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#2782 - 08/08/01 09:07 PM

How have *you* streamlined your studio or the recording process?

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Registered: 03/13/01
Posts: 1999

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We've had a couple topics lately about wanting less control over your studio and this is kind of an offshoot of that...

I was wondering what tricks/tips you have on streamlining either your studio or recording process.

I'm very much into ergonomics and having a comfortable/transparent-as-possible environment to work in. I was doing some tracking this week (just me, engineering/playing/singing/etc.) and found that it's great to have *EVERYTHING* out at once. Like, it's great to always have a mic stand with a mic on it ready to go on a moment's notice.

I also realized that I almost never play my bass, although I frequently play my electric and acoustic guitars. The reason is because my bass is always packed away in the closet, but my other guitars are always out and on guitar stands -- where I'm more tempted to pick them up and play. So very soon I will be utilizing the *only* square foot of available floor space in my studio for a bass stand.

Granted, this method of working has left me with virtually no space (good thing I'm not collaborating with anyone -- as it stands, my studio can only fit one person)... But it's working for me at the moment.

What have you done to streamline your studio or recording process? I'm especially interested in any unorthodox methods to speed things up, make the technology more user-friendly/transparent, or keep the creative process going when you're feeling inspired.

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#2783 - 08/08/01 10:37 PM

Re: How have *you* streamlined your studio or the recording process?

SteveRB
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Registered: 01/12/01
Posts: 1795
Loc: California

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I've moved my digital piano out of the studio because it is too hard on my hands. I have pretty bad arthritis and that keyboard has always been a problem for my hands (I'm thinking about donating it to a highschool and taking a tax deduction). The good news is that I can now get my other keys in the room. I only have 3 electric guitars and they are on guitar stands and within arms reach.

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#2784 - 08/08/01 10:46 PM

Re: How have *you* streamlined your studio or the recording process?

Rod S
MP Hall of Fame Member

Registered: 12/12/00
Posts: 2789
Loc: São Paulo, Brasil

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I got everything hooked up so that all my synths are connected all the time. All the keyboards have their own midi port into the computer so I can sequence with any of them without having to set anything up, and they are connected to the audio interface so I can record with them directly as well. All the midi is connected so that I can still access all the modules from the master controller even with the computer off (bypass the computer midi interface. Arranged all the modules so that they sit near eye level when I'm in front of the master controller. No more stuff at knee height.

The ergonomics need work, but my bedroom is cramped. Need to move before I can do anything about it. November and December is starting to look like a good move time.

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#2785 - 08/09/01 06:01 AM

Re: How have *you* streamlined your studio or the recording process?

d gauss
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Registered: 02/15/01
Posts: 3231
Loc: Somewhere in the Swamps of Jer...

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i threw away all my recording gear and now i just play on the street outside the big record companies doors hoping some exec will see me and help pay my rent....

-d. gauss

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#2786 - 08/09/01 06:57 AM

Re: How have *you* streamlined your studio or the recording process?

Master Zap
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Registered: 12/22/00
Posts: 698
Loc: -,,SWEDEN

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I echo the idea of having everything connected and I also have everything always ON. (Yes I never turn a device off!)

I have all synths always wired to the mixer and to MIDI. I would never get anything done otherwise... to lazy to rewire stuff

But my biggest streamlining was to get a new computer that can do DAW (my old 200 Mhz machine w. slow disks running NT 4.0 just choked or lost MIDI timing). It made it a LOT easier to record w. my wife singing.

Can you even imagine the druggery of using an ASR-X sampler for all the vocal takes? With a 32 MB max RAM capacity? And a really stupid system for deleting takes? Ouuuch. It was Abbey-road 4-track like working methods for that. I shudder at the thought but a lot of the early " Nina tracks were recorded w. that method (shiver) which also explains the small amount of vocals in 'em ("Sorry hon you cant sing no more the sampler is full").

/Z

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#2787 - 08/09/01 07:04 AM

Re: How have *you* streamlined your studio or the recording process?

Max Ventura
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Registered: 11/13/00
Posts: 489
Loc: Coastal city of Fano, ITALY

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My guitars are hanging from the wall - nothing on the floor; each has its cable attached and there's a Zoom amp simulator always hooked up under the main desk for them.
The keyboards are on the left of a U-shaped setup. The DJ coffin is at the right, and in the middle is a studio desk on wheels with built-in speaker stands, several rack spaces, a sliding underdesk and the main mixing board on top. All MIDI ins & outs are connected with their own port on a MIDI patch bay. Two audio patch bays are there, too. So any connection I need to make, is ready in front of me. There also is an available deck on top for whatever piece of equipment might happen to chance in and be auditioned right away. I think I'm the king of streamlining.

_________________________
Max Ventura,
from the Italian Adriatic Coast, motorcycle country.

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#2788 - 08/09/01 09:41 AM

Re: How have *you* streamlined your studio or the recording process?

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Registered: 03/13/01
Posts: 1999

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Quote:

Originally posted by Master Zap:
Can you even imagine the druggery of using an ASR-X sampler for all the vocal takes? With a 32 MB max RAM capacity?

...

("Sorry hon you cant sing no more the sampler is full").

Yes, actually I can!

I did a 4-song R&B demo project and recorded not only all of the lead vocals, but comp background vocals *AND* all of the drum sounds *AND* all of the synth sounds on my maxed out ASR-10 (which I think has a built in RAM limitation of 16 MB? I don't remember -- it's been so long since I bought the thing). I had a sequencer at the time, but not one which would record audio, so I made the best of what was available.

Surprisingly, the project turned out OK... But the vocals were the most labored-over, pseudo-spontaneous-sounding I've ever recorded. Luckily, the vocalist was very professional (imagine equal parts Aretha Frankin and Whitney Houston) and could pull off a spontaneous-sounding vocal take even if it was pieced together... But I *hated* working that way, that's for sure.

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#2789 - 08/09/01 11:34 AM

Re: How have *you* streamlined your studio or the recording process?

AEW
Senior Member

Registered: 06/04/01
Posts: 205
Loc: Sydney,,AUSTRALIA

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Hi guys
Some great tools in my studio are.... my patch bay and Midi interface. Every goes through them, always connected.

Nick

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#2790 - 08/09/01 12:22 PM

Re: How have *you* streamlined your studio or the recording process?

strat0124
MP Hall of Fame Member

Registered: 04/03/01
Posts: 5056
Loc: ,VA,UNITED STATES

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Quote:

Originally posted by d gauss:
i threw away all my recording gear and now i just play on the street outside the big record companies doors hoping some exec will see me and help pay my rent....

-d. gauss

Man I swear...you are a funny MOFO......thanks for the laugh.
Gene

_________________________
Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in

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