gmiller1122
Addled but happy
I know this may be out of place here, since this is HOME recording, but I'm considering buying some studio time at a local studio for the following reasons:
1. Experience. Never done it, curious about the process. I see it as an adventure.
2. Impatience. I've been recording on my own for about a while now, and the learning curve is so immense. I'm itching to get a different/better sound. Plus, all the compression/EQ/panning/mastering lingo is making my head spin. I'm not a techie at all.
3. Time. As has been said in other posts, "Time spent recording/mixing is time you don't spend writing and practicing." I like to be able to home record, because it's convenient and somewhat interesting to me, but I'm not getting any younger and want to spend as much time getting better at writing, singing, and playing guitar, and not so much on mixing, recording, etc.
4. Money. It is no longer an issue. We are very fortunate to be able to afford fun things now. I am even paying a friend to shoot a video for one of my songs, just for fun. A few years ago, this was impossible. I could spend several grand on studio equipment, but I'm a songwriter first, musician second, and home recordist is down the list. So, I have the cash, and figure, why not try this? I could spend it on a lot of other stupider things, right?!?
All this being said, I'm wondering where to begin, what to expect, etc. Some questions (and I realize every studio will be different and I need to talk to them at length)...
- Do studios charge by the hour or per song? Depends? Is each different?
- Will they bring in musicians if I ask? Do they have studio musicians usually? What if they do, and I play with them, and I hate their style? I don't gig now, and don't really know many people who play that I could bring into a studio with me.
- What if I get started, then feel that the people/person is taking too much liberty with my music? Is it too late then to back out? When do I pay?
- Is it okay to ask for references -- others they've worked with? This seems logical, but I'm not familiar with the unwritten 'rules' if there are any.
- I'm not a great player or singer -- I'm kind of sloppy at times, but I like that, and I like bands that allow for nuances and grittiness in their music. I don't want to be overproduced or ultra-polished, just better than what I can do at home. So, should I feel self-conscious about my limited talents, or do the engineers and other professionals deal with this all the time? I mean, if my grandma had $1000 to spend, but was awful, wouldn't they record her anyway?
- Finally, I live about an hour outside of Syracuse, NY. I teach, so the summers are pretty much free. Is anyone familiar with the studios around the area, even state-wide? Any ones to avoid? I've looked up some in the yellow pages, but I figured I'd ask if anyone here had insights before I just start cold-calling.
So many questions! I'm excited about the possibilities, and am eager to get your experiences/advice/thoughts. Oh, my influences include Joe Henry, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, BoDeans, Jayhawks, The Silos...roots rock I guess, if I had to give it a label.
Also, here is my site with a few songs I recorded on my own.
http://www.geocities.com/gmiller1122/
Thanks!
G
1. Experience. Never done it, curious about the process. I see it as an adventure.
2. Impatience. I've been recording on my own for about a while now, and the learning curve is so immense. I'm itching to get a different/better sound. Plus, all the compression/EQ/panning/mastering lingo is making my head spin. I'm not a techie at all.
3. Time. As has been said in other posts, "Time spent recording/mixing is time you don't spend writing and practicing." I like to be able to home record, because it's convenient and somewhat interesting to me, but I'm not getting any younger and want to spend as much time getting better at writing, singing, and playing guitar, and not so much on mixing, recording, etc.
4. Money. It is no longer an issue. We are very fortunate to be able to afford fun things now. I am even paying a friend to shoot a video for one of my songs, just for fun. A few years ago, this was impossible. I could spend several grand on studio equipment, but I'm a songwriter first, musician second, and home recordist is down the list. So, I have the cash, and figure, why not try this? I could spend it on a lot of other stupider things, right?!?
All this being said, I'm wondering where to begin, what to expect, etc. Some questions (and I realize every studio will be different and I need to talk to them at length)...
- Do studios charge by the hour or per song? Depends? Is each different?
- Will they bring in musicians if I ask? Do they have studio musicians usually? What if they do, and I play with them, and I hate their style? I don't gig now, and don't really know many people who play that I could bring into a studio with me.
- What if I get started, then feel that the people/person is taking too much liberty with my music? Is it too late then to back out? When do I pay?
- Is it okay to ask for references -- others they've worked with? This seems logical, but I'm not familiar with the unwritten 'rules' if there are any.
- I'm not a great player or singer -- I'm kind of sloppy at times, but I like that, and I like bands that allow for nuances and grittiness in their music. I don't want to be overproduced or ultra-polished, just better than what I can do at home. So, should I feel self-conscious about my limited talents, or do the engineers and other professionals deal with this all the time? I mean, if my grandma had $1000 to spend, but was awful, wouldn't they record her anyway?
- Finally, I live about an hour outside of Syracuse, NY. I teach, so the summers are pretty much free. Is anyone familiar with the studios around the area, even state-wide? Any ones to avoid? I've looked up some in the yellow pages, but I figured I'd ask if anyone here had insights before I just start cold-calling.
So many questions! I'm excited about the possibilities, and am eager to get your experiences/advice/thoughts. Oh, my influences include Joe Henry, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, BoDeans, Jayhawks, The Silos...roots rock I guess, if I had to give it a label.
Also, here is my site with a few songs I recorded on my own.
http://www.geocities.com/gmiller1122/
Thanks!
G
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