#1683957 - 10/14/05 07:53 AM
So... what do the Pro's think...
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synkrotron
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Registered: 09/22/05
Posts: 17
Loc: UK
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... of all us amateurs doing our own thing nowadays?
I know that most of the established bands and bands that are being pushed by the labels are still going to use pro studios with many people working to get the end product. Most of us, however, can't afford to pay pro prices and people like myself end up saving up for gear and trying (and I mean trying LOL) to do it ourselves... from conception to final mastered mix.
Do you guys feel bitter about this or is the situation I describe not a real issue?
There are quite a few home recordists here and I've been reading around quite a few of the diffent topics in the EQ mag section and notice that you pro's are quite helpful.
just wondering... ...
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#1683958 - 10/14/05 12:36 PM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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It is an almost endless source of amusement.
More people recording = more work for everybody.
More people interested in recording = more knowlege being shared.
More poeple working from a solid knowlegable foundation = more work for me.
Because it does not take long for a smart person to figure out that, though they can buy $10 knock-offs of my equipment, they cannot get big dollar sound from their setups. And they cannot buy my experience at any price.
So keep the interest high, that works for me. Eventually, you'll likely want a top quality recording, and from what you have learned trying to do it yourself, you will be a better shopper than if you knew nothing and just wanted to cut some tracks anywhere that would have you.
Bitter, no way, no reasn to be bitter. What -does- make me crazy is when a know-nothing come in and wants to tell me what I should own or what is wrong with what I have.... because they read it in a magazine or saw it at Guitar Center.
But the people who spend a lot of time learning to record, even though they may not be able to make a top quality recording on their own in their rooms with what they can afford and what they know, are appreciative of what we are able to do in our spaces with our gear and knowlege, when they see it and hear it being done.
Bill
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
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#1683959 - 10/15/05 12:33 AM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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mattwine
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Registered: 08/05/05
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Do you always need a "pro" engineer to make a good record? No.
Are there a whole lot of crap homemade recordings out there right now?
Yes, more than ever.
There's also this new alarming trend of badly recorded tracks done cheaply at home, which are then sent out to a mix engineer to be sound replaced, autotuned, and reamped in the mixing stage.
That's no way to make a record.
There's a reason these "pro" folks are hired for big budget projects. They get results consistantly.
That's not to say you can't make a cool record at home, because it absolutely can be done.
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#1683960 - 10/15/05 07:14 AM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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BrianK
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Registered: 12/17/00
Posts: 228
Loc: Los Angeles,CA,UNITED STATES
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There's always been the theory (since the days of 4-track home recorders) that some briliiant person can finally express their music and it will reach the world. However, the reality is that we haven't seen much of that. The percentage doesn't go up, nor does it change much.
Theoretically, the "old system" of labels was akind of filtering proces - VERY few people made recordings, and they were pre-screened to be good by getting a label deal. And for most of those bands, they had worked the live circuit for a while and could play, sing, and write pretty well.
However, many people now have recording "power" far exceeding the Beatles. BUT how many make BETTER records than the Beatles. It's not about the gear...
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Relax and float downstream...
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#1683961 - 10/15/05 01:33 PM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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synkrotron
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Registered: 09/22/05
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Loc: UK
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Thanks guys... interesting answers
I was going to ask you to check out something I recorded the other day... a four piece guitar rock band in my little studio... but I've listened to it some more and I reckon that I'm still not worthy just yet... I need loads more practice before I start bugging you for answers :^)
andy
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#1683962 - 10/15/05 04:29 PM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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BrianK
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Registered: 12/17/00
Posts: 228
Loc: Los Angeles,CA,UNITED STATES
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No - it's not like we're PRO and everyone else isn't. It's just SOUND and everyone can make judgements of where it should bend. Recording IS about choosing, about selecting from the hundreds of options at any one time. Sometimes, people will have good choices they coudl advise you on right away, upon hearing something.
But it's ALL an opinion....
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Relax and float downstream...
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#1683963 - 10/15/05 07:05 PM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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J.J. Blair
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Registered: 07/22/05
Posts: 326
Loc: Hollywood, CA
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I will worry when somebody who just bought a Digi 001 rig last year makes a record that sounds as good as the stuff that I do. Until that time, I'm not going to lose any sleep. However, I'm glad that they have the ability to express themselves musically and make recordings, and I have no problem sharing informatuon with them to help them make stuff sound better. I have lost work to people who have decided to do something themselves, and in almost all cases, with the exception of some very talented folks who already had made a few records and had lots of real studio experience, the results always suffer.
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Friends don't let friends act like rockstars.
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#1683964 - 10/16/05 05:33 AM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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BrianK
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Registered: 12/17/00
Posts: 228
Loc: Los Angeles,CA,UNITED STATES
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The pro just has to offer them something tangible that they realize is worth the effort. 25% better sound quality isn't worth it to them: They usually don't hear that great a difference between a vocal sound they get at home and one in many studios.
However, I always like to show them how much FASTER it is to do it with a pro. I show them how the results are clearly better (arrangement ideas they could never do, amps/keys/gtrs they don't have, mix speakers that translate well). Don't hesitate to remind them "how good this is" if it really is, no BS...
PLUS, we all have the "look how good I did with only a $200 mic" feeling, and it IS cool to show how great you can fake an orchestra, or get a room sound that isn't there.
Or do Photoshop artwork yourself instead of giving to a REAL GRAPHIC ARTIST who knows the difference between "pro" artwork and a studio guy doing Photoshop. I always give my albums to a graphic pro and the results are clearly better.
_________________________
Relax and float downstream...
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#1683965 - 10/24/05 12:26 PM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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philbo_Tangent
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Registered: 10/08/00
Posts: 1175
Loc: Iowa
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I've found that, just like everywhere else, the people who know the least tend to communicate their opinions and beliefs the most and the loudest. Unfortunately.
But, in general, home studio efforts are a step on a pathway. Some people never complete the trip, others do. The fun, however, is in the travelling...
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#1683966 - 10/24/05 12:39 PM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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Chuck Zwicky
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Registered: 01/27/05
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Loc: NY, NY
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Brian has alluded to another aspect to all of this, and that is the spirit of collaboration. All great work requires it to some degree. Music is after all a social art form.
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#1683967 - 10/24/05 12:57 PM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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Registered: 08/23/03
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Originally posted by philbo_Tangent:
But, in general, home studio efforts are a step on a pathway. Some people never complete the trip, others do. The fun, however, is in the travelling...
I've always maintained that, no matter how much equipment a small or basement studio owner buys and no matter how good they get at what they do, the big rooms have it down for sound. And big rooms are harder and harder to come by. This one took my breath away. We also went to Electric Lady(land) and that was way cool for the vibe and the history, (and the trip will live in my mind forever...) but the room itself was what one might expect. RightTrack though, geee........
Bill
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
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#1683968 - 10/25/05 05:01 AM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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BrianK
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Registered: 12/17/00
Posts: 228
Loc: Los Angeles,CA,UNITED STATES
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Interesting you should mention that place specifically;. I was last there a LONG time ago, and the session was about a week of guitar overdubbing with one 57 right on the speaker.
It sounded fine, but I remember thinking - "they could be doing this in some guy's house..."
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Relax and float downstream...
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#1683969 - 10/25/05 06:49 AM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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Originally posted by BrianK:
It sounded fine, but I remember thinking - "they could be doing this in some guy's house..."
Sure don't want their heating bills.
Bill
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
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#1683970 - 10/25/05 10:14 AM
Re: So... what do the Pro's think...
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J.J. Blair
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Registered: 07/22/05
Posts: 326
Loc: Hollywood, CA
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All that sound proofing makes for very effecient insulation, though!
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Friends don't let friends act like rockstars.
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