What's your motivation for recording?

[famous beagle]

I wasn't sure exactly where to put this, but this seemed as good a spot as any.

I was just wondering where everyone else falls with this. I sometimes mistakenly assume that everyone on this site is a musician recording themselves (originals and/or covers), but I know that's not true.

So let me know your reason for owning a home studio (or just a studio -- not necessarily a "home" one -- if you'd like). Where on the spectrum do you fall?

Check out the poll for a bit more clarification. I realize that some people won't fit into any of the categories, but you can't please everyone.

Thanks

 

[Steenamaroo]

My motivation for getting into this and sticking at it is pure pleasure.
I've always been musical and just really enjoy creating/mixing etc. I love that moment when you're happy with, and sometimes surprised by, the final outcome.
I am a musician (kinda) but I don't write songs so I'm always looking for someone else to work with.

Lately money is a motivation too and I want to be able to earn from what I do, but what's wrong with that?

 

[Greg_L]

I want to be the next Madonna.

 

[fat_fleet]

I want to be the next Madonna.

You're almost old enough...

 

[polarity]

I've always loved music and wanted to sing but never really done it. Starting to record myself was a way to see if I was any good at it. It's grown since then, now I love recording. I enjoy the process. I still love singing but I'm no musician.

 

[TripleM]

I want to be the next Madonna.

You're just about there!! Keep working at it. sooooooo close.

 

[DM60]

I thought I could make good music, I'm starting to learn I was wrong. But I am still learning.

 

[PDP]

There's nothing better to do.

 

[gecko zzed]

I enjoy the process of recording more than I enjoy playing in public

 

[Greg_L]

I enjoy the process of recording more than I enjoy playing in public

Same here. I'm pretty much at the point that I despise gigs. It's not the playing, I love playing, I hate the satellite shit with gigs. Getting there early, load in, set up, hours of nothing, sitting through other shit bands, talking to stupid people that will forever have their names forgotten, play, tear down, drive home. That's a lot of suck for an hour of fun.

 

[Xdrummer]

When I was much younger we would record ourselves by bouncing between a couple of 2-track 1/4" reel to reel machines - we would play the tapes for friends and everyone would comment on what brilliant musicians we were - and I was hooked. Eventually I was in various bands that recorded "albums" at commercial studios (mostly 16 track at that time) and I paid attention to what the engineers did.

I bought a Fostex 4-track when affordable home recording first came out (way before digital, MIDI, etc.) just to record songs I wrote for personal vanity (I wanted to hear my songs, performed by me)

While I still record for "personal vanity" - and consider myself primarily a musician who enjoys the recording process - I now mainly record to get songs out to publishers - so I guess I record with the goal of fleeting financial gain.

 

[miroslav]

I want to be the next Madonna.

"Like a virgin, touched for the very first time"

I feel a Greg cover coming on....


I record because I really like the total, "in the studio" vibe.
If I had to choose between playing or recording, it would be recording, and for the most part, I kinda did that a long time ago...ptetty much for the same reasons Greg mentions.

Playing out was always great fun...but everything before and after, sucked for the most part, though on occasion, there were some fun practices and moments when the band, felt like a *band*...but those moments were always tainted by the BS stuff.

Over the years, there always have been, and still are, days where I yearn to play out, and I keep looking for some non-BS situation to get involved with....but around here, the majority of players are into 2-3 flavors of the same sold, boring ass covers...it's actually funny and sad in a way....like they pass around the same set lists.

Until I (or if I never) find a fun playing situation, I'll keep hrecording in my studio. I can always find enough there to keep me interested and entertained.

 

[Greg_L]

I do like practicing, I like "jamming" - even though I hate that term - I like playing music. I'd be perfectly fine being in a garage band that never left the garage. I just don't get off on doing it live. My ego doesn't need any stroking in that way, and music money has never been a consideration. I don't feel like I need to be heard or get my music out there. Gigs are just a necessary evil. If I wanna play music in a group, I'm gonna have to do some stupid fucking gigs because pretty much everyone else thinks gigs are the greatest thing ever.

 

[bongoboy]

I just got home from my first live performance in 4 years. Although it was a benefit for a very worthy cause, it was a reminder why I stopped gigging. The playing part was cool, but I am so done with lugging gear, getting home at ungodly hours, drunk people, cops who pull you over simply because you're driving late at night, etc. I'm not a kid any more. I'll happily stay in my little space and do what I want when I want and with whom I want. There's my motivation.

 

[chuckduffy]

Most people won't admit it, but I have no problem. I'm only in it for the money.

 

[Schwarzenyaeger]

Same here. I'm pretty much at the point that I despise gigs. It's not the playing, I love playing, I hate the satellite shit with gigs. Getting there early, load in, set up, hours of nothing, sitting through other shit bands, talking to stupid people that will forever have their names forgotten, play, tear down, drive home. That's a lot of suck for an hour of fun.

This, very much. I love playing a gig but it was always such a hassle. Loading everything into the van, going there, setting up, soundchecking...
You'd be there at 17 and wouldn't even play until 22. Once you got over the nervous tension of your first few gigs, those five hours turned into a giant, sluggish shitfest that would usually end in one bandmate drinking too much.

When I record I get to be at home and it's comfy. Also, I feel like I'm finally understanding what is actually coming out of my speakers.
My dream would be to get a job, probably (maybe a bit ironically) in live sound. While I don't enjoy the pre-gig wait as a band, I enjoyed the hustling of the staff when I got to shadow a friend of mine at the live venue he works at. There was a nice energy in the air.

Most people won't admit it, but I have no problem. I'm only in it for the money.

How's that been working out for you? What do you work as?

 

[gregoryg]

1. I don't know why but I've always been fascinated by the many different layers of audio tracks in a song. Even as a kid, I listened by focusing in on one piece of a song at a time (e.g., one time through I'll listen to just the cymbals, another time through I won't be able to focus on anything but a specific guitar part panned in a certain spot, next time maybe it's the vocals!). I love it! Blending all those layers and trying to wonder why a particular engineer did something one way and perhaps not another. Or finding little easter eggs like a hi-hat panned left coming through for just a split second in the middle as a snare gate failed to close fast enough!

2. Sorry if this sounds weird, but I only have so much listening time in my days (perhaps because I can only hear one track of a song at a time!) my time is limited to what I can listen to and so if I record my own stuff I never run out of things to listen to and analyze and go back in and tinker with. I love to listen, I love to tinker even more. So if I record my own music, I can tinker with it!

 

[ashcat_lt]

...usually end in one bandmate drinking too much.

That's how most of my gigs start!

I didn't really think about it, but what gregoryg said is almost exactly where I'm at, or at least its a large part of it.

Too, a lot of what I've recorded - especially of other people's work - was just because I wanted a recording of something maybe I heard live or whatever. Nobody else was lining up to record them, so I did it. And now 20 years later I can still listen to that great band of high school kids that never went anywhere.

Wait the question was musician or recording engineer? For me the two have never been separate.

 

[RAMI]

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[Greg_L]

I actually like gigging more now that I'm mixing guitar gigs in with my usual drumming gigs. It's really not the gigs though - I still pretty much hate them. I just like the change of scenery and getting to play with all my new guitar stuff. It's like a fresh mindset.