and with all of that said (without me having to open my mouth) cutting corners is an art. I don't like using the term "cutting corners" but I think I know what you're talking about, regardless. I'll just stick with the title of "cutting corners" to keep some amount of consistency. Knowing where to cut them, how to cut them, when to cut them. The reverse is also true... it's essential to know when NOT to cut corners.
Believe me, if you're working on a pretty ambitious project with not a very large budget... having a good horse sense of where to compromise and where cutting corners would compromise the quality of the project will be to your benefit (and in the eyes of your client, you will be a god amongst men when you can deliver just as good of a mix as the last guy but in half the time and half the price.)If you have a good sized budget, by all means, use the best of the best... but not all gigs will be that way.. especially if you like to remain in the strictly "CREATIVE" side of the music industry.
As I'll always say (as a long time audio dude who doesn't tend to hang out in audio circles very much, aside from strictly "business").. just because WE see something as important, doesn't mean it IS important. Take your brain out, rinse it off, remove all the audio culture from it for a few minutes, THEN look at it... is it STILL important? Does it REALLY make or break the song? Or is it just something that's "really cool" from the perspective of someone who is a part of the "audio culture"?
And I'll repeat the same shit I always say. Who are you making recordings for, other audio engineers, or the usual music fan. Create for your audience.
