What do you do with your studio?

[Rokket]

This is my second thread, and while I know the title sounds like it belongs under a different post, bear with me, because it is a newbie question. This is going to be a bit long-winded, so please indulge me. I have been playing bass and guitar for more than 20 years, and have dabbled with drums now and again, but I am not going to be joining Rush anytime soon as a drummer... Anyway, I just started to seriously record my music just recently, starting with a Tascam mp01 4-track, and recently a Fostex mr-8. I only have a basic dynamic mic that I don't even know the name of, and a couple cheap guitars that I bought just to record with, and so that I don't lose my chops. I am in the Navy stationed in Japan, and all my good instruments are in storage until I retire later this year. I have a $350 yamaha keyboard and a yamaha dd-50 drum machine. A friend of mine gave me Vegas 5.0 software, and I already explained that in my previous post. I don't get stellar results from what I have, but it's good enough for me and the family. I noticed that a lot of you have pretty extensive studio setups that look a hell of a lot like the big-time studios that I have seen. While I was stationed in San Deigo, I used to go to Pasedena. I met George Lynch and Don Dokken, and hung out while they mixed down "Dream Warrior" at the Echo Chamber studio. So I was wondering why you have all that seemingly expensive stuff if it is home recording, and what you do with it? I have no need or desire to get what you have at this time. I explained in my other thread about my tight wad wife, and my pending retirement from the Navy is the reason I don't spend money on my hobby. I just need to satisfy my curiosity. Do you do stuff to make money with this?

[Blue Bear Sound]

Well, in my case - I have all "that stuff" because I run a commercial facility!

[Rokket]

Blue Bear,
I went on your studio site from other posts, and you were one of the guys I could understand. I am impressed with your knowlege and respect your opinion. I was mostly concerned with those who have studio setups in their bedrooms or in storage garages, and what they do with it. Thanks for the quick response!

[hasbeen]

Believe it or not, the prices for home studio equipment is reasonable compared to how much it used to cost to go in to a "real" studio back in the day. Hence, every body now seems to have some sort of recording facility under their roof, even if it is just "Garage Band" which comes on Mac OS bundled. Like any other hobby paired with typical male mentality, the home studio soon becomes an open moeny pit in the basement

[Richard Monroe]

Well, Rokket, I built my studio to record an album, and it became my personal play room for songwriting. I'm now involved in a series of small time commercial projects because I can. My mission is to break even, and own my studio outright, and I'm about half way there. I have no illusions about getting rich, or even quitting my day job, but if I do very well, I may be able to make my hobby pay for my hobby.-Richie

[Rokket]

Ask a simple question... I am always amazed at how fast my little quirky questions get answered on here. I hope like I didn't sound like I was questioning anyone's sanity or how they spend their time and money, and even with the simple set up that I have, I can see the need to expand in time, I was curious and now my curiosity has been satisfied. Thank one and all for taking time away from your work to indulge me. I respect the honesty and patience of all of you!

[Ingoloid]

I also just started to dabble in home recording. I'm in the Army and am also on my last year. My background is in computers, but have been playing guitar for years, so i thought I would try to merge the two. ditto....tight wad wife.

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by Ingoloid

I also just started to dabble in home recording. I'm in the Army and am also on my last year. My background is in computers, but have been playing guitar for years, so i thought I would try to merge the two. ditto....tight wad wife.

I have a limited background in computers that is growing each day. i've noticed that my skill level increases in all aspects the more I record, and eventually, I will have a studio for all of this. I have been lucky in that I have friends who tell me that they can "see a huge talent" in me, and have donated to the cause, so to speak. I have the friend who donated the software, and another helped me buy my Fostex mr-8. I think the wife will come around after I retire and start making serious money. I am greasing the wheels by letting her spend money to furnish and decorate the house right now....

[Track Rat]

In my case, the first few times I went to commercial studios I was mesmerized by the recording process and disappointed with the results I got. I wanted to record tunes and felt I could do it better myself at home. Thus the financial black hole was born. While I don't do it full time, I do about 10 bands a year. It subsidizes the ongoing expenditures for my basement studio.

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by Track Rat

In my case, the first few times I went to commercial studios I was mesmerized by the recording process and disappointed with the results I got. I wanted to record tunes and felt I could do it better myself at home. Thus the financial black hole was born. While I don't do it full time, I do about 10 bands a year. It subsidizes the ongoing expenditures for my basement studio.

That's a good idea. I bet a lot of people who are getting paid for it started out like that. It's true that sometimes the "professionals" can give you less than standard results. Just look at the over-production that killed the last White Snake album. Steve Vai and Adrian Vandenburg were the guitarist-for-hire with the band at the time, and they buried their brilliant guitar work in the mix with strings and other keyboards... a shame. I don't know if I would be doing something like that, I am not much for the engineering side of the house, although I do quite a bit of tinkering with my own stuff. I should go to school so I could learn how to mangle someone else's love children...

[mikeh]

Like most, I started recording my own material - originally on reel to reel (dubbing back & forth), then a Fostex 4 track to cassette, than a Fostex 8 track 1/4" reel, then to ADAT and currently to computer.

During that time I accumulated and upgraded various mics, preamps, effects units & processing gear (an a few guitars, keyboards, etc.)

This has been a work in process for the last 20 years or so. As I gained better gear (and hopefully better recording chops) I was able to pick up some outside projects including singer/songwriter demos, jingles, audio for industrial videos and soundtracks for a couple of independant films (and on occasion I get a song published).

So my little hobby studio on occasion crosses into the realm of project studio, but is not a true commercial studio (I don't do bands - since I'm not really set up to trck live drums).

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by mikeh

Like most, I started recording my own material - originally on reel to reel (dubbing back & forth), then a Fostex 4 track to cassette, than a Fostex 8 track 1/4" reel, then to ADAT and currently to computer.

During that time I accumulated and upgraded various mics, preamps, effects units & processing gear (an a few guitars, keyboards, etc.)

This has been a work in process for the last 20 years or so. As I gained better gear (and hopefully better recording chops) I was able to pick up some outside projects including singer/songwriter demos, jingles, audio for industrial videos and soundtracks for a couple of independant films (and on occasion I get a song published).

So my little hobby studio on occasion crosses into the realm of project studio, but is not a true commercial studio (I don't do bands - since I'm not really set up to trck live drums).

I am getting started much like you, but I started only a few years ago. My first recordings were into a built-in mic on a boom box. I would record my guitar, transfer the tape to my home stereo, and play it back while "overdubbing" to a new tape. I've come pretty far since then, and I don't know how far I will continue on this. Who knows, I may get bored and let it all go next week. I will just have to see what life drops in my lap........

[Cloneboy Studio]

Let's just say recording has changed a lot since Whitesnake mattered.... For less than 3 grand you can have a decent set up at home that will allow you to record things that would have required a moderate sized studio in the 80's, and with results as good as you are willing to make them.

And if you know what you are doing and market yourself you can make some bits of money recording--at least enough to pay for an ever increasing pile of gear in the basement/garage/whatever.

I urge you to avoid looking in the studio construction portion of this site. When you see some of the impressive basement studios other guys have built you will be tempted to do the same, but end up in the doghouse with the wife.

[radiorickm]

well, now this is gonna sound funny.

what little kid doesn't grow up dreaming of "making a record"

I learned to play guitar back when I was 10 or so. Of course by the time i was 13 I had a dream of doing an album....even picked the name for it.

skip forward about 25 years or so........

I have a great aunt who had always enjoyed my live playing (for family events and stuff) and asked me about a CD. I didn't have anything, and as she is getting very elderly, set out to make one.

So began the quest for knowledge.

This year i plan on delivering my "life long" dream as a christmas present.

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by radiorickm

well, now this is gonna sound funny.

what little kid doesn't grow up dreaming of "making a record"

I learned to play guitar back when I was 10 or so. Of course by the time i was 13 I had a dream of doing an album....even picked the name for it.

skip forward about 25 years or so........

I have a great aunt who had always enjoyed my live playing (for family events and stuff) and asked me about a CD. I didn't have anything, and as she is getting very elderly, set out to make one.

So began the quest for knowledge.

This year i plan on delivering my "life long" dream as a christmas present.

Now that's what I'm talking about. I wrote a song for my grandmother with the above mentioned process (It sounded like crap due to the built-in mic thing), but she never heard it because she passed away. I played it for my mother over the phone and got a tear. I guess that's what really got me going. I got a friend involved with the cheezy process later on, but he gave it up saying it felt stupid to him. I've kept at it, and stumbled on to all of this just poking around.

[drstawl]

I produce music that otherwise could not get produced.

My studio has no pro stuff. Just the best pile of compromises to get the job done. And it does!

[Rokket]

That's where I sit right now, too, but I bet on a much smaller scale. My "studio" is my living room or bedroom, when no one is home but me, and it all has to be put back or face the wrath of the wife. I don't do anything fancy, and the sound quality is not industry standard by any means, but it makes me happy right now as I learn how the process works. And I guess in the end, that's what matters most. I will outgrow what I have if I keep at it, but like I said before, I don't know how long this will keep my interest. Music has been a big part of my life since I was given my first guitar at age 6, and to that end, I have grown considerably. I just don't know how long I will keep interest in a genre, which like computers, seems to grow and change constantly. The only good aspect, as far as I can see, is that a lot of the technology is not necessarily outdated just because something new comes along. I know people are still using reel to reel quite effectively, and that analog still sounds warmer than digital, right now. I guess it's just a game of "we'll see" with me. Thank all of you once again for your valuable time and input. It's not wasted on these eyes.

[LemonTree]

I started playing guitar when I was 12. Was always recording myself on cassette then playing it back and playing over the top of it. Made it into a real studio when I was about 16 and cut three tracks that we handed out to various haunts that got us a lot of gigs. Jumped a few bands, toured for a few years in my early 20s, got into tour managing (life on the road sucks) got out of that. Started messing about with a demo of cubase 7-8 years ago, then the passion started and the lust kicked in. I recorded mainly nyself and the singer from the last band I was in for about 3 years in the bedroom with a Soundblaster 16 soundcard and done all the mixing in the box...we recorded over 30 songs we wrote together.

I got tired and frustraited mixing on the computer so went to buy a mixer....got a deal (2nd hand) on a 16 channel desk and a 8 track fostex reel to reel...didn't have any use for the fostex so I sold it and bought an 8in/8out soundcard.......that's where it started...about 2 years ago...I now have a large frame Allen & Heath Saber 24/16/16/2, good monitors, racks of compression, gates, reverbs and pre amps, amp simulators and a few decent mics. Last buy was a self built Pentium IV 3.0Gig system dedicated to recording. As a hobby I've probably spent about £3-4000 over the past 2 years.

I'm still in the bedroom. About a month back I recorded a friend here, 4 simple songs with just acoustic guitar and him singing. He paid me in beer for the weekend he was here recording. He sent the CD out to a few names he knew in the business. This weekend he opens for The Devine Comedy in Ireland as support for 8 shows, the last one at the Dublin Olympia.......all off the back of a drunken recording weekend in my bedroom.

I've got my eye on the garage now but I got laid off my full time job last week so maybe next year I'll get my sound proofing head on and get into that. I'm 35 now and time FLIES when you get this old. So for me, bedroom, to Garage soon I hope, maybe I'll get out the garage and into a decent sized place by the time I'm 40....IF I find another day job soon

Alec

[Rokket]

I don't think age has much to do with limiting passion, but it can sure do hell to your body! I am 37, 38 next month, and I am getting aches and pains in places that I never knew I had, and my hearing is shot from the 3 years I was playing bass for a heavy metal cover band. All I have left is my passion, and now loads of experience. I still feel like an 18 year old when I finish a song, and play it back mastered for the first time. Perhaps that's all you need, no?

[mikeh]

Rokket,

I'm 52 and I also still feel like an 18 year old every time I pick up an instrument or record something.

It's always amazed me that I can be sick as a dog or my back may ache so bad I can barely bend at the waist (I susepct hauling Hammonds back in the 60's & 70's may have soething to do with that) , but I drive to a gig, set up my gear and start playing and suddenly I feel fine.

Music (and the passion it creates) is truly a magical thing.

[Ronan]

Originally Posted by Rokket

I hope like I didn't sound like I was questioning anyone's sanity or how they spend their time and money

Of course not. Insanity is a given for anyone that would get into this recording circus.