#974722 - 07/20/00 07:06 PM
What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Quantum
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Ed, (gm, & Roger Nichols if you guys cross-check into this post), and Peeps,
What do you all value in a good Assistant Engineer? Any hero, or horror stories out there? I value discretion, and organization
1st, and foremost in the broader sense, when
I start grading the performance of an Assistant Engineer?
Quantum!
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#974723 - 07/20/00 09:36 PM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Anonymous
Anonymous
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Horor story:
I had a big film score with an fairly well known composer and director, who valued the privacy factor at the studio where I was working. The new assistant decided on his own, without asking, to bring in his video camera and set up a tripod in the back of the room and film the session. He was asked to leave.
I think a good assistant knows when to talk and when to shutup. They can anticipate your needs and are one step ahead of your requests.
They bring a professional attitude to your session and aren't there just hanging out.
Well read, claravoiant, able to rescue any tape eaten by any machine. That's why they're rare.
------------------
Tiny G
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#974724 - 07/21/00 01:21 AM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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alphajerk
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knowledge to make a good cappucino. yep thats about it. oh yea, and good connections that are always in stock if ya know what i mean.
_________________________
alphajerk FATcompilation "if god is truly just, i tremble for the fate of my country" -thomas jefferson
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#974725 - 07/21/00 01:36 AM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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jpreceng@earthlink.net
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There are a few things in common with all the great assistants I've come across -- enthusiasm, thoroughness, and most importantly, paying attention to the details !! There's nothing better than the producer says "We're gonna do (blank)", and the assistant just goes and starts setting it up, or asks "how do you want to set up for (blank)?".It doesn't even take a lot of experience to get to that point -- just the willingness to help out however you can -- regardless of how mundane it may seem to you. Ralph Sutton said it best in an EQ interview a while back -- "You've got to learn how to serve before you can lead".
-John Paterno
[This message has been edited by jpreceng@earthlink.net (edited 07-20-2000).]
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#974726 - 07/21/00 03:39 AM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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c.cash
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Please! If you would (or, Quantum, if I may)... Could you also tell us what they do that you hate the most. The stuff that really gets under everyone's skin. Thanks!
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#974727 - 07/21/00 05:43 AM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Jon Atack
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When they talk too much or try to be the center of attention during the session.
When they aren't in tune with what the artist or I are doing or thinking. When their head isn't engaged in what's going on.
When they have a bad sense of timing.
When they can't be relied on.
When they don't remember the important details I mentioned to them several times already.
That's for starters.
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#974728 - 07/21/00 02:17 PM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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THE MIX FIX
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The best assistants should have my Iced Green Tea, ready, and cold.
Then, buy the drugs, and know when to dispense them.
Also, she should be a Female, so I can get a back rub, during a particularly long session. And the client can get something rubbed, as well.
Then, run out and get the food.
ALL the patches should always be done.
Any mic, keyboards, or drums should be setup.
They should know the automation and computer of the board, so I never have to enter anything.
The machines (Analogue) should always be aligned.
They should know EVERY piece of outboard gear, and ALL the MIDI modules, so if I need a patch, or to sync to code, it will be done, and I don't have to stumble over any menus or manuals.
All the cleaning, and striking of the console should be done by them.
The track sheets, and any other paperwork, should be done.
They should sit, quietly, out of the way, until needed, then snap to attention.
AND, most importantly, they should PAY ATTENTION, so they know where everything is at all times during the session.
Plus, they should be able to engineer, too.
Basically, know my job as well as I do, plus everything else.
Then, they can steal it from me, so I can trust them, and just Produce. 
------------------
Bob.
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#974729 - 07/21/00 11:08 PM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Pro Jules
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Just off colour as usual Bob!
Anyhooo!
Yarz.....
All the above and:
not having to tell them the same shit twice
+ obying certain orders to the letter,
for example, one of my pet peeves is....
I have a long speech worked out about what I want a 'green' assistant to do when, at my command, setting the DAT & or 1/2" running in record at mixdown.
I ask them to; please, press the buttons, visualy verify that thier button press' DID IN FACT set the machines running in record, then , in a clear submarine style call accross to me, state, "ROLLING!" nice and clear, interupting any control room chatter (inc mine) with a loud voice if nessary.
The mother F**kers, press the buttons and wisper "OK" or 'they are running'. or say OK as they press with out checking.... 
WHAT-THE-LIVING-F**CK IS WRONG WITH THEM?????
This is how to really piss of Jules while he is ready to put down a mix.
Jesus!
Anyhow, I rag on them till they learn this....
Jules
[This message has been edited by Julian standen (edited 07-21-2000).]
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#974730 - 07/22/00 08:11 AM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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c.cash
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See. That's beautiful. You guys are the dope-fly sh*t.
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#974731 - 07/22/00 07:06 PM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Quantum
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c.cash:
In response to your quote/question:
"Could you also tell us what they do that you hate the most. The stuff that really gets under everyone's skin."
Putting any liquid, or semi-liquid(i.e. food/
drinks) close to, or on top of some equipment that could get damaged by a drop, or spill.
That racks my very last nerve!
Quantum!
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#974732 - 07/22/00 11:20 PM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Pro Jules
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Making you a coffee or tea and not telling you it's next to you, right under the breeze from the air con.
Taking calls on their cel phone.
Asking a pant load of questions back after being set to do a simple task.
Giving up too easyly, (it's the second patch row down, THERE!, you moron)
Standing still and stopping work while talking, talk sure (if the time is right)but keep working AT THE SAME TIME stop working on a break only.
Jules
[This message has been edited by Julian standen (edited 07-22-2000).]
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#974733 - 07/23/00 12:17 AM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Jon Atack
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Yes! Good ones.
ROLLLLLING!!!
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#974734 - 07/23/00 03:32 AM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Anonymous
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I am also guilty of being VERY short with my assistants - sometime due to their incompetence but usually because when they dont respond as a reflex, they become an impedence to the process, which can be very frustrating. But ya gotta admit, they are just awesome when they are in the groove of the session - the creativity just kicks into high gear when the other side of your brain is taken care of by someone else that acts LIKE they are in your brain.
HORROR STORY - I was recording a young punk band, still in high school and they were in the studio for the first time. We were doing guitar o/dubs, and the bass player was constantly complaining that the guitars were making his bass sound small (another thread) and was really holding up what little time this band had allocated for the EP. I asked the assistant to take him downstairs, get him out of the control room and play Playstation or something - just get him outta here! We got all the guitars done, and we realised that 2 of the songs had an out of tune bass. I jumped downstairs to grab the bass player, only to see the assistant almost asleep on the couch. "Where is the bassplayer?" I asked. "Oh, he's been in the bathroom for ages, dude - you better see if he's okay..."
I opened the door to find this poor teenager absolutely green, curled in a fetal position in a sea of vomit. My assistant likes to smoke bongs when playing Playstation, and the bass player felt social pressure to smoke some pot with him. The name of my studio is "Smokin & Jokin Recordings", so I guess that didn't help.... He had never tried it, and the assistant had some chronic hydro buds in a big double barrel glass bong! I had to take a photo..... Needles to say we didn't get any bass dubs done that day!
Adam B http://www.angelfire.com/music/smokinjokin
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#974735 - 07/23/00 11:20 AM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Pro Jules
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I had an assistant give a borderline junkie singer speed, that 'jangled' him so much he careered back into smack for the duration of my session , phoned the studio manager early the next morning, when I walked in at Noon, we had a new man doing the job.
The guitarist in that band BTW was called Nigel, who later joined the super group Bush.
Jules
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#974736 - 07/23/00 08:22 PM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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THE MIX FIX
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Originally posted by Julian standen:
in a clear submarine style call accross to me, state, "ROLLING!" nice and clear, interupting any control room chatter (inc mine) with a loud voice if nessary.
(edited 07-21-2000).]
See, they thought you meant Rolling.... and then they should say Stones, and Ed would get upset, because he wasn't doing the session. 
Plus, that sounds very movie-like.. "Rolling...Action!!" 
How about just, "OKAY, JULES, LET IT RIP!!" 
------------------
Bob.
[This message has been edited by THE MIX FIX (edited 07-23-2000).]
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#974737 - 07/23/00 08:46 PM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Pro Jules
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Your'e fired!
Jules
My new assistant is quite 'musical'. We will have to work out just how often he pipes up with sugesstions. I haven't ivited him to co-produce with me, for the time being I want him to make coffe and keep the studio clean.
Danger being he could wear me out with suggestions, so that I disregard ALL of them, then miss out on the one really good one..
"I can see for miles" (the Who)
It's a dynamic that needs to be fine tuned.
Jules
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#974738 - 07/24/00 03:13 AM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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alphajerk
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the only time somebody better ever interrupt me to scream rolling, a big phat marley better be on the way.
_________________________
alphajerk FATcompilation "if god is truly just, i tremble for the fate of my country" -thomas jefferson
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#974739 - 07/24/00 02:19 PM
Re: What Do You Value In a Assistant Engineer?
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Anonymous
Anonymous
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Julian, I'm stealing your line "submarine style" for my next intern.
PERFECT!! Nothing worse than having to say "WHAT?" to your intern.
By the way, the "video taping intern" was on his last chance. The first problem was his ever so helpful "co-production" of some string charts.
I try to let them know that this will be an "engineering" internship at the begining.
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Tiny G
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