Ive got a question

[YungRo$$]

For a while I've been going to different studios to record my music since I didnt have my own equipment. The problem is....these "engineers" (as they call themselves) are very unprofessional, have no clue what they're doing, and still wanna tax the hell outta me. I call this studio up and reserve time from 9am to noon for the following day. I get to the studio the following morning and noone even showed up till damn near 9:30. Then, they tell me they completely forgot I was comin. WTF? So I do a raw recording and I tell the dude I wanna double up my vocals and then add some adlibs. This fool tells me,"there's not enough time left and it would cost you more." I still had like an hr. and 45 min. left so Im just looking at him like ARE YOU SERIOUS? Then, he begins to tell me that he should up the rate since he's also doing some mixing/mastering but he'll cut me some slack. Basically, this guy thought I was stupid or something cuz I know damn well I shouldnt be paying no $45/hr. just for "raw recordings."

Therefore I thought it would be a great investment to buy my own equipment and learn how to use it. Ive been thinking about joining the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences (http://www.audiorecordingschool.com) and learn to be a studio engineer. I think I could make a career out of it. Is this a good move or would it be better and cheaper to buy some books and stuff and read up on it? Or should I pay someone to teach me? Where should I go?

 

[Massive Master]

Books are good, experience is best - Even with "cheesy" gear. The cost of cheap gear and what you can learn from it can easily make up for the time saved in the "real" studio.

Then, if you choose to further your education, you already have some of the basics down. I would imagine most in the schools have a fairly decent idea of what they're doing before the first class.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Basically, this guy thought I was stupid or something cuz I know damn well I shouldnt be paying no $45/hr. just for "raw recordings."

Well the way you were treated does sound very strange, but I don't understand your reasoning above... the hourly rate is the hourly rate, regardless of what's being recorded.... there's no such thing as a rate for a "raw recording" or otherwise...

For example, if a client comes in to record vocals tracks for 3 hours - there's a certain amount of set-up time, and then the remaining time is for recording and whatever time it takes to dump to the media format of their choice. If the client wants more recording time, they pay additional hourly rates accordingly!

 

[Alphonso]

Yo, I agree that recording time deal is wierd. I've seen a lot of nonsense but not like that. Blue Bear Sound is right about how it should have went.

also school books and experience is all great. It just depends on you. Myself I bought my equipment piece by piece and jumped in. When I got to a point where my beats where not getting any better I started reading, When I got to the point where reading confused the shit out of me I starting getting help from cats that are dope. (dope being the key word here) Now I am at a point where this shit is making me money and I wouldn't mind taking a few courses or even earning a degree in it. It all depends on you and how you feel is the best way to get to what ever point you are trying to go.
Good Luck

 

[bennychico11]

also school books and experience is all great. It just depends on you. Myself I bought my equipment piece by piece and jumped in. When I got to a point where my beats where not getting any better I started reading, When I got to the point where reading confused the shit out of me I starting getting help from cats that are dope. (dope being the key word here) Now I am at a point where this shit is making me money and I wouldn't mind taking a few courses or even earning a degree in it. It all depends on you and how you feel is the best way to get to what ever point you are trying to go.
Good Luck

although, please please do not think that recording arts schools teach making "dope beats". Creating hip-hop beats and learning the art/craft of being a recording engineer are two completely different things. Learning how to run a 48+ channel console, calibrate a tape machine, undertsanding electronics, working dynamic and time based processors, understanding psychoacoustics and acoustical properties of sound, music theory, studio management and mic'ing techniques (to name a few)...will not help you create better beats. Save your money, and either listen and learn from CDs or learn music composition. Just because I can change a tire on my car, doesn't mean I'm about to open up a repair shop.

 

[YungRo$$]

Well the way you were treated does sound very strange, but I don't understand your reasoning above... the hourly rate is the hourly rate, regardless of what's being recorded.... there's no such thing as a rate for a "raw recording" or otherwise...

For example, if a client comes in to record vocals tracks for 3 hours - there's a certain amount of set-up time, and then the remaining time is for recording and whatever time it takes to dump to the media format of their choice. If the client wants more recording time, they pay additional hourly rates accordingly!

yea, thats what I meant. To my understanding, the hourly rate is the same no matter what I record but they guy was telling me different.

 

[YungRo$$]

Thanks for the feedback guys it somewhat helped.