6
__ Years of experience and failure __ You mean "instant gratification" wasn't an option? LOL
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 4, 2021 11:01:20 GMT -6
I use those tools during tracking. Get it working before rolling tape. +1 (I know so 2010 but I just had to) Wait, people don't do "+1" anymore? Dammit, nobody told me...
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Post by teejay on Mar 4, 2021 11:11:16 GMT -6
__ Years of experience and failure __ You mean "instant gratification" wasn't an option? LOL An option which now goes hand-in-hand with today's unreasonable expectation, lack of motivation, shortened attention, and overt self-absorption.
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Post by chessparov on Mar 4, 2021 18:05:07 GMT -6
And what about the negative character traits?.. Chris
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Post by chessparov on Mar 4, 2021 18:06:20 GMT -6
__ Years of experience and failure __ Hey-No politics here! Chris
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Post by swurveman on Mar 5, 2021 10:05:38 GMT -6
I think it’s varies with individuals where best to put your money in a home studio, but for me I would have a separate control room. For space reasons I went with a single room, but due to the loudness of the band I could never hear the shape of the song, which determines mic placement.
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Post by thehightenor on Mar 5, 2021 10:38:48 GMT -6
Vision.
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Post by dreamsambas on Mar 5, 2021 11:22:10 GMT -6
Figuring out the "best neve clone (on a budget)"
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Post by dreamsambas on Mar 5, 2021 11:22:23 GMT -6
How are you supposed to sound like the Beatles without a neve??
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