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Gear costs
Feb 16, 2018 21:40:52 GMT -6
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Post by jdc on Feb 16, 2018 21:40:52 GMT -6
how much does everyone think the average engineer spends on gear each year?
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Post by noah shain on Feb 16, 2018 22:02:53 GMT -6
I’d guess I’m a pretty average producer/engineer who owns his own, private use Studio in Los Angeles.
I’ve had a couple 2-5k years but I’d guess the average year for his average guy is around 12-15k.
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Gear costs
Feb 16, 2018 22:34:09 GMT -6
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jdc likes this
Post by c0rtland on Feb 16, 2018 22:34:09 GMT -6
Enough for new manufactures to keep popping up left and right every year. Seems to me the more people keep buying gear the less money everyone makes off using it. Probably follows the 80/20 rule still. Supply and demand of actual music is lopsided which makes sense of why the vast majority of artists don't seem to make a living off their music. Music is a reaction to life. I bet most the good stuff would be made whether money was on the table or not. Perfect situation for opportunists to take advantage of.
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Post by sean on Feb 16, 2018 22:51:05 GMT -6
I’m at the point where I have everything I need to make any record that comes through the door, but I usually make a couple purchases a year if a good deal comes up. But I’ve gotten to the point that I don’t buy anything for the studio unless it’s something I plan on keeping forever...and that usually means it cost $1000-$5000. Which is a drag :/
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Gear costs
Feb 16, 2018 22:52:49 GMT -6
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Post by jdc on Feb 16, 2018 22:52:49 GMT -6
Building up to that point how much per year were you spending and how many years did it take you to get there?
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Post by keymod on Feb 17, 2018 4:55:16 GMT -6
Leads to a discussion of Return On Investment ( ROI )
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Post by adamjbrass on Feb 17, 2018 8:20:39 GMT -6
I spent about $5000 last year
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Post by EmRR on Feb 17, 2018 8:42:25 GMT -6
Seems to be $5-7K, and probably selling off a similar amount.
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 17, 2018 9:12:53 GMT -6
Yeah, I haven’t spent nearly this much in the last two years, but in the past it has been $10-20k. Of course, a lot of that is funded by expediting current gear.
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 17, 2018 9:20:24 GMT -6
Leads to a discussion of Return On Investment ( ROI ) This has what’s led me to curb my spending...the absolute collapse of the music publishing business. Although, these days I’m returning investment through mixing other people’s product more than my own. It’s hard to justify a $7000 mic purchase when it would take over 100 million spins to recoup it. Needless to say, I’m a couple million short. |
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Post by popmann on Feb 17, 2018 12:28:47 GMT -6
We're not really discussing what "the average engineer spends on gear"....we're talking about studio ownership....and not always a business studio that cares about ROI. Nor, apparently understands the concept.  You don't justify the ROI on a $7k mic by getting enough spins to bring $7k+ in income....you have to justify that spending the $7k on the mic will generate $7k+ MORE income in spins than not and getting a standard market return on that $7k. In less tech terms--it means that to you need to show that using a $7k mic brings more spins than using an Sm7 or 414--or whatever decent studio mic you have already paid for.... I haven't spent anything above expense line items (software, computer parts/drives) in many many years. I've actually been selling my collection of gear to people who will give it a good home and enjoy it as more than I will. I view gear as tools--others, have a "love" of it...irrational as all love is. |
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Post by matt on Feb 17, 2018 13:02:44 GMT -6
others, have a "love" of it...irrational as all love is. Color me irrational. It will never be about ROI for me: nothing that I love in life, and the time/money spent chasing those loves, has ever been about making a buck. But my studio is not a commercial enterprise. I greatly admire anyone who tries to make a go of it - what a tough business to be in these days. It's just not for me. Every penny I spend merely facilitates indulgence in the common obsession for music that I share with my lifelong friends. We get together every Saturday night and talk, drink, and make music. They are evenings beyond price. Some people buy boats and jet skis; I buy compressors. And monitors. And a Kemper. And more compressors. $17K last year, but much less in 2018. I am finally set up. Except maybe for that Bettermaker hardware limiter. Or perhaps new conversion - that Dante Focusrite Red stuff looks pretty sexy. My other love is amateur astronomy. The equipment is at least as expensive, if not more so. Sometimes you just gotta say What The Heck - you can't take it with you. |
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Feb 17, 2018 13:33:15 GMT -6
Me personally, I don't spend much these days. Collected a lot of great gear over the years and have enough to satisfy my needs. I'd guess the average for pro audio spent on gear annually across the board to be 2 to 3K. That's a wild guess. No way to quantify that figure.
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Post by mrholmes on Feb 17, 2018 14:02:09 GMT -6
how much does everyone think the average engineer spends on gear each year? 12 years ago I was crazy about audio gear, but I turned back to normal - with a working brain -. With the invention of the DAW it turned step by step into a consumer business. I was one of the buy it all becasue you cant live without it- freaks. I recognized, in my opinion too late, that all the newsletters, and all the gear reviews are a big distraction from what it is all about -CREATING MUSIC-. It goes faster as you can say no and you substitude creating with buying. I stoped buying plug ins 2010 unless I want to support a single developper company such as Klanghelem, or they come for free with the Slate 14,99 sub Plan, or with Logic X updates. I buy hardware if good deals pop up, or I buy used on ebay. If I swing cash its for guitars, bases or others instruments. I think all the records I love could be done in my small home studio, except tracking drums. In some years I invest something like 200 bucks, but in the next year I buy a guitar for 2 K. I have everything I need.  |
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Post by Tbone81 on Feb 17, 2018 14:58:03 GMT -6
Leads to a discussion of Return On Investment ( ROI ) ROI is why I just bought a Pro VLA II instead of a Buzz Audio DBC. I'm to the point where I really have to justify every purchase I make. Still spending probably 3 - 4k a year on gear but that's almost all funded by selling old gear. I'm constantly cycling through things, slowly narrowing down by gear to just the great and essential pieces. |
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Gear costs
Feb 17, 2018 15:10:34 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 17, 2018 15:10:34 GMT -6
We're not really discussing what "the average engineer spends on gear"....we're talking about studio ownership....and not always a business studio that cares about ROI. Nor, apparently understands the concept. You don't justify the ROI on a $7k mic by getting enough spins to bring $7k+ in income....you have to justify that spending the $7k on the mic will generate $7k+ MORE income in spins than not and getting a standard market return on that $7k. In less tech terms--it means that to you need to show that using a $7k mic brings more spins than using an Sm7 or 414--or whatever decent studio mic you have already paid for.... I haven't spent anything above expense line items (software, computer parts/drives) in many many years. I've actually been selling my collection of gear to people who will give it a good home and enjoy it as more than I will. I view gear as tools--others, have a "love" of it...irrational as all love is. Well no shit. And he didn’t mention anything about studio ownership. Why am I not surprised you’re being obnoxious? |
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Post by popmann on Feb 17, 2018 15:19:15 GMT -6
Sorry. I come by it natural.
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Post by jampa on Feb 17, 2018 23:43:52 GMT -6
Last six years have been 3-5k
Probably more if I think about it
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Post by guitfiddler on Feb 18, 2018 0:12:23 GMT -6
I can't think about it!
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Post by Guitar on Feb 18, 2018 17:39:40 GMT -6
Cool thread. I think economics drives so much of our world. Worldwide, it's so fucking boring but it shapes everything we do.
Anyway, I'm probably in the $2-4,000 a year camp like some other people.
I also am selling about half of the things I buy, after some point of forming an opinion on all of it.
It's good to know that maybe I'll catch up gear-wise to some of you guys, some day.
It's just a slow thing for me since I have a fairly low expendable income.
I'm in a pretty big growth period right now. A lot of my mid-tier stuff is going bye-bye and replacing with keeper equipment.
Pretty exciting time in my little world. I'm really excited to see what happens by the end of this year.
One specific goal is to have some high end tracking compressors. 1176 and LA2 or something like that. We'll see!
And high-end mic builds are always on the table as well.
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Post by Ward on Feb 19, 2018 7:04:12 GMT -6
I'm in the higher range, I guess. A sloe year is $10,000 and this year has been $30,000 so far ands we aren't even in March yet
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Post by guitfiddler on Feb 19, 2018 20:04:42 GMT -6
I'm in the higher range, I guess. A sloe year is $10,000 and this year has been $30,000 so far ands we aren't even in March yet Nice! I hope to one day spend that in one day! But those days aren't here yet unfortunately, and probably never will be. |
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Post by c0rtland on Feb 21, 2018 0:01:43 GMT -6
I'm in the higher range, I guess. A sloe year is $10,000 and this year has been $30,000 so far ands we aren't even in March yet the last two years have been rather insane for myself. Let's just say daddy didn't have to pay too much in taxes this year. Depreciation schedules. Started selling off some stuff as I work out my flow here. Start a corp. people. |
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Post by drbill on Feb 21, 2018 10:26:12 GMT -6
I have had two REALLY good accountants over the last 30 years. The first was an EX IRS agent, a CPA and a Tax attorney rolled into one. He was expensive, but advised me AGAINST going the Corp route. Unfortunately he retired. My new accountant is awesome as well. He advised the same - no corp. I have paid very little to no taxes in the last 20 years. But I do tend to spend a LOT on gear every year. Part of the secret when I was renting out the studio for income was dividing my income as 75% rental income 25% wages. Now it's mostly royalty income. Both scenario's cut way down on SS taxes. Less Taxes = More Gear. |
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Post by Ward on Feb 21, 2018 10:31:04 GMT -6
I have had two REALLY good accountants over the last 30 years. The first was an EX IRS agent, a CPA and a Tax attorney rolled into one. He was expensive, but advised me AGAINST going the Corp route. Unfortunately he retired. My new accountant is awesome as well. He advised the same - no corp. I have paid very little to no taxes in the last 20 years. But I do tend to spend a LOT on gear every year. Part of the secret when I was renting out the studio for income was dividing my income as 75% rental income 25% wages. Now it's mostly royalty income. Both scenario's cut way down on SS taxes. Less Taxes = More Gear. You seem to be a like-minded individual who also knows how the system works nd that you do not need to avoid or evade taxes, but can invest in your craft and eliminate taxes!! I'm no tax lawyer, so please don't ask me for details . . . just go out and find a good adviser like our friend drbill has done. |
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You don't justify the ROI on a $7k mic by getting enough spins to bring $7k+ in income....you have to justify that spending the $7k on the mic will generate $7k+ MORE income in spins than not and getting a standard market return on that $7k. In less tech terms--it means that to you need to show that using a $7k mic brings more spins than using an Sm7 or 414--or whatever decent studio mic you have already paid for....
